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:
Compare Rates Between Insurers
Hamilton 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 Hamilton 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 Hamilton.
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.
Quick Facts About Auto Insurance in Hamilton
- Hamilton car insurance is more expensive than the Ontario average.
- The average annual car insurance cost in Hamilton for a driver with a clean record is around $1,419.
- Drivers without a clean record in Hamilton can pay up to $3,127 annually, depending on factors like driving and claim history.
- Comparing Hamilton auto insurance quotes with MyChoice can save you up to $1,008 annually.
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:
The mandatory car insurance requirement for Hamilton 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 Hamilton.
Once you meet the minimum car insurance coverage requirements, you can legally drive in Hamilton. 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 Hamilton 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 Hamilton. 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 Hamilton 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 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:
Age, Gender, and Marital Status
Your personal demographics influence auto insurance premiums in Hamilton 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 Hamilton 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 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:
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 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:
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 Hamilton 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.
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.