Amherst’s charm and nature wrap around you here. History and culture meet modern conveniences. There is no wonder anyone calls Amherst home. Just a two-hour drive from Halifax and a 90-minute drive from Stanfield International Airport, it’s just close enough to be perfectly far away. Your insurance can be as unique as your route and your world. At Munn Insurance you can find the most competitive rates for auto insurance in Amherst and save while you’re doing it.
Save on auto insurance in Amherst.
We're one of Amherst's largest independent brokers. We specialize in auto insurance. With a simple online quote or a quick call, you will get quotes from up to eight insurance companies. And with savings of up to 30%, you'll be on the road with Amherst’s best auto protection and benefits. That's a promise.
Save on auto insurance in Amherst.
We're one of Amherst's largest independent brokers. We specialize in auto insurance. With a simple online quote or a quick call, you will get quotes from up to eight insurance companies. And with savings of up to 30%, you'll be on the road with Amherst’s best auto protection and benefits. That's a promise.
Amherst, a modern town based in heritage.
Driving in Amherst – Tips to keep you on the road.
Did you know…
The “blind spot” is the name for the area on either side of a car that is invisible to wing mirrors. However, that isn’t wholly true. Maybe your car’s wing mirrors are just adjusted incorrectly. Put blind spots into full view of your side mirrors when mirrors are adjusted to contain no part of your vehicle. Angle them away from you to the point where your vehicle is no longer visible in either one. Any car that’s passing you on either side will remain in at least one of your mirrors until it enters your field of vision. This adjustment doesn’t eliminate your need to check your blind spots manually, but it is just another form of protection to keep you safe on the roads.
Lights on.
You can reduce your risk of being involved in an accident just by keeping your lights on at all times, including during the day. Drivers, cyclists and pedestrians are less likely to pull out in front of you if they can instantly see the glare of your headlights in a glance. In countries like Canada, Sweden and Finland, all new cars are required to have automatic running lights that stay on at all times. However, if your vehicle is an older model, take a moment and flick on your lights.
Help keep workers safe.
When an emergency vehicle pulled over with its lights flashing, the law is motorists must slow down to 60 km/h or obey the speed limit if it’s lower than 60 km/h. If the road has two or more lanes in one direction, motorists must also move into another lane, if safe to do so, farther away from the stopped vehicle if it can. The driver must obey these laws for emergency and law enforcement vehicles. A fine can be as high as $350 for a first offence, with the potential to go higher.
Impaired driving doesn’t just mean substances.
Driving under the influence of a substance is dangerous and illegal. But what isn’t thought about often is that a severe lack of sleep could also impair you just as much. Any time your mental facilities could be compromised – whether from alcohol, poor sleep, new medication, or even having a horrible cold, take time off the road.
A few facts about auto insurance in Amherst.
- The average age of auto insurance policyholder in Amherst is 37
- The average age of drivers in Amherst is 51
- The number of accident claims in Amherst in 2018 was 1100
- The top automotive brands we insure in Amherst are Honda, Ford, Chevrolet, Toyota, Hyundai, Mazda, Dodge, Volkswagen
- 66% of people in Amherst drive Cars
- 34% of people in Amherst drive Trucks
Facts and myths about Amherst.
Facts
In July, Amherst hosts the Bordertown Biker Bash. It’s an annual motorcycle rally with tours of scenic Nova Scotia, a burnout competition, stunt shows, live music and a live concert.
Every August, Amherst hosts an eight-team little league baseball tournament, featuring four teams from New England.
Russian revolutionary Leon Trotsky was incarcerated at a detention centre in Amherst after he was arrested in Halifax in 1917.
Amherst gained brief notoriety in the late 19th century as the location of alleged poltergeist phenomena afflicting Amherst resident Esther Cox in 1878 and 1879, which became known as the Great Amherst Mystery after the publication of a popular book on the affair.
Myths
People don’t want to live here.
Moneysense Magazine rated Amherst as the best small town in Nova Scotia in their 2017 ranking of the best places to live in Canada. Affordable housing, great health care, and vibrant arts and recreation culture are some of the outstanding features.
There is limited healthcare.
There is the Cumberland Regional Health Care Centre that provides 24-hour emergency room care, diagnostic imaging, cancer care, surgeries, and obstetrics. There is also the Victorian Order of Nurses that offers more than 75 home care, personal support and community services.
It's far away from everything.
An international airport and the urban centre of Moncton are just over a half an hour away. As the second-largest small town in Nova Scotia, Amherst is home to 9,400 residents and another 100,000 people who live within a half-hour drive.
