How Can You Get Cheap Car Insurance in Fredericton?
You can get cheap Fredericton car insurance by finding the best deals. Here are several tips to help you do so:
Install Winter Tires on Your Car
In New Brunswick, winter tires are only mandatory for school buses, unlike in Quebec, where all passenger vehicles need to have them. However, winter tires are highly recommended for safety in winter months, so you may get car insurance discounts if you install them.
Consider Buying An Electric Car
The New Brunswick government offers many incentives for electric car owners. One of them is a car insurance rate reduction, which may save you some money on premiums every year.
Purchase Safe and Reliable Cars
Most Canadian insurance companies use CLEAR (Canadian Loss Experience Automobile Rating) to determine a car’s safety and reliability. A high CLEAR score means the car is safer, leading to lower insurance premiums.
Fortunately, the CLEAR database is open to the public, so you can check the score of any car model you have eyes on. If you buy a car with low CLEAR scores, prepare to pay higher Fredericton car insurance premiums.
Consider Taking Usage-Based Insurance
Usage-based insurance (UBI) or pay-as-you-go insurance is great if you drive safely and don’t travel much. This insurance calculates your rates by analyzing your driving habits and car mileage. If you’re a proven safe driver, you can save up to 30% on premiums with UBI.
Pay Annual Premiums
Insurers give discounts if you pay premiums annually because you’ll be committed to them for the long haul. The initial expense is higher but, as the per-month cost is cheaper, so are the long-term savings.
If you can’t afford to pay a full year in advance, ask your insurance company about half-year premiums.
Practise Safe Driving
Accidents and traffic violations stay on your insurance record for a long time and can raise your rates. Keep your driving record clean to ensure you get the lowest Fredericton auto insurance premiums. You can also take accredited driving lessons to show insurers you’re committed to driving safely and lower your rates further.
Remove Unnecessary Optional Coverage
Taking extra coverage options beyond the minimum requirement protects you from more hazards but raises your premiums. Consider skipping unnecessary optional coverage if you want to save money on car insurance.
Compare Policy Deals
Comparing deals between multiple insurance providers helps you identify which one offers the most value. To find the best deals, use MyChoice to compare Fredericton car insurance quotes.
Take Home and Auto Bundles
Insurance companies give discounts for home and auto bundles because you’re giving them more business. In most cases, policy bundles are cheaper than individual home and auto policies from two different companies.
Ask For a Higher Deductible
You must pay deductibles on insurance claims before the financial benefits kick in. Higher deductibles mean paying more out of pocket in case of an accident, but the trade-off is lower insurance premiums. Conversely, lower deductibles reduce your out-of-pocket expenses but raise your insurance premiums.
Who Provides Car Insurance Quotes in Fredericton?
Insurance brokers, agents, aggregators, and direct writers provide car insurance quotes in Fredericton. Here’s an overview of these four insurance quote providers:
Insurance Brokers
Insurance brokers don’t work for a specific company, so they can freely search the market and compare insurers to give you the best deals. Brokers understand the ins and outs of Fredericton’s insurance market, so you can ask them questions about auto insurance policies.
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
Direct writers only sell policies from one insurer, like agents. However, they’re usually cheaper than insurance agents because they don’t have physical offices. Direct writers are great if you want to save money, but you can’t book face-to-face meetings with them.
Insurance Agents
Insurance agents work for one insurer, so they may offer fewer choices than insurance brokers. However, they know every minute detail of the products they’re selling and can even apply discounts that are unavailable to brokers. Agents can also close sales independently, meaning you’ll finish your policy sale quicker.
Insurance Aggregators
Insurance aggregator websites like MyChoice compile policy deals from numerous insurers to help you find the best-valued offers. Aggregators are usually free for customers, meaning you can find affordable auto insurance in Fredericton without spending a penny.
The Best Car Insurance Brokerages in Fredericton
Car insurance brokers help you choose the right auto insurance policy by answering your questions and comparing policy offers.
