Average car insurance rates in Calgary
Calgary is Canada’s fifth largest city by population size and has nearly 1 million licensed drivers who live within the city, making it the largest municipality in Alberta. The numberf of drivers on the road are just one factor that goes into determining the average car insurance rate, one other obvious factor is a driver’s personal record.
Car Insurance in Calgary
Still sometimes referred to colloquially as Cowtown, Calgary still possesses that Wild West imagery thanks to the famous Calgary Stampede, a 10-day Rodeo in the peak of summer which attracts over one million visitors. As well as being Canada’s favorite city for cowboys, Calgary also boasts the title of the sunniest major city in Canada, on average receiving 2,600 years a year – not bad considering how cold it can get.
When it comes to transportation options in Calgary, the preferred mode of transport for many locals alike is to own a car and drive. That being said there is adequate transport options available also, but for those who do drive there is still the need for car insurance as this is a mandatory requirement across Alberta. Get started and compare a range of cheap quotes from insurance providers across Calgary, with us today!
Driving in Calgary What You Need to Know
Armed with some tips from the locals and the best car insurance in Calgary, it’ll be a breeze getting around the busy streets of Calgary.
- The Calgary Stampede is a great drawcard for visitors each year to Calgary which makes getting around a bit more of a struggle, especially if you’re driving.
- During the winter, it’s expected that ample amounts of snow will fall so be prepared. Simply put, snow can only be moved aside and not transported away so you’ll have to ensure you’ve adequate car insurance cover in case of accidents.
- Calgary traffic estimates made in the 60’s have now been far outgrown and as a result, almost every road in/out of the downtown core will suffer traffic congestion at rush hours.
- If you are heading north its most likely you’ll travel on the Deerfoot trail, this has frequent traffic jams. There is a significant curve right before McKnight merges with northbound traffic, creating a wave of braking that brings traffic to a standstill every weekday starting around 3:30.
Some of the More Dangerous Intersections in Calgary
As part of the collision report, hotspots are identified where the majority of accidents occur in an effort to work on initiatives to try and make them safer for the Calgary public. Generally speaking, it makes sense to ensure areas with lots of foot traffic are safer for pedestrians and drivers alike. If these initiatives work over time, hopefully accidents will decrease we could also hope to see average auto insurance rates become more affordable.
Naturally, the highest density of foot traffic for Calgary will be within the downtown core and that’s where the largest percentage of pedestrian collisions occur. The following intersections, were highlighted as there was between 8 – 12 accidents over the course of 2019 alone:
- 17 Ave. SW and 14 St. SW
- 11 Ave. SW and 2 Street SE.
- 4 Ave. SW and 1 St. SE
Top Private Car Insurance Companies in Calgary, 2020
Being a city within Alberta, means that Calgary is able to offer private auto insurance to its drivers, giving them the ability to shop around and find their cheapest rate.
There is a magnitude of different car insurance companies for people to choose from, Intact Financial Group was the market leader in 2020 representing 18% of all privately written auto insurance in Calgary. They were closely followed by TD Insurance Group and Wawanesa Mutual Insurance Group respectively.
2020 Annual Report – Alberta Automobile Insurance Rate Board
How Expensive is Calgary Auto Insurance?
For the typical middle-aged driver, living in Calgary can expect to pay somewhere around the average insurance rate of $1,117 per year according to a Kanetix study. However, with that average rate, is based on a 35-year-old male and it still makes sense to shop around, to compare different quotes to try and get best the deal.
Reportable Collisions in Calgary, 2014 – 2020
Source: 2020 Annual Report – Alberta Automobile Insurance Rate Board