How Can You Get Cheap Car Insurance in Collingwood?
You can get cheap Collingwood car insurance by finding the best deals. Here are several tips to help you do so:
Compare Rates Between Insurers
Collingwood has a highly competitive auto insurance market, so insurers are constantly vying for your business. When insurers try to give you the best deals, it’s you who wins. Compare rates and shop around to see which insurance provider fits your auto protection needs affordably.
Take Bundled Policies
One of the best ways to save money while shopping is to buy a package deal, and insurance is no different. If you bundle home and auto insurance from the same company, you’re much more likely to get lower rates.
Ask For A Higher Deductible
You must pay a deductible on insurance claims before your carrier covers the remaining expenses. A higher deductible means paying extra if something happens to your car, but it also means you’ll get lower insurance premiums.
Request Group Discounts
Many insurance companies deal in group discounts for companies and other organizations. If you’re shopping for auto insurance in Collingwood for work, ask your agent about group deals and discounts.
Pay Annual Premiums
Paying annual insurance premiums might look expensive initially, but it’s generally cheaper than paying them monthly. Ask your insurers about half-year premiums if you can’t afford annual premiums.
Drive Safely
Motor vehicle offences and accidents stay on your record for years. Unfortunately, any driving violation on your record will considerably increase your insurance rates. However, this also means you’ll get lower auto insurance rates if you have no offences on record.
Consider Taking Usage-Based Insurance
Usage-based insurance (UBI) or pay-as-you-go insurance tracks your driving behaviour to determine how much you must pay for insurance. Taking UBI lets you save up to 30% on your annual premiums, so it’s a good option if you consider yourself a safe driver.
Take Driving Courses
Accredited driving lessons make you a safer driver and let you earn discounts on auto insurance in Collingwood.
Choose the Coverage You Need
Naturally, more insurance protection leads to higher rates. While some auto insurance coverage is mandatory, you have optional insurance coverage like at-fault accident and theft protection. Review your policy and skip unnecessary optional coverage to save on insurance premiums.
Buy Affordable Cars
Cars that are expensive and hard to replace tend to get hit with higher premiums. If possible, buy affordable and reliable cars that are more common and easy to repair or replace if you want lower insurance rates.
Who Provides Car Insurance Quotes in Collingwood?
Insurance brokers, agents, aggregators, and direct writers provide car insurance quotes in Collingwood. Here’s an overview of these four insurance quote providers:
Insurance Brokers
Insurance brokers are independent professionals who help you shop for the best rates by comparing deals from multiple insurers. Because they have a bird’s-eye view of the current Collingwood insurance landscape, they can show you which companies offer the best insurance deals and answer any questions you may have.
Brokers take a commission from insurance companies, which could increase your rates. You might spend more money than if you had found an insurer yourself.
Direct Writers
Like insurance agents, direct writers only sell insurance products from one company. Direct writers are typically found online and are cheaper because they don’t have physical offices.
Insurance Agents
Insurance agents work for a certain insurer, so they can only offer their employer’s insurance products. However, they know their insurer like the back of their hands and might even give you discounts that brokers don’t have access to.
Additionally, insurance agents can close insurance sales independently, meaning you can purchase insurance from them right then and there.
Insurance Aggregators
An insurance aggregator website like MyChoice compiles rates from various insurance brokers, companies, and direct writers in one place. You can browse aggregator websites to find the best deals from the top insurance companies and get quotes instantly.
Better yet, insurance aggregators are accessible online and entirely free for customers, so you can look up insurance rates without spending a single penny or leaving the house.
How Does Car Insurance Work in Collingwood?
Car insurance in Collingwood works by providing financial coverage in case something bad happens to you or your car, depending on the protection you choose. Auto insurance in Collingwood is mandatory by local laws, which means you need car insurance to avoid fines or driver’s licence suspensions.
Worse still, if you get convicted of driving without insurance, you’ll get higher premiums from carriers. This makes driving again prohibitively expensive or even nearly impossible after being caught driving without insurance. That’s why getting auto insurance is essential before buying a car or driving in Collingwood.
Here’s a breakdown of the key elements of your auto insurance policy:
The mandatory car insurance requirement for Collingwood drivers are:
Third-Party Liability (TPL) Coverage
This insurance component provides financial compensation if you cause an accident that results in car damage or somebody getting hurt or killed. Per Financial Services Commission of Ontario (FSCO) regulations, you need at least $200,000 in TPL coverage.
