Public Automobile Insurance Plan

What Is Not Covered

Certain types of traffic accidents are not covered by Québec's public automobile insurance plan, but by programs offered by other bodies or private insurers.

What you should know

Québec's public automobile insurance plan does not automatically cover all traffic accidents.

Certain accidents are covered by programs offered by government bodies other than the SAAQ, such as the Commission des normes, de l’équité, de la santé et de la sécurité du travail if a traffic accident occurs in a workplace context.

Other types of accidents are solely covered by insurance offered by private insurers.

No compensation is paid for bodily injury or death in connection with any of the following situations:

• An accident that occurs during an automobile race, competition, show, trial, demonstration or exhibition on a course or track temporarily or permanently closed to automobile traffic, or inside a building. For example, an automobile that crashes through safety barriers during an automobile exhibition and strikes a participant.
• An accident involving a snowmobile or other off-road vehicle, such as an ATV, a recreational off-highway vehicle or a trail bike, or an accident that occurs on a private road involving an equipment vehicle, a trailer or a farm tractor, unless the accident involves a moving vehicle that is covered by the plan.

  Note that even though registering an off-road vehicle is mandatory, the vehicle's registration does not entitle the vehicle owner to compensation in the event of an accident, given that the registration fee does not include an insurance contribution.

• An accident that occurs with a motor-assisted bicycle, a motorized mobility aid (such as a wheelchair equipped with a motor, a three- or four-wheeled electric scooter), or a motorized personal mobility device (such as a skateboard, scooter, toy vehicle, golf cart, gyroscopic or self-balancing vehicle, or unicycle), unless the accident involves a moving vehicle that is covered by the plan.
• An accident that occurs during automobile maintenance, repair or modification. For example, you are working on your car and it falls on top of you.
• An accident caused by equipment that can function independently from the vehicle of which it is a part when that vehicle is stopped elsewhere than a public roadway. For example, an injury caused by a snowplow installed on the front of a truck.
• An accident caused by the independent act of an animal carried in an automobile. For example, your dog bites you.

If in doubt, it is best to file a claim.

Special cases

A traffic accident that occurs in the context of work

If the accident took place while you were at work, you must report it to the Commission des normes, de l’équité, de la santé et de la sécurité du travail or to the body in your province or country that is responsible for compensating victims of work-related accidents.

If your application has been denied, phone us so that we can inform you about the procedure that applies to your situation.

A traffic accident resulting from a criminal act

If your aggressor used a vehicle against you, you may claim compensation from:

• the SAAQ

or

• the Commission des normes, de l’équité, de la santé et de la sécurité du travail, which administers the Crime Victims Compensation Act

A traffic accident that occurs while assisting a person in distress

If you were involved in a traffic accident while assisting a person in distress, you may claim compensation from:

• the SAAQ

or

• the Commission des normes, de l’équité, de la santé et de la sécurité du travail, which administers the Act to promote good citizenship

Do you have any questions?

We are there to help you. Phone us, and we will give you all the information that applies to your situation.

Last update: May 26, 2023