How Does Car Insurance Work in Oshawa?
Car insurance is mandatory in Ontario, but it’s important to understand the factors that influence your insurance premium and the types of coverage you should consider.
Below is a breakdown of what’s included in your car insurance package in Oshawa when you get a quote with MyChoice, categorized by mandatory and highly recommended coverages. Together, the mandatory and recommended coverage premiums reflect the average car insurance cost in Oshawa referenced above.
| Coverage Type | What’s Included | Average Annual Car Insurance Premium |
|---|---|---|
| Mandatory | – Third-Party Liability – Accident Benefits – Uninsured Automobile | $881 |
| Highly Recommended | – Direct Compensation: Property Damage – Collision – Comprehensive – OPCF 20 – OPCF 27 – OPCF 44R – OPCF 39 – OPCF 43 | $1,093 |
| Coverage Total: | $1,974 |
Mandatory Coverages:
| Coverage Type | Coverage Details | Average Annual Car Insurance Premium |
|---|---|---|
| Third-Party Liability | Protects you if you injure someone or damage property while driving, and covers legal costs if you’re sued. | $276 |
| Accident Benefits | Covers medical costs, income replacement, and more for you and others injured in an accident, regardless of fault. | $590 |
| Uninsured Automobile | Protects you if you’re hit by an uninsured or an unidentified driver and suffer injuries or vehicle damage. | $15 |
| Coverage Total: | $881 |
*The above coverages are mandatory in Oshawa and will always be included in a standard car insurance quote.
Highly Recommended Coverages:
| Coverage Type | Coverage Details | Average Annual Car Insurance Premium |
|---|---|---|
| Direct Compensation: Property Damage | Covers damage to your own vehicle if you’re not at fault in an accident with another insured driver in Ontario. | $485 |
| Collision | Covers your vehicle if you hit another car or object and you’re found at fault. | $296 |
| Comprehensive | Covers damage to your vehicle from non-collision events like theft, vandalism, fire, or weather. | $213 |
| OPCF 20: Loss of Use | Pays for rental or other transportation if your car is out of service after an at-fault accident or comprehensive claim. | $25 |
| OPCF 27: Rental Vehicle | Extends your coverage to rented or borrowed vehicles, protecting you if damage occurs while you drive them. | $26 |
| OPCF 44R: Family Protection | Covers you and your family if you’re hit by an uninsured, underinsured, or hit-and-run driver and their coverage isn’t enough. | $20 |
| OPCF 39: Accident Forgiveness | Prevents your insurance premiums from increasing after your first at-fault accident, as long as you stay with the same insurer. | $29 |
| OPCF 43: Waiver of Depreciacion | Ensures you get the full purchase price back—not a depreciated value—if your new vehicle is written off. | $2 |
| Coverage Total: | $1,096 |
*Any of the above highly recommended coverages in Oshawa may be removed from your quote, but we strongly recommend keeping them to have adequate protection.
Most Expensive Postal Codes in Oshawa
The average rate for auto insurance in Oshawa is $1,974, higher than the Ontario provincial average of $1,874.
The postal codes with the highest rates are L1J and L1H, which include the neighbourhoods of Lakeview, McLaughlin, Northglenn, Stevenson, Vanier, Central Oshawa, Donevan, Eastdale, Farewell, O’Neill, and Taunton.
| Postal Code | Average Annual Car Insurance Premium |
|---|---|
| L1J | $2,019 |
| L1H | $2,005 |
Least Expensive Postal Codes in Oshawa
The postal codes with the cheapest auto insurance rates in Oshawa are L1G, L1K, and L1L. These encompass Oshawa Central, Oshawa East, and Oshawa North, respectively.
| Postal code | Average Annual Car Insurance Premium |
|---|---|
| L1G | $1,929 |
| L1K | $1,945 |
| L1L | $1,951 |
How Oshawa Car Insurance Rates Compare to Nearby Cities
Oshawa’s car insurance rates are competitive within its region. You can see how they compare to some of the neighbouring cities in the table below.
