Manitoba Car Accident Claims: MPI, PIPP Benefits, and AICAC Appeals

Manitoba runs a pure no-fault system through Manitoba Public Insurance (MPI), so injured drivers and passengers claim benefits under the Personal Injury Protection Plan (PIPP) rather than suing another driver for their injuries, which the law does not allow for an accident in Manitoba.

Information last verified on 2026-09-24. This article has not yet been reviewed by a licensed lawyer.

This article covers motor vehicle accident claims in Manitoba under The Manitoba Public Insurance Corporation Act, CCSM c P215, and the Highway Traffic Act, CCSM c H60. It does not cover claims in other provinces; see the Canada car accident claims hub for a comparison of every province's system.

Manitoba's No-Fault Model: MPI and PIPP

Manitoba Public Insurance is the province's public monopoly auto insurer, operating under the brand name Autopac. Injury benefits are paid through the Personal Injury Protection Plan, which MPI describes directly as a creature of statute:

"Manitoba's Personal Injury Protection Plan (PIPP) is Manitoba law... The Manitoba Public Insurance Corporation Act and its regulations set out types of coverage and eligibility for benefits." (MPI, Personal Injury Protection Plan: Your Guide, PDF)

The Act makes the bar on suing explicit: "Notwithstanding the provisions of any other Act, compensation under this Part stands in lieu of all rights and remedies arising out of bodily injuries to which this Part applies and no action in that respect may be admitted before any court." (MPIC Act, s.72)

The one exception is about location. A person entitled to PIPP for "an accident that occurred outside Manitoba" may use any remedy available under the law of the place of the accident "for compensation in excess of the compensation received under this Part" (s.76(1)).

This is not the same structure as British Columbia, or Alberta's Care-First system once it is in force, where a driver convicted of certain Criminal Code offences opens up a right for the injured person to sue that driver directly. In Manitoba, the confirmed statutory mechanism runs the other way: a Criminal Code conviction affects the CONVICTED person's own benefits, not a third party's right to sue them. MPI states that a person convicted of offences including auto theft, flight from a peace officer, theft of a stolen motor vehicle, or taking a motor vehicle without consent has all PIPP benefits terminated, and that other Criminal Code offences reduce income replacement for the first 12 months. This is a benefit-forfeiture rule aimed at the wrongdoer's own claim. It does not open a right to sue.

PIPP Benefit Amounts (Effective April 1, 2026)

The figures below come from MPI's Personal Injury Protection Plan benefits page, which lists them as effective April 1, 2026 and whose metadata shows it was last modified April 23, 2026.

These figures apply for the 2026 benefit year. MPI and Saskatchewan Government Insurance both index death and injury benefit schedules annually, on Manitoba's side effective each April 1, so a fresh figure should be expected the following April.

Reporting a Claim and Disputing a Decision

A claim starts with reporting the accident to MPI. The Act sets a deadline for the claim itself: "a claim for compensation under this Part shall be made (a) within two years after the day of the accident; or (b) if symptoms of a bodily injury that is not apparent immediately after the accident are observed by a practitioner within two years after the day of the accident, within two years after the day on which the observation is first made by the practitioner" (MPIC Act, s.141(1)). A claim based on a death must be made within two years after the death, a claimant who was a minor has until two years after turning 18, and MPI may extend a time limit if the claimant has a reasonable excuse (s.141(2) to (4)).

If MPI's decision on a claim is unfavourable, the process has two further steps, confirmed by both MPI's own guide and the Manitoba government's AICAC page.

First, an internal Review. MPI's PIPP guide states: "You have 60 days from the date you received a letter informing you of our decision to ask for it to be reviewed."

Second, an appeal to the Automobile Injury Compensation Appeal Commission if the Review outcome is still unsatisfactory. MPI's PIPP guide states: "You have 90 days from the date you receive a review decision to file an appeal with the Automobile Injury Compensation Appeal Commission." The Act sets the same 60-day and 90-day limits (MPIC Act, ss.172(1) and 174(1)). The Manitoba government's own AICAC page confirms the same 90-day window: "You are entitled, within 90 days from the day you receive an MPIC Internal Review Decision, or within such further time as AICAC may allow, to file your Notice of Appeal with AICAC."

AICAC is a separate body from MPI, not an internal escalation. The government describes it directly: "The Automobile Injury Compensation Appeal Commission (AICAC) is the appeal body...AICAC is an independent agency established by the Manitoba Government and is completely separate from MPIC."

