How car pooling affects your coverage

Understand the benefits – and also some concerns

Car pooling – that is, sharing a ride to work with one or more neighbours or co-workers – can save money, help the environment by reducing total vehicle emissions, and even speed up your trip. But what is the impact on your auto insurance coverage?

Giving a ride to someone in return for a ride, or sharing the cost of an occasional trip with others, is covered under your basic policy.
If you regularly receive compensation for giving a ride to a co-worker (including, but not limited to, money for gas), special coverage may need to be arranged.

It is also important to keep in mind that, in the event of an accident with injuries, your passengers may claim for their injuries through your policy if they do not have an automobile policy of their own.
So before you start any car pooling program, you should discuss your individual situation with a licensed insurance professional.

And if you’d like more information on car pooling, including the use of High Occupancy Vehicle lanes and the location of free car pool parking lots, you can explore the Ministry of Transportation’s website by clicking here.