Exchanging US DL with accident record vs getting new Ontario DL

[kalebhushan]

Hi,

I just recently moved to Toronto from the US and I have an expired US DL. I have 2 accidents (one at fault and other not) on my US DL and have 3 claims on my insurance in the US (Geico). If I exchange my US DL in Ontario, I assume the accident history will be added on the Ontario DL as well. This will shoot up my insurance in Ontario like crazy. Should I just go ahead and apply for a new Ontario DL instead of exchanging my US DL? That way, it wont be reflected in my insurance as well when I get one in Canada and it wont be high.

Does anyone have any experience here?

Thanks,
Bhushan

 

[k.h.p.]

You will probably be asked by any insurer for a driver's abstract and an accident history. If you are, and you leave off your previous accidents, you may be committing insurance fraud.

 

[saddlepatch]

Hi,

I just recently moved to Toronto from the US and I have an expired US DL. I have 2 accidents (one at fault and other not) on my US DL and have 3 claims on my insurance in the US (Geico). If I exchange my US DL in Ontario, I assume the accident history will be added on the Ontario DL as well. This will shoot up my insurance in Ontario like crazy. Should I just go ahead and apply for a new Ontario DL instead of exchanging my US DL? That way, it wont be reflected in my insurance as well when I get one in Canada and it wont be high.

Does anyone have any experience here?

Thanks,
Bhushan

Thats called fraud, and if you're caught it could mean much more than just being denied a Canadian DL.

I'd just be honest, work with the insurance company to get you the best rate. Maybe talk with your current insurance provider to see what they can possibly do. If you've had a good record for awhile, you might be able to have them make the process easier for you.

You might want to do one of those things where they monitor your driving via a device they put into the car. This not only gives you a lower rate in general, but can help lower your rate in the future.

You have options, but fraud and lying isn't one of them.

Look at it this way, you insurance went up after the accidents, you were prepared to pay then and still are now. So it doesn't really make a difference in Canada. It might be a little more, but with a good record going forward and re-shopping every year for a new policy, eventually your rates will improve.