How Can You Get Cheap Car Insurance in Timmins?
You can get cheap Timmins car insurance by finding the best deals. Here are several tips to help you do so:
Compare Rates Between Insurers
Timmins has a highly competitive auto insurance market, so insurers are constantly vying for your business. When insurers try to give you the best deals, it’s you who wins. Compare rates and shop around to see which insurance provider fits your auto protection needs affordably.
Take Bundled Policies
One of the best ways to save money while shopping is to buy a package deal, and insurance is no different. If you bundle home and auto insurance from the same company, you’re much more likely to get lower rates.
Ask For A Higher Deductible
You must pay a deductible on insurance claims before your carrier covers the remaining expenses. A higher deductible means paying extra if something happens to your car, but it also means you’ll get lower insurance premiums.
Request Group Discounts
Many insurance companies deal in group discounts for companies and other organizations. If you’re shopping for auto insurance in Timmins for work, ask your agent about group deals and discounts.
Pay Annual Premiums
Paying annual insurance premiums might look expensive initially, but it’s generally cheaper than paying them monthly. Ask your insurers about half-year premiums if you can’t afford annual premiums.
Drive Safely
Motor vehicle offences and accidents stay on your record for years. Unfortunately, any driving violation on your record will considerably increase your insurance rates. However, this also means you’ll get lower auto insurance rates if you have no offences on record.
Consider Taking Usage-Based Insurance
Usage-based insurance (UBI) or pay-as-you-go insurance tracks your driving behaviour to determine how much you must pay for insurance. Taking UBI lets you save up to 30% on your annual premiums, so it’s a good option if you consider yourself a safe driver.
Take Driving Courses
Accredited driving lessons make you a safer driver and let you earn discounts on auto insurance in Timmins.
Choose the Coverage You Need
Naturally, more insurance protection leads to higher rates. While some auto insurance coverage is mandatory, you have optional insurance coverage like at-fault accident and theft protection. Review your policy and skip unnecessary optional coverage to save on insurance premiums.
Buy Affordable Cars
Cars that are expensive and hard to replace tend to get hit with higher premiums. If possible, buy affordable and reliable cars that are more common and easy to repair or replace if you want lower insurance rates.
Quick Facts About Auto Insurance in Timmins
- Timmins car insurance is LESS expensive than the Ontario average.
- The average annual car insurance cost in Timmins for a driver with comprehensive/collision coverage and a clean record is around $1,157.
- Comparing Timmins auto insurance quotes with MyChoice can save you up to $822 annually.
Who Provides Car Insurance Quotes in Timmins?
Insurance brokers, agents, aggregators, and direct writers provide car insurance quotes in Timmins. Here’s an overview of these four insurance quote providers:
Insurance Brokers
Insurance brokers are independent professionals who help you shop for the best rates by comparing deals from multiple insurers. Because they have a bird’s-eye view of the current Timmins insurance landscape, they can show you which companies offer the best insurance deals and answer any questions you may have.
Brokers take a commission from insurance companies, which could increase your rates. You might spend more money than if you had found an insurer yourself.
Direct Writers
Like insurance agents, direct writers only sell insurance products from one company. Direct writers are typically found online and are cheaper because they don’t have physical offices.
Insurance Agents
Insurance agents work for a certain insurer, so they can only offer their employer’s insurance products. However, they know their insurer like the back of their hands and might even give you discounts that brokers don’t have access to.
Additionally, insurance agents can close insurance sales independently, meaning you can purchase insurance from them right then and there.
Insurance Aggregators
An insurance aggregator website like MyChoice compiles rates from various insurance brokers, companies, and direct writers in one place. You can browse aggregator websites to find the best deals from the top insurance companies and get quotes instantly.
Better yet, insurance aggregators are accessible online and entirely free for customers, so you can look up insurance rates without spending a single penny or leaving the house.
The Best Car Insurance Brokerages in Timmins
Insurance brokerages help make the process of finding the best rates easier. They take all your information, including your driving history, habits, vehicle make and model, age, gender, etc., and find the best insurance companies and deals that match your needs.
