Hi,
I have a question regarding insurance coverage. Lets say an individual buys a used car from a private seller on a weekend. The new owner puts the plates from his old car which are valid (perfectly legal for 6 days) but doesn't call the insurance company because they are closed. Is the newly purchased car insured since the old car was properly insured?

No, I believe that just applies to the plates. And for that to be true, you can't still own the old car that the plates used to be on.

Automobile insurance is provided to a specific vehicle and driver(s). Plates are not insured, at least not under this type of insurance.

You can register/attach old plates to a newly bought vehicle, even if you still own the old vehicle, however, the old vehicle's ownership (registration/permit) should indicate that the vehicle is unplated and the plates registered as unattached.

If you do what you suggest, you could be liable to be charged with more than just one offence.

Cheers.

Seriously? You just advised him to commit the offence of driving with plates not authorized for his vehicle. That's a no set fine offence and it's arrestable.

The HTA has no provision for allowing you to attach "unattached" plates to a new vehicle. The only thing you can do is attach the plates from an old vehicle, of a similar type (that you no longer own), to a new vehicle for 6 days following the purchase.

You should be careful about giving incorrect advice on this forum.

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Former Police Officer, Law Student, and aspiring Criminal Lawyer
http://www.SimonBorys.ca - Bio and Blog

NOTHING I SAY ON HERE IS APPROVED BY ANY POLICE SERVICE, NOR IS IT LEGAL ADVICE.

I think to answer cruzmisl's original question... I believe that if you have insurance on your old vehicle, it's valid on a new purchase for 14 days. But check with an insurance company first...

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* The above is NOT legal advice. It is an opinion only. By acting on anything I have said, you assume full responsibility for any outcome and its consequences. *
http://www.OntarioTicket.com OR http://www.OHTA.ca OR http://www.OntarioTrafficAct.com

Thanks!