Here are several brokers in Fredericton that you can contact for extra assistance when seeking car insurance:
Brokerage | Address | Phone Number |
---|---|---|
D.W. Olts & Son Ltd | 768 Brunswick St, Fredericton, NB E3B 1H9, Canada | +15064588388 |
Kevin Burke Desjardins Insurance Agent | 635 Union St, Fredericton, NB E3A 3N6, Canada | +15064553276 |
Billyard Insurance Group – Fredericton | 82 Westmorland St suite 405, Fredericton, NB E3B 3L3, Canada | +15066507474 |
Low Insurance Ltd | 215 Main St Unit 2, Fredericton, NB E3A 1E1, Canada | +15064725558 |
How Does Car Insurance Work in Fredericton?
Car insurance in Fredericton works like typical car insurance policies. The insurer provides financial coverage if you get involved in an auto accident. Car insurance is mandatory for all drivers in Fredericton, which means you may face legal consequences if you drive without a policy.
If you’re caught driving uninsured in Fredericton, you’ll be fined between $200 and $5,000. You may also face other punishments like jail time or licence suspensions.
Here’s a breakdown of the key components of car insurance in Fredericton:
As a driver in Fredericton, you need to have the following auto insurance coverage:
- $200,000 in third-party liability coverage
- $50,000 in accident benefits coverage
- Uninsured motorist coverage
- Direct compensation for property damage (DCPD) coverage
Here’s an overview of the four major insurance coverage options:
Third-Party Liability (TPL) Coverage
Third-party liability coverage protects you if you injure or kill someone. It also protects you if you damage somebody else’s vehicle or property.
Uninsured Motorist Coverage
This coverage pays for injuries you or your family may sustain in a collision with an uninsured driver.
Direct Compensation for Property Damage (DCPD)
If the accident isn’t your fault, DCPD coverage covers your car repair costs.
Accident Benefits
Accident benefits pay for your medical bills and potential funeral costs as a result of the car crash.
In addition to the four mandatory coverages previously mentioned, you can also round out your protection with optional insurance coverage. Here are some of the most popular optional coverage choices for your policy:
Collision Insurance
Collision insurance pays for your car’s repair or replacement if you’re at fault for the accident. It’ll lighten the financial load if you ever end up causing an accident.
Comprehensive Insurance
External factors like weather, criminals, fire, and sometimes animal collisions can harm your car. Comprehensive insurance protection keeps your vehicle safe from these often unpredictable dangers, which makes it one of the most important options for additional coverage.
Additional Policy Limits
For some people, $200,000 in liability coverage and $50,000 in accident benefits may be too small. Fortunately, you can raise these limits to get more insurance coverage.
SEF 44 Family Protection Endorsement
This optional insurance product provides extra financial coverage if the at-fault driver doesn’t have enough insurance to pay for your injury claims. This coverage also applies if the other driver isn’t insured, so you’ll receive financial compensation even if the at-fault driver can’t pay for it.
How Your Car Insurance Quotes Are Calculated in Fredericton
Fredericton insurers use several factors to calculate your car insurance rates. Here’s a look at what factors influence your Fredericton auto insurance rates:
Personal Demographics
Personal demographics like age, gender, and marital status influence Fredericton car insurance rates because they represent your driving risk.
Drivers under 25 often pay higher insurance premiums because they tend to be accident-prone, high-risk drivers. Once you hit 25, your insurance rates will start declining because you have more driving experience. However, your rates will rise again after age 65 because senior citizens are more likely to get hurt or die in car accidents.
Insurers give lower rates to women because they’re seen as more careful drivers. A similar logic applies to married people, who insurance companies think will take fewer risks because they have family waiting at home. Moreover, married people frequently bundle home and auto insurance, giving them better deals.
Residence
Residents of major cities like Saint John will likely get higher insurance rates because more cars lead to a larger accident risk. Major cities also see more crime, which increases the risk of theft and vandalism.
Driving History and Frequency
Accident-free drivers usually get lower auto insurance premiums in Fredericton because insurers consider them lower-risk policyholders. Conversely, people with a long record of car accidents get higher auto insurance rates because insurers believe they’ll get into more accidents in the future.
Driving frequency is also related to accident risk because the more you drive, the more likely you’ll be involved in an accident. Someone who only drives on the weekend will get lower rates than someone who drives to work daily.
Theft
Not all cars are created equal – some are safer than others. Insurers use CLEAR (Canadian Loss Experience Automobile Rating) to measure a car model’s accident risk. Models that see lots of theft and accidents generally have a low CLEAR score, which means insuring them is more expensive.
