Skip to content
A convertible, sports car, classic vehicle, or simply a second car you don’t need during the colder months: many Quebecers put their vehicles away when fall arrives.
But parking your car in the garage and leaving it there until spring isn’t quite the same as officially storing it. More importantly, storing a vehicle doesn’t mean you should simply cancel your insurance.
Here are a few precautions to take before wishing your car a good winter’s sleep.
What Does Officially Storing a Vehicle Mean?
Vehicle storage is an official process carried out with the Société de l’assurance automobile du Québec (SAAQ). It indicates that a vehicle is being taken off the road for a certain period, with the intention of using it again later.
The process can be completed through SAAQclic. Once a vehicle has been officially stored, it can no longer be driven or parked on a public road. However, it can be kept in a garage, driveway, or on private property. The licence plate remains on the vehicle.
Depending on when you store your vehicle, you may also be entitled to a partial refund of your registration fees.
Vehicle Storage and Insurance: Two Different Procedures
This is where things get interesting.
Informing the SAAQ that your vehicle is being stored doesn’t automatically change your auto insurance policy. And the reverse is also true: modifying your insurance coverage doesn’t constitute official vehicle storage with the SAAQ.
You therefore need to take care of both.
In Quebec auto insurance, there’s actually a specific endorsement designed for vehicle storage: Q.E.F. No. 16 – Suspension of Coverage Following Vehicle Storage.
This endorsement allows certain coverages to be suspended while the vehicle is off the road.
Your insurance broker can help determine which protections can be adjusted based on your vehicle, where it’s stored, and the terms of your policy.
A Parked Car Can Still Be Damaged
This is probably the best reason not to simply cancel all your insurance coverage.
Your car spends four or five months in a garage? It’s still exposed to certain risks.
A fire could break out. The vehicle could be stolen. It could be vandalized or suffer other damage while in storage.
Section B of a Quebec automobile insurance policy may cover risks such as fire, theft, vandalism, and broken glass, depending on the coverage you’ve purchased.
That’s why storing your vehicle generally means adapting your insurance to a car that’s temporarily off the road rather than assuming it no longer needs protection.
Watch Out for That Quick Five-Minute Drive!
The sun is shining, the roads are dry, and you’re tempted to take your stored convertible out for a quick spin?
Not so fast!
Before getting back on the road, your vehicle must be officially taken out of storage with the SAAQ, and the necessary insurance coverage must be reinstated.
The SAAQ specifies that taking a vehicle out of storage must be done on the day you intend to use it again. It cannot be requested in advance.
Another important detail: if a vehicle has been stored for more than 12 months, a mechanical inspection is required before it can return to the road.
One Quick Call Before Closing the Garage Door
Every situation is different. The value of your vehicle, whether it’s financed, where it’s stored, and the coverage already included in your policy can all influence how it should be insured during the winter.
Before storing your car, take a few minutes to contact your insurance broker.
The team at Assurances Groupe Vézina can review your policy, explain which coverages can be adjusted during storage, and help ensure your vehicle remains protected against the risks that matter.
After all, your car may be taking the winter off. Your insurance just needs a little adjustment.
