Is this the END OF RHD!!!???

[canucksafari]

It's funny too because this morning a Delica passed me on the highway and the driver seemed oblivious that he was passing another RH drive vehicle!

Delicas are all over the place here. Delica owners stopped waving to other RHDs about 5 years ago. Was the same with Skylines. The Skyline fad is pretty much gone. But there is still good demand for Delicas. I actually wouldn't mind a newer model myself as a commuter/work vehicle.

 

[finderscuba]

Hmmm, insurance on my HDJ81 is up for renewal here in Manitoba. You don't want to know how much I pay.

 

[Behemoth60]

I've been researching this because I want my next expo build to be fully and properly insured.

What I've learned is that here in Alberta RHD's are definitely allowed - see question 3. Private insurers like those in Alberta can decide who they want their customers to be.

Luckily, the Insurance Act of Alberta, like in other provinces such as Ontario, requires that people CAN get insurance, even if all the voluntary insurers deny you. This is called the 'Residual Market'. This insurance is provided through the Facility Association.

I found a copy of the Facility Associations operations manual specific to Alberta. In order to go to the Residual Market, there is a list of criteria as outlined on page 2. Basically, you have to be a bad person, bad driver, or try to insure...

Vehicles with substantial after market modification for enhanced speed or racing
by either 1 of:
(a) Turbocharger
(b) Supercharger
(c) Nitrous system OR
2 or more of :
(d) Interior roll cage
(e) Modification to ground clearance
(f) Modification to tire circumference, or the use of tires especially designed
for racing or speed (This does not include the application of snow tires.)
(g) Any other engine modifications, including engine swapping, designed to
enhance speed

Now, I asked my insurance company about a roll cage, suspension modifications, and changing tire size, and they read points D, E and F, and said... uh oh... we can't insure you. They read the 'un-insurable' requirements verbatim from the list. What they left out was the words... "for enhanced speed or racing" But... that's my particular challenge.

There's nothing here that says in Alberta at least, you need to go to the residual market for RHD. And that appears to be the experience of most Albertans.

I would recommend that you see if you can get the Facility Associations manual for Ontario, and see if that sheds any light on the RHD situation.

The bottom line... as long as a vehicle can pass your local jurisdictions traffic safety rules, you CAN get insurance. You might pay a lot for it, one of the joys of driving an 'exotic foreign car from the other side of the world', but when was driving a Land Cruiser ever a smart economic choice?

 

[northernrighty]

UPDATE!!

Well the FSCO (financial services commision of ontario) got back to me friday. I amn by the name of TONY LYON. His comment-

"I have approved the underwriting rules of the insurance companies in ontario. Some (not all) have submitted the request NOT to insure RHD vehicles. I approved this rule based on "COMMON SENSE". No statistical information is required. We do not require companies to provide ANY EXPLAINATION for rules. If it makes sense to me, than that is ok."

He also stated that I should call the all of insurance companies listed in Ontario (on the FSCO website) because they have not ALL stopped insuring RHDs.

NO STATISTICAL INFORMATION REQUIRED!!!!!!!

The governing body of insurance companies does not require any facts to make a decision!!!

Not sure if anyone has gone this route, but that was a surprise to me!

Next will be a call to my MPP. They pissed off the wrong guy here.

If there is anything that can be done, I will find out.

 

[IanB]

Well the FSCO (financial services commision of ontario) got back to me friday. I amn by the name of TONY LYON. His comment-

"I have approved the underwriting rules of the insurance companies in ontario. Some (not all) have submitted the request NOT to insure RHD vehicles. I approved this rule based on "COMMON SENSE". No statistical information is required. We do not require companies to provide ANY EXPLAINATION for rules. If it makes sense to me, than that is ok."

He also stated that I should call the all of insurance companies listed in Ontario (on the FSCO website) because they have not ALL stopped insuring RHDs.

NO STATISTICAL INFORMATION REQUIRED!!!!!!!

The governing body of insurance companies does not require any facts to make a decision!!!

Not sure if anyone has gone this route, but that was a surprise to me!

Next will be a call to my MPP. They pissed off the wrong guy here.

If there is anything that can be done, I will find out.

"I approved this rule based on "COMMON SENSE". No statistical information is required. We do not require companies to provide ANY EXPLAINATION for rules. If it makes sense to me, than that is ok."

Wow, that is just screaming to be tested in court! I'd like to hear him explain to a judge what makes him an expert such that he doesn't require statistics to make sweeping assumptions about RHD vehicles.

Common sense says that the steering wheel is simply on the other side, no other differences to note.

Good luck!

 

[canucksafari]

Good to hear that you are pissed off enough to make the insurance companies feel a little heat. I suggest you get copies of that letter out to any media which do consumer advocacy.

You may also realize that these companies also insure heavy equipment and aircraft. Find out which ones insure various types of vehicles. After all, the seating arrangement's vary a lot in heavy equipment. In a plane, the pilot has to be able to operate from the left or right seat or in some cases in the front or rear seat. I would make a point of asking if they change or do not insure based on where the operator is sitting. I would work the "common sense" angle and embarrass the hell out of the FSCO, the cabinet minister in charge, and the insurance companies. Hopefully, there will be a few others in Ontario mad enough to work with you. Good luck.