Statutory Accident Benefits Coverage
This insurance component pays for your medical bills, rehabilitation, and possible funeral expenses if you get hurt or killed in a car accident, regardless of who’s at fault. Accident benefits coverage also offers income replacement worth 70% of your gross income, capped at $400 per week.
Uninsured Automobile Insurance
Uninsured automobile insurance covers your medical bills and funeral expenses if you’re struck by uninsured vehicles or hit-and-run drivers. Additionally, it compensates for vehicular damage caused by uninsured drivers.
Direct Compensation – Property Damage (DC-PD) Insurance
DC-PD insurance compensates you for the damage other drivers cause in an accident. However, DC-PD only kicks in if the other person is at fault, they’re also insured, and the accident takes place in Collingwood.
Once you meet the minimum car insurance coverage requirements, you can legally drive in Collingwood. However, it pays to have extra protection beyond the basics in case you get in an accident.
Since minimum car insurance only goes so far, we’ve got some extra Collingwood car insurance recommendations for you:
Extra TPL Coverage
The mandatory $200,000 insurance minimum can be too small, so many drivers choose to get coverage up to $2 million if they cause property damage or hurt somebody in an accident.
Additional Statutory Accident Benefits
Many people get additional coverage for medical bills and funeral expenses in their statutory accident coverage. You can also get extra income replacement protection if 70% income capped at $400 a week seems too limited.
More Comprehensive Property Damage Protection
DC-PD coverage has very specific coverage terms like the other driver also needs to be insured, and the accident must occur in Collingwood. To cover their bases, many people purchase extra insurance that still protects them even when the other driver is uninsured, and the accident happens in other provinces.
In addition to mandatory insurance coverage outlined by the FSCO, you can take optional insurance coverage like:
Specified Perils Protection
Specified perils insurance coverage protects you from loss or damage due to a specific cause. The most common perils insured are:
- Car theft
- Fire, earthquake, and explosion
- Weather, which includes windstorms, hail, and lightning
Many insurers also offer comprehensive auto insurance in Collingwood if you want protection from all these perils.
Accident Forgiveness
Insurers usually raise your premiums if you’re at fault for causing an accident. If you’ve been a safe driver for several years, you can take extra accident forgiveness coverage so you won’t get higher premiums if you cause an accident. Note that accident forgiveness only works on your first accident, and subsequent violations will still raise your rates.
Limited Depreciation Waiver
If you take a limited waiver of depreciation, you can receive your car’s purchase price as compensation if it’s been stolen or deemed a total loss after an accident.
How Your Car Insurance Quotes Are Calculated in Collingwood
Your car insurance rates are calculated based on how risky you are to insure. Naturally, drivers more likely to get into accidents will have higher premiums than those less likely to be in an accident.
Here are seven factors that influence your Collingwood car insurance quotes:
Age, Gender, and Marital Status
Your personal demographics influence auto insurance premiums in Collingwood because different people have varying accident risks.
Younger people tend to get higher premiums because insurance companies see them as more accident-prone than older people. Generally, your car insurance rates start decreasing when you hit 25 years old as long as you keep a safe driving record. However, insurance premiums increase again for people aged 65 and older because they’re more likely to be injured or killed in traffic accidents.
Women often get lower insurance rates because they’re seen as more careful drivers and don’t take as many risks as men.
Marital status also determines your rates because most insurance companies see married people as more financially stable and less-risky drivers. Married couples also tend to bundle home and auto insurance, saving more on premiums.
Location
People who live in urban areas often see higher insurance premiums because they’re more prone to car accidents and theft.
Car Make and Model
Expensive cars are more costly to repair or replace, so insurance premiums are usually higher than more common vehicles. You can install security features like anti-theft devices if you have an expensive car and want to save on insurance premiums.
Driving History
People who drive safely are rewarded with lower premiums because they’re usually less likely to get into a traffic accident. Conversely, people who have gotten into multiple accidents get higher premiums because they’re more likely to be involved in another accident down the line.
Driving Activity
Logic dictates that people who drive frequently are more likely to get in an accident. Therefore, kilometres driven is one of the determining factors that set your Collingwood auto insurance rates.
Insurance Coverage Chosen
Your coverage options influence your insurance rates because taking more coverage gives you more protection. Naturally, the more coverage you choose, the higher your rates.
Policy Discounts
Getting discounts can lower your auto insurance rates and make them more affordable. You can typically get discounts by bundling home and auto insurance or asking for a group discount for your workplace or organization.
