How Does Car Insurance Work in Canada?
Auto insurance in Canada is mandatory by local laws, but the minimum mandatory coverage depends on the province where you live.
Mandatory Coverages:
The coverages listed below are mandatory in Canada (with exceptions) and will always be included in a standard car insurance quote.
| Coverage Type | Coverage Details | Provincial Differences |
|---|---|---|
| Third-Party Liability | Protects you if you injure someone or damage property while driving, and covers legal costs if you’re sued. | Mandatory nationwide. Minimum required limits vary: typically $200,000 (most provinces), $500,000 in Nova Scotia, and $50,000 Civil Liability in Québec (bodily injury handled by SAAQ). |
| Accident Benefits | Covers medical costs, income replacement, and more for you and others injured in an accident, regardless of fault. | Mandatory in most provinces (e.g. Ontario, Alberta, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland). In Québec, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba, this protection is provided through the provincial public insurer. |
| Uninsured Automobile | Protects you if you’re hit by an uninsured or an unidentified driver and suffer injuries or vehicle damage. | Mandatory in most provinces, including Ontario, Alberta, New Brunswick, Newfoundland, and Nova Scotia. Included automatically in public plans in BC, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Québec. |
| Direct Compensation: Property Damage | Covers damage to your own vehicle if you’re not at fault in an accident with another insured driver in Canada. | Mandatory in Ontario, Alberta, New Brunswick, Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, and PEI. Not applicable in provinces with government insurance (BC, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Québec). Ontario allows opting out as of Jan 2024. |
Highly Recommended Coverages:
Any of the highly recommended coverages listed below for Canada may be removed from your quote. However, we strongly recommend keeping them to ensure adequate protection.
| Coverage Type | Coverage Details | Provincial Differences |
|---|---|---|
| Collision | Covers your vehicle if you hit another car or object and you’re found at fault. | Optional nationwide. |
| Comprehensive | Covers damage to your vehicle from non-collision events like theft, vandalism, fire, or weather. | Optional nationwide. |
| OPCF/SEF 20: Loss of Use | Pays for rental or other transportation if your car is out of service after an at-fault accident or comprehensive claim. | Optional nationwide. |
| OPCF/SEF 27: Rental Vehicle | Extends your coverage to rented or borrowed vehicles, protecting you if damage occurs while you drive them. | Optional nationwide. |
| OPCF/SEF/QEF 44R: Family Protection | Covers you and your family if you’re hit by an uninsured, underinsured, or hit-and-run driver and their coverage isn’t enough. | Optional nationwide. |
| OPCF/SEF 39: Accident Forgiveness | Prevents your insurance premiums from increasing after your first at-fault accident, as long as you stay with the same insurer. | Optional nationwide. Available in Ontario, Alberta and Atlantic provinces. |
| OPCF/SEF 43: Waiver of Depreciacion | Ensures you get the full purchase price back—not a depreciated value—if your new vehicle is written off. | Optional nationwide. Available in Ontario, Alberta and Atlantic provinces. |
Other Common Car Insurance Coverage Options in Canada
The coverage options available to you in Canada will ultimately depend on which province you live in, but generally speaking, there are consistencies across each province that can be grouped into either mandatory coverage, recommended add-ons or optional add-ons.
Average Car Insurance Rates in Canada by Province
The following table presents a comparison of average car insurance rates across Canadian provinces.
Leading the way is Alberta, which is feeling the pinch of rising car insurance costs into 2026. Next on the list is Ontario, which had a car insurance inflation of 4.1% in 2025.
| Province | Average Annual Car Insurance Premium | % Diff From National Average |
|---|---|---|
| British Columbia | $1,726 | 20.3% |
| Alberta | $2,180 | 51.9% |
| Saskatchewan | $1,128 | −21.4% |
| Manitoba | $1,178 | −17.9% |
| Ontario | $1,874 | 30.6% |
| Quebec | $1,035 | −27.9% |
| New Brunswick | $923 | -35.7% |
| Nova Scotia | $1,017 | -29.1% |
| Prince Edward Island | $968 | −32.6% |
| Newfoundland | $1,164 | −18.9% |
| National Average: | 1,435 |
Car Insurance Cost in Canada by Age
Car insurance rates in Canada vary significantly by age, reflecting driving experience and risk exposure.
Even in higher-cost age brackets, drivers who compare quotes through MyChoice can save hundreds each year, with average savings ranging from $225 to over $800, depending on the age group.
| Age | Average Annual Car Insurance Premium | Average Savings with MyChoice |
|---|---|---|
| 18–20 | $4,118 | $819 |
| 21–24 | $2,124 | $422 |
| 25–34 | $1,636 | $325 |
| 35–44 | $1,435 | $285 |
| 45–54 | $1,220 | $243 |
| 55–64 | $1,134 | $225 |
| 65+ | $1,162 | $231 |
Car Insurance Cost in Canada by Vehicle Model
Your vehicle choice has a significant impact on the cost of your car insurance. Affordable and widely driven brands like Honda, Ford, and Kia tend to offer the lowest average premiums due to lower repair costs and strong safety ratings. Luxury and performance models, such as those from Audi and BMW, typically cost more to insure due to the more expensive parts and higher repair expenses associated with them.
| Car Model | Average Annual Car Insurance Premium |
|---|---|
| Honda | $1,317 |
| Tesla | $1,409 |
| Toyota | $1,511 |
| Chevrolet | $1,349 |
| Ford | $1,313 |
| Hyundai | $1,447 |
| Audi | $1,784 |
| BMW | $1,670 |
| Kia | $1,312 |
| Mazda | $1,338 |
| Mercedes | $1,422 |
| Nissan | $1,454 |
| Porsche | $1,480 |
| Volkswagen | $1,320 |
Who Provides Car Insurance Quotes in Canada
The following table highlights some of the most popular car insurance providers across Canada and the provinces where they operate.
