In response to “higher-than-normal” demand for more Class 5 road tests, Manitoba Public Insurance (MPI) is opening two of its largest centres on Sundays.
Starting September 11, road test services will be offered on Sundays at the Bison Drive Service Centre and the Gateway Road Service Centre. MPI said that customers can start booking their appointments online starting August 31.
“We recognize the need for more Class 5 road tests,” said MPI vice president and chief customer officer Satvir Jatana. “Our long treacherous winter filled with numerous road closures and appointment cancellations, coupled with backlog from COVID-19 has fueled the longer wait-times for testing. Our team is deploying multiple initiatives to alleviate this backlog and give more access to road test.”
The Crown corporation – which handles Manitoba’s Autopac public auto insurance, driver licensing, and motor vehicle registration – also announced that it will be adding additional resources on top of the business day extension. The insurer has hired up to 20 new examiners, is offering paid overtime to employees working on days off and has provided overtime hours to rural driving testers working in Winnipeg on days off.
“Our team remains committed to serving our customers, and we are working diligently to address this backlog and increase demand by adding additional testing capacity,” explained Jatana. “We would encourage all those who are coming in for testing to schedule road tests only when they have obtained adequate professional training and driving experience.”
MPI has offered a reminder that only road test services will be available on Sundays; customers who complete the test will be provided documentation to be brought to either an Autopac agent or an MPI Service Centre during normal business hours for the remaining licensing processing.
Last month, MPI warned motorists in Manitoba that there has been a rash of catalytic converter theft in the province. The insurer said that about 150 catalytic converter theft-related insurance claims reported monthly since 2021, and that thefts peaked in April 2022, when reported cases on that month hit over 300.
