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Off-Road Vehicles - Insurance

Your off-road license plates issued by the Société de l'assurance automobile du Québec (SAAQ) do not include any premiums for civil liability insurance. The SAAQ therefore does not provide any compensation in the following situations:

• collisions between an off-road vehicle and a pedestrian on a snowmobile/ATV trail
• collisions between an off-road vehicle and a vehicle parked on a public road
• collisions between an off-road vehicle and a pedestrian on a public road
• collisions between two off-road vehicles on a public road
• collisions between two off-road vehicles on a developed trail
• collisions between two off-road vehicles on private property where there is no trail.

Civil liability coverage from your private insurer is required to receive compensation in any of these circumstances.

Should you be involved in an accident, any damage to your clothing is considered to be a physical injury. As a result, as is the case for drivers of on-road vehicles, you will not be compensated by the SAAQ if you are the victim of any of the types of collisions listed above. Your private insurer is responsible for any claims in this regard.

Adopted on October 2, 1997, the Act Respecting Off-Highway Vehicles requires operators of off-road vehicles to hold a civil liability insurance policy of at least $500,000 to provide compensation for any bodily injury or property damage caused by their vehicle. If you do not respect this obligation, you are committing an offence and may be subject to a fine ranging from $250 to $500.