Limitation Period for Claims Outside PIPP

The two-year PIPP claim deadline above is the one that matters for most injured people. For the narrow category of claims that can still be litigated outside PIPP, The Limitations Act, SM 2021, c 44, which took effect September 30, 2022 and replaced the older Limitation of Actions Act, sets a 2-year discoverability period and a 15-year ultimate limit. The Act states: "Unless this Act provides otherwise, a proceeding respecting a claim must not be commenced more than two years after the day the claim is discovered," and separately establishes a maximum limitation period of 15 years, which begins to run on the day the event giving rise to the claim takes place. A source citing the old Limitation of Actions Act, or a limitation period other than these two figures, is citing law that was superseded in September 2022.

Driving Without Insurance: The Real Penalty

The Highway Traffic Act prohibits driving an uninsured vehicle under s.226(1). The penalty is set by reference to the Act's general penalty provision, s.239(1), which the current consolidation states as "a fine of not more than $2,000" on summary conviction. If a person convicted under s.226(1) does not pay the fine in time, s.226(9)(a) suspends all registrations and number plates issued to the person until the fine and costs are paid. The licence suspension in s.226(9)(b) applies to a different offence, driving without a driver's certificate of insurance under s.226(2).

A claim that circulates commercially, that Manitoba impounds an uninsured driver's vehicle for up to three months, could not be confirmed against the Act's own text. The Highway Traffic Act's mandatory-impoundment provision, s.242.1(1.1), is triggered by grounds such as driving while suspended or prohibited, restricted-licence contraventions, and impaired-driving grounds such as a blood alcohol concentration of 80 mg or more or refusing a demand, not by a bare uninsured-driving conviction under s.226. A separate impoundment provision, s.242.4(2), applies to street racing and seizes a vehicle for 7 days; it is also unrelated to insurance status. No provision was found tying automatic vehicle impoundment to a simple s.226 uninsured-driving conviction. Readers should rely on the confirmed penalty, a fine up to $2,000 with registrations and plates suspended if it goes unpaid, rather than the impoundment claim.

For other traffic offences after a collision, see Careless Driving vs. Dangerous Driving in Canada and Fighting a Traffic Ticket in Canada.

Disclaimer: This article provides general information about Manitoba's motor vehicle accident benefit and claims system under The Manitoba Public Insurance Corporation Act, CCSM c P215, and the Highway Traffic Act, CCSM c H60, current as of September 2026. It is not legal advice. Benefit amounts and limitation periods can change; confirm current figures directly with MPI or AICAC, or consult a lawyer licensed in Manitoba for advice on your specific situation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I sue another driver for my injuries after a car accident in Manitoba?

No, for an accident in Manitoba. The Manitoba Public Insurance Corporation Act says PIPP compensation stands in lieu of all rights and remedies for bodily injury and no action may be admitted before any court (s.72). If the accident happened outside Manitoba, you may claim the excess under the law of the place of the accident (s.76). Manitoba does not offer the tort-option election that Saskatchewan offers its drivers.

How much does PIPP pay for lost income?

PIPP pays income replacement based on 90% of net income, subject to a maximum insurable gross yearly income of $123,000 and a 7-day waiting period, per MPI's PIPP benefits page, effective April 1, 2026.

What do I do if I disagree with an MPI decision on my claim?

Request an internal Review within 60 days of the decision letter. If the Review outcome is still unsatisfactory, you can appeal to the Automobile Injury Compensation Appeal Commission (AICAC) within 90 days of the Review decision. AICAC is independent of MPI.

Does Manitoba impound the vehicle of an uninsured driver for three months?

This specific claim could not be confirmed against the Highway Traffic Act. The Act's impoundment provisions apply to grounds such as driving while suspended or prohibited, impaired driving and street racing, not to a bare uninsured-driving offence under s.226, which instead carries a fine of not more than $2,000, with registrations and plates suspended if the fine goes unpaid.

How long do I have to bring a claim outside PIPP in Manitoba?

A PIPP claim itself must be made within two years of the accident, or of when a practitioner first observes symptoms that were not apparent at first (MPIC Act s.141). For claims outside PIPP, The Limitations Act, SM 2021, c 44, in force since September 30, 2022, sets a 2-year discoverability period and a 15-year ultimate limitation for most claims.