| Insurance is sold through four main | | | | basis. If this insurance is not |
| channels in Canada. | | | | purchased and the vehicle driver is |
| Brokers- selling products of different | | | | totally at fault in an accident, there |
| insurance companies. | | | | will be no recovery at all for vehicle |
| Agents- selling only the products of one | | | | damage. |
| insurance company. | | | | Insurance companies are registered with |
| Direct sellers- generally selling only | | | | and supervised by the federal or |
| the products of a particular company via | | | | provincial governments regardless of |
| telephone from call centres. | | | | whether they are foreign-owned, part of |
| Group plans- sold either through the | | | | big conglomerates or mutual and stock |
| people above or through the workplace, | | | | companies. |
| alumni association, professional | | | | Generally, insurance companies use the |
| association, or other group | | | | same basic policies for auto insurance, |
| affiliations. | | | | since this area is regulated by |
| If you want auto insurance, coverage for | | | | government, so you will have to look at |
| your home, condo or your belongings in a | | | | the details of service and products to |
| rental unit, or travel insurance, you | | | | see which company might provide you with |
| will need a product (as they call | | | | the best service and options for your |
| insurance policies) from one of the | | | | vehicles. There are a number of options |
| approximately 213 private Property and | | | | in home insurance among companies. |
| Casualty (P & C) or general insurance | | | | Ask friends and relatives about their |
| companies. If you want life or health | | | | insurers. Were claims paid promptly |
| coverage, you will need a product from | | | | without a great deal of red tape? Were |
| one of the about-100 Life companies. | | | | insurers capable of dealing with a |
| There are compulsory auto insurance | | | | number of claims during catastrophes |
| plans, run by government, in British | | | | like the Great Ice Storm or major power |
| Columbia, Manitoba and Saskatchewan and, | | | | outages or floods? Did insurers offer a |
| in Quebec, bodily injury in auto | | | | range of plans customized to the clients |
| accidents is provided by the government | | | | specific needs. Of course, premiums for |
| insurer. | | | | insurance coverage vary greatly among a |
| When you first set out to buy insurance, | | | | number of insurers. No matter what you |
| take a close look at your needs. For | | | | hear, premiums for auto insurance, in |
| instance, consider your liability. If | | | | particular, vary by insurer, sometimes |
| you drive a car or own a home, liability | | | | by very large amounts. And when one |
| insurance will protect you for the | | | | insurer will not touch a prospective |
| liability you have for causing injury or | | | | customer, another company will accept |
| death to other people or damage to their | | | | the client with open arms. It all |
| property. Consider your losses if you | | | | depends on what an individual insurance |
| become sick or die; health and life | | | | company feels is an acceptable risk at |
| insurance can protect you and your | | | | the premium price. |
| family against some of these losses. Be | | | | There are insurers who will take on |
| careful when considering coverage. For | | | | unusual risks. For instance, there are |
| instance, except for Manitoba and | | | | insurers who will cover pets including |
| Saskatchewan,insurance against damage to | | | | what could be very expensive |
| a vehicle is available on a voluntary | | | | veterinarian bills. |