A new higher tech one-part driver’s licence and new, multi-year Autopac renewal system are now available for Manitobans, Manitoba Public Insurance President/CEO Marilyn McLaren announced.
“The one-piece driver’s licence will improve customer service by eliminating the current two-part licence, bringing Manitoba in line with other North American jurisdictions,” said McLaren.
This new durable licence card will be made of sophisticated tamper-proof material and will comply with the standards set out in the Canadian Driver’s Licence Agreement.
Manitobans who apply for or renew a drivers’ licence will receive Manitoba’s new one-piece driver’s licence. Those Manitobans who wish to obtain the new, one-piece licence before their renewal date can make a special application and pay a $10 replacement fee.
All Manitoba drivers will be fully converted to the new, one-piece drivers’ licence by Feb. 28, 2011, explained McLaren.
Multi-year renewal
The new, multi-year renewal program will mean that drivers and vehicle owners will be required to visit their Autopac agent only once every five years, unless they want to make a change to their policy.
The new multi-year system was implemented after customer surveys reported that the majority of Autopac customers ─ 80 per cent ─ made no changes to their policy.
“Our new, multi-year renewal process will make it more convenient for customers to renew,” said McLaren. “With vehicle insurance, drivers licence and identification cards in effect for up to five years, customers will only need to renew in person once every five years, instead of having to make a yearly visit to an Autopac agent or MPI Service Centre.
“Customers will still pay for their licence and insurance annually. However, in the years in between renewals, customers will have additional payment options such as online payments for added convenience.”
In order to stagger renewals over a five year period, not all customers will be placed on a five year renewal cycle when they transition to multi-year renewals. Instead most customers’ policies and drivers’ licenses will expire on their existing licence photo card expiry date.
With documents initially expiring anywhere from one to five years, it will take four years until everyone is on the full, five year renewal cycle, explained McLaren.
In their renewal year, customers will need to attend their Autopac agent to renew their driver’s licence, policies, and identification cards. In between renewal years customers will continue to be insured by simply making a payment or allowing their financing to continue. For customer convenience E-payments and telephone banking will be available in between renewals.
The validation stickers on plates will change due to multi-year renewals. The day sticker will be replaced by a month sticker and will be placed on the left side of the plate. The month/year sticker will be replaced with a year sticker and will be placed on the right side.
The new validation stickers will be good for up to five years and will be replaced every five years at renewal.
If Manitobans have any questions, regarding the new one-piece drivers’ licence, enhanced drivers’ licence or multi-year renewal system, they are encouraged to visit their Autopac agent.
Enhanced Drivers’ Licence
Manitoba drivers will also have the option of obtaining a new enhanced drivers licence, which is a photo identification card that denotes identity and citizenship, effective today. The new enhanced drivers’ licence ─ which can be used instead of a passport ─ meets entry requirements for travelling to the U.S. (by land and water only).
Those cardholders wishing to exchange their enhanced identification card for an enhanced drivers’ licence can do so at no extra charge upon their first renewal date, upon presentation of their enhanced identification card and drivers’ licence.
“For those licence holders who don’t have an enhanced identification card, but want an enhanced drivers’ licence, they can do so at an additional charge of $30,” said McLaren.
