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
NDP motion regarding Palestinian statehood passes after major Liberal alterations
A motion from the federal New Democrats initially calling on Canada to recognize the 'State of Palestine' passed amid widespread acrimony on Monday, after the Liberals drastically altered its wording to see the government simply work towards that aim as part of a two-state solution.
'He didn't want to die': Family of Calgary man killed in standoff speaks out
Family of a Calgary man killed after a 30-hour standoff with police last week are speaking out, sharing details of the tense and heart-wrenching experience.
Toronto family doctor who called patient's body 'perfect' suspended for 3 months: tribunal
A family doctor in Toronto has been suspended for three months after a disciplinary tribunal found that he failed to follow proper protocols while examining a patient's breasts and made inappropriate comments about her body.
Ohio mom who left toddler alone 10 days when she went on vacation pleads guilty to aggravated murder
An Ohio mother whose 16-month-old daughter died after being left home alone in a playpen for 10 days last summer while she went on vacation was sentenced Monday to life in prison with no chance of parole.
Retired teacher pleads guilty to paying for sex with 15-year-old in Collingwood, Ont.
In a Barrie courtroom on Monday, a retired high school teacher from the Niagara Region pleaded guilty to sexual touching and obtaining sexual services from a 15-year-old boy in Collingwood in 2021.
Hertz CEO out following electric car 'horror show'
The company, which announced in January it was selling 20,000 of the electric vehicles in its fleet, or about a third of the EVs it owned, is now replacing the CEO who helped build up that fleet, giving it the company’s fifth boss in just four years.
5 charged in Calgary kidnappings that targeted women
Calgary police have charged five men in a pair of kidnappings last year that targeted innocent victims.
Demand soars for solar eclipse glasses in Canada. Are they worth buying?
The demand for total solar eclipse glasses used to safely view the rare celestial event has been ramping up as sellers, along with astronomy and eye-care experts in Canada, warn that viewing the eclipse with the naked eye is dangerous.
Canadian commander of volunteer fighter group dies in Ukraine
A Canadian-born commander of the so-called Norman Brigade, a volunteer fighting group in Ukraine, has died.