Quebecers who have been victims of vehicle theft will be entitled to new services to deal with this problem which has exploded in recent years.
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According to an announcement made Friday by the Financial Markets Authority (AMF), motorists will be able to receive a maximum of $3,000 to rent a vehicle in the event of theft. A more advantageous compensation plan will also be offered to them and insurers who require the installation of an anti-theft device will be encouraged to offer a discount or full refund to their customers.
These changes will be made to the automobile insurance form available on the AMF website.
“By updating certain automobile insurance forms, we aim to mitigate the repercussions of automobile theft on Quebecers,” said Patrick Déry, the superintendent of financial institutions, in a press release.
New database
Insurers will also have to add the vehicle identification number to the infoNIV database, which allows the police to better trace them in the event of theft.
The latter, which is under the responsibility of the Automobile Insurers Group (GAA), aims to optimize communications between police forces who find a stolen vehicle and the insurer who has become its owner.
“Thanks to this tool developed and managed by the GAA, we will be able to considerably accelerate the return of stolen vehicles to their insurers and, ultimately, to their owners,” declared Johanne Lamanque, general director of the GAA.
The participation of insurers in this database will become mandatory on 1is January 2025.
According to data cited by the Financial Markets Authority, the number of vehicle thefts recorded in Quebec has more than doubled since 2019.