Here are some of the best auto insurance brokerages in Timmins:
Brokerage | Address | Phone number |
---|---|---|
PAIB Insurance Inc. | 101 Pine St S Timmins, ON P4N 2K1, Canada | +18443605300 |
BrokerLink | 100 Algonquin Blvd E Timmins, ON P4N 1A4, Canada | +17052693000 |
BMT Insurance & Financial Services | 65 Maple St S Timmins, ON P4N 1Y6, Canada | +17052689988 |
PBL Insurance Ltd | 100 3rd Ave Timmins, ON P4N 1C3, Canada | +17052681011 |
How Does Car Insurance Work in Timmins?
Car insurance in Timmins works by providing financial coverage in case something bad happens to you or your car, depending on the protection you choose. Auto insurance in Timmins 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 Timmins.
Here’s a breakdown of the key elements of your auto insurance policy:
The mandatory car insurance requirement for Timmins drivers are:
Third-Party Liability (TPL) Coverage
This insurance component provides financial compensation if you cause an accident that results in car damage or somebody getting hurt or killed. Per Financial Services Commission of Ontario (FSCO) regulations, you need at least $200,000 in TPL coverage.
Statutory Accident Benefits Coverage
This insurance component pays for your medical bills, rehabilitation, and possible funeral expenses if you get hurt or killed in a car accident, regardless of who’s at fault. Accident benefits coverage also offers income replacement worth 70% of your gross income, capped at $400 per week.
Uninsured Automobile Insurance
Uninsured automobile insurance covers your medical bills and funeral expenses if you’re struck by uninsured vehicles or hit-and-run drivers. Additionally, it compensates for vehicular damage caused by uninsured drivers.
Direct Compensation – Property Damage (DC-PD) Insurance
DC-PD insurance compensates you for the damage other drivers cause in an accident. However, DC-PD only kicks in if the other person is at fault, they’re also insured, and the accident takes place in Timmins.
Once you meet the minimum car insurance coverage requirements, you can legally drive in Timmins. However, it pays to have extra protection beyond the basics in case you get in an accident.
Since minimum car insurance only goes so far, we’ve got some extra Timmins car insurance recommendations for you:
Extra TPL Coverage
The mandatory $200,000 insurance minimum can be too small, so many drivers choose to get coverage up to $2 million if they cause property damage or hurt somebody in an accident.
Additional Statutory Accident Benefits
Many people get additional coverage for medical bills and funeral expenses in their statutory accident coverage. You can also get extra income replacement protection if 70% income capped at $400 a week seems too limited.
More Comprehensive Property Damage Protection
DC-PD coverage has very specific coverage terms like the other driver also needs to be insured, and the accident must occur in Timmins. To cover their bases, many people purchase extra insurance that still protects them even when the other driver is uninsured, and the accident happens in other provinces.
In addition to mandatory insurance coverage outlined by the FSCO, you can take optional insurance coverage like:
Specified Perils Protection
Specified perils insurance coverage protects you from loss or damage due to a specific cause. The most common perils insured are:
- Car theft
- Fire, earthquake, and explosion
- Weather, which includes windstorms, hail, and lightning
Many insurers also offer comprehensive auto insurance in Timmins if you want protection from all these perils.
Accident Forgiveness
Insurers usually raise your premiums if you’re at fault for causing an accident. If you’ve been a safe driver for several years, you can take extra accident forgiveness coverage so you won’t get higher premiums if you cause an accident. Note that accident forgiveness only works on your first accident, and subsequent violations will still raise your rates.
Limited Depreciation Waiver
If you take a limited waiver of depreciation, you can receive your car’s purchase price as compensation if it’s been stolen or deemed a total loss after an accident.
How Your Car Insurance Quotes Are Calculated in Timmins
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 Timmins car insurance quotes:
Age, Gender, and Marital Status
Your personal demographics influence auto insurance premiums in Timmins because different people have varying accident risks.
