How Can You Get Cheap Car Insurance in Huntsville?
You can get cheap Huntsville car insurance by finding the best deals. Here are several tips to help you do so:
Compare Rates Between Insurers
Huntsville 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 Huntsville 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 Huntsville.
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 Huntsville
- Huntsville car insurance is MORE expensive than the Ontario average.
- The average annual car insurance cost in Huntsville for a driver with a clean record is around $1,414.
- Drivers without a clean record in Huntsville can pay up to $3,116 annually, depending on factors like driving and claim history.
- Comparing Huntsville auto insurance quotes with MyChoice can save you up to $1,004 annually.
Who Provides Car Insurance Quotes in Huntsville?
Insurance brokers, agents, aggregators, and direct writers provide car insurance quotes in Huntsville. 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 Huntsville 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 Huntsville?
Car insurance in Huntsville works by providing financial coverage in case something bad happens to you or your car, depending on the protection you choose. Auto insurance in Huntsville 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 Huntsville.
Here’s a breakdown of the key elements of your auto insurance policy:
The mandatory car insurance requirement for Huntsville 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 Huntsville.
Once you meet the minimum car insurance coverage requirements, you can legally drive in Huntsville. 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 Huntsville 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 Huntsville. 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 Huntsville 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 Huntsville
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 Huntsville car insurance quotes:
Age, Gender, and Marital Status
Your personal demographics influence auto insurance premiums in Huntsville 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 Huntsville 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 Huntsville
On average, car insurance in Huntsville costs $1,414/year or $118/month. Compared to other towns in Ontario, Huntsville’s rates are somewhat above the regional average of $1,385.
P1H is the most expensive (and only) postal code to purchase car insurance in Huntsville. Here’s a look at auto insurance rates in town:
Postal Code | Average Annual Car Insurance Premium |
---|---|
P1H | $1,414 |
Least Expensive Postal Codes in Huntsville
Since there’s only one postal code in Huntsville, there are no places where auto insurance rates are below the town average.
Car Insurance Cost in Huntsville by Age
One factor that can affect your car insurance rates is age.
Young drivers tend to receive higher insurance premiums because they lack experience on the road. You can keep your rates low as a student driver by enrolling in a defensive driving class, applying for student discounts, or enlisting as a secondary driver on a parent’s existing policy.
Rates tend to decrease for drivers between 25 and 35, though they increase again for senior drivers, as they are more likely to get critically injured in an accident.
Take a closer look below at how age can affect your car insurance rates:
Age | Average annual insurance cost | Average savings with MyChoice |
---|---|---|
18-20 | $5,048 | $1,004 |
21-24 | $2,885 | $574 |
25-34 | $1,923 | $382 |
35-44 | $1,414 | $281 |
45-54 | $1,159 | $231 |
55-64 | $986 | $196 |
65+ | $1,124 | $223 |
Car Insurance Cost in Huntsville by Driving History
Insurance providers prefer low-risk drivers with clean records. However, you can still get reasonable rates with a bad driving record.
Generally, traffic tickets stay on your record for two to three years, after which insurance companies can no longer penalize you for them. That said, some insurers may consider your record as far back as 10 years.
Various driving violations affect your rates differently. Take a look below:
Driving violation | Average annual car insurance rate |
---|---|
Clean driving record | $1,414 |
Insurance cancellation due to non-payment | $2,319 |
Licence suspension for alcohol-related offences | $1,695 |
One accident | $3,116 |
Speeding ticket | $1,841 |
Other Factors That Affect Car Insurance Prices in Huntsville
We’ve covered several factors that influence car insurance rates in Huntsville. Aside from those, several extra factors play a part in determining your Huntsville 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 Huntsville
If you don’t have the time to compare quotes yourself, you can enlist the help of a dependable car insurance brokerage to do it for you.
You can contact some of the best brokerages in Huntsville, which include the following:
Brokerage | Address | Phone number |
---|---|---|
Hutcheson Reynolds & Caswell Insurance Brokers | 27 Main St E, Huntsville ON P1H 2C6, Canada | +17057890101 |
CCV Insurance & Financial – Huntsville | 75 Main St W #1, Huntsville ON P1H 1W9, Canada | +17057894165 |
Hutcheson Reynolds & Caswell Insurance Brokers | 27 Main St E, Huntsville ON P1H 2C6, Canada | +17057890101 |
Driving in Huntsville
Known for its riverside pubs, restaurants, and breweries, Huntsville, Ontario, is a quaint town that draws a reasonable number of tourists year-round. This historic town hosts unique cultural events, such as music festivals and art gatherings.
