Uninsured Motorist Coverage Canada

What happens when you're hit by a driver with no insurance — and how uninsured motorist coverage protects you across Canada.

The Uninsured Driver Problem in Canada

Despite mandatory insurance laws in every province, an estimated 3–5% of Canadian drivers are uninsured at any given time. In Ontario alone, that represents hundreds of thousands of vehicles. An uninsured driver who causes a serious accident leaves victims with no responsible insurer to pursue — potentially leaving injured people without compensation for medical expenses, lost income, and vehicle damage.

What Uninsured Automobile Coverage Provides

Uninsured automobile coverage (UAC) is mandatory in most Canadian provinces. It protects you in two scenarios:

• Uninsured driver at fault: The other driver caused your accident but has no insurance. UAC pays for your bodily injury damages and, in some provinces, property damage.
• Hit-and-run driver: An unknown driver caused your accident and fled. UAC covers bodily injury in most provinces; property damage coverage varies.

Uninsured Coverage by Province

Province	Mandatory UAC	Bodily Injury Limit	Property Damage
Ontario	Yes (OAP 1)	$200,000 minimum	Limited — use collision
Alberta	Yes (SEF 44)	$1M (SEF 44)	Not covered
BC	Yes (ICBC basic)	$200,000+	Through DCPD
Quebec	SAAQ covers bodily injury	SAAQ public plan	Private policy
Nova Scotia	Yes	$500,000	Limited
Manitoba	Yes (MPI)	MPI public plan	MPI public plan

Underinsured Motorist Protection (UMP / SEF 44)

Separate from uninsured coverage is underinsured motorist protection. This applies when the at-fault driver has insurance, but their liability limit is not sufficient to cover your damages. In Alberta, the SEF 44 endorsement provides up to $1M in combined coverage for both uninsured and underinsured situations — it's a standard feature on most Alberta policies. BC's ICBC basic policy includes Underinsured Motorist Protection (UMP) up to $1M as standard.

Why Minimum Uninsured Coverage Is Often Insufficient

Ontario's minimum uninsured automobile coverage is $200,000 for bodily injury — the same as the third-party liability minimum. But serious accident injuries regularly generate claims well above this amount. Consider that a young professional unable to work for years due to crash injuries could have an income replacement claim alone exceeding $500,000–$1M+. Increasing your uninsured coverage limits (where permitted) or adding the SEF 44 equivalent in your province provides meaningful additional protection at modest cost.

Hit-and-Run Claims

When an unidentified driver causes your accident and flees, your claim is made against your own policy under the uninsured motorist provision. Most provinces require you to report a hit-and-run to police within 24 hours to be eligible for coverage. Your insurer may require corroborating evidence that a hit-and-run actually occurred. Property damage from hit-and-runs is typically covered under your comprehensive coverage, subject to your deductible.