How Can You Get Cheap Car Insurance in Hamilton?
You can get cheap Hamilton car insurance by finding the best deals. Here are several tips to help you do so:
How Does Car Insurance Work in Hamilton?
Car insurance in Hamilton works by providing financial coverage in case something bad happens to you or your car, depending on the protection you choose. Auto insurance in Hamilton 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 Hamilton.
Here’s a breakdown of the key elements of your auto insurance policy:
How Your Car Insurance Quotes Are Calculated in Hamilton
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 Hamilton car insurance quotes:
Most Expensive Postal Codes in Hamilton
Hamilton’s average auto insurance rate is $1,419/year, slightly higher than Ontario’s provincial average of $1,385/year. However, there are some areas in Hamilton where car insurance is well above the city’s average. Nine postal codes (L8H, L8L, L8M, L8N, L8P, L8R, L8V, L9A, L9C) have the highest auto insurance rates in Hamilton at $1,748/year.
Check the table below for a detailed look at Hamilton’s most expensive postal codes for car insurance:
| Postal Code | Average Annual Car Insurance Premium |
|---|---|
| L8H, L8L, L8M, L8N, L8P, L8R, L8V, L9A, L9C | $1,748 |
| L8W | $1,593 |
| L8K, L8T, L9B, L9K, L8E, L8G, L8J | $1,585 |
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 $1,097/year. Here’s a look at Hamilton’s cheapest postal codes for auto insurance:
| Postal Code | Average annual car insurance premium |
|---|---|
| L9H | $1,097 |
| L8S, L9G | $1,391 |
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 Group | Average annual insurance cost | Average savings with MyChoice |
|---|---|---|
| 18-20 | $5,066 | $1,008 |
| 21-24 | $2,895 | $576 |
| 25-34 | $1,930 | $384 |
| 35-44 | $1,419 | $282 |
| 45-54 | $1,164 | $231 |
| 55-64 | $989 | $197 |
| 65+ | $1,128 | $224 |
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 rate |
|---|---|
| Clean driving record | $1,419 |
| Insurance cancellation due to non-payment | $2,327 |
| Licence suspension for alcohol-related offences | $1,701 |
| One accident | $3,127 |
| Speeding ticket | $1,848 |
Other Factors That Affect Car Insurance Prices in Hamilton
We’ve covered several factors that influence car insurance rates in Hamilton. Aside from those, several extra factors play a part in determining your Hamilton auto insurance premiums:
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.
Who Provides Car Insurance Quotes in Hamilton?
Insurance brokers, agents, aggregators, and direct writers provide car insurance quotes in Hamilton. Here’s an overview of these four insurance quote providers:
The Most Common Questions About Car Insurance in Hamilton
How much is car insurance in Hamilton?
Hamilton’s average annual car insurance rate is $1,419, higher than Ontario’s provincial average of $1,385.
Why is auto insurance expensive in Hamilton?
Auto insurance is relatively expensive in Hamilton because it’s an urban area with many vehicles, meaning you have an increased accident risk. Insurers may also consider other things like crime rates, the number of insurance claims, and insurance fraud.
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 $1,419, around $400 less than Toronto’s $1,796.
Is car insurance higher in Hamilton than in Burlington?
Car insurance in Burlington is higher than in Hamilton. Hamilton’s average annual rate is $1,419, around $13 lower than Burlington’s $1,432.
Is Hamilton cheaper than Mississauga for car insurance?
Hamilton is cheaper than Mississauga for car insurance. Mississauga’s annual rate of $1,813 is over $400 higher than Hamilton’s average of $1,419.
What is the average insurance rate for a car in Hamilton?
The annual average insurance rate for a car in Hamilton is $1,419.
What are the best insurance companies in Hamilton?
The best insurance companies in Hamilton depend on what you want out of your policy. Use MyChoice to find the best policy deals from trusted insurers in Hamilton.
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.
Which car has the cheapest insurance in Hamilton?
Fiats have the cheapest insurance in Hamilton, costing an average of $126/month.