Car Insurance in Peterborough at a Glance
| Average annual premium: | $1,739 |
| YoY city rate change: | +5.7% |
| Average monthly premium: | $145 |
| Peterborough premium vs. Ontario average: | -18.4% less expensive |
| Cheapest postal code: | K9J ($1,689) |
| Most expensive postal code: | K9K ($1,779) |
| Maximum savings with MyChoice: | $992 |
How Does Car Insurance Work in Peterborough?
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 Peterborough 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 Peterborough referenced above.
| Coverage Type | What’s Included | Average Annual Car Insurance Premium |
|---|---|---|
| Mandatory | – Third-Party Liability – Accident Benefits – Uninsured Automobile | $776 |
| Highly Recommended | – Direct Compensation: Property Damage – Collision – Comprehensive – OPCF 20 – OPCF 27 – OPCF 44R – OPCF 39 – OPCF 43 | $963 |
| Coverage Total: | $1,739 |
*Starting July 1st, 2026, Ontario is splitting Accident Benefits into mandatory and optional components. Income replacement, caregiver benefits, and death benefits are no longer automatically included. Your policy will auto-renew with your current coverage, but if you’re buying a new policy after July 1, you’ll need to actively choose these add-ons.
Mandatory Coverages:
The coverages below are mandatory in Peterborough and will always be included in a standard car insurance quote.
| 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 | $243 |
| Accident Benefits | Covers medical costs, income replacement, and more for you and others injured in an accident, regardless of fault | $520 |
| Uninsured Automobile | Protects you if you’re hit by an uninsured or an unidentified driver and suffer injuries or vehicle damage | $13 |
| Coverage Total: | $776 |
Highly Recommended Coverages:
Any of the highly recommended coverages listed below for Peterborough may be removed from your quote. However, we strongly recommend keeping them to ensure adequate protection.
| 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. | $428 |
| Collision | Covers your vehicle if you hit another car or object and you’re found at fault. | $260 |
| Comprehensive | Covers damage to your vehicle from non-collision events like theft, vandalism, fire, or weather. | $188 |
| 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. | $21 |
| OPCF 27: Rental Vehicle | Extends your coverage to rented or borrowed vehicles, protecting you if damage occurs while you drive them. | $23 |
| 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. | $17 |
| 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. | $25 |
| OPCF 43: Waiver of Depreciation | Ensures you get the full purchase price back—not a depreciated value—if your new vehicle is written off. | $1 |
| Coverage Total: | $963 |
How Peterborough Car Insurance Rates Compare to Nearby Cities
Peterborough has some of the lowest car insurance rates compared to nearby cities. Here’s how they compare:
| City | Average Annual Car Insurance Premium | Difference from Peterborough Premium |
|---|---|---|
| Peterborough, ON | $1,739 | – |
| Oshawa, ON | $2,116 | +21.7% |
| Belleville, ON | $1,770 | +1.8% |
| Kingston, ON | $1,738 | -0.1% |
| Barrie, ON | $2,118 | +21.8% |
| Newmarket, ON | $2,140 | +23.1% |
Cheapest Postal Codes to Insure a Car in Peterborough
The K9J area in Peterborough has the least expensive auto insurance rates in the city, as detailed in the table below:
| Postal Code | Average Annual Car Insurance Premium |
|---|---|
| K9J | $1,689 |
| K9L | $1,702 |
Most Expensive Postal Codes to Insure a Car in Peterborough
The K9K area in Peterborough has the highest car insurance premium rates in the city:
| Postal Code | Average Annual Car Insurance Premium |
|---|---|
| K9K | $1,779 |
| K9H | $1,761 |
Accident Rates by Postal Code in Peterborough
Not all parts of Peterborough 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 Peterborough’s postal codes, based on over 50,000 quotes analyzed by MyChoice.
Source: MyChoice Quote Database
On average, 10.6% of Peterborough drivers have an accident on their record, but that varies by area, from as low as 7.9% in some areas to 13.8% in others.
Areas with the highest accident rates:
K9K — Chemong / North Peterborough: 13.8% of drivers have an accident on record
K9J — East City / Otonabee: 11.8%
Areas with the lowest accident rates:
K9L — West Peterborough / Monaghan: 7.9%
K9H — Downtown Peterborough / Jackson Creek: 9.0%
Drivers in Chemong (K9K) are nearly 1.8x more likely to have an accident on their record than drivers in West Peterborough (K9L).
Car Insurance Cost in Peterborough by Age
Generally, auto insurance companies will consider your age when estimating your insurance rates.
Younger drivers are perceived as a bigger risk to insure because they have less experience on the road, making them more likely to get into accidents. Because of this, younger drivers usually have higher insurance premiums.
Once a driver reaches the age of 25, their car insurance premiums tend to go down and stabilize. However, your car insurance premiums start going up again when you turn 65. This is because car insurers see senior citizens as more likely to be injured or killed if they get into a car accident.
Take a look at how your age affects the cost of car insurance:
| Age | Average Annual Car Insurance Premium | Annual Savings with MyChoice |
|---|---|---|
| 18-20 | $4,991 | $992 |
| 21-24 | $2,574 | $512 |
| 25-34 | $1,983 | $394 |
| 35-44 | $1,739 | $346 |
| 45-54 | $1,478 | $294 |
| 55-64 | $1,374 | $273 |
| 65+ | $1,409 | $280 |
Car Insurance Cost in Peterborough by Driving History
As in any other Canadian city, your car insurance premiums in Peterborough will be affected by your driving history. Having a clean record makes car insurers deem you less risky to insure, so you’ll typically enjoy lower car insurance rates if you have no violations or demerit points.
