Grace, as defined by Oxford Languages, can mean “simple elegance or refinement of movement.” But in contract law, take the alternate definition: courteous goodwill.
A grace period, in contract law, is the time a past-due payment can be made without penalty. Typically, this period is 15 to 30 days, though it varies from contract to contract. Grace periods are commonly incorporated into mortgage and insurance contracts; through “courteous goodwill,” you don’t lose your home or insurance if you’re a few days late with a payment.
If those days stretch into weeks or months, though, that goodwill could evaporate, forcing people to make tough decisions about money management. Suppose you choose to go without car insurance. In that case, you can’t legally drive anywhere in Canada if your policy is terminated.
In Ontario, insurance providers are required to give 15 days’ notice before the cancellation of an auto policy by mail. If the notice is served in person, that window becomes five days. Don’t ignore such a notice — contact your insurance provider as soon as possible to acknowledge receipt and negotiate a plan to bring your payments up to date. (This is one of many reasons it’s important to have a good relationship with your provider.)
Important things to remember:
The most obvious and immediate repercussion of a cancelled auto insurance policy is that you can’t legally drive. Penalties for driving without insurance vary from province to province. In Ontario, fines start at $5,000, with a 25% surcharge by Ontario insurance regulators. Your licence could be suspended for up to a year. In Alberta, the minimum fine is $2,875 but can rocket to $10,000, even for a first offence.
But there’s more:
Keeping up your insurance continuity is the best strategy for managing your premium. If you face financial hardships, be open with your insurance provider before your payment is due and look at contingency plans to keep current.