Vehicles

Yes, roadside sobriety checkpoints are legal in Canada, but only if they are part of a properly authorized, non-arbitrary program — not random stops.

No, police cannot stop your car randomly without any reason in Canada. Random stops are unconstitutional unless authorized by specific provincial highway legislation and justified under section 1 of the Charter.

Yes, a random traffic stop can lawfully evolve into a criminal investigation in Canada if police observe objective facts that give rise to reasonable suspicion of an offence.

No, you cannot legally refuse a breathalyzer test at a roadside stop in Canada — it is a criminal offence under the Criminal Code, punishable by mandatory minimum penalties including fines and jail time.

In most Canadian provinces, you generally have 2 years from the date you discover your injury or loss to file a car accident insurance claim, but some provinces require immediate or very prompt reporting — often within 7 to 30 days — to preserve coverage rights.

Yes, your car insurance can be voided if you made a false or material misrepresentation on your application — especially about driving record, convictions, or accidents.

If the at-fault driver has insufficient insurance, your own auto insurer may cover the shortfall under underinsured motorist (UIM) coverage — if you purchased it and it’s available in your province.

Yes, your insurance company may deny your claim if you were speeding, especially if the speeding violated the law or your policy’s terms — but denial is not automatic and depends on factors like causation and policy wording.

A vehicle sold in Canada must conform to all applicable Canadian Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (CMVSS) and bear a valid national safety mark.

If a manufacturer discovers a safety defect in your vehicle in Canada, they must notify Transport Canada and affected owners, and either fix the defect free of charge or clearly explain why no correction will be made.

Yes, under the Motor Vehicle Safety Act, the federal Minister of Transport can order a vehicle manufacturer to issue a recall notice and correct a safety defect—even if the manufacturer refuses.

Yes, federal safety standards for tires sold in Canada are set under the Motor Vehicle Safety Act and apply to all tires manufactured or imported into Canada.

Yes, a vehicle manufacturer in Canada can be held liable for injuries caused by a design defect, especially if they fail to issue a required safety defect notice under the Motor Vehicle Safety Act.

A national safety mark (NSM) is a government-authorized symbol proving your vehicle or equipment meets Canada’s mandatory motor vehicle safety standards. Your vehicle needs one to be legally sold, imported, or put into service in Canada.

If you're hit by an unidentified vehicle in Canada, you may still be entitled to no-fault accident benefits through your own auto insurance policy or, if uninsured, through a provincial motor vehicle claims fund — even if the at-fault driver is never found.

Fault in a multi-vehicle collision in Canada is determined by applying the standard of reasonable care expected of drivers, with courts apportioning liability based on each driver’s degree of negligence.

Yes, you may be held liable if someone borrows your car and causes an accident — in most Canadian provinces, the vehicle owner is vicariously liable under provincial highway traffic acts, even if they weren’t driving.

Yes, contributory negligence can reduce your damages in a car accident claim in Canada, based on the degree to which your own negligence contributed to the loss.

The discoverability rule means the limitation period for an accident claim starts when you knew or ought to have known that you had a legal claim—not necessarily from the date of the accident.

In most Canadian provinces, the government can suspend your driver’s licence for unpaid motor vehicle-related debts — but not for general unsecured debts like credit cards or personal loans.

Generally, no — municipalities in Canada cannot regulate parking on private property unless explicitly authorized by provincial legislation.

Yes, you can import a foreign vehicle into Canada, but it must meet Canadian safety standards and display a national safety mark.

Commercial motor carriers crossing provincial borders in Canada are subject to federal safety regulations made under the Canada Transportation Act, which authorize the Governor in Council to regulate extra-provincial motor carrier safety.

Yes, you may claim total disability benefits from your car insurance after an accident — but eligibility depends on the specific wording of your policy and whether you meet the definition of 'total disability' it uses, typically meaning inability to perform the substantial duties of your own occupation.

No-fault insurance in Canada covers your immediate medical, rehabilitation, and income replacement costs after a car accident — regardless of who caused it. You can only sue for additional damages (like pain and suffering or lost future earnings) if your injuries meet a legal 'threshold' of seriousness, which varies by province.