How Can You Get Cheap Car Insurance in Sarnia?
You can get cheap Sarnia car insurance by finding the best deals. Here are several tips to help you do so:
How Does Car Insurance Work in Sarnia?
Car insurance in Sarnia works by providing financial coverage in case something bad happens to you or your car, depending on the protection you choose. Auto insurance in Sarnia is mandatory by local laws, which means you need car insurance to avoid fines or driver’s licence suspensions.
Worse still, if you get convicted of driving without insurance, you’ll get higher premiums from carriers. This makes driving again prohibitively expensive or even nearly impossible after being caught driving without insurance. That’s why getting auto insurance is essential before buying a car or driving in Sarnia.
Here’s a breakdown of the key elements of your auto insurance policy:
How Your Car Insurance Quotes Are Calculated in Sarnia
Your car insurance rates are calculated based on how risky you are to insure. Naturally, drivers more likely to get into accidents will have higher premiums than those less likely to be in an accident.
Here are seven factors that influence your Sarnia car insurance quotes:
Most Expensive Postal Codes in Sarnia
On average, annual car insurance in Sarnia costs $1,272. This is around $110 cheaper than Ontario’s provincial average of $1,385/year. However, some areas of the city may have rates above this, like N7S and N7T.
Here are the most expensive postal codes for auto insurance in Sarnia:
| Postal Code | Average Annual Car Insurance Premium |
|---|---|
| N7S | $1,280 |
| N7T | $1,275 |
Least Expensive Postal Codes in Sarnia
There are some in Sarnia where insurance rates are lower than the city average, like N7W and N7X. Here are the cheapest postal codes for car insurance in Sarnia:
| Postal Code | Average annual car insurance premium |
|---|---|
| N7X | $1,261 |
| N7W | $1,271 |
Car Insurance Cost in Sarnia by Age
Your age influences car insurance rates because it impacts your driving risk. Insurance rates usually start high when you’re young due to inexperience but will start to lower once you hit adulthood. However, rates will rise again beyond 65 since you’re more likely to get hurt or killed in accidents.
Here’s how your age influences your auto insurance rates:
| Age Group | Average annual insurance cost | Average savings with MyChoice |
|---|---|---|
| 18-20 | $4,541 | $903 |
| 21-24 | $2,595 | $516 |
| 25-34 | $1,730 | $344 |
| 35-44 | $1,272 | $253 |
| 45-54 | $1,043 | $207 |
| 55-64 | $887 | $176 |
| 65+ | $1,011 | $201 |
Car Insurance Cost in Sarnia by Driving History
Driving history directly affects your car insurance premiums because it’s used to measure accident risk. Insurers charge more for high-risk drivers because they’re more likely to get in car accidents, while the reverse happens to safe drivers because they’re less likely to get in an accident.
According to Ontario laws, driving violations and demerits disappear from your record after two years. However, insurers can check your record as far back as 10 years for their risk assessment.
Here’s how different traffic offences impact your car insurance rates:
| Driving violation | Average annual car insurance rate |
|---|---|
| Clean driving record | $1,272 |
| Insurance cancellation due to non-payment | $2,086 |
| Licence suspension for alcohol-related offences | $1,524 |
| One accident | $2,803 |
| Speeding ticket | $1,656 |
Other Factors That Affect Car Insurance Prices in Sarnia
We’ve covered several factors that influence car insurance rates in Sarnia. Aside from those, several extra factors play a part in determining your Sarnia auto insurance premiums:
The Best Car Insurance Brokerages in Sarnia
Auto insurance brokers help your search for insurance by comparing policies and answering questions. We provide this list of insurance brokers in Sarnia, so visit them if you need assistance when looking for insurance:
| Brokerage | Address | Phone Number |
|---|---|---|
| BrokerLink | 774 London Rd, Sarnia ON N7T 4Y1, Canada | +15193364620 |
| Cam-Ron Insurance Brokers Ltd | 560 Exmouth St, Sarnia ON N7T 5P5, Canada | +15193373713 |
| McFarlan Rowlands Insurance Brokers | 1315 Michigan Ave, Sarnia ON N7S 4M6, Canada | +15196795440 |
Driving in Sarnia
Sarnia is widely known for its affinity for industrial pursuits. The first commercial oil drill operation in North America happened near Sarnia. Nowadays, the city is known for its chemical refineries in a complex called the Chemical Valley, south of downtown Sarnia.
Despite its prevalence of industry, Sarnia is still a beautiful place to live, thanks to its lakeside location and surrounding agricultural areas.