Coverage Options
Extra insurance coverage protects your car from more hazards but increases your insurance premiums. Consider skipping unnecessary coverage options to save money on auto insurance.
Most Expensive Postal Codes in Fredericton
On average, car insurance in Fredericton costs $828. However, there are areas like E3A (Fredericton North) and E3B (Fredericton South) with higher car insurance rates. Factors like traffic density and accident frequency may cause this.
Here’s a breakdown of the most expensive postal codes for auto insurance in Fredericton:
Postal Code | Average Annual Car Insurance Premium |
---|---|
E3A, E3B | $830 |
Least Expensive Postal Codes in Fredericton
Among the three postal codes in the city, E3C (Fredericton Southwest) has the lowest insurance rate.
Here’s an overview of the cheapest areas for auto insurance in Fredericton:
Postal Code | Average annual car insurance premium |
---|---|
E3C | $826 |
Other Factors That Affect Car Insurance Prices in Fredericton
Insurers calculate your auto insurance rates based on many factors. Here are some additional things that could influence your Fredericton car insurance rates:
Vehicle Model Age
Older car models usually get higher insurance rates because they have fewer safety measures than newer models and spare parts may be rarer. Ensure you can afford the insurance before buying a vintage car.
Low Crime Rates
High crime rates mean that vandalism and theft are more common. Insurers often assign higher rates to residents of high-crime areas to offset the higher risk of theft and vandalism.
Loyalty Bonuses
Insurance companies often reward long-time customers with discounts and other benefits. Consider asking your insurer about rate reductions or special discounts if you’ve been a policyholder for several years.
Past Isurance 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.
Driving in Fredericton
Planning to move to or visit Sault Ste. Marie? It helps to know more about driving in the area. Here are some key facts about driving in Sault Ste. Marie you should know:
- Major highways in Fredericton: Trans-Canada Highway, 7, 8
- Public transit options: Fredericton Transit (bus), Maritime Bus
- Ridesharing services: Uride, Kari
- Parking space providers: The City of Fredericton, private lots
- Top tourist attractions: Beaverbrook Art Gallery, Odell Park, Boyce Farmers Market, New Brunswick Sports Hall of Fame, Old Government House
- Busy intersections: Regent and Prospect, York and Kings College
- Airports: Fredericton International Airport
Main Mode of Commuting in Fredericton
Knowing more about the commuting statistics in a city or town helps you get to work on time. Here’s a detailed look at the commuter data in Fredericton:
- Average commute distance: The average Fredericton resident travels x km to their workplace or school.
- Commute duration: Commute times in Fredericton are mostly under half an hour. 55.2% of the city’s labour force spent under 15 minutes on the road, while another 35.2% spent between 15 and 29 minutes commuting.
- Main mode of commuting: Personal vehicles are the most popular mode of commuting in the city, with 85.2% of Fredericton workers driving their car, truck, or van. Most personal vehicle commuters drive, while a small portion of them are passengers.
Driving Conditions in Fredericton
Various weather and driving conditions like snow and rain can affect your auto insurance premiums. Here’s an overview of driving conditions in Fredericton:
- Average annual rainfall: 205 mm
- Average annual snowfall: 221 mm
- Rainy days per year: 103
- Rainiest month in Fredericton: December
- Driest months in Fredericton: April
- Snow days per year: 103
- Snowfall months in Fredericton: October-May
Traffic in Fredericton
As the third-largest city in New Brunswick and its capital, Fredericton is a big city, which means traffic can be denser than in smaller towns.
Here’s a quick look at the key traffic statistics in Fredericton:
- Population: 63,116 people live within Fredericton’s city limits.
- City area: Fredericton’s city area spans 133.93 km2.
- Busiest highways: The Trans-Canada Highway passes through Fredericton’s southern municipal boundary.
The Most Common Questions About Car Insurance in Fredericton
How much does Fredericton car insurance cost?
Fredericton car insurance costs $828/year, $65 under New Brunswick’s provincial average.
Does my Fredericton car insurance work in the US?
Most Canadian car insurance policies work in the US, but insurers may provide longer or shorter coverage periods. Check with your insurer before travelling by car to the US to ensure you’re protected.
Why should you compare car insurance rates in Fredericton?
You should compare car insurance rates in Fredericton because different insurers provide different coverage at different prices. Comparing rates help you choose which policy has the best value.