How Does a Suspended Licence Affect Auto Insurance in Alberta?

A driver’s licence is legal authority to drive the classes of vehicle permitted by that licence. In Alberta, it is illegal to drive while the licence is suspended or the driver is disqualified. Licence status also matters to automobile insurance because Alberta’s standard owner’s policy expressly prohibits an insured from driving while the insured’s licence, or right to obtain a licence, is suspended. That does not mean every licensing problem automatically produces the same insurance result. The effect on a particular claim depends on the policy, the statutory conditions, who was driving, the type of coverage being claimed and the facts of the loss. Alberta issues different classes of driver’s licence for different vehicles and driving privileges.