| City | Average Annual Car Insurance Premium |
|---|---|
| Oshawa, ON | $1,974 |
| Toronto, ON | $2,231 |
| Scarborough, ON | $2,881 |
| Markham, ON | $2,163 |
| Richmond Hill, ON | $2,309 |
| Newmarket, ON | $2,066 |
Car Insurance Cost in Oshawa by Age
Due to their inexperience and limited driving history, younger drivers are often charged more for insurance. If you’re a young or new driver and you want to lower your rates, consider taking up a driving course or adding yourself as a secondary driver on your parents’ policy first.
Likewise, people over the age of 65 can also expect higher rates, as seniors are at an increased risk of sustaining serious injuries in an accident.
Learn how age affects insurance premiums in Oshawa below:
| Age | Average Annual Car Insurance Premium | Average Savings with MyChoice |
|---|---|---|
| 18-20 | $5,665 | $1,127 |
| 21-24 | $2,922 | $581 |
| 25-34 | $2,250 | $448 |
| 35-44 | $1,974 | $393 |
| 45-54 | $1,678 | $334 |
| 55-64 | $1,559 | $310 |
| 65+ | $1,599 | $318 |
Car Insurance Cost in Oshawa by Driving History
Your driving history is another key contributing factor to your insurance rates. People with more traffic violations on their records may be labelled high-risk drivers and are charged more for auto insurance.
In Ontario, drivers are rated on a 15-point system, where points are added to your driving record when you violate driving laws. When you reach a certain amount of points, you’re classified as high-risk.
Take a look at how driving offences can affect your insurance premiums in Oshawa:
| Driving Violation | Average Annual Car Insurance Premium |
|---|---|
| Clean driving record | $1,974 |
| Insurance cancellation due to non-payment | $2,744 |
| Licence suspension for alcohol-related offences | $2,073 |
| One at-fault accident | $3,869 |
| Minor speeding ticket | $2,389 |
Car Insurance Cost in Oshawa by Vehicle Model
Below is a breakdown of the estimated insurance costs for various car models in Oshawa. This should give you an idea of what you can expect to pay for car insurance based on the vehicle model you drive.
| Car Model | Average Annual Car Insurance Premium |
|---|---|
| Honda | $1,811 |
| Tesla | $1,939 |
| BMW | $2,298 |
| Hyundai | $1,991 |
| Infiniti | $1,928 |
| Volkswagen | $1,816 |
| Subaru | $2,035 |
| Audi | $2,454 |
| Mazda | $1,841 |
| Porsche | $2,000 |
The Best Car Insurance Brokerages in Oshawa
Auto insurance brokerages bridge the gap between drivers and insurance companies, making the search for the best premiums much easier.
Check out several brokerages you can visit in Oshawa, Ontario below:
| Brokerage | Address | Phone number |
|---|---|---|
| McDougall Insurance & Financial – Oshawa | 172 King St E Suite #300 Oshawa, ON L1H 1B7, Canada | +19055791317 |
| W B White Insurance Ltd | 110 King St E Oshawa, ON L1H 1B6, Canada | +19055766400 |
| Aaxel Insurance Brokers Ltd. Durham Branch | 104-1050 Simcoe St N Oshawa, ON L1G 4W5, Canada | +12892744807 |
| Petley-Hare Limited Insurance Brokers | 285 Taunton Rd E Oshawa, ON L1G 3V2, Canada | +19054334200 |
Driving in Oshawa
Driving and cars, in general, are a big part of Oshawa’s identity, which is nicknamed Canada’s “Motor City”. Home to the Canadian headquarters for General Motors, Oshawa’s economy is driven in large part by auto manufacturing.
Oshawa is also a commuter town, as many of its residents drive outside of the city for work, particularly in downtown Toronto. In fact, Oshawa has the highest share of residents commuting to the Toronto CMA for work.
