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