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What is minor conviction protection?
This article was updated February, 2026.
QUICK TAKEAWAYS:
- A minor conviction like not stopping at a stop sign or following too closely can come with a small penalty from your insurer – or a larger one, if you have multiple minor convictions.
- A minor conviction protection endorsement (also known as “ticket protection”) protects you from an insurance hike after a minor conviction.
- Minor conviction protection is different from accident forgiveness: While both protect you from minor mishaps, accident forgiveness coverage is offered by most major insurers, and drivers will still have to pay their deductibles for any repairs.
- Minor conviction protection/ticket protection is offered by CAA, Sonnet, and Aviva – but their exact coverage details vary.
Speeding or failing to signal before a lane change may seem like small offences, but if you're handed one of these “minor convictions,” you could be facing a slightly higher car insurance premium upon renewal.
Unless, however, you opt to buy minor conviction protection, an optional add-on that protects you from rate hikes resulting from these small offences. This product may also be called ticket protection, depending on the insurer.
What is a minor conviction?
A minor conviction is anything that is not significant enough to be considered a “major conviction” (for example, distracted driving or failing to report an accident) or a “criminal conviction” (like impaired driving or racing).
Minor convictions can include:
- Speeding tickets for up to 45km/h over the posted speed limit (though the precise cut-off from minor to major speeding will vary)
- Failing to wear a seatbelt
- Not stopping at stop signs
- Following too closely
- Failing to produce a licence or proof of insurance (not to be confused with driving without insurance)
- Driving the wrong way on a one-way street
- Blocking a bike lane
- Having an outdated inspection sticker
- Failing to signal
- Obstructing licence plate
- Failing to give right-of-way
A single minor conviction might not impact your insurance too much, especially if it’s your first one. It might remove a discount, for example. However, multiple minor convictions can add up, leading up to an increase of up to 20% of your insurance premium.
Read more: Major or minor traffic conviction — What’s the difference?
What is minor conviction protection coverage?
A minor conviction endorsement is an insurance endorsement that can be added to an existing car insurance policy to ensure that your insurance company will not raise your insurance premium after your first minor conviction with this coverage.
Because it is available as an add-on to your insurance policy, it costs you extra money for this coverage.
Keep in mind that any minor convictions after the first one will be counted against your insurance premium and could increase your rate. After a few years with a clean record, you may be able eligible to purchase minor conviction protection again; however, it is best to check with your insurance provider for their specific coverage details.
Related: Should you pay a traffic ticket or fight it? How both options will impact your insurance
Is accident forgiveness the same as minor protection coverage?
While both accident forgiveness and minor protection coverage provide an extra layer of protection for drivers, they are different and have their own terms and conditions.
Accident forgiveness is an add-on endorsement offered by many insurers that guarantees that your car insurance rate won’t increase after your first at-fault accident. This feature is not automatically included in your policy. You need to add it separately at an extra cost.
In the case of an accident, while your premiums won’t rise, you may still have to pay your insurance deductible for vehicle repairs.
Read more: When won’t an at-fault collision impact your car insurance rate?
How can I get minor conviction protection?
Not all insurance providers offer minor conviction protection. CAA, Sonnet Insurance and Aviva provide variations of this add-on.
Every insurance company has different requirements for minor conviction protection. Some insurance companies may not offer this endorsement for drivers in all provinces. For example, Sonnet’s ticket forgiveness endorsement is not available in Quebec or New Brunswick.
Some companies may require customers to have been continuously insured and driving for the a certain number of years with no at-fault accidents on their record, be continuously licensed for the past 10 years and have no minor, major, serious, or criminal code conviction within the past three years.
The cost for minor conviction protection also varies from driver to driver and provider to provider. Generally, the longer you’ve been licensed, the cheaper this coverage will be.
Related: If you live in Ontario or Alberta, consider these auto insurance endorsements
The limitations of minor conviction protection
Anne Marie Thomas, director of consumer and industry relations at the Insurance Bureau of Canada, says that each insurance company has their own “underwriting rules and rates.” So not all companies will offer the same protection programs.
Here’s another caveat: While one company may offer minor conviction protection and forgive your first minor conviction, if you switch insurers, that forgiveness doesn’t follow you. The new company can count your first minor conviction against you if it’s still on your record — and your premium will reflect that.
The same can happen if you move provinces and your insurance provider doesn’t offer minor conviction protection in that region.
“You can think of it as your company might have forgiven it, but your driving record hasn’t forgotten it,” Thomas says.
If you are in Ontario, you can check your driving record to see if you might be eligible for minor conviction protection.
And if you find that your rate does increase after a minor conviction, it’s in your best interest to compare car insurance rates to see if another provider is willing to offer you a lower premium.
Read next: Here are the changes coming to Ontario auto insurance in 2026
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Sabina Wex, Freelance writer
Sabina Wex is a writer and podcast producer in Toronto.
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