Oshawa drivers often split their time between local roads and Highway 401, whether they are commuting across Durham Region or farther into the GTA. Construction and growth in North Oshawa can also change familiar routes, while winter conditions near Lake Ontario add another challenge.
This page shows what Oshawa drivers pay for car insurance, how premiums vary by postal code, age, driving record, and vehicle, and where most of a policy’s cost goes.
The Oshawa car insurance rates on this page are based on quotes collected through MyChoice during the first six months of 2026.
Key Car Insurance Numbers for Oshawa
Based on our internal data, Oshawa’s median annual auto insurance quote is $2,823, or $235 a month. That is 20.4% above 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
Premiums range from $2,699 in L1K to $2,888 in L1L, a difference of about 7%. That is noticeable, but it is much smaller than the differences caused by age or driving history later on this page. For most Oshawa drivers, those personal factors can have a bigger effect than the postal-code gap alone.
| 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
Not all parts of Oshawa have the same accident risk, and your postal code is one of the main factors insurers use to set your premium. The map below shows the percentage of drivers who have been in an accident across Oshawa’s postal codes, based on over 50,000 quotes analyzed by MyChoice.
Source: MyChoice Quote Database
On average, 11.8% of Oshawa drivers have an accident on their record. But that varies by area — from as low as 9.5% in some areas to 15.3% in others.
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%
Drivers in South Oshawa (L1J) are over 60% more likely to have an accident on their record than drivers in Eastdale / Samac (L1K), a gap that directly translates to hundreds of dollars in premium difference.
Highway 401 Congestion and Urban Growth in Oshawa
Oshawa drivers manage Highway 401 congestion, construction, commuter traffic, and expanding neighbourhoods. A freeway incident can quickly overload local east-west roads. Leaving more space in stop-and-go traffic, selecting lanes early, and planning an alternate route can reduce sudden manoeuvres.
Read More: Highway Driving Tips for Oshawa Commuters
Car Insurance Costs Around Oshawa
Oshawa sits between some very different insurance markets. Scarborough is only 3.4% more expensive, while Newmarket is 9.4% cheaper. The biggest gap is with Peterborough, where the median car insurance premium is almost 30% lower.
For drivers moving between Durham Region and communities farther east, car insurance can therefore become a meaningful part of the cost difference between locations.
| 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
About 44% of Oshawa’s premium goes toward legally required coverage, while another 43% goes toward vehicle damage protection. Optional Accident Benefits account for another 12.5%, which is a larger share than on many of the city pages in this dataset. That makes it especially important to look at what those benefits actually cover before removing them just to reduce the premium.
| 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 |
Collision and comprehensive deductibles give drivers more room to adjust the cost, particularly on an older vehicle. Raising the deductible can lower the premium, but make sure you can comfortably pay that amount after a claim. If the vehicle is worth relatively little, it may also be worth reviewing whether keeping full collision or comprehensive coverage still makes financial sense.
Oshawa Auto Insurance Rates by Age Group
In Oshawa, age and experience change the starting point for a quote. The premiums for drivers aged 18–20 are around $6,068, compared with $2,823 for the 35–44 group and $2,390 for drivers aged 65+.
For an Oshawa family adding a young driver, compare the cost of assigning them to different household vehicles before buying another car.
| 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
Driving history is one of the rating factors an Oshawa driver can influence over time. One at-fault accident raises the median from $2,823 to $3,400, while a minor speeding ticket brings it to $3,778.
Durham Region treats aggressive driving as a road-safety priority, so slowing down protects both the record insurers review and other road users.
| 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 vehicle data shows a noticeable difference even between newer hybrids. The 2024 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid has a median car insurance premium of $2,869, while the 2026 Honda Civic Sport Hybrid comes in at $3,560, about $690 more per year.
| 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 with a clean record, your renewal premium can increase because insurers also factor in broader claims costs, vehicle repair costs, theft risk, and where the car is kept. In Oshawa, regular Highway 401 commuting and continued growth across Durham Region can also mean more vehicles and claims exposure.
If your premium increased, first check it against Oshawa’s $2,823 median car insurance premium. Then ask your insurer what specifically changed at renewal. You should also compare other insurers, especially if your driving record hasn’t changed, because each company may price the same Oshawa driver differently.