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Recent Quotes From Our Users

Monthly PremiumsDate & TimeQuote TypeAgeGenderCity
$111.71Jul 16, 2025, 02:28 PMAuto62FemaleSudbury
$60.44Jul 16, 2025, 06:44 PMHome57FemaleSault Ste. Marie
$29.06Jul 16, 2025, 09:54 AMTenant41FemaleBelleville
$39.93Jul 16, 2025, 07:45 PMLife44MaleNiagara Falls
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Updated on July 2, 2025

6 minute read

Quick Facts About Auto Insurance in Ottawa

  • Ottawa car insurance is LESS expensive than the Ontario average.
  • The average annual car insurance cost in Ottawa for a driver with a clean record and comprehensive/collision coverage is around $1,560.
  • Comparing Ottawa auto insurance quotes with MyChoice can save you up to $891 annually

How Does Car Insurance Work in Ottawa?

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 Ottawa 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 Ottawa referenced above.

Coverage TypeWhat’s IncludedAverage Annual
Car Insurance Premium
Mandatory– Third-Party Liability
– Accident Benefits
– Uninsured Automobile
$696
Highly
Recommended
– Direct Compensation:
Property Damage
– Collision
– Comprehensive
– OPCF 20
– OPCF 27
– OPCF 44R
– OPCF 39
– OPCF 43
$864
Coverage Total:$1,560

Mandatory Coverages

Coverage TypeCoverage DetailsAverage Annual
Car Insurance Premium
Third-Party LiabilityProtects you if you injure someone
or damage property while driving,
and covers legal costs if you’re sued
$218
Accident BenefitsCovers medical costs, income
replacement, and more for you and
others injured in an accident,
regardless of fault
$466
Uninsured AutomobileProtects you if you’re hit by an
uninsured or an unidentified driver
and suffer injuries or vehicle damage
$12
Coverage Total:$696

*The above coverages are mandatory in Ottawa and will always be included in a standard car insurance quote.

Highly Recommended Coverages

Coverage TypeCoverage DetailsAverage 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.
$383
CollisionCovers your vehicle if you hit another
car or object and you’re found at fault.
$233
ComprehensiveCovers damage to your vehicle from
non-collision events like theft, vandalism,
fire, or weather.
$168
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.
$19
OPCF 27:
Rental Vehicle
Extends your coverage to rented or
borrowed vehicles, protecting you if
damage occurs while you drive them.
$20
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.
$16
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.
$23
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:$864

*Any of the above highly recommended coverages in Ottawa may be removed from your quote, but we strongly recommend keeping them to have adequate protection.

Most Expensive Postal Codes in Ottawa

Ottawa’s average auto insurance rate is a little over $1,560, with the provincial average for Ontario being around $1,673. There are 10 postal codes in Ottawa that have higher-than-average auto insurance rates, including:

Postal CodeAverage Annual
Car Insurance Premium
K1G, K1K, K1L$1,592
K1S, K2C, K2G,
K2H, K2J, K2R, K1M
$1,584

Least Expensive Postal Codes in Ottawa

Average auto insurance rates are lowest in the suburban and semi-rural areas of Stittsville, Orleans, Greely, and Cumberland, making these the most affordable postal codes for car insurance in Ottawa:

Postal CodeAverage Annual
Car Insurance Premium
K4C, K4P, K1C,
K1E, K1W, K4A, K2S
$1,529

How Ottawa Car Insurance Rates Compare to Nearby Cities

Ottawa’s car insurance rates are some of the highest in the region. You can see how they compare to some of the neighbouring cities in the table below.

CityAverage Annual
Car Insurance Premium
Ottawa, ON$1,529
Gatineau, QC$576
Montreal, QC$800
Brockville, ON$1,529
Cornwall, ON$1,381
Kingston, ON$1,581

Car Insurance Cost in Ottawa by Age

Car insurance companies factor in age when computing premiums. 

Younger people are charged more because they’re inexperienced and don’t have a long enough track record to prove whether or not they’re safe drivers. However, premiums also go up as people reach a certain age. Senior citizens are charged higher rates because they’re at a greater risk of being involved in an accident. 

Let’s take a look at how auto insurance premiums vary across different age groups: 

AgeAverage Annual
Car Insurance Premium
Average Savings
with MyChoice
18-20$4,477$891
21-24$2,309$459
25-34$1,778$354
35-44$1,560$310
45-54$1,326$264
55-64$1,232$245
65+$1,263$251

Car Insurance Cost in Ottawa by Driving History

Auto insurance premiums in Ottawa (like in any other city in Canada) are impacted by the driver’s driving history. The more traffic violations you have on your record, the higher your chances are of being labelled a high-risk driver, which raises your premiums. If you can maintain a clean record, you have a better shot at getting lower insurance premiums. 

