Most and least expensive Ontario cities to buy car insurance revealed
Ontario has some of the highest car insurance rates in the country, but for the first time in a long time premiums are actually coming down.
"It's definitely good news," Tanisha Kishan, insurance expert with RatesDotCa, told CTV News Toronto.
With so many people still working from home during the second year of the pandemic and traffic remaining light on many highways, car insurance premiums in Ontario have dropped an average of 3.8 per cent.
"A lot less vehicles on the road equals a lot less claims, which translates into premium decreases for consumers," Kishan said.
According to RatesDotCa, the average Ontario auto insurance premium in 2020 was $1,616. Last year it dropped to $1,555, a 3.8 per cent decrease.
The City of Brampton, which has long held the title as the most expensive city in Ontario to insure a car, saw the largest decline in premiums of 27 per cent.
"I think that Brampton premiums were high for so long they just had the most room to fall," Kishan said.
The city with the most expensive auto insurance in the province is now Vaughan, with an estimated annual premium of $2,179.
It's followed by Ajax, Richmond Hill, Brampton and Mississauga.
Despite being the most expensive, all five cities still saw a reduction in rates.
The Financial Services Regulatory Authority of Ontario (FSRA) has approved more than 100 rate reductions and 42 various rebates during the pandemic.
"We would definitely agree that rates have stabilized and in many cases are quite a bit lower," said Tim Bzowey, Executive Vice President of Auto Insurance Products at FSRA.
While not every driver will see a reduction in rates, it may be advisable to shop around to find a better deal.
"Rates vary a lot from insurer to insurer, so please shop around to make sure you are getting the best rate available to you at the time," said Bzowey.
Not every city saw decreases and one of the largest hikes in the province took place in Oshawa, where insurance premiums jumped 12 per cent.
Among the most inexpensive places to insure a car were in Cobourg, Port Hope, Picton and Kingston where each had an average annual premium of about $1,100.
FSRA said the lower rates won't last forever as it's expected when the pandemic ends and driving habits return to normal premiums will start to creep back up.
Top ten most expensive cities in Ontario for car insurance
- Vaughan $2,179
- Ajax $2,104
- Richmond Hill $2,025
- Brampton $1,976
- Mississauga $1,971
- Pickering $1,959
- Toronto $1,953
- Oshawa $1,833
- Whitby $1,792
- Nobleton, Schomberg, Orangeville, King City $1,766
Cheapest cities in Ontario for car insurance
- Kendal $1,271
- Port Hope $1,175
- Amherstview $1,132
- Brockville $1,132
- Iroquois $1,132
- Martintown $1,132
- Elizabethtown $1,132
- Cornwall $1,132
- Kingston $1,132
- Gananoque $1,132
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Young people 'tortured' if stolen vehicle operations fail, Montreal police tell MPs
One day after a Montreal police officer fired gunshots at a suspect in a stolen vehicle, senior officers were telling parliamentarians that organized crime groups are recruiting people as young as 15 in the city to steal cars so that they can be shipped overseas.
Man sets self on fire outside New York court where Trump trial underway
A man set himself on fire on Friday outside the New York courthouse where Donald Trump's historic hush-money trial was taking place as jury selection wrapped up, but officials said he did not appear to have been targeting Trump.
Sask. father found guilty of withholding daughter to prevent her from getting COVID-19 vaccine
Michael Gordon Jackson, a Saskatchewan man accused of abducting his daughter to prevent her from getting a COVID-19 vaccine, has been found guilty for contravention of a custody order.
Mandisa, Grammy award-winning 'American Idol' alum, dead at 47
Soulful gospel artist Mandisa, a Grammy-winning singer who got her start as a contestant on 'American Idol' in 2006, has died, according to a statement on her verified social media. She was 47.
She set out to find a husband in a year. Then she matched with a guy on a dating app on the other side of the world
Scottish comedian Samantha Hannah was working on a comedy show about finding a husband when Toby Hunter came into her life. What happened next surprised them both.
'It was joy': Trapped B.C. orca calf eats seal meat, putting rescue on hold
A rescue operation for an orca calf trapped in a remote tidal lagoon off Vancouver Island has been put on hold after it started eating seal meat thrown in the water for what is believed to be the first time.
B.C. judge orders shared dog custody for exes who both 'clearly love Stella'
In a first-of-its-kind ruling, a B.C. judge has awarded a former couple joint custody of their dog.
Shivering for health: The myths and truths of ice baths explained
In a climate of social media-endorsed wellness rituals, plunging into cold water has promised to aid muscle recovery, enhance mental health and support immune system function. But the evidence of such benefits sits on thin ice, according to researchers.
'It could be catastrophic': Woman says natural supplement contained hidden painkiller drug
A Manitoba woman thought she found a miracle natural supplement, but said a hidden ingredient wreaked havoc on her health.