What’s driving in Sarnia like? Here are some key facts about driving in the city:
- Major highways in Sarnia: 402, I-94, I-69
- Public transit options: Sarnia Transit (bus), Via Rail (train)
- Ridesharing services: Uber, Lyft
- Parking space providers: The City of Sarnia, private lots
- Top tourist attractions: Canatara Park, Stones N’ Bones Museum, Bayshore Park, Judith & Norman Alix Art Gallery, Germain Park
- Busy intersections: Errol Road and Indian Road
- Airports: Sarnia Chris Hadfield Airport
Main Mode of Commuting in Sarnia
Fitting its industrial affinity, most commuters in Sarnia prefer taking cars to work. Public transit isn’t nearly as popular, numbering only 2.1% out of 24,110 commuters. Here’s a closer look at how Sarnia’s commuters travel:
| Main mode of commuting | Counts | Rates |
|---|---|---|
| Total – 25% Sample Size | 24,110 | 100.0 |
| Car, truck or van | 22,055 | 91.5% |
| Car, truck or van – as a driver | 20,305 | 84.2% |
| Car, truck or van – as a passenger | 1,745 | 7.2% |
| Public transit | 510 | 2.1% |
| Walked | 1,000 | 4.1% |
| Bicycle | 185 | 0.8% |
| Other method | 355 | 1.5% |
Commuting Duration in Sarnia
While Sarnia is a border crossing to the United States, it’s surprisingly not as much of a commuting nightmare as you might think. Over half of Sarnia’s commuters spend under 15 minutes getting to work, and a third of them spend 15 to 29 minutes on their commute. That means only around 12% of Sarnia’s commuters spend over half an hour on the road. Here’s a detailed look at commuting times in the city:
| Commuting duration | Counts | Rates |
|---|---|---|
| Total – 25% Sample Size | 24,110 | 100.0 |
| Less than 15 minutes | 13,385 | 55.5% |
| 15 to 29 minutes | 7,975 | 31.1% |
| 30 to 44 minutes | 1,665 | 6.9% |
| 45 to 59 minutes | 440 | 1.8% |
| 60 minutes and over | 645 | 2.7% |
Driving Conditions in Sarnia
Weather and traffic affect your auto insurance premiums because they can raise or lower your driving risk. Here’s a look at driving conditions in Sarnia:
- Average daily commute time: 30 minutes round trip
- Average annual rainfall: 41.08 mm
- Average annual snowfall: 26 mm
- Rainy days per year: 141 days
- Rainiest month in Sarnia: May
- Driest month in Sarnia: February
- Snow days per year: 114 days
- Snowfall months in Sarnia: October – May
Traffic in Sarnia
Sarnia is a small city of just over 72,000 people. However, its location as one of the border crossings to the US makes it a little busier than other small towns.
How is traffic in Sarnia? Here’s an overview:
- Population: 52,662 people live within Sarnia’s city limits.
- City area: Sarnia’s city area spans 164.85 km2.
- Average commute distance: The average Sarnia resident travels x km to their workplace or school.
- Time spent in traffic annually: The average Sarnia resident spends 30 minutes in traffic daily, totalling roughly 183 hours per year.
- Busiest highways: Sarnia’s Blue Water Bridge is part of the NAFTA Superhighway. One of the most important gateways in the three countries’ truck routes, this highway spans Canada, Mexico, and the United States.
Who Provides Car Insurance Quotes in Sarnia?
Insurance brokers, agents, aggregators, and direct writers provide car insurance quotes in Sarnia. Here’s an overview of these four insurance quote providers:
The Most Common Questions About Car Insurance in Sarnia
Is ridesharing insurance available in Sarnia?
Ridesharing insurance is available for drivers in Sarnia. Ask your insurer for more details.
How much does Sarnia car insurance cost?
The average car insurance cost in Sarnia is $1,272/year.
Is car insurance cheaper in Sarnia than in London?
Sarnia’s annual car insurance rate is cheaper than London’s by around $240.
Which cars get the lowest car insurance premiums in Sarnia?
Fiats have the lowest car insurance premiums in Sarnia at $126/month.
Why should you compare car insurance rates in Sarnia?
You should compare car insurance rates in Sarnia because insurance companies offer different coverage at different prices. Comparing rates ensures you get the most value out of your insurance deals.
Does my Sarnia car insurance work in the US?
Your Sarnia car insurance will likely work in the US because both countries share similar legal systems. However, we recommend checking with your insurer first before travelling.