How Does Car Insurance Work in Hamilton?
Car insurance is mandatory in Ontario, but it’s important to understand the factors that influence your insurance premium and the types of coverage you should consider.
Below is a breakdown of what’s included in your car insurance package in Hamilton when you get a quote with MyChoice, categorized by mandatory and highly recommended coverages. Together, the mandatory and recommended coverage premiums reflect the average car insurance cost in Hamilton referenced above.
| Coverage Type | What’s Included | Average Annual Car Insurance Premium |
|---|---|---|
| Mandatory | – Third-Party Liability – Accident Benefits – Uninsured Automobile | $774 |
| Highly Recommended | – Direct Compensation: Property Damage – Collision – Comprehensive – OPCF 20 – OPCF 27 – OPCF 44R – OPCF 39 – OPCF 43 | $961 |
| Coverage Total: | $1,735 |
Mandatory Coverages:
| Coverage Type | Coverage Details | Average Annual Car Insurance Premium |
|---|---|---|
| Third-Party Liability | Protects you if you injure someone or damage property while driving, and covers legal costs if you’re sued. | $242 |
| Accident Benefits | Covers medical costs, income replacement, and more for you and others injured in an accident, regardless of fault. | $518 |
| Uninsured Automobile | Protects you if you’re hit by an uninsured or an unidentified driver and suffer injuries or vehicle damage. | $14 |
| Coverage Total: | $774 |
*The above coverages are mandatory in Hamilton and will always be included in a standard car insurance quote.
Highly Recommended Coverages:
| Coverage Type | Coverage Details | Average Annual Car Insurance Premium |
|---|---|---|
| Direct Compensation: Property Damage | Covers damage to your own vehicle if you’re not at fault in an accident with another insured driver in Ontario. | $426 |
| Collision | Covers your vehicle if you hit another car or object and you’re found at fault. | $260 |
| Comprehensive | Covers damage to your vehicle from non-collision events like theft, vandalism, fire, or weather. | $187 |
| OPCF 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. | $21 |
| OPCF 27: Rental Vehicle | Extends your coverage to rented or borrowed vehicles, protecting you if damage occurs while you drive them. | $23 |
| OPCF 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. | $17 |
| OPCF 39: Accident Forgiveness | Prevents your insurance premiums from increasing after your first at-fault accident, as long as you stay with the same insurer. | $25 |
| OPCF 43: Waiver of Depreciacion | Ensures you get the full purchase price back—not a depreciated value—if your new vehicle is written off. | $2 |
| Coverage Total: | $961 |
*Any of the above highly recommended coverages in Hamilton may be removed from your quote, but we strongly recommend keeping them to have adequate protection.
Most Expensive Postal Codes in Hamilton
Hamilton’s average auto insurance rate is $1,735/year, slightly less than Ontario’s provincial average of $1,874/year. However, there are some areas in Hamilton where car insurance is well above the city’s average, check the table below for a detailed look at Hamilton’s most expensive postal codes:
| Postal Code | Average Annual Car Insurance Premium |
|---|---|
| L8H, L8L, L8M, L8N, L8P, L8R, L8V, L9A, L9C | $1,864 |
| L8W | $1,822 |
| L8K, L8T, L9B, L9K, L8E, L8G, L8J | $1,795 |
Least Expensive Postal Codes in Hamilton
Fortunately, you can also find areas where insurance rates are below the city average – L9H is the cheapest in the city at $1,605/year.
| Postal Code | Average Annual Car Insurance Premium |
|---|---|
| L9H | $1,605 |
| L8S, L9G | $1,623 |
How Hamilton Car Insurance Rates Compare to Nearby Cities
Hamilton’s car insurance rates are some of the highest in the region. You can see how they compare to some of the neighbouring cities in the table below.
| City | Average Annual Car Insurance Premium |
|---|---|
| Hamilton, ON | $1,735 |
| Burlington, ON | $1,704 |
| Brantford, ON | $1,769 |
| Oakville, ON | $1,809 |
| Cambridge, ON | $1,894 |
| Milton, ON | $1,824 |
Car Insurance Cost in Hamilton by Age
Hamilton car insurance premiums rise and fall based on your age. Students and younger drivers typically pay higher premiums due to inexperience, but these will decrease as you age. Your premiums will rise again once you hit 65 because senior citizens are more likely to get hurt or killed in an accident.
