Lion Heart

Hi guys!

Recently moved to Nova Scotia (April 2019) and the hire car rental is almost up so have been looking to insure our own car - and hitting some brick walls!!

Has anyone reading this got their car insurance in Nova Scotia this year (2019) - and managed to have their UK no claims recognised?

We have been going around in circles on this, so hoping someone reading has already faced and defeated this battle!

Many people have recommended TD Insurance. However, they DEFINITELY (we have asked on three seperate occasions to three different people) no longer recognise foreign no claims, so you are set up as a new driver (same as a 17 year old just passed their test - i.e. 3-4 times the price!!)

It seems TD used to recognise foreign no claims, but definitely no longer.

We have tried a broker (three in fact!) and one seemed good so we asked to proceed and they advised that the insurer has to do a full submission and approval process (not common!) which will take 10 days. She also advised that the outcome on these types of submissions is rarely good as they're basically seeking ways to bounce the application (as they are, apparently, not permitted to disriminate against people and so this is the way to basically do exactly that).

So, that's a possible option - and we may go that route and see what happens. The problem is we've found a car and put down $1,000 deposit as the broker gave us the quote, but only found out about this longer process application once she actually tried to book it for us. Not sure if the dealer will wait 10 days!

We've also read in posts here up until 2017 that Johnson Insurance has helped many UK > Canada people (Nova Scotia). They're now closed until Tuesday due to Victoria day. We'll be trying them first thing Tuesday morning!

The broker quote was $1,200 on an Audi Q7 (two drivers). TD Insurance as 'new drivers' $4,500, so almost literally four times the price.

Any recommendation and tips very welcome!!

Help us, lol!

Siouxie

Johnson or TD.. who do recognise it according to reports from local (Ontario) expats, provided you have the required letters of confirmation from your prior insurers plus your drivers extract)


https://britishexpats.com/wiki/Categ...surance-Canada

Lion Heart

We have called TD on three separate occasions and had this also confirmed by a manger... The do not accept foreign no claims.

I think they used to, as many people here reported in the past. Hence asking only for 2019 info.

They must have changed their policy??

Lion Heart

Also, just checked the wiki and no Nova Scotia specific info there :-(

Silverdragon102

GermanytoCanada

Siouxie

I'm surprised to hear of that regarding TD - I know people in my area who have obtained the discount without any issue within the last 6 months. Strange - maybe it's an Atlantic Provinces thing.

Perhaps go and talk to a broker... and take your drivers extract and the letters from former insurance companies with you and ask which companies will take your driving experience and no fault claims into consideration.

I presume you have a copy of your drivers extract and letters from each of your previous insurance companies? What the letters must contain are in the wiki, together with the link for obtaining your drivers extract. (Hence why I gave you the link)
)

There's a few threads on insurance in other Provinces (most of the companies are national) so perhaps have a search and see who others have used.

Tumbling_Dice

As far as I know Allstate do.

My wife, however, is a new driver so our broker set us up with some company called Pafco who recognised my UK record up to a point (put me at a 3 on the scale) and gave us a great price on my wife. For our situation it was a better price. Had it just been me, Allstate would have been better.

Lion Heart

Yes please do PM them over!!! That would be really helpful!

raindropsandroses

Have you tried Sonnet insurance? They're the online only branch of Economical Insurance and we've found them brilliant.

They don't accept non Canadian no claims, so we had to start from almost fresh, but they were still cheaper than any other companies.
We went through so many companies who claimed they would honour our European no claims, but invariably called us back two weeks later saying actually they couldn't honour it and the premium coat would have to be tripled.

Our home insurance with Sonnet, with all the bells and whistles for cover is only $322 per year (for our own home, not our rental properties) and our auto insurance is $1035 ish per year, although we pay monthly.

raindropsandroses

Sorry, should have also said that when we lived in another Maritime province our home insurance and auto were even cheaper with Sonnet.
Plus you can fill it all out online and have coverage and a pink slip to print off within immediately, no faffing, no hanging around in a broker's office, which is something I really hate, so much easier to be able to do everything online. They then mail you the full policy details and pink slip.

We get a considerable discount for having multiple policies with them too, and they backdate the discounts, plus they're absolutely excellent at dealing with claims, and really make everything stress free and easy.

GermanytoCanada

mavieenrose22

Lion Heart

Which broker did you use BTW?

Many thanks!!

mavieenrose22