There are limited educational facilities within Amherst.
Amherst is the location of one of Nova Scotia Community College’s campuses. It also has a regional high school, a junior high school and three elementary schools.
We do the shopping. You get the savings.
We do the shopping. You get the savings.
Nova Scotians love choice. And they love saving too! At Munn Insurance, we deliver on both. As an independent insurance broker, we shop our extensive network of insurance partners to provide our Nova Scotia customers with the best coverage at the best rate. Some of the insurance companies we search for our customers include:
How Munn Insurance saves you money.
We work for you – that’s what an insurance broker does. We shop the market on your behalf, so Munn insurance can offer you the most access to the best discounts from our insurance partners.
- Bundling (Auto + Home Discount)
- Multiple Vehicle Discounts
- Experienced Drivers Discount
- Safe Drivers Discount
- Claims-Free Discount
- Loyalty Discount
- And Many More
Combine your home and auto policies and save.
With Munn Insurance, home and auto policies are better together. It means extra savings and additional coverage. So combine them both and receive a discount on both. That’s like a double discount!
Combining also gives you the extra convenience of aligned renewal rates and less paperwork.
You can combine your auto policy with any Munn Insurance home policy for the following dwelling types:
- Private Homes
- Condos
- Tenants
- Cabins/Cottages
- Rented Dwellings
Special discounts and savings with a Munn Insurance group policy.
We recognize the value groups provide to Amherst. First Responders, Health Care Professionals, Alumni Associations, Educators and Instructors all play a vital role in helping others across Nova Scotia. They give so much, and we’re happy to give back. Munn Insurance Preferred Groups in Nova Scotia are able to take advantage of special discounts and many extra-valuable benefits.
- Special Group Discounts
- Mortgage & Real Estate Assistance
- 0% Insurance Financing
- Home Repair Assistance
- Legal Assistance
- Health Assistance
Get Amherst’s best leisure vehicle protection.
Nova Scotians love their leisure time and their leisure vehicles. MyRide Leisure Insurance from Munn Insurance is the most competitive, comprehensive leisure vehicle insurance available in Nova Scotia. Whether it’s your ATV, motorhome, motorcycle – or any of your leisure vehicles – A Munn policy offers more protection and value than any other program you’ll find.
- Boat and Watercraft
- ATV
- Snowmobile
- Classic Cars and Auto
- Motorhome, RV and Trailer
- Motorcycle
Car insurance laws in Amherst.
It is mandatory to have auto insurance for all vehicles in Amherst. The province has enacted “financial responsibility laws” to ensure drivers are accountable for the financial consequences of their actions while on our roads.
Current limits for auto insurance in Amherst are:
- $500,000 liability coverage
- $50,000 medical payments coverage
- $2,500 funeral benefits
- Disability income/death benefits for persons injured or killed in an auto accident
- Uninsured and unidentified driver insurance
Nova Scotia has a no-fault based insurance system. Drivers can file claims with their own insurance company, regardless of who is at fault for the accident. Also, the province does not take age or marital status into account when determining risk.
Amherst car insurance – your questions answered.
In Nova Scotia, who determines auto insurance rates?
Amherst auto insurance rates are determined by individual insurers. The Office of the Superintendent of Insurance then reviews and approves the rates. Nova Scotia auto insurance is also regulated by The Nova Scotia Insurance Review Board, in addition to monitoring rates across the province.
What are the factors used to determine auto insurance rates in Nova Scotia?
A variety of factors are used by Nova Scotia insurers to set auto insurance rates:
- Your gender
- Deductible amount
- Your vehicle’s value
- How you use your vehicle
- Distance you drive each day
- Who else is driving the vehicle
- Type of coverage chosen
- Driving record/claim history of all drivers
- Vehicle type and theft rating
How do auto insurance rates in Nova Scotia compare to other provinces?
Nova Scotia auto insurance premiums fall in the lower half of the national rate spectrum.
- Ontario $1445
- British Columbia $1680
- Alberta $1251
- Manitoba $1080
- North West Territories $978
- Nunavut $963
- Nova Scotia $847
- Saskatchewan $936
- New Brunswick $819
- Prince Edward Island $796
- Quebec $661
Source: Insurance Bureau of Canada, 2017 and 2016 for Quebec
Nova Scotia’s auto insurance rates are low. Why?
Insurance reforms implemented by the Nova Scotia Government in 2003 helped reduce rates by 27%. The reforms also resulted in a wider range of insurance options for consumers.