Take note that driving violations and accidents remain on your record for at least two years (sometimes even more), and they can influence your premiums for far longer. 

Here’s a quick overview of how traffic violations can affect auto insurance rates for Ottawa drivers based on MyChoice’s price quote data: 

Driving ViolationAverage Annual
Car Insurance Premium
Clean driving record$1,560
Insurance cancellation
due to non-payment
$2,168
Licence suspension for
alcohol-related offences
$1,638
One at-fault accident$3,058
Minor speeding ticket$1,888

Car Insurance Cost in Ottawa by Vehicle Model

Below is a breakdown of the estimated insurance costs for various car models in Ottawa. This should give you an idea of what you can expect to pay for car insurance based on the vehicle model you drive.

Car ModelAverage Annual
Car Insurance Premium
Honda$1,432
Tesla$1,532
Toyota$1,642
Hyundai$1,537
Audi$1,939
BMW$1,816
Mazda$1,455
Mercedes$1,545
Nissan$1,581
Subaru$1,354
Volkswagen$1,435

The Best Car Insurance Brokerages in Ottawa

Auto insurance brokers help car owners by finding the right companies that meet their needs. In a sense, they become a buffer between car owners and insurance companies and do the nitty-gritty work of scouring for the best deals. 

Consider working with the following insurance brokers to help you find the best-rated policies in Ottawa:

BrokerageAddressPhone number
Tanner Insurance200-2435 Holly Ln
Ottawa, ON K1V 7P2, Canada
+16132325704
Gifford Carr Insurance Group2781 Lancaster Rd Unit 201
Ottawa, ON K1B 1A7, Canada
+16137474700
Smith Petrie Carr & Scott
Insurance Brokers Ltd
359 Kent St #600
Ottawa, ON K2P 0R6, Canada
+16132372871

Driving in Ottawa

Ottawa is the capital and fourth-largest city in Canada. It is located between two major cities, Toronto and Montreal, and surrounded by many other commuter towns that connect to the city via highways 417, 416, and 401. As such, highway driving is something that most people who live in and around Ottawa are used to. 

Here are some key facts about driving in Ottawa:

  • Major highways in Ottawa: Highway 417 (Trans-Canada Highway), Highway 416, Highway 401
  • Public transit options: OC Transpo (bus and light rail train) 
  • Ridesharing services: Uber, Lyft, Facedrive
  • Parking space providers: The City of Ottawa, private lots
  • Top tourist attractions: Parliament Hill, Rideau Canal, Canadian War Museum, National Gallery of Canada, Peace Tower, Canadian Museum of Nature, National War Memorial, Diefenbunker or Canada’s Cold War Museum, Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica, Canadian Tulip Festival, Byward Market
  • Busy intersections: Hunt Club Road and Riverside Drive, Catherine Street and Kent Street, Innes Road and Tenth Line Road, Riverside Drive and Heron Road, Carling Avenue and Kirkwood Avenue N., Greenbank Road and Iris Street/417 East
  • Airports: Ottawa International Airport

Main Mode of Commuting in Ottawa

Ottawa boasts 211,755 car, truck, or van users, making up over three-quarters of the city’s commuters. However, it also has a strong public transit user base with 31,015 commuters. Check the table below to learn what modes of commuting do Ottawans use:

Main mode of commutingCountsRates
Total – 25% sample data275,700100.0
Car, truck or van211,75576.8%
Car, truck or van – as a driver190,19069.0%
Car, truck or van – as a passenger21,5657.8%
Public transit31,01511.2%
Walked19,3957.0%
Bicycle4,2601.5%
Other method9,2653.4%

Commuting Duration in Ottawa

Ottawa has nearly 300,000 commuters, but the commute times aren’t as long as you might have assumed. Nearly 70% of Ottawa’s commuters spend less than 30 minutes on the road, with only 10% of them spending more than 45 minutes. Here’s a detailed look at commuting times in Ottawa:

Commuting durationCountsRates
Total – 25% sample data275,700100.0
Less than 15 minutes74,06026.9%
15 to 29 minutes116,26042.2%
30 to 44 minutes55,36520.1%
45 to 59 minutes15,9755.8%
60 minutes and over14,0305.1%

Driving Conditions in Ottawa

In 2019, Ottawa ranked third on the 2019 Driving Cities Index of the best cities for drivers in a survey by Mister Auto. The cities were ranked on factors like road quality, parking costs, gas prices, and congestion. However, winters in Ottawa can be quite severe, creating difficult and dangerous road conditions. 

