How Can You Get Cheap Car Insurance in Kitchener?
You can get cheap Kitchener car insurance by finding the best deals. Here are several tips to help you do so:
Who Provides Car Insurance Quotes in Kitchener?
Insurance brokers, agents, aggregators, and direct writers provide car insurance quotes in Kitchener. Here’s an overview of these four insurance quote providers:
How Does Car Insurance Work in Kitchener?
Car insurance in Kitchener works by providing financial coverage in case something bad happens to you or your car, depending on the protection you choose. Auto insurance in Kitchener 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 Kitchener.
Here’s a breakdown of the key elements of your auto insurance policy:
How Your Car Insurance Quotes Are Calculated in Kitchener
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 Kitchener car insurance quotes:
Most Expensive Postal Codes in Kitchener
The annual average auto insurance premium for Kitchener, Ontario is $1,238, making it much cheaper than Toronto, which has an average of $1,796. Kitchener has three postal codes (N2B, N2H, N2N) that have higher-than-average car insurance rates, seen in the table below:
| Postal Code | Average Annual Car Insurance Premium |
|---|---|
| N2B, N2H, N2N | $1,271 |
Least Expensive Postal Codes in Kitchener
Other than the three most expensive postal codes, the rest of Kitchener’s territory has an average insurance rate of $1,238. Here’s a look at the postal codes in Kitchener that have the lowest car insurance:
| Postal Code | Average annual car insurance premium |
|---|---|
| N2A, N2C, N2E, N2G, N2M, N2P, N2R | $1,225 |
Car Insurance Cost in Kitchener by Age
Depending on your age, your insurance premiums can be higher or lower. Students and younger drivers are considered higher-risk drivers due to their inexperience, so they can expect to pay higher insurance rates.
When drivers reach the age of 25, insurance premiums start to go down. Premiums start to rise again upon reaching the age of 65 due to senior citizens having an increased accident risk.
Here’s a look at car insurance costs in Kitchener, categorized by age:
| Age Group | Average annual insurance cost | Average savings with MyChoice |
|---|---|---|
| 18-20 | $4,420 | $879 |
| 21-24 | $2,526 | $502 |
| 25-34 | $1,684 | $335 |
| 35-44 | $1,238 | $246 |
| 45-54 | $1,164 | $202 |
| 55-64 | $863 | $172 |
| 65+ | $984 | $196 |
Car Insurance Cost in Kitchener by Driving History
Having a clean driving record is important if you want to keep your Kitchener auto insurance premiums low. Insurance providers use your driving history to see if you’re a high-risk driver. If you have a clean driving history, you’ll qualify for lower auto insurance rates than drivers with multiple violations and accidents on their records.
Driving violations such as speeding tickets and DUIs can stay on your record for two years in Ontario. However, providers will still use them to calculate your insurance premiums for longer than that.
Here’s a look at how traffic violations can influence your insurance rates based on MyChoice’s price quote data:
| Driving violation | Average annual car insurance rate |
|---|---|
| Clean driving record | $1,238 |
| Insurance cancellation due to non-payment | $2,030 |
| Licence suspension for alcohol-related offences | $1,484 |
| One accident | $2,729 |
| Speeding ticket | $1,612 |
Other Factors That Affect Car Insurance Prices in Kitchener
We’ve covered several factors that influence car insurance rates in Kitchener. Aside from those, several extra factors play a part in determining your Kitchener auto insurance premiums:
The Best Car Insurance Brokerages in Kitchener
Insurance brokers have a deep knowledge of the auto insurance scene in Kitchener. They can make your life easier by comparing policies and deals from different companies so you don’t have to. Plus, if you have any questions about auto insurance, brokers are more than ready to help you out.