What can I do to find cheap auto insurance in Amherst?
There are many ways to get cheap auto insurance in Nova Scotia:
- Work with an independent broker who can help you find the best policy
- Always pay your premiums on time
- Choose a vehicle with less susceptibility to theft
- Choose a vehicle with more safety and security features
- Maintain a good driving history
- Obey the rules of the road and avoid speeding tickets
- Understand and choose the right type of insurance coverage
- Shop around for the best policy
Is auto insurance mandatory in Nova Scotia?
Yes, Nova Scotia motorists are required by law to carry insurance on their vehicle.
In Nova Scotia, what are the penalties for driving without auto insurance?
A first offence conviction for driving without auto insurance in Nova Scotia requires payment of a $1000 fine or 45 days in jail. For a second offence the fine is $2000 or 90 days in jail. The third offence results in a $5000 fine or 120 days in jail. Convictions for driving without auto insurance mean you will be identified as a high risk and will be required to pay higher auto insurance rates.
What insurance system does Nova Scotia adhere to?
Nova Scotia’s auto insurance system is a no-fault system. Regardless of who’s at fault, drivers deal with their own insurance company.
How is fault determined by insurance companies in Nova Scotia?
The Automobile Insurance Fault Determination Regulations determine who is at fault in an auto accident in Nova Scotia. Insurers must comply with Section 4 of the regulations. Section 4 states: “An insurer must determine the degree of fault of an insured for loss or damage arising directly or indirectly from the use or operation of an automobile in accordance with these regulations.”
As one of Atlantic Canada’s largest independent brokers, we work for you – not the insurance company. So we always have your best interests at heart. That’s why we will shop around to find you the best insurance at the best price.
Our Latest Advice
National Road Safety Week 2021
National Road Safety Week 2021
Due to the high potential for injury and death, drivers hold a lot of responsibility when operating an automobile. Therefore, it is everyone’s responsibility to take the necessary steps to keep our roads safe; we can do this by understanding and following all respective rules and regulations.
The Canadian Safety Council has designated May 18-24, 2021 as National Road Safety Week. Accordingly, we have compiled a list of 7 road safety practices to help keep our communities safer.
#1 Don’t Drive Impaired.
Driving while under the influence of alcohol and drugs is dangerous and has severe consequences for you and the people around you.
Between 1,250 and 1,500 people are killed, and more than 63,000 are injured each year in Canada by impairment-related crashes.
Do not drive under the influence. Instead, plan ahead – arrange for a designated driver or call a taxi/ride-sharing service.
# 2 Obey the “Move Over” Law
The “Move Over” Law is designed to protect those who drive emergency and other designated vehicles.
Upon approaching emergency vehicles, including tow trucks, that are stopped on a highway with their emergency lights on, drivers must slow down and proceed with caution, and move to another lane if it is safe to do so.
#3 Be Careful in Construction Zones
-Watch for construction zones*
-Use caution
-Slow down
-Obey construction zone signs
-Obey traffic-control personnel
*Remember – Fines double in construction zones.
#4 Zipper Merge
The “zipper merge” is a late merge strategy where all available lanes of traffic are used right up to the lane closure, where drivers then alternate into the open lane.
This looks like teeth on a zipper coming together. It’s faster, safer, and will reduce congestion.
Please do not try to merge before the bottleneck.
# 5 Obey Posted Speed Limits
Always be aware of the posted speed limit of the road you are driving on, and ensure you are abiding by it.
In fact, 27% of traffic fatalities on Canadian roads are the direct result of speeding.
But remember, posted speed limits are set for ideal driving conditions. Therefore, you will need to reduce your speed in unfavourable conditions, such as rain, fog, or snow.
#6 Watch for Wildlife.
Atlantic Canada has a lot of beautiful wildlife; however, these animals can cause havoc on our roadways. Over 45,000 non-fatal collisions with wildlife occur each year.
Most wildlife collisions occur between dawn and dusk in rural areas. So, be sure to watch your speed and scan the environment ahead.
#7 Establish a Reverse Parking Policy at your Office.
Reverse parking is significantly safer and prevents drivers from having to blindly back out of a parking spot.
Rear-end crashes are the most frequently occurring type of collision, accounting for almost 30% of all crashes.
Make your workplace as safe as it can be by preventing employees from driving head-on into a parking spot.
If you have any questions or would like to know more about road safety tips, please reach out to one of our friendly staff members at 1.855.726.862.
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