Here are some more fast facts about driving in Oshawa:
- Major highways: Highway 401, Highway 407, Highway 412, Highway 418
- Public transit options: GO Transit (train and bus), Durham Region Transit (bus), TOK Coachline (intercity bus)
- Ridesharing services: Uber, Lyft
- Parking space providers: The City of Oshawa
- Top tourist attractions: Canadian Automotive Museum, Parkwood Estate, Robert McLaughlin Gallery, Ontario Regiment (RCAC) Museum, Oshawa Valley Botanical Garden, McLaughlin Bay Wild Reserve
- Busy intersections: Stevenson and Gibb, Simcoe and Taunton, Bond and Stevenson, King and Harmony, Ritson and Adelaide
- Airports: Oshawa Executive Airport
Main Mode of Commuting in Oshawa
Oshawa has a rich car culture, so it stands to reason that 88% of the city’s commuters use cars and other personal vehicles. Aside from the majority, about 6.3% of commuters use public transit, while 3.2% of them walk to work. Check the table below to learn more about the main modes of commuting in Oshawa:
| Main mode of commuting | Counts | Rates |
|---|---|---|
| Total – 25% sample data | 56,960 | 100.0 |
| Car, truck or van | 50,150 | 88.0% |
| Car, truck or van – as a driver | 45,375 | 79.7% |
| Car, truck or van – as a passenger | 4,780 | 8.4% |
| Public transit | 3,570 | 6.3% |
| Walked | 1,815 | 3.2% |
| Bicycle | 110 | 0.2% |
| Other method | 1,315 | 2.3% |
Commuting Duration in Oshawa
As a commuter town, Oshawa has relatively high commuting times. Only a quarter of Oshawa’s commuters spend under 15 minutes on the road. Another quarter of them spend over 45 minutes getting to work. Here’s a closer look at the commuting duration in Oshawa:
| Commuting duration | Counts | Rates |
|---|---|---|
| Total – 25% sample data | 56,960 | 100.0 |
| Less than 15 minutes | 14,955 | 26.3% |
| 15 to 29 minutes | 17,575 | 30.9% |
| 30 to 44 minutes | 9,710 | 17.0% |
| 45 to 59 minutes | 5,995 | 10.5% |
| 60 minutes and over | 8,715 | 15.3% |
Driving Conditions in Oshawa
Oshawa sits on the shoreline of Lake Ontario. Because of this, lake-effect snow storms are common in the city. Snow tires are a must for winter driving.
Here’s a quick overview of what driving conditions are like in Oshawa:
- Average daily commute time: 31.8 minutes one way
- Average annual rainfall: 693 mm
- Average annual snowfall: 383 mm
- Rainy days per year: 158.8 days
- Rainiest month in Oshawa: August
- Driest months in Oshawa: February, November
- Snow days per year: 51.4 days
- Snowfall months in Oshawa: January – April, November – December
Traffic in Oshawa
With so many Oshawa residents commuting in and out daily, heavy rush-hour traffic is a common complaint in the city. Another issue for drivers is the city’s various one-way streets, which include the main downtown thoroughfares of King and Bond street. This can be rather confusing for new drivers.
Check out this information about traffic in Oshawa:
- Population: About 175,383 people are living in Oshawa right now.
- City area: Oshawa’s city limits span 145.68 km2
- Average commute distance: 21.24 km one way
- Time spent in traffic annually:
- Average number of collisions:
The Most Common Questions About Car Insurance in Oshawa
How much does Oshawa car insurance cost?
On average, Oshawa car insurance costs about $1,974 a year.
Is car insurance cheaper in Oshawa than in Toronto?
Car insurance is cheaper in Oshawa than in Toronto. The average rate of auto insurance in Oshawa is $1,974, while in Toronto, it is $2,231.
Why should you compare car insurance rates in Oshawa?
You should compare auto insurance rates in Oshawa because rates vary from insurer to insurer and they change constantly.
How you can get cheaper car insurance in Oshawa?
Compare car insurance rates in Belleville with MyChoice, or visit our main car insurance page to learn other ways of getting cheap car insurance quotes.