Here’s a quick look at the overall driving conditions in the city of Ottawa: 

  • Average daily commute time: 84 minutes round trip
  • Average annual rainfall: 1068 mm
  • Average annual snowfall: 11135 mm 
  • Rainy days per year: 149.6 days
  • Rainiest month in Ottawa: October
  • Driest month in Ottawa: September
  • Snow days per year: 83.3 days
  • Snowfall months in Ottawa: October – May

Traffic in Ottawa

In a recent report, Ottawa was ranked the fourth most congested city in Canada and 139th worldwide. This may be attributed to the fact that 62.65% of Ottawans drive to work

As expected, congestion becomes particularly bad during rush hour or weekday mornings from 6:30 am to 9 am and afternoons from 3 pm to 6 pm. This is most notable in major roads connecting suburbs to the downtown core. 

Here’s a snapshot of what driving is like in Ottawa: 

  • Population: The Ottawa-Gatineau metropolitan area is home to 1,017,449 people.
  • City area: The whole Ottawa-Gatineau metropolitan area measures roughly 2,790 km².
  • Average commute distance: The average Ottawan commutes 7.8 km daily. 
  • Time spent in traffic annually: Most Ottawans waste about 31 hours stuck in traffic over 240 commuting days annually.
  • Busiest roads: Carling Avenue, Hunt Club Road, and Innes Road are among the busiest roads in Ottawa.

The Most Common Questions About Car Insurance in Ottawa

How much does Ottawa car insurance cost?

Auto insurance in Ottawa costs roughly $1,439 on average.

Is car insurance cheaper in Ottawa than in Toronto?

Car insurance in Ottawa is significantly cheaper than insurance in Toronto. The average rate of insurance premiums in Toronto is around $2,139.

Why should you compare car insurance rates in Ottawa?

You should compare car insurance rates because rates vary wildly from company to company. While insurers consider similar factors when evaluating clients, they each have their own way of calculating quotes.

How can you get cheaper auto insurance in Ottawa?

Compare car insurance rates in Ottawa with MyChoice, or visit our main car insurance page to learn other ways of getting cheap car insurance quotes.

Methodology

Sample Size

We analyzed over 50,000 auto insurance quotes across Canada.

Profiles

Average rates were calculated using a standard profile and incident profiles. All personal details pertaining to the quotes and policies have been kept confidential.

Standard Profile

Single driver, one car, currently insured, and a pristine driving record. Our base profile is a 35-year-old individual (both male and female) with a spotless driving record.

Incident Profiles

We examined how rates change by evaluating profiles with a clean record (standard), one at-fault accident, a single speeding ticket, license suspension for alcohol related offenses and insurance cancellation due to non-payment.

Vehicle Details

These individuals own a 2018 Honda Civic, commute five days a week, and cover a distance of 15,000 kilometres annually.

Vehicle Models

Costs were also analyzed for different vehicles: Mazda CX-5, Ford Escape, Toyota Corolla, Honda Accord, Chevrolet Equinox, and the base 2018 Honda Civic.

Age and Homeownership

Profiles from age 18-65 (standard: 35 years) were considered. Depending on age, individuals might rent or own their homes. Age-related regulations may vary across provinces.

Team

MyChoice data science, MyChoice research.

Sources

1. Mychoice.ca Internal Data, How Car Insurance Works, Ontario, Ottawa, Car Insurance Quotes Collected, 2025.

2. Mychoice.ca Internal Data, Most Expensive Postal Codes, Ontario, Ottawa, Car Insurance Quotes Collected, 2025.

3. Mychoice.ca Internal Data, Least Expensive Postal Codes, Ontario, Ottawa, Car Insurance Quotes Collected, 2025.

4. Mychoice.ca Internal Data, Car Insurance Rates in Nearby Cities, Ontario, Ottawa, Car Insurance Quotes Collected, 2025.

5. Mychoice.ca Internal Data, Rate Cost By Age, Ontario, Ottawa, Car Insurance Quotes Collected, 2025.

6. Mychoice.ca Internal Data, Rate Cost By Driving History, Ontario, Ottawa, Car Insurance Quotes Collected, 2025.

7. Mychoice.ca Internal Data, Rate Cost By Vehicle Model, Ontario, Ottawa, Car Insurance Quotes Collected, 2025.

8. City of Ottawa Website, Driving & Transit Information. Data Collected in 2025.

9. Statistics Canada, 2021, Census of Population, Ontario, Ottawa, Main Mode of Commuting. Data Collected in 2025.

10. Statistics Canada, 2021, Census of Population, Ontario, Ottawa, Commuting Duration. Data Collected in 2025.

11. Weather Network Canada, Historical Averages, Ontario, Ottawa. Data Collected in 2025.

12. 511 Ontario Traveller Information, Ontario, Ottawa. Data Collected in 2025.

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