Nova Scotia

Auto insurance in Nova Scotia is provided by more than 60 private companies that compete for customers by offering a different mix of price, coverage and service. Everyone who wants to drive a car in Nova Scotia must by law buy a minimum amount of insurance (see minimums page) and has the option to buy more to suit their needs.

Having the right auto insurance coverage is essential for everyone who relies on their car to get them around. When Nova Scotians are involved in accidents, their insurance companies help them get better, support them if they are unable to work and protect them financially if they hurt someone else and are sued for it.

In Canada, provincial governments decide which mandatory benefits are included in the auto insurance product. The challenge is finding the right balance between affordable price for all drivers and adequate coverage for those who have to make a claim. For instance, if government makes the product very generous, it could become too expensive for many drivers.

Changes to Nova Scotia’s auto insurance system in October 2003 helped improve that balance of affordability and adequate coverage (see auto reforms). But more can be, and is being, done to ensure Nova Scotians are receiving the best coverage for the best possible price.