Oshawa motorists may find themselves driving on local streets as well as Highway 401, when they’re going from one end of Durham Region to the other, or venturing deeper into the Greater Toronto Area. Add construction in North Oshawa, development along highways and icy lakeside roads in the winter, and your favourite paths might seem less than familiar.
This page details the rates that Oshawa drivers pay for car insurance, explains why premiums differ based on postal code, age, driving history and vehicle, and outlines where most of the cost of your insurance policy is spent.
The car insurance rates in Oshawa shown here reflect estimates from MyChoice quotes obtained between January and June of 2026.
Key Car Insurance Numbers for Oshawa
The median annual auto insurance quote in Oshawa is $2,823 a year, or $235 a month, according to our own research, making it 20.4% higher than the Ontario median.
| Median annual premium | $2,823 |
| Median monthly premium | $235 |
| Oshawa premium vs. Ontario Median | 20.4% more expensive |
| Cheapest Postal Code | L1K ($2,699) |
| Most Expensive Postal Code | L1L ($2,888) |
Oshawa Car Insurance Rates by Postal Code Area
The premiums vary from $2,699 in L1K to $2,888 in L1L, a difference of approximately 7%. That’s significant, but it’s not nearly as large as the gaps produced by your age or driving record further down on this page. For most Oshawa drivers, your demographics will likely impact your insurance costs more than the difference between postal codes.
| Postal Code | Median Annual Car Insurance Premium |
|---|---|
| L1L | $2,888 |
| L1J | $2,823 |
| L1C | $2,789 |
| L1N | $2,769 |
| L1G | $2,764 |
| L1H | $2,741 |
| L1K | $2,699 |
Accident Rates by Postal Code in Oshawa
But not every area of Oshawa is equally risky for car accidents. Your postal code is a big part of why your insurance company sets your rate. This map shows the percentage of drivers with an accident in each of Oshawa’s postal codes, based on analysis of more than 50,000 quotes at MyChoice.
Source: MyChoice Quote Database
Overall, 11.8 per cent of Oshawa drivers have an accident on their record. That varies, however, depending on where they live, and it can be as low as 9.5 per cent, or as high as 15.3 per cent.
Areas with the highest accident rates:
- L1J — South Oshawa: 15.3% of drivers have an accident on record
- L1L — Kedron / Windfields: 11.8%
- L1H — Downtown Oshawa: 11.5%
Areas with the lowest accident rates:
- L1K — Eastdale / Samac: 9.5%
- L1G — North Oshawa: 11.5%
South Oshawa (L1J) drivers are over 60 percent more likely to have an accident on their record than Eastdale / Samac (L1K), which means you’ll pay hundreds of dollars more for insurance.
Highway 401 Congestion and Urban Growth in Oshawa
Oshawa drivers deal with Highway 401 traffic, construction, commuter traffic, and growing neighbourhoods. A freeway incident can quickly overwhelm local east-west roads. Creating a little extra space in stop-and-go traffic, picking a lane in advance and planning an alternate route can avoid sudden lane changes.
Read More: Highway Driving Tips for Oshawa Commuters
Car Insurance Costs Around Oshawa
But there are insurance markets that are much further away from Oshawa’s premium prices. Scarborough, for instance, costs 3.4% more, while in Newmarket premiums are 9.4% cheaper. Meanwhile, the median car insurance premium in Peterborough is nearly 30% lower than in Oshawa.
In turn, for drivers going between Durham Region and communities farther east, car insurance can become a significant portion of the price differential.
| City | Median Annual Car Insurance Premium | Difference from Oshawa Premium |
|---|---|---|
| Oshawa, ON | $2,823 | — |
| Scarborough, ON | $2,920 | +3.4% |
| Markham, ON | $3,046 | +7.9% |
| Newmarket, ON | $2,557 | -9.4% |
| Toronto, ON | $2,456 | -13.0% |
| Peterborough, ON | $1,986 | -29.6% |
Where the Oshawa Car Insurance Premium Goes
The majority (44%) of Oshawa’s premium went to statutory coverage, and another 43% went to collision or comprehensive coverage. Another 12.5% went to optional Accident Benefits, which is a higher proportion than we see on most of the other pages in the dataset. This means that it’s particularly important to understand what these Accident Benefits actually cover before opting out of them to save money.
