Ontario drivers could see changes to vehicle collision reporting. Here's what you need to know
The Ontario government is considering changing the threshold for Property Damage Only (PBO) collision reporting—more than doubling the damage value required before a crash must be reported to police.
Minister of Transportation Prabmeet Sarkaria told CTV News Toronto the dollar threshold has remained stagnant at $2,000 since 2015.
“We’ve heard some challenges that people have with respect to getting to reporting centres,” he said.
“As technology advances, as cars advance, we’ve also seen the price of vehicles increase, and many other factors that feed into that threshold of $2,000.”
- Download our app to get local alerts on your device
- Get the latest local updates right to your inbox
As it stands, if a driver gets into a collision involving damage to public or private property, but no bodily injury, and the damage is under the threshold, they do not need to contact or register the vehicle with authorities.
The province is now considering changing that threshold to $5,000, citing factors such as inflation and the advancement of car technology.
The minister said he anticipates law enforcement, insurance providers and drivers will participate in the two-week consultation, which ends on March 5.
A priority, Sarkaria noted, will be to ensure the changes don’t significantly impact insurance rates. In 2022, Ontario's auditor general found that auto insurance premiums had risen about 14 per cent since 2017.
Elliott Silverstein, director of government relations for CAA Insurance, says the change won’t necessarily have a big impact on rates.
“We still try to encourage people to drive safely, to make sure they engage their insurance companies when they're in a collision,” he said. “But I think that in terms of the system and the process itself, it provides some relief to the collision reporting centers.”
‘That could be a scratch’
According to Silverstein, very few collisions result in less than $2,000 worth of damages nowadays, especially considering how interconnected technology is within vehicles. He called the proposal “positive,” adding that it helps create a balance and simplicity to collision reporting.
“This concept of bringing it up to $5,000 would really allow minor, minor fender benders to be addressed without having to go through all the processes,” he said.
“It helps provide some of that relief, that if you are unfortunate situation …your line ups and wait times could be less because police and reporting centers are more directed to the ones that are more significant.”
Constable Sean Shapiro from Toronto Police Traffic Services agreed, saying the low threshold means the majority of collisions are reported to police and collision centres.
“The thing is, with the cost of a vehicle's repair, that could be a scratch. So almost every collision requires police to be notified,” he told CTV News Toronto, noting that the damage includes all vehicles involved in the collision.
“If it's something that's so minor as a scratch, it's a bit of a waste of resources.”
Drivers can always report a collision if the property damage is less than the threshold for mandatory reporting, the province stressed. The choice remains with the driver.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Here's where Canadians are living abroad: report
A recent report sheds light on Canadians living abroad--estimated at around four million people in 2016—and the public policies that impact them.
'We are declaring our readiness': No decision made yet as Poland declares it's ready to host nuclear weapons
Polish President Andrzej Duda says while no decision has been made around whether Poland will host nuclear weapons as part of an expansion of the NATO alliance’s nuclear sharing program, his country is willing and prepared to do so.
Harvey Weinstein hospitalized after return to New York from upstate prison
Harvey Weinstein’s lawyer said Saturday that the onetime movie mogul has been hospitalized for a battery of tests after his return to New York City following an appeals court ruling nullifying his 2020 rape conviction.
Deadly six-vehicle crash on Highway 400 sparked by road rage incident
One person was killed in a six-vehicle crash on Highway 400 in Innisfil Friday evening.
Invasive and toxic hammerhead worms make themselves at home in Ontario
Ontario is now home to an invasive and toxic worm species that can grow up to three feet long and can be dangerous to small animals and pets.
Central Alberta queer groups react to request from Red Deer-South to reinstate Jennifer Johnson to UCP caucus
A number of LGBQT+2s groups in Central Alberta are pushing back against a request from the Red Deer South UCP constituency to reinstate MLA Jennifer Johnson into the UCP caucus.
Opinion I just don't get Taylor Swift
It's one thing to say you like Taylor Swift and her music, but don't blame CNN's AJ Willingham's when she says she just 'doesn't get' the global phenomenon.
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau on navigating post-political life, co-parenting and freedom
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says there is 'still so much love' between her and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as they navigate their post-separation relationship co-parenting their three children.
First court appearance for boy and girl charged in death of Halifax 16-year-old
A girl and a boy, both 14 years old, made their first appearance today in a Halifax courtroom, where they each face a second-degree murder charge in the stabbing death of a 16-year-old high school student.