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 Type | What’s Included | Average 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 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 | $218 |
| Accident Benefits | Covers medical costs, income replacement, and more for you and others injured in an accident, regardless of fault | $466 |
| Uninsured Automobile | Protects 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 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. | $383 |
| Collision | Covers your vehicle if you hit another car or object and you’re found at fault. | $233 |
| Comprehensive | Covers 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 Code | Average 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 Code | Average 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.
| City | Average 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:
| Age | Average 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 Violation | Average 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 Model | Average 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:
| Brokerage | Address | Phone number |
|---|---|---|
| Tanner Insurance | 200-2435 Holly Ln Ottawa, ON K1V 7P2, Canada | +16132325704 |
| Gifford Carr Insurance Group | 2781 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 commuting | Counts | Rates |
|---|---|---|
| Total – 25% sample data | 275,700 | 100.0 |
| Car, truck or van | 211,755 | 76.8% |
| Car, truck or van – as a driver | 190,190 | 69.0% |
| Car, truck or van – as a passenger | 21,565 | 7.8% |
| Public transit | 31,015 | 11.2% |
| Walked | 19,395 | 7.0% |
| Bicycle | 4,260 | 1.5% |
| Other method | 9,265 | 3.4% |
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 duration | Counts | Rates |
|---|---|---|
| Total – 25% sample data | 275,700 | 100.0 |
| Less than 15 minutes | 74,060 | 26.9% |
| 15 to 29 minutes | 116,260 | 42.2% |
| 30 to 44 minutes | 55,365 | 20.1% |
| 45 to 59 minutes | 15,975 | 5.8% |
| 60 minutes and over | 14,030 | 5.1% |
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.