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slug: canada/nunavut-hit-and-run-laws cluster: canada-hitrun title: Nunavut Hit and Run Laws (2025) meta_description: Nunavut hit and run laws explained: territorial Motor Vehicles Act duties, Criminal Code s. 320.16, RCMP reporting, and insurance for victims. primary_keyword: nunavut hit and run laws secondary_keywords:

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• leaving scene of accident Nunavut
• Motor Vehicles Act Nunavut accident reporting
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Nunavut Hit and Run Laws (2025)

A driver involved in an accident in Nunavut must stop, remain at the scene, provide their name and address, and offer assistance to anyone injured. Failing to do so without reasonable excuse is both a territorial offence under the Motor Vehicles Act, RSNWT 1988, c M-16, as duplicated for Nunavut, and a federal criminal offence under section 320.16 of the Criminal Code.

Information last verified on 2026-06-07. This article has not yet been reviewed by a licensed lawyer.

Jurisdiction scope: This article addresses hit-and-run law in Nunavut under the Motor Vehicles Act, RSNWT 1988, c M-16, as duplicated for Nunavut, and the federal Criminal Code, RSC 1985, c C-46, s 320.16. It does not address Northwest Territories, Yukon, or provincial law. For the national overview, see Canadian hit and run laws.

For a side-by-side comparison of every province and territory, visit the Canada hit and run laws hub.

The territorial duty to stop after an accident

The Motor Vehicles Act, RSNWT 1988, c M-16, as duplicated for Nunavut, imposes a duty on every driver involved in a collision to stop at or near the scene, render reasonable assistance, and give their name, address, and the name and address of the registered owner of the vehicle to any person injured and to the driver of any other vehicle involved. These obligations apply regardless of fault. A driver who leaves the scene without fulfilling them commits a territorial offence and may face fines, demerit points, and licence suspension under the Act. The territorial regime operates independently of and in addition to any federal criminal prosecution, so a single incident of leaving the scene can give rise to both a territorial ticket and a Criminal Code charge.

The duty to report applies when an accident results in injury or death, or when property damage exceeds the territorial threshold under the Act. Because Nunavut does not have a public insurer or a collision-reporting centre, drivers must report qualifying accidents directly to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), the police service responsible for all communities across the territory. Drivers should preserve the scene to the extent possible, note the other vehicle's make, model, colour, and licence plate, and collect contact information from witnesses before reporting.

The Motor Vehicles Act as duplicated for Nunavut reflects the law that existed in the Northwest Territories on 1 April 1999, when Nunavut was created as a separate territory under the Nunavut Act, SC 1993, c 28. The Nunavut Legislation Division publishes the Act on the Nunavut legislation website as part of the existing law created with Nunavut.

Federal law: Criminal Code s. 320.16

The primary federal hit-and-run offence is section 320.16 of the Criminal Code, RSC 1985, c C-46, which came into force on 18 December 2018 as part of SC 2018, c 21 (formerly Bill C-46). That Act repealed the former s. 252 (failure to stop at scene of accident) in its entirety. Any legal guide that still references s. 252 as a live provision is out of date.

Section 320.16(1) provides that everyone commits an offence who operates a conveyance and who, at the time of operating the conveyance, knows that, or is reckless as to whether, the conveyance has been involved in an accident with a person or another conveyance, and who fails, without reasonable excuse, to stop the conveyance, give their name and address and, if any person has been injured or appears to require assistance, offer assistance.

"fails, without reasonable excuse, to stop the conveyance, give their name and address and, if any person has been injured or appears to require assistance, offer assistance" Source: Criminal Code, RSC 1985, c C-46, s 320.16(1)

The term "conveyance" is defined in s. 320.11 to include a motor vehicle, vessel, aircraft, or railway equipment, giving s. 320.16 a broader reach than the old s. 252, which referred separately to "vehicle, vessel or aircraft."

Mens rea: knowledge or recklessness, not a presumption

A critical point under current law is that s. 320.16 is structured around knowledge or recklessness. The Crown must prove that the driver knew or was reckless as to whether the conveyance was involved in an accident. The old s. 252(2) contained an evidentiary presumption: failing to stop was, in the absence of evidence to the contrary, proof of intent to escape civil or criminal liability. That subsection was repealed when s. 252 was repealed in 2018. Section 320.16 contains no equivalent presumption. A driver who genuinely did not know an accident had occurred, and was not reckless in failing to appreciate it, has a factual basis on which to contest the charge.

