First of all, it is important to wash your vehicle’s exterior on a regular basis. As temperatures drop and icy weather arrives, roads salt will be used to contribute to the safety of our driving. This material, however can also do a number on your car’s paint job. Furthermore, if there are any areas where rust has occurred, then the paint on your vehicle will be even more likely to experience additional damage. It is also recommended that you include a wax job afterwards, as the wax acts as a barrier by deterring the buildup of dirt, mud, water and snow, and of course, salt.

As for the interior, snow, water, and salt can also work their way into the inside of the vehicle and in turn can cause additional wear and tear to your vehicle’s upholstery. In order to avoid causing this type of damage to the interior of your vehicle, it is ideal to clean it regularly and remove any salt and snow before it leaves a deeper stain. For added protection against these elements, you can use rubber, all-weather mats to help keep the interior in good condition throughout the winter months.

Another method of protecting your car during the winter is to consider installing winter tires. While these can be a bit more expensive than other tires, this can also be seen as a bit of an investment in your vehicle and your safety. Not only do these tires help grip the roads in slippery conditions, and you can then also steer and break more effectively. In the end, with winter tires you are less likely to get stuck in deeper snow and yet can have more peace of mind that your vehicle will get you where you need to go – and as safely as possible.

Next on the list is the windshield wipers. While windshield wipers serve an important purpose all year round, they are likely to see a lot more action during the winter time. With that said, it is important to make sure your wipers are in good working order as the last thing you want is to not have them do their job, if you find you are driving in inclement weather.

Another essential protective measure is to ensure you are keeping your vehicle’s wiper fluid topped up. That said, the type of wiper fluid you choose is also important and can depend on the temperatures in your area. However, it is Canada after all, and while we can never know from one moment to another, how mild or how frigid our winters will be, it is none-the-less, a good preventative step to use a wiper fluid that is designed to support colder weather. These steps can ultimately help to improve the safety of your driving as well as protect your vehicle during the winter season.

When all is said and done, even if you do have your vehicle in good working order, it won’t matter if you are not driving smartly. In order to protect yourself and your car during winter driving it is equally important to approach this with safety in mind. For example, when roads are slippery, remember to drive with caution and awareness, and this can include, braking sooner and leaving extra space between the other vehicles and yourself. By being even more alert when driving on wintery roads, this can help protect your vehicle as well as others around you.

When it comes right down to it, a large part of protecting your vehicle and yourself while driving all year round has to do with having the proper insurance. Especially during winter, this can become even more critical.

Feel free to contact Leaders Insurance to find out more about how we can contribute to your approach to safe driving, as well as to help you protect your vehicle while you are out on the roads this winter.

Despite recent challenges in the worldwide economy – including fighting the effects of the coronavirus – the insurance industry remains resilient. While many insurers are looking for a way to achieve efficient spending, many also proactively invest in things like enhanced customer experience through digitalization and AI, and alternative product development.

In Canada, the insurance market has had a positive impact from the global rise in technology, with more than 60 percent of millennials in Canada believing in the safety of online insurance information. This opens up many possibilities for insurers to focus on a growing market, while taking into account the changing economy and shift in consumer priorities.

Let’s take a look at some of the current trends in Canada’s insurance market.

With Generation Y being the largest demographic in Canada, it also represents a large pool of consumers for insurers to target. However, according to KPMG, insurers need to change their approach if they want to target Canada’s millennials. Specifically, the focus should be on flexible insurance products and short-term solutions.

But to do this, data collection requires a complete re-think and this includes privacy protection and data security. The aim is to have real-time data that drives user-specific risk profiles.

One key element to the success of insurance companies this year and beyond, is the ability to collect and harness data on Canadians – specifically younger generations. It’s important for insurers to understand how they shift their priorities in order to create products that will support their modern lifestyles.

Chris Cornell, KMPG partner and national insurance sector leader, says, ‘Providing short-term, complementary, and personalised products means that Canadian insurance companies will need much stronger data collection and analysis tools.’ This could also lead to the ability for insurance providers to offer lower premiums while reducing their exposure to claims.

The insurance industry is home to a high level of competition and saturated areas such as home and motor insurance especially sees a lot of competitors competing for these markets. This means that to gain an edge, insurance companies need to differentiate themselves.

One way this can be achieved is by forming strategic alliances – which is different from an acquisition or merger. These alliances are common strategy among Canadian CEOs and it represents an arrangement between two providers or organizations to work together on a project while also having the ability to cut ties should it not work for either party.