On the other hand, having more traffic violations and demerit points on your record can lead to being labelled as a high-risk driver. High-risk drivers are seen as more likely to get into accidents or break traffic laws, resulting in higher premiums in Peterborough.
Though violations and demerit points only stay on your Ontario driving record for two years, car insurers may check your driving history for the last 10 years. This means your car insurance premiums can still go up because of previous violations, even if you’ve maintained a spotless record in recent years.
We’ve prepared a detailed overview below of how different traffic violations can affect your car insurance rates in Peterborough, based on our research:
| Driving Violation | Average Annual Car Insurance Premium |
|---|---|
| Clean driving record | $1,739 |
| Insurance cancellation due to non-payment | $2,417 |
| Licence suspension for alcohol-related offences | $1,826 |
| One at-fault accident | $3,408 |
| Minor speeding ticket | $2,104 |
Car Insurance Cost in Peterborough by Vehicle Model
Below is a breakdown of the estimated insurance costs for various car models in Peterborough. 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 Civic | $1,870 |
| Toyota Corolla | $1,691 |
| Toyota RAV4 | $1,918 |
| Honda CR-V | $2,006 |
| Hyundai Elantra | $1,919 |
| Tesla Model 3/Y | $2,038 |
| Mazda CX-5 | $1,830 |
| Nissan Rogue | $1,676 |
| Ford Escape | $1,383 |
| Toyota Camry | $1,642 |
| Honda Accord | $1,923 |
| Subaru Crosstrek | $1,475 |
| Hyundai Tucson | $1,840 |
| Mazda 3 | $1,378 |
| Kia Sportage | $1,568 |
The Best Car Insurance Brokerages in Peterborough
An insurance brokerage can help you find a car insurance policy that best suits your driving needs and budget once they have more details about your vehicle, driving habits, and driving history.
These are some of the top car insurance brokerages in Peterborough. Contact them if you have any questions or need help looking for an auto insurance policy:
| Brokerage | Address | Phone number |
|---|---|---|
| Westland Insurance | 199 Sherbrooke St Peterborough, ON K9J 2N2, Canada | +17057433382 |
| BrokerLink | 201 George St N Suite 201 Peterborough, ON K9J 3G7, Canada | +17057434211 |
| ISL Insurance Brokers | 441 Water St, Peterborough ON K9H 3M2, Canada | +18883689298 |
| McDougall Insurance & Financial – Peterborough | 261 George St N, Peterborough ON K9J 3G9, Canada | +17057428864 |
Driving in Peterborough
Peterborough is known as “the Electric City”, and it’s widely considered the gateway to the Kawartha Lakes region, which is known for being a natural recreational area in the province. The city also surrounds Little Lake, which is Otonabee River’s only lake, and the Trent Canal flows around Peterborough’s eastern area.
What’s it like to drive and commute in Peterborough? Here are some key facts about driving and commuting in this city:
- Major highways in Peterborough: 115, 7A, 28, and 7 (part of the Trans-Canada Highway)
- Public transit options: Peterborough Transit (bus)
- Ridesharing services: Uber
- Parking space providers: The City of Peterborough, private lots
- Top tourist attractions: Riverview Park and Zoo, Canadian Canoe Museum, Peterborough Lift Lock, Jackson Park, Art Gallery of Peterborough, Peterborough Museum & Archives
- Busy intersections: Lansdowne Street and Parkway, Monaghan Road and Parkhill Road, Parkway and Clonsilla Avenue, Lansdowne Street and High Street, and Clonsilla and Sherbrooke Street
- Airports: Peterborough Airport
Commuting Duration in Peterborough
Over half of Peterborough’s commuters get to work in under 15 minutes, and nearly 80% spend less than 30 minutes commuting. Here’s a closer look:
| Commuting duration | Counts | Rates |
|---|---|---|
| Total – 25% Sample Size | 26,845 | 100.0 |
| Less than 15 minutes | 13,915 | 51.8% |
| 15 to 29 minutes | 7,245 | 27.0% |
| 30 to 44 minutes | 2,550 | 9.5% |
| 45 to 59 minutes | 1,400 | 5.2% |
| 60 minutes and over | 1,735 | 6.5% |
Driving Conditions in Peterborough
Road safety is affected by driving conditions like snowfall and rain. Consequently, driving conditions can have a major impact on your car insurance rates in a city.
Here’s a guide to the average driving conditions in Peterborough.
- Average daily commute time: 44 minutes round trip
- Average annual rainfall: 749 mm
- Average annual snowfall: 147.2 cm
- Rainy days per year: 113.6 days
- Rainiest month in Peterborough: September
- Driest month in Peterborough: January
- Snow days per year: 37.6 days
- Snowfall months in Peterborough: November – April
Traffic in Peterborough
Peterborough has enjoyed moderate growth in its economy and job opportunities for the past decade. The city’s primary employers are service-oriented industries such as electronics, food processing, and automotive supplies. The city is home to many workers who commute to nearby East Toronto and Oshawa.
Peterborough is one of the region’s major shopping destinations, boasting three large shopping centres: Portage Place, Lansdowne Place, and Peterborough Square. Major retailers like Costco and Walmart also have large operations in Peterborough, attracting many shoppers and workers from surrounding cities.
Here’s a quick overview of the key traffic statistics in Peterborough:
- Population: 83,651 people live within Peterborough’s city limits.
- City area: Peterborough’s city limits span 58.61 km2.
- Average commute distance: The average Peterborough resident travels 15.5 km every day to their school or workplace.
- Time spent in traffic annually: The average Peterborough resident spends 44 minutes in traffic daily, totalling roughly 183 hours per year.
- Busiest highway: Peterborough’s busiest highway is Highway 7, which is part of the Trans-Canada Highway.