| Part of the policy | What is included | Median Annual Car Insurance Premium |
|---|---|---|
| Legally required coverage | Third-Party Liability; mandatory medical, rehabilitation and attendant care; Uninsured Automobile | $1,252.69 |
| Vehicle damage protection | DCPD; Collision; Comprehensive | $1,206.61 |
| Optional Accident Benefits | Selected optional benefits shown below | $351.77 |
| Optional endorsements | OPCF 44R – Family Protection | $11.93 |
| Coverage Total: | $2,823 |
With both collision and comprehensive, the deductible gives drivers more flexibility. You can increase your deductible to reduce your monthly premium. Just make sure you can afford the higher deductible in the event of a claim. For an older car that isn’t worth very much, it may also be worth reconsidering whether you need collision and comprehensive coverage at all.
Oshawa Auto Insurance Rates by Age Group
In Oshawa, age is a factor as well. A quote for a driver between 18-20 years old could start at about $6,068, while a driver between the ages of 35-44 years might start at $2,823, and drivers aged 65+ would be looking at a quote starting at $2,390.
If you are an Oshawa family with a new teen driver, find out how much you would pay to put them on the insurance for your different family cars before you buy another one.
| Age | Median Annual Car Insurance Premium |
|---|---|
| 18-20 | $6,068 |
| 21-24 | $4,004 |
| 25-34 | $3,537 |
| 35-44 | $2,823 |
| 45-54 | $2,664 |
| 55-64 | $2,439 |
| 65+ | $2,390 |
Car Insurance in Oshawa: Clean Record vs. Violations
Some of the other factors you can control when it comes to your car insurance rate include your driving history. One at-fault accident raises the median from $2,823 to $3,400. If you receive a speeding ticket in Ontario, even a minor one, the median cost increases to $3,778.
Because aggressive driving is taken seriously by the Durham Region for road-safety purposes, slowing down not only improves your insurance history but also keeps other motorists safe on the road.
| Driving record | Median Annual Car Insurance Premium |
|---|---|
| Clean | $2,823 |
| Minor speeding ticket | $3,778 |
| One at-fault accident | $3,400 |
| Insurance cancellation (non-payment) | $3,872 |
| Licence suspension | $3,904 |
| Impaired driving conviction | $5,540 |
| Stunt driving conviction | $4,339 |
Comparing Vehicle Premiums in Oshawa
Oshawa’s data also reveals that there can be significant differences, even between newer hybrid models. For instance, the median car insurance premium for a 2024 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid is $2,869. That’s nearly $690 less than the 2026 Honda Civic Sport Hybrid ($3,560).
| Make | Model | Model year | Vehicle price | Median premium |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Honda | Accord Sport 4Dr | 2020 | $32,540 | $2,777 |
| Lexus | Nx300 4Dr Awd | 2020 | $54,981 | $3,161 |
| Toyota | Rav4 Xle Hev 4Dr Awd | 2024 | $40,792 | $2,869 |
| Hyundai | Santa Fe 4Dr 2Wd | 2013 | $28,769 | $2,064 |
| Honda | Civic Sport Hev 4Dr | 2026 | $35,805 | $3,560 |
Why Do Car Insurance Rates in Oshawa Keep Going Up?
Even if you don’t have any accidents or claims, your renewal premium may still go up because the insurance company considers things like the overall cost of claims, the average cost of repairs, theft, and where your vehicle is parked. The fact that many people commute along Highway 401 every day and that Durham Region continues to grow can all lead to more cars on the road and more claims.
Did your premium go up? First, check it against the median of $2,823 for car insurance in Oshawa. Then call your insurer and find out why your premium increased at renewal. Finally, get quotes from several other insurers, particularly if you haven’t had any accidents or tickets. Even among insurers that are available in Oshawa, one company might price the same driver differently than another.
