Third-Party Liability coverage
Third-Party Liability coverage is part of your Basic Autoplan and covers you for claims made against you by other drivers after a crash. If the crash was your fault, up to $200,000 of their costs will be covered by your Basic Autoplan.
What is covered?
If you are responsible for a crash, you might also be responsible for paying to repair another vehicle or covering its driver's medical costs. Third-Party Liability coverage protects you against these claims, covering the cost of damage and injuries sustained in a crash that you were at fault for.
How much does Third-Party Liability coverage pay?
If you have Basic Autoplan and own a passenger or light commercial vehicle registered in B.C., you are covered for payments up to $200,000.
If you are the owner of a bus, taxi, limo or heavy commercial vehicle, you are covered for payments up to $1 million.
If you carry dangerous goods in your commercial vehicle, you are covered for payments up to $2 million. See the Ministry of Transportation’s Commercial Vehicles web site for more information.
What is not covered by Third-Party Liability coverage?
- Loss or damage to property inside your vehicle.
- Loss or damage to your property other than your vehicle (for example, your house).
- Anything owed under the Workers Compensation Act.
- Operation of attached equipment at a work site (for example, a crane attached to a truck).
What if you want more coverage?
If you are at fault in a crash, the costs claimed against you could be more than $200,000. With only the Basic Autoplan coverage, you would be responsible for the difference.
Ask your Autoplan broker about Extended Third-Party Liability coverage — you could buy coverage for claims up to $5 million.
Why would I need more Third Party Liability?
Canadian and U.S. courts often award damages that are much higher than $200,000. In fact, injury awards sometimes exceed $1 million. Without Extended Third Party Liability coverage, you are responsible for paying any amounts above the $200,000 covered by Basic Autoplan. While many motorists purchase Extended Third Party Liability coverage of $1 million, the majority of our customers purchase limits of $2 million or more.
All coverages are quoted in Canadian dollars. If you will be driving in the U.S., remember that any damages claimed against you there will be in U.S. dollars!