Ontario says demerit points are added when you are convicted of certain driving offences and stay on your record for two years from the offence date. FSRA also says your premium can change because of changes in your own circumstances, including being issued a speeding ticket, and that there is a good chance your premium will go up at renewal if you are found 50 percent or more at fault for an accident. That is why timing, disclosure, and the exact type of event all matter.
Tickets, convictions, and demerit points are related - but not identical
Ontario’s demerit point system starts from zero and adds points when you are convicted of certain driving offences. Ontario says those points stay on your record for two years from the offence date. For novice drivers, the thresholds are stricter and can trigger warning letters or suspension sooner.
That matters because many drivers assume the insurance issue is only about the point count. It is not. Insurers also care about the underlying conviction, how recent it is, whether there are multiple convictions grouped together, and what else is already on the file.
How at-fault accidents are decided in Ontario
FSRA says fault is determined under Ontario’s Fault Determination Rules after the claim is reported. Those rules are applied regardless of weather, road conditions, visibility, point of impact, or the actions of pedestrians. Fault can also be shared between parties.
FSRA also says that being charged with an offence does not necessarily mean you will be found at fault for insurance purposes, and not being charged does not automatically mean you will be found not at fault. Those are separate decisions.
Practical point: if you are trying to understand what an accident will do to your insurance, ask about the insurer’s fault assessment, not only the ticket result.
What usually changes at renewal
FSRA says a customer’s premium can change because of an insurer’s approved rate change overall, but it can also change because of the customer’s own circumstances, such as moving, changing vehicles, or being issued a speeding ticket. For accidents, FSRA says that if you are found 50 percent or more at fault, there is a good chance your premium will go up at the next renewal.
- One event usually matters less than several events close together.
- A conviction and an at-fault accident on the same file can narrow market options faster than either issue on its own.
- If you lend your vehicle to someone and they are 50 percent or more at fault, FSRA says that accident can go on your record.
After an accident, report it properly
FSRA says that after an accident you must report the claim to your broker, agent, or insurance company within seven days, or as quickly as possible after that. When you report, you should be ready with the policy number, vehicle details, date and location, names and licence numbers of the drivers involved, insurance information for the vehicles involved, and a description of what happened.
If the file is going to need remarketing later, accurate claim reporting now makes that easier. Sloppy facts early usually become quote problems later.
What to have ready before you shop the file
- The date of each conviction and each accident.
- The exact charge or offence, not just your memory of it.
- The insurer’s fault percentage decision on any recent claim.
- Whether the vehicle was yours, borrowed, or operated by another listed driver.
- Your current insurer, renewal date, and whether any changes are already pending.
If you do not know the exact details, it is usually better to say that and pull the records than to estimate. Conviction dates and fault findings materially affect what a broker can quote.
How to stop the file from getting worse
- Do not miss the claim reporting window after an accident.
- Do not assume a dismissed charge automatically erases every insurance concern tied to the event.
- Keep the policy active and current while the file is already under pressure.
- Ask when the file should be reviewed again, instead of assuming the next renewal is the only timing that matters.
Common questions
Do demerit points decide my insurance premium by themselves?
No. Points matter, but insurers also look at the underlying conviction, the timing of the event, accident history, payment history, vehicle, location, and other underwriting factors.
If I was charged by police, does that automatically make me at fault?
No. FSRA says fault for insurance purposes is determined through the Fault Determination Rules, not simply by whether a charge was laid.
What if someone else was driving my car when the accident happened?
FSRA says that if the driver of your vehicle is found 50 percent or more at fault, the accident can go on your record.