Section 320.16(1) also preserves a defence of "reasonable excuse," which is a fact-specific question for the trier of fact.

Penalties under the Criminal Code

The three tiers of penalty under s. 320.16 track the severity of injury:

For the bodily harm and death tiers, mandatory minimums apply under ss. 320.2 and 320.21: a fine of not less than $1,000 for a first offence, 30 days imprisonment for a second offence, and 120 days imprisonment for each subsequent offence.

On summary conviction for the no-injury tier, the maximum is 2 years less a day. There is no mandatory minimum for the basic s. 320.16(1) offence alone (s. 320.19(5)).

A conviction under s. 320.16 results in a criminal record. In Nunavut, where communities are small, remote, and tightly connected, a criminal record carries significant consequences for employment, travel, and community standing. The collateral effects of a hit-and-run conviction extend well beyond the sentence itself.

Reporting to police and what to expect

Because Nunavut does not operate collision-reporting centres, drivers must contact the RCMP detachment for their community to satisfy the reporting duty after a qualifying accident. The RCMP serves as the sole police service across Nunavut, covering Iqaluit, Rankin Inlet, Cambridge Bay, Arviat, Baker Lake, and all other communities throughout the territory. A driver who reports promptly, before any investigation begins, is in a materially different legal position than one who is located later.

When reporting a hit-and-run as a victim, provide the RCMP with as much detail as possible:

• Date, time, and precise location of the accident
• Direction of travel and description of the fleeing vehicle (make, model, colour, licence plate)
• Names and contact information of any witnesses
• Photographs of the scene, damage, and any debris left by the fleeing vehicle
• Any surveillance camera locations nearby

The RCMP report number is required when making an insurance claim for damage caused by an unidentified driver. Obtain the report number before contacting your insurer.

Nunavut's geography presents practical challenges. Many accidents occur in remote areas without cellular coverage. Drivers should use a satellite communicator or emergency radio in communities or on routes where cellular service is unavailable, and should report to the nearest RCMP detachment as soon as it is reasonably practicable to do so.

Insurance for hit-and-run victims in Nunavut

Nunavut operates a private insurance market regulated under the Insurance Act, RSNWT 1988, c I-4, as duplicated for Nunavut. There is no territorial crown insurer (such as ICBC in British Columbia or MPI in Manitoba) that absorbs hit-and-run claims. The path to compensation for victims depends on the insurance coverage the victim holds.

Uninsured automobile coverage

Every standard auto policy in Nunavut includes uninsured automobile coverage, governed by the Uninsured Automobile Coverage Regulations made under the Insurance Act. These regulations require that every motor vehicle liability policy include coverage for bodily injury sustained by the insured where the at-fault vehicle cannot be identified, as in a hit-and-run. A police report to the RCMP is a standard condition precedent to making a claim under uninsured automobile coverage for an unidentified driver.

Facility Association

Facility Association is the industry-funded insurer of last resort that operates in Nunavut, as confirmed on its website. Facility Association provides coverage in the residual market for drivers who cannot obtain standard insurance, and it also administers uninsured automobile claims in jurisdictions without a dedicated public fund. A person injured by a hit-and-run driver who carries no auto insurance, or who cannot access their own policy, may pursue a claim through Facility Association. A police report to the RCMP is required to support that claim.

Collision (own damage) coverage

Property damage to the victim's vehicle caused by an unidentified driver is typically handled under the victim's own collision coverage, subject to the applicable deductible. Uninsured automobile coverage in most Canadian private-market territories covers bodily injury but not property damage caused by an unidentified driver, so collision coverage is the relevant first-party coverage for vehicle damage in a hit-and-run.

Watch out: Uninsured automobile coverage requires that the victim report the hit-and-run to police before making a claim. Failure to report promptly to the RCMP can void coverage under your policy. Review the conditions section of your policy and contact your insurer as soon as possible after the incident.

What drivers commonly get wrong

Several misunderstandings arise regularly in hit-and-run cases across Canada, including Nunavut:

The presumption is gone. Many online guides still describe a legal presumption that leaving the scene proves intent to escape liability. That presumption existed in old s. 252(2) and was repealed in 2018. Under current s. 320.16, the Crown must prove the driver's knowledge or recklessness. The presumption does not carry forward.

