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
From outer space? Sask. farmers baffled after discovering strange wreckage in field
A family of fifth generation farmers from Ituna, Sask. are trying to find answers after discovering several strange objects lying on their land.
Pearson gold heist suspect arrested after flying into Toronto from India
Another suspect is in custody in connection with the gold heist at Toronto Pearson International Airport last year, police say.
Justin and Hailey Bieber are expecting their first child together
Hailey and Justin Bieber are going to be parents. The couple announced the news on Thursday on Instagram, both sharing a video that showcases Hailey Bieber's growing belly.
Debate on abortion rights erupts on Parliament Hill, Poilievre vows he won't legislate
A Conservative government led by Pierre Poilievre would not legislate on, nor use the notwithstanding clause, on abortion, his office says, as anti-abortion protesters gather on Parliament Hill.
Broadcaster and commentator Rex Murphy dead at 77: National Post
The National Post is reporting that Rex Murphy, the pundit and columnist who hosted a national call-in radio show for decades, has died.
Ontario family receives massive hospital bill as part of LTC law, refuses to pay
A southwestern Ontario woman has received an $8,400 bill from a hospital in Windsor, Ont., after she refused to put her mother in a nursing home she hated -- and she says she has no intention of paying it.
New analysis of Beethoven's hair reveals possible cause of mysterious ailments, scientists say
High levels of lead detected in authenticated locks of Ludwig van Beethoven's hair suggest that the composer had lead poisoning, which may have contributed to ailments he endured over the course of his life, including deafness, according to new research.
B.C. man used Bobcat as 'weapon' while chasing away homeless people, judge says
A B.C. man has been convicted of assault with a weapon after using a skid-steer Bobcat to chase two homeless people from his lawn, injuring one of them in the process.
Flat tire on a highway? Here's why you shouldn't try to fix it
If you're cruising down a highway and realize you have a flat tire, you may want to think twice before stopping to fix it on the side of the road.