Most & Least Expensive Postal Codes in Collingwood
The average car insurance in Collingwood costs $1,213. It’s $172 lower than Ontario’s provincial average. Collingwood only has one postal code, so there are no “most expensive” or “least expensive” postal codes for car insurance in Collingwood.
Here’s a breakdown of Collingwood’s car insurance rates based on postal code:
Postal code | Average annual car insurance premium |
---|---|
L9Y | $1,213 |
Car Insurance Cost in Collingwood by Age
Age is a major driving factor in whether you can expect higher insurance premiums. Generally, the idea is that older drivers have more experience and are thus more likely to be responsible and capable of avoiding accidents.
Drivers under the age of 25 can expect higher insurance premiums, while those in their 50s and 60s can expect the lowest insurance rates. However, once you reach a certain age, your premium rates start to rise again – usually when you reach the age of 65 or become a senior citizen.
Based on studies, 75-year-old male drivers pay 21% more for auto insurance than 55-year-old male drivers. This is because as people get older, they go through physical changes that can affect their driving ability, such as changes in vision, attention, fitness, and reaction time.
Take a look at how much car insurance costs can vary by age in Collingwood:
Age | Average Annual Car Insurance Rate | Annual Savings with MyChoice |
---|---|---|
18 – 20 | $4,234.02 | $842.15 |
21 – 24 | $2,419.44 | $481.23 |
25 – 34 | $1,612.96 | $320.82 |
35 – 44 | $1,186.00 | $235.90 |
45 – 54 | $972.52 | $193.43 |
55 – 64 | $826.64 | $164.42 |
65+ | $942.37 | $187.44 |
Car Insurance Cost in Collingwood by Driving History
Take a look below at how car insurance quotes vary by violation in Collingwood:
All estimated rates are based on a 35-year-old female driving a 2018 Honda Civic four-door.
Your driving record plays a major role in determining the cost of your insurance premiums. Insurance companies will usually request the following:
- Demerit point total
- Any convictions, suspensions, and reinstatements under the Highway Traffic Act and Criminal Code of Canada
- Records of collisions
- Any driver’s license replacements/renewals
A clean driving record will help you get lower premiums, while a record laden with violations will get you tagged as a high-risk driver and cause insurance companies to charge you more.
In Ontario, driving violations remain on your record for two years, but they can affect your premium rates for far longer.
Other Factors That Affect Car Insurance Prices in Collingwood
We’ve covered several factors that influence car insurance rates in Collingwood. Aside from those, several extra factors play a part in determining your Collingwood auto insurance premiums:
Vehicle Model Accident Rates
Some cars are just more accident-prone than others. Even if you have a spotless driving record, owning a car model infamous for having high accident rates will increase your insurance premiums.
Vehicle Age
Naturally, older cars are more expensive to insure because they may not have all the safety features of newer vehicles. If you insist on driving a vintage car everywhere, make sure you can pay the insurance premiums.
Vehicle Repair Costs
The harder it is to repair a car, the more expensive it is to insure. You can expect high insurance premiums on luxury cars and foreign cars that don’t have a large dealership or service centre presence in Canada.
Vehicle Primary Usage and Annual Mileage
You may spend more or less time on the road depending on what you use the car for. Car usage influences insurance rates – generally, the more you use it, the higher your premiums. For instance, insurance premiums on a car you use as an Uber will be higher than on a car you almost exclusively take on weekend cruises.
A good way to measure how much somebody uses a car is by its annual mileage. If your car has low annual mileage, insurers may determine that this car is low-risk and thus grant you more affordable insurance rates.
Local Crime Rates
Living in high-crime areas means your car is at higher risk of being stolen or vandalized. If you live in an area where theft or vandalism often occurs, you may get higher car insurance rates.
Past Insurance Claims
Any auto insurance claims will drive your premiums up, regardless of who’s at fault. If you make many insurance claims, the insurer will see you as a high-risk policyholder and give you higher rates.
Loyalty Bonuses
Many insurance companies reward long-term customers with discounted rates. If you’ve been a policyholder at the same insurance company for several years, ask for a rate reduction or discount when you renew your policy.
The Best Car Insurance Brokerages in Collingwood
Car insurance brokers help you choose the right auto insurance policy by answering your questions and comparing policy offers.