Here’s a detailed overview of car insurance premiums in Hamilton categorized by age, plus how much you can save when using MyChoice to compare policy deals:
| Age | Average Annual Car Insurance Premium | Average Savings with MyChoice |
|---|---|---|
| 18-20 | $4,979 | $990 |
| 21-24 | $2,568 | $511 |
| 25-34 | $1,978 | $393 |
| 35-44 | $1,735 | $345 |
| 45-54 | $1,475 | $293 |
| 55-64 | $1,371 | $273 |
| 65+ | $1,405 | $280 |
Car Insurance Cost in Hamilton by Driving History
Your driving history impacts car insurance rates in Hamilton because insurers use it to gauge your accident risk. Having a clean driving record means you’re a safe driver, which lowers insurance premiums. Conversely, having traffic violations on your record makes you a high-risk driver, increasing your premiums.
Traffic violations and accidents stay on your record for years, so you may need to seek specialized high-risk driver insurance. Here’s an overview of how different driving violations influence your Hamilton auto insurance rates based on our price quote data:
| Driving Violation | Average Annual Car Insurance Premium |
|---|---|
| Clean driving record | $1,735 |
| Insurance cancellation due to non-payment | $2,412 |
| Licence suspension for alcohol-related offences | $1,822 |
| One at-fault accident | $3,401 |
| Minor speeding ticket | $2,099 |
Car Insurance Cost in Hamilton by Vehicle Model
Below is a breakdown of the estimated insurance costs for various car models in Hamilton. This should give you an idea of what you can expect to pay for car insurance based on the vehicle model you drive.
| Car Model | Average Annual Car Insurance Premium |
|---|---|
| Hyundai | $1,750 |
| Mitsubishi | $1,703 |
| Toyota | $1,355 |
| Nissan | $1,758 |
| Tesla | $1,704 |
| BMW | $2,019 |
| Honda | $1,592 |
| Audi | $2,157 |
| Mazda | $1,618 |
| Mercedes | $1,719 |
The Best Car Insurance Brokerages in Hamilton
Car insurance brokers help you find the best deals by comparing offers from multiple insurers and answering any car insurance questions. Here are some of car insurance brokerages in Hamilton you can visit for your insurance needs.
| Brokerage | Address | Phone Number |
|---|---|---|
| My Insurance Broker | 163 Centennial Pkwy N, Hamilton ON L8E 1H8, Canada | +18554825001 |
| BrokerLink | 78 Queenston Rd, Hamilton ON L8K 6R6, Canada | +19055486886 |
| ALFA Insurance Brokers | 1109 Main St E Unit 1, Hamilton ON L8M 1N7, Canada | +19055489655 |
| Morison Insurance Brokers Inc. | 1725 Upper James St, Hamilton ON L9B 1K7, Canada | +19055755969 |
Driving in Hamilton
While not as large as Toronto, Hamilton is still a sizable city with heavy traffic. Knowing the key facts about driving in Hamilton can help you regulate risk when going out and about.