You can partner with insurance brokers to ensure you get the policy you need at the price you want. Here are some of the best car insurance brokerages in Kitchener:
| Brokerage | Address | Phone Number |
|---|---|---|
| Regal Insurance Brokers | 428 Gage Ave #2, Kitchener ON N2M 5C9, Canada | +15195787170 |
| BrokerLink | 230 The Boardwalk Mall Ln #1, Kitchener ON N2N 0B1, Canada | +15195765242 |
| KW Insurance Brokers | 501 Krug St Unit 112, Kitchener ON N2B 1L3, Canada | +15197444190 |
| All-Risks Insurance Brokers Limited | 229 Frederick St, Kitchener ON N2H 2M7, Canada | +15192080220 |
Driving in Kitchener
Kitchener shares its metropolitan area with its twin city, Waterloo, forming the Kitchener-Waterloo area. Here are some key facts about driving in Kitchener you should know:
- Major highways in Kitchener: 8, 401
- Public transit options: Grand River Transit (bus and trains), GO Transit (bus and trains)
- Ridesharing services: Uber, Lyft
- Parking space providers: The City of Kitchener, private parking lots
- Top tourist attractions: Victoria Park, Doon Heritage Village, Huron Natural Area, Schneider Haus National Historic Site, St. Mary Our Lady of the Seven Sorrows Church
- Busy intersections: Homer Watson Boulevard and Block Line Road, Homer Watson Boulevard and Manitou Drive, Homer Watson Boulevard and Doon Village Road
- Airports: Region of Waterloo International Airport
Main Mode of Commuting in Kitchener
As with many other cities, a large portion of Kitchener’s commuters take a car, truck, or van to work. The lion’s share of car commuters are drivers, with a much smaller percentage of passengers. Here’s a closer look at the main modes of commuting in Kitchener:
| Main mode of commuting | Counts | Rates |
|---|---|---|
| Total – 25% Sample Size | 89,925 | 100.0 |
| Car, truck or van | 79,585 | 88.5% |
| Car, truck or van – as a driver | 72,320 | 80.4% |
| Car, truck or van – as a passenger | 7,265 | 8.1% |
| Public transit | 5,090 | 5.7% |
| Walked | 2,890 | 3.2% |
| Bicycle | 455 | 0.6% |
| Other method | 1,815 | 2.0% |
Commuting Duration in Kitchener
Nearly half of Kitchener’s commuters take around 15 to 29 minutes to get to work. A quarter of them take less than 15 minutes. That means most of Kitchener’s commuters spend under half an hour on their commute. Learn more about commuting durations in Kitchener in this table:
| Commuting duration | Counts | Rates |
|---|---|---|
| Total – 25% Sample Size | 89,925 | 100.0 |
| Less than 15 minutes | 26,845 | 29.9% |
| 15 to 29 minutes | 40,385 | 44.9% |
| 30 to 44 minutes | 12,435 | 13.8% |
| 45 to 59 minutes | 4,360 | 4.8% |
| 60 minutes and over | 5,895 | 6.6% |
Driving Conditions in Kitchener
Depending on the driving condition in Kitchener, your insurance premiums can go up or down. Here’s a quick look at the driving conditions in Kitchener:
- Average daily commute time: 44 minutes round trip
- Average annual rainfall: 776.8 mm
- Average annual snowfall: 159.7 cm
- Rainy days per year: 119
- Rainiest month in Kitchener: January
- Driest month in Kitchener: September
- Snow days per year: 62
- Snowfall months in Kitchener: October to April
Traffic in Kitchener
The city of Kitchener has around 256,885 residents as of the 2021 census, but the Regional Municipality of Waterloo is home to 575,847 citizens. With such a small number of citizens (and, therefore, cars), Kitchener ranks second in a survey on the best Canadian cities for driving.
Here’s a quick look at what driving in Kitchener is like:
- Population: Kitchener has 256,885 residents within its city limits.
- City area: Kitchener’s urban area spans 136.86 km2.
- Average commute distance: Most Kitchenerites travel 13.7 km to their workplace or school.
- Time spent in traffic annually: Most Kitchenerites spend 44 minutes every day in traffic, totalling almost 268 hours every year.
- Busiest highways: Highway 401, Highway 7
The Most Common Questions About Car Insurance in Kitchener
Can you have two car insurance policies in Kitchener?
Yes, you can have two car insurance policies in Kitchener, but you don’t actually need multiple policies. If you take out multiple policies, you’ll end up paying more premiums for the same coverage. To keep your insurance costs low, take out a single policy that covers only what you need to cover.
What is the cost of car insurance in Kitchener?
The cost of car insurance in Kitchener averages out to $1,238 annually. You can get higher or lower insurance rates depending on your age, driving history, car make and model, and how frequently you drive your car.
How do Kitchener car insurance quotes compare to other cities in Ontario?
Kitchener car insurance quotes are mostly average compared to other cities in Ontario. The average car insurance rate in Kitchener sits solidly in the middle, with half of other Ontario cities having more expensive rates, while the other half of Ontario cities have cheaper rates.
Why is car insurance expensive in Kitchener?
Car insurance can be expensive in Kitchener if insurance companies give you a higher rate based on a variety of factors. That being said, car insurance in Kitchener isn’t as expensive as in other cities in Ontario like Brampton or Toronto.
Why are Kitchener-Waterloo roads getting so busy?
Kitchener-Waterloo roads can get busy when there’s construction going on around the city roads. There is also a growing population of remote and tech workers setting up in the Regional Municipality of Waterloo. Both Kitchener and Waterloo are also experiencing a steady growth in population.
How can I save on car insurance in Kitchener?
You can save on car insurance in Kitchener by buying a safe and reliable car, keeping a clean driving record, and shopping around for the best insurance policies. MyChoice can help you save up to $996 from the top car insurance companies in Ontario.
Is auto insurance the same in Kitchener and Waterloo?
Yes, auto insurance is the same in Kitchener and Waterloo because they both fall in the Regional Municipality of Waterloo.
Which city has cheaper car insurance: Kitchener or London?
Kitchener has cheaper car insurance than London by about $270 on average.