Younger people tend to get higher premiums because insurance companies see them as more accident-prone than older people. Generally, your car insurance rates start decreasing when you hit 25 years old as long as you keep a safe driving record. However, insurance premiums increase again for people aged 65 and older because they’re more likely to be injured or killed in traffic accidents.
Women often get lower insurance rates because they’re seen as more careful drivers and don’t take as many risks as men.
Marital status also determines your rates because most insurance companies see married people as more financially stable and less-risky drivers. Married couples also tend to bundle home and auto insurance, saving more on premiums.
Location
People who live in urban areas often see higher insurance premiums because they’re more prone to car accidents and theft.
Car Make and Model
Expensive cars are more costly to repair or replace, so insurance premiums are usually higher than more common vehicles. You can install security features like anti-theft devices if you have an expensive car and want to save on insurance premiums.
Driving History
People who drive safely are rewarded with lower premiums because they’re usually less likely to get into a traffic accident. Conversely, people who have gotten into multiple accidents get higher premiums because they’re more likely to be involved in another accident down the line.
Driving Activity
Logic dictates that people who drive frequently are more likely to get in an accident. Therefore, kilometres driven is one of the determining factors that set your Timmins auto insurance rates.
Insurance Coverage Chosen
Your coverage options influence your insurance rates because taking more coverage gives you more protection. Naturally, the more coverage you choose, the higher your rates.
Policy Discounts
Getting discounts can lower your auto insurance rates and make them more affordable. You can typically get discounts by bundling home and auto insurance or asking for a group discount for your workplace or organization.
Most Expensive Postal Codes in Timmins
The average auto insurance rate in Timmins, Ontario is $1,157, lower than Ontario’s provincial average of roughly $1,385. P4N is the most expensive postal code for auto insurance in Timmins:
Postal code | Average annual car insurance premium |
---|---|
P4N | $1,397 |
Least Expensive Postal Codes in Timmins
In terms of the cheapest postal code in Timmins that lies within the P4R area:
Postal code | Average annual car insurance premium |
---|---|
P4R | $1,350 |
Car Insurance Cost in Timmins by Age
Your age plays a key role in determining your auto insurance premiums. Insurance companies typically charge more to young drivers and seniors. This is because the former are inexperienced and don’t have a sufficient driving record to prove how capable they are on the road, while the latter are at an increased risk of severe injury in the event of a traffic accident.
Below, we list the average cost of auto insurance by age group in Ontario:
Age | Average annual insurance cost | Average savings with MyChoice |
---|---|---|
18-20 | $4,130 | $822 |
21-24 | $2,360 | $469 |
25-34 | $1,574 | $313 |
35-44 | $1,157 | $230 |
45-54 | $949 | $189 |
55-64 | $806 | $160 |
65+ | $919 | $183 |
Car Insurance Cost in Timmins by Driving History
Auto insurers are always looking at how much risk they have to bear for each client, so driving history is another factor that affects car insurance premiums. High-risk drivers have a higher chance of getting in a traffic accident, thus costing the insurance company more money. Drivers who incur more demerit points and traffic violations are more likely to be labelled “high-risk” drivers and charged higher premiums.
See how different traffic violations impact your auto insurance rates below:
Driving violation | Average annual car insurance rate |
---|---|
Clean driving record | $1,157 |
Insurance cancellation due to non-payment | $1,897 |
Licence suspension for alcohol-related offences | $1,388 |
One accident | $2,545 |
Speeding ticket | $1,504 |
Other Factors That Affect Car Insurance Prices in Timmins
We’ve covered several factors that influence car insurance rates in Timmins. Aside from those, several extra factors play a part in determining your Timmins auto insurance premiums:
Vehicle Model Accident Rates
Some cars are just more accident-prone than others. Even if you have a spotless driving record, owning a car model infamous for having high accident rates will increase your insurance premiums.
Vehicle Age
Naturally, older cars are more expensive to insure because they may not have all the safety features of newer vehicles. If you insist on driving a vintage car everywhere, make sure you can pay the insurance premiums.