Most Popular Car Insurance Providers in Canada
The following table highlights some of the most popular car insurance providers across Canada and the provinces where they operate.
Take a look at our top companies in Ontario for a more detailed overview, plus some additional insurance providers that are not on the list below.
| Car Insurance Provider | Provinces Available* |
|---|---|
| Aviva | All exc. AB, BC, MB, SK |
| Canadian Auto Association (CAA) | All exc. BC, MB, SK |
| Allstate | AB, NB, NS, ON, QC |
| Belairdirect | AB, BC, NB, NL, NS, ON, PEI, QC |
| Intact | Nationwide |
| TD Insurance | All exc. BC, MB, SK |
| RBC Insurance | All exc. BC, MB, SK |
| Travelers | AB, NB, NL, NS, ON, PEI, Territories, NU, YK |
| Wawanesa | AB, NB, NL, NS, ON, PEI, QC |
| Co-operators | AB, NB, NL, NS, ON, PEI, NT, YK |
| Desjardins Insurance | QC |
Why You Should Compare Car Insurance Quotes with MyChoice
Selecting a car insurance policy can be confusing, especially with all the insurance companies bidding for your hard-earned dollar. Shopping around for your car insurance policy is the key to getting the best deal out there as it allows you to assess all your different coverage options, hopefully in one place.
That’s where we come in, at MyChoice, we make that process easy, we give you choice and the ability to compare all your different options from Canada’s top insurers. Not forgetting by using MyChoice you can view all your available options in the same place and have peace of mind knowing that you got the best deal, tailored for you.
How to Get Cheap Car Insurance in Canada
Information You Need to Get a Car Insurance Quote
To get a car insurance quote, you’ll need to have the following information on hand so you can get an accurate rate. Regardless of whether you’re switching insurance providers or getting auto insurance for the first time, you’ll need to provide – driver details, vehicle details, previous insurance history and current insurance information.
What Factors Affect Your Car Insurance Rate
There are many different factors at play that affect the price of your car insurance, some are given a greater level of importance by certain insurance companies and some are not. One thing that’s important to remember is you’ll often receive a different rate to your neighbour as you’ll likely have a different vehicle and personal insurance history, the rate you receive doesn’t just come down to where you like.
Take a look at some of the more important elements that affect the price of your car insurance below:
Number of Licensed Drivers by Age in Canada
The chart below provides an updated snapshot of the distribution of licensed drivers in Canada by age group as of mid-2025.
A total of roughly 27 million drivers remain on the road, with the 60–64 and 65–69 age brackets showing the highest concentration of active licenses — reflecting Canada’s aging but still highly mobile population. Younger groups such as 25–34 and 30–39 continue to represent a strong share of drivers, highlighting the ongoing transition between new and experienced motorists.
Commonly Asked Questions About Auto Insurance
How much does car insurance cost in Canada?
The national average annual car insurance premium is $1,435.
In Canada, the cost of car insurance varies by province due to different insurance systems and factors like accident rates and regional regulations. Our table above shows the average cost by province, age and car brand.
What kind of auto insurance policies are out there?
As previously mentioned, there are three main areas of auto insurance policies available in Canada: mandatory coverage, recommended coverage, and optional add-ons. We delve into each one, specifically covering the points mentioned above.
What are the penalties for driving without insurance?
Typically, fines can range anywhere between $5,000 – $50,000, your license suspended or your vehicle impounded. Not only is this bad in the short term it also does no favours for you in the long run, if you are convicted you can expect to be labelled, as what the insurance companies like to call, a high risk driver. As a result of this, you will no doubt have to pay higher than average insurance rates for the foreseeable future.
Is car insurance required by law in Canada?
Simple answer, yes. If you hold a driver’s license and drive a car, you must ensure that you have some sort of car insurance, no matter what province you reside in.
Is it cheaper to pay monthly or annually for car insurance?
The short answer is yes, generally paying annually will be cheaper than monthly. Some insurers offer a discount of up to around 7%.
Will a driver’s ed course make my car insurance cheaper?
If you can show you are a safe driver then you should receive cheaper car insurance, as a new driver this can be tough but one way to overcome that is to enroll in a government-certified driving school course.
However, this is not available in all Canadian provinces; the driving school discount is only available in Alberta, New Brunswick, Newfoundland & Labrador, Nova Scotia, Ontario and Prince Edward Island.
Does car insurance differ by province?
While there are consistencies across provinces, they are not the same; minimum coverage amounts will vary, and some provinces, like British Columbia and Manitoba, have their car insurance provided by government-owned corporations.
Can I be an Uber driver with regular car insurance?
Even though Lyft and Uber cover you with commercial insurance during rideshare service, it’s mandatory to carry your own car insurance. In Canada, all drivers are legally required to have third-party liability coverage, a component typically included in standard insurance policies.
What happens when I receive an auto insurance quote I like on MyChoice?
When you complete our quoting form, you’ll be shown a list of rates and we assume that the quote you like is the cheapest one.
After that, in most cases, one of our broker partners will contact you right away to see if you want to proceed and purchase the policy, or alternatively, you could call the brokerage directly with the number we provide. The broker will be able to answer any questions you have.
In the scenario where your cheapest rate is from a direct insurer, think Onlia for example, you will have the option to purchase your policy online with them, 24/7, just follow the link once you see the rate and complete the purchase with them. This would be a similar process for any of our other direct insurance partners.
What car insurance companies will I get to see quotes from?
MyChoice partners with over 30 top insurance companies in Canada, offering a mix of direct insurers and traditional insurance companies, giving you the ultimate amount of choice and convenience.