Both regimes apply. A driver who leaves the scene of a minor accident can face both a territorial offence ticket under the Motor Vehicles Act and a federal criminal charge under s. 320.16 if the Crown elects to proceed. The territorial ticket does not immunise the driver from criminal prosecution, and the two proceedings are separate.

The duty to offer assistance is mandatory. Section 320.16(1) explicitly requires a driver to offer assistance "if any person has been injured or appears to require assistance." A driver who stops and gives their name but then leaves without offering assistance where someone is visibly injured has not fully complied with the provision.

Remote locations do not excuse non-reporting. Nunavut's geography is vast and communities are widely separated. Distance is not a "reasonable excuse" for failing to report a qualifying accident. Drivers must use whatever means of communication are available, including satellite devices, to satisfy the reporting obligation in communities or areas without cellular coverage.

s. 252 is repealed. The federal Criminal Code provision governing hit-and-run was s. 252 until 18 December 2018. It was repealed by SC 2018, c 21. Section 320.16 is the current provision. Citing s. 252 in any legal document filed after 2018 is citing a dead provision.

Frequently asked questions

Where to get help

If you have been involved in a hit-and-run accident in Nunavut, whether as a driver or a victim, you should consult a lawyer licensed to practise in Nunavut as soon as possible. For insurance claims, contact your insurer or broker immediately, report to the nearest RCMP detachment, and obtain a police report number before the claim is filed.

For a national comparison of how each province and territory handles these offences, see the Canada hit and run laws hub. For the United States framework, see the US hit and run laws guide.

Disclaimer

This article provides general legal information about hit-and-run law in Nunavut. It is not legal advice and does not create a lawyer-client relationship. The law described reflects statutes in force as of 2026-06-07. Laws change, and individual circumstances vary. You should consult a lawyer licensed to practise in Nunavut for advice about your specific situation.

Authorities cited

1. Criminal Code, RSC 1985, c C-46, s 320.16 (Failure to stop after accident, current provision, in force 2018-12-18). https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/C-46/section-320.16.html
2. Criminal Code, RSC 1985, c C-46, s 320.11 (Definition of conveyance: motor vehicle, vessel, aircraft, or railway equipment). https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/C-46/page-47.html
3. Criminal Code, RSC 1985, c C-46, ss 320.19(5) and 320.2 (Punishment: no injury up to 10 years; bodily harm up to 14 years with mandatory minimums). https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/C-46/page-47.html
4. Criminal Code, RSC 1985, c C-46, s 320.21 (Punishment in case of death: up to life imprisonment; straight indictable). https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/C-46/section-320.21.html
5. Criminal Code, RSC 1985, c C-46, s 252 (repealed SC 2018, c 21, s 14; former failure to stop provision). https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/C-46/section-252.html
6. SC 2018, c 21, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (offences relating to conveyances), ss 14-15 (repealing s. 252 and enacting Part VIII.1 including s. 320.16; Royal Assent 2018-06-21; in force 2018-12-18). https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/annualstatutes/2018_21/FullText.html
7. Motor Vehicles Act, RSNWT 1988, c M-16, as duplicated for Nunavut (territorial duty to stop, render assistance, and report accidents). https://www.nunavutlegislation.ca/en/media/597
8. Insurance Act, RSNWT 1988, c I-4, as duplicated for Nunavut (regulation of private auto insurance market in Nunavut). https://www.nunavutlegislation.ca/en/media/545
9. Uninsured Automobile Coverage Regulations, RSNWT 1988, c M-16 (Reg), as duplicated for Nunavut (mandatory uninsured automobile coverage in standard auto policies). https://www.nunavutlegislation.ca/en/media/1215
10. Facility Association, Operating jurisdictions page (confirms Nunavut is a Facility Association jurisdiction). https://www.facilityassociation.com
11. Justice Canada, Legislative background: Bill C-46 Part VIII.1 overview (s. 320.16 is the failure-to-stop offence). https://www.justice.gc.ca/eng/cj-jp/sidl-rlcfa/c46/p4.html

Related articles

• Canada hit and run laws
• US hit and run laws
• Northwest Territories hit and run laws
• Yukon hit and run laws

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Last updated: 2026-06-07. Statutes cited reflect their in-force version as of 2026-06-07.