Here are several brokers in Collingwood that you can contact for extra assistance when seeking car insurance:
Brokerage | Address | Phone number |
---|---|---|
Insurance Store | 1 Hume St Suite 105, Collingwood, ON L9Y 0X3, Canada | +17054454738 |
CMR Insurance Brokers Ltd | 192 First St, Collingwood, ON L9Y 1A7, Canada | +17054438388 |
Karen Logan-Hartle Desjardins Insurance Agent | 285 Ste Marie St Ste 1, Collingwood, ON L9Y 3K6, Canada | +17054441494 |
Co-operators – WD Redick & Associates Inc | 47 Ste Marie St, Collingwood, ON L9Y 3J9, Canada | +17054450301 |
Driving in Collingwood
If you’re driving in a city or town, it helps to know the key facts about your location. Here are some key facts about driving in Collingwood you should know:
- Major highways in Collingwood: 26
- Public transit options: Colltrans (bus)
- Ridesharing services: Uber, SuperShuttle
- Parking space providers: The Town of Collingwood, private lots
- Top tourist attractions: Collingwood Museum, Sunset Point Park, Collingwood Arboretum, St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church
- Busy intersections: Fourth and Hurontario, Grey Road 19 and 21, First and Hurontario and Huron
- Airports: Collingwood Airport
Main Mode of Commuting in Collingwood
Since it’s a small town, commute times in Collingwood are generally short. Here’s a detailed look at the commuter data in Collingwood:
- Average commute distance: The average Collingwood resident travels x km to their workplace or school.
- Commute duration: Over half (54.7%) of Collingwood’s households spend under 15 minutes on their commutes. The second-largest portion (22,7%) of households spend 15 to 29 minutes getting to work.
- Main mode of commuting: Personal vehicles are the most popular way to travel in Collingwood, with 86.8% of households using them. Interestingly, nearly six times more people prefer to walk to work than take public transit.
Driving Conditions in Collingwood
Various weather and driving conditions like snow and rain can affect your auto insurance premiums. Here’s an overview of driving conditions in Collingwood:
- Average annual rainfall: 101 mm
- Average annual snowfall: 131 mm
- Rainy days per year: 133
- Rainiest month in Collingwood: October
- Driest months in Collingwood: February
- Snow days per year: 53
Snowfall months in Collingwood: October-May
Traffic in Collingwood
Collingwood is a charming small town known for its heritage and culinary community. Whether you’re in Collingwood as a resident or as a visitor, it helps to understand more about traffic in the town.
Here’s a quick look at the key traffic statistics in Collingwood:
- Population: 24,811 people live within Collingwood’s city limits.
- City area: Collingwood’s city area spans 33.15 km2.
- Busiest highways: Highway 26 that runs between Owen Sound and Barrie passes through Collingwood.
Collingwood Car Insurance FAQs
Is ridesharing insurance available in Collingwood?
Ridesharing insurance for Uber and Lyft drivers is available in Collingwood. Ask your insurer for more details.
How much does Collingwood car insurance cost?
Collingwood car insurance costs $1,213/year, $172 under Ontario’s provincial average.
Is car insurance cheaper in Collingwood than in Toronto?
Car insurance in Collingwood is cheaper than in Toronto. There’s a $583 difference between the two cities’ average auto insurance rates.
What are the best car insurance companies in Collingwood?
The best car insurance company in Collingwood depends on what you want out of your policy and your budget. Use My Choice to compare insurance companies and find the right one for you.
Who has the cheapest auto insurance in Collingwood?
The cheapest auto insurance provider in Collingwood also depends on what types of coverage you choose. You can skip optional coverage to drive your rates down and save money.
Which cars get the lowest car insurance premiums in Collingwood?
Our research shows that at $126/month, Fiats are the cheapest cars to insure in Collingwood.
Why should you compare car insurance rates in Collingwood?
You should compare car insurance rates in Collingwood because different insurers provide different coverage at different prices. Comparing rates help you choose which policy has the best value.
What information do you need for an auto insurance quote in Collingwood?
You need to provide basic personal details and vehicle information like production year, make, and model to get a basic auto insurance quote. You can get more accurate quotes by disclosing extra information, like your driving record and past traffic violations.
How do you find affordable car insurance for students in Collingwood, Ontario?
There’s no affordable car insurance for students in Collingwood, but students can be listed as a driver in their parent’s insurance policy. This way, they don’t have to spend money paying for their own policy.
Which auto insurance is the best for young drivers in Collingwood?
The best auto insurance for young drivers in Collingwood should be the one that gives ample protection at a reasonable cost.