While you can find your way around the area by bus, most people drive. Here are a few key facts you should know about driving in Huntsville:
- Major highways: Highway 11, Highway 60
- Public transit options: Huntsville Transit (bus)
- Ridesharing services: Uber, Lyft
- Parking space providers: Town of Huntsville, private lots
- Top tourist attractions: Arrowhead Provincial Park, Lions Lookout, Sugarbush Maple Hill Farm, Downtown Huntsville, Muskoka Heritage Place, Hidden Valley Highlands Ski Area
- Busy intersections: Old Madison Pike and Research Park Boulevard, Jordan Lane and University Drive, Jordan Lane and I-565
- Airports: Muskoka Airport
Main Mode of Commuting in Huntsville
Huntsville is a very small town, so most people use their personal vehicles to commute. Even then, out of the roughly 20,000 residents, only 7,000 people commute by car. Pedestrian commuters are also fairly common in Huntsville, making up 4.6% of the total commuters. Here’s a detailed look at the main modes of commuting in Huntsville:
Main mode of commuting | Counts | Rates |
---|---|---|
Total – 25% Sample Size | 7,615 | 100.0 |
Car, truck or van | 7,090 | 93.1% |
Car, truck or van – as a driver | 6,510 | 85.5% |
Car, truck or van – as a passenger | 580 | 7.6% |
Public transit | 30 | 0.4% |
Walked | 350 | 4.6% |
Bicycle | 30 | 0.4% |
Other method | 120 | 1.6% |
Commuting Duration in Huntsville
Traffic is mostly sparse in Huntsville, so you won’t experience lengthy commutes most of the time. About two-thirds of the town spend under half an hour commuting. Here’s a closer look at the commuting times in Huntsville:
Commuting duration | Counts | Rates |
---|---|---|
Total – 25% Sample Size | 7,615 | 100.0 |
Less than 15 minutes | 3,190 | 34.9% |
15 to 29 minutes | 2,490 | 32.7% |
30 to 44 minutes | 1,090 | 14.3% |
45 to 59 minutes | 360 | 4.7% |
60 minutes and over | 485 | 6.4% |
Driving Conditions in Huntsville
Huntsville’s climate is cold and temperate, with generally comfortable summers and bitingly cold winters. Even during its driest month, Huntsville gets a generous amount of rain.
Keep these weather facts in mind when driving in Huntsville:
- Average daily commute time: 38 minutes round trip
- Average annual rainfall: 1033 mm
- Average annual snowfall: 45 mm
- Rainy days per year: 155 days
- Rainiest month in Huntsville: January
- Driest months in Huntsville: March
- Snow days per year: 179 days
- Snowfall months in Huntsville: October – April
Traffic in Huntsville
Huntsville is a small town that doesn’t experience too much congestion on the road. However, you will get your fair share of traffic depending on the season.
Here’s what you can expect when driving in Huntsville:
- Population: Roughly 19,816 people reside in Huntsville.
- City area: The Huntsville city limits span 68.72 km2.
- Busiest highways: The busiest highways in Huntsville are Highway 11 and Highway 60.
The Most Common Questions About Car Insurance in Huntsville
Is ridesharing insurance available in Huntsville?
Yes, ridesharing insurance is available in Huntsville for Uber and Lyft.
How much does Huntsville car insurance cost?
Huntsville car insurance costs roughly $1,414/year or $118/month.
Does car insurance in Huntsville cover trailers hitched to vehicles?
Yes, car insurance in Huntsville partially covers trailers hitched to vehicles. You can also protect belongings inside your trailer if you list it under a home insurance policy.
Can you list two primary drivers on a car insurance policy?
Technically, yes, you can list two primary drivers on a car insurance policy. However, it isn’t common practice, and adding a secondary driver to your policy can increase your rates.
Does Huntsville car insurance cover delivery vehicles?
Huntsville car insurance does not necessarily cover delivery vehicles. If you use your vehicle for commercial reasons, you may have to apply for commercial insurance.