Ontario Winter Tire Discount Explained
While winter tires are not mandatory by law in Ontario (unlike in Quebec), since 2016, the government has mandated that all insurance companies must offer a premium discount to drivers who install them.
How Much Can You Save?
You can typically get 2% to 5% off your total annual premium in savings. All private insurers in Ontario are mandated by FSRA to offer this reduction.
What Are the Requirements to Qualify for a Discount?
To qualify for the discount, your tires must:
- Be a Set of Four: You cannot mix two winter tires with two all-seasons.
- Display the 3PMSF Symbol: Look for the “Three-Peak Mountain Snowflake” logo on the sidewall. All-season tires with only “M+S” (Mud and Snow) markings do not qualify.
Most insurance companies require tires to be installed by November 1 and kept on until at least April 1 or 15. Keep your installation receipts or take a photo of the tires on your car. Your insurer can audit these or request proof during a claim.
Why Are Winter Tires Important?
Ontario is a province with frequent snow, ice, and hail, which can create dangerous road hazards. These conditions reduce your tire’s ability to get good traction and can result in skidding, which causes people to lose control of their cars and results in car accidents. Winter tires help prevent this issue by providing better traction and reducing the risk of accidents overall.
Additionally, winter tires reduce stopping distances by 30% to 40% in temperatures below 7°C, significantly lowering your risk of an at-fault accident surcharge.
Your safety is a priority. That’s why preparing your car for winter driving is extremely important.
Are All-season Tires Considered Winter Tires for Insurance?
All-season tires do not qualify. While all-weather tires often feature the snowflake symbol, many Ontario insurers still exclude them from the discount, requiring a dedicated, separate set of four full winter tires to be installed seasonally.
The reason is that winter tires provide a greater level of safety when driving in hazardous weather conditions.
Key Advice from MyChoice
- Before buying “All-Weather” tires (hybrid tires that remain on year-round but carry the snowflake symbol), check with your broker. Many insurers will not grant the discount for these because they are not a dedicated second set of tires.
- If you have the winter tire discount on your policy but crash in January on all-season tires, your insurer may void your coverage for the accident. Always notify your broker if you miss your installation deadline.
- Check the age of your tires. Some Ontario insurers will only honour the discount for tires that are less than five or six years old, even if they have plenty of tread left.