Here are some key facts about Hamilton you should know:
- Major highways in Hamilton: Queen Elizabeth Way, 403, 2, 5, 6, 8, 20, Lincoln M. Alexander Parkway
- Public transit options: GO Transit (buses and trains), Hamilton Street Railway (buses), Burlington Transit (buses)
- Ridesharing services: Uber and Lyft
- Parking space providers: The City of Hamilton, private lots
- Top tourist attractions: Dundurn Castle, Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum, Bayfront Park, Gage Park, Art Gallery of Hamilton, Tiffany Falls Conservation Area
- Busy intersections: John Street South and Main Street East, Dundurn Street South and King Street West, Dundurn Street South and Main Street West, Main Street East and Wellington Street South
- Airports: John C. Munro Hamilton International Airport
Main Mode of Commuting in Hamilton
A vast majority of Hamilton’s 190,280 commuters travel by car, and most of them drive themselves. However, public transit users are also somewhat common. In fact, there are almost as many public transit commuters as there are car passenger commuters. Here’s an in-depth look at the main modes of commuting in Hamilton.
| Main mode of commuting | Counts | Rates |
|---|---|---|
| Total – 25% Sample Size | 190,280 | 100.0 |
| Car, truck or van | 162,485 | 85.4% |
| Car, truck or van – as a driver | 147,235 | 77.4% |
| Car, truck or van – as a passenger | 15,240 | 8.0% |
| Public transit | 14,055 | 7.4% |
| Walked | 8,685 | 4.6% |
| Bicycle | 1,240 | 0.7% |
| Other method | 3,815 | 2.0% |
Commuting Duration in Hamilton
A quarter of Hamilton’s commuters only spend 15 minutes going to work. Most of them spend somewhere between 15 and 29 minutes on their commute. Here’s a closer look at the commuting duration in Hamilton:
| Commuting duration | Counts | Rates |
|---|---|---|
| Total – 25% Sample Size | 190,280 | 100.0 |
| Less than 15 minutes | 47,920 | 25.2% |
| 15 to 29 minutes | 76,225 | 40.1% |
| 30 to 44 minutes | 34,950 | 18.4% |
| 45 to 59 minutes | 14,965 | 7.9% |
| 60 minutes and over | 16,215 | 8.5% |
Driving Conditions in Hamilton
Your insurance premiums can fluctuate depending on current driving conditions in the city. Here’s a look into driving conditions in Hamilton:
- Average daily commute time: 58.8 minutes round trip
- Average annual rainfall: 850 mm
- Average annual snowfall: 463 mm
- Rainy days per year: 175.2
- Rainiest month in Hamilton: September
- Driest month in Hamilton: February
- Snow days per year: 58.6
- Snowfall months in Hamilton: November through April
Traffic in Hamilton
In addition to driving conditions, it’s also important to know what traffic in Hamilton is like. Here are some fast facts about traffic in the city:
- Population: The Hamilton metro area boasts a population of 785,184.
- City area: The Hamilton metro area spans 1,373.15 km2.
- Daily commuters: The Hamilton Census Subdivision estimates 200,865 commuters in the city.
- Worst rush hour: Fridays from 4 PM to 5 PM are the worst for traffic in Hamilton.
- Time spent in traffic annually: Most Hamiltonians spend about 357.7 hours each year stuck in traffic.
- Busiest highways: Hamilton is one of the stops along Highway 401, one of the busiest highways in North America.
The Most Common Questions About Car Insurance in Hamilton
How much is car insurance in Hamilton?
Hamilton’s average annual car insurance rate is $1,735, lower than Ontario’s provincial average of $1,874.
Is car insurance cheaper in Hamilton than in Toronto?
Car insurance in Hamilton is cheaper than in Toronto. The average annual rate in Hamilton is $1,735, around $500 less than Toronto’s $2,231.
Is Hamilton cheaper than Mississauga for car insurance?
Hamilton is cheaper than Mississauga for car insurance. Mississauga’s annual rate of $2,258 is considerably higher than Hamilton’s average of $1,735.
When should I get Hamilton car insurance quotes?
You should get Hamilton car insurance quotes as soon as possible. Insurance premiums usually get higher as your policy nears its end, so don’t delay and get quotes before your rates spike.
How can you get cheap car insurance in Hamilton?
Compare car insurance rates in Hamilton with MyChoice, or visit our main car insurance page to learn other ways of getting cheap car insurance quotes.