Ontario insurance that recognizes experience on a foreign drivers license?

[FxK]

Does anyone know about an auto insurance in Ontario that would recognize my driving experience on my German license before I moved to Ontario?

Background: I'm shopping around for auto insurance in Ontario. I moved to Ontario from Germany less than two years ago. That's when I changed my German license to an Ontario G-license. I just got a quote from BelAir Direct. They don't seem to care that I had a license in Germany since 1998. The rates with only less than two years of holding license and without previous auto insurance in Canada are going to kill me!

[British SD]

Its been a good number of years since I moved across the Atlantic pond so I am of limited help here. Question, have you had continuous insurance? If there is a gap where you have not been insured for more than six months over the last three or six years, then I believe you loose the benefit of no claims experience. Does not matter where you are from, you are considered only for new driver rates.

Also, do you have a paper copy of your insurance claims record from Germany and preferably written in either Canada's official languages (English/French)? That might help.

[FxK]

Quote: Originally Posted by British SD (original)

Also, do you have a paper copy of your insurance claims record from Germany and preferably written in either Canada's official languages (English/French)? That might help.

I've never owned a car in Germany and was never insured under my name. So that wouldn't help. I've had a license, though. Had I had a Canadian license for that long, even without being insured, I believe it would save me a lot of money. So I'm hoping I can find an insurance that does the same for foreign licenses.

Thanks for the info, though.

[FxK]

Hmm, after some more research it seems my biggest problem is not that I haven't had a Canadian license for very long but that I've never been insured (in Canada or elsewhere).

On the bright side, TD Home&Auto has a discount deal with the company I work for, so I'll get away with significantly less than $400 (Canadian) a month for full coverage. Slightly below my excruciating pain threshold, but still not great.

[sudocam]

I think TD Meloche Monnex acknowledges foreign experience if you were insured abroad, but without previous insurance it's gonna be tough to find a good deal...

You can always shop around - Last year i switched to belairdirect - Their quote was almost half of what i was paying at the time...

.s.

[FxK]

Quote: Originally Posted by sudocam (original)

I think TD Meloche Monnex acknowledges foreign experience if you were insured abroad, but without previous insurance it's gonna be tough to find a good deal...

Problem is, they only insure members of certain alumni or professional associations. Not having studied in Canada I don't have a membership in any of them.

Quote: Originally Posted by sudocam (original)

You can always shop around - Last year i switched to belairdirect - Their quote was almost half of what i was paying at the time...

.s.

Yeah, belairdirect seem to be relatively cheap. But the discount I'd get at TD Home&Auto through my employer is even better. So I guess that's what I'll end up doing.

Thanks for your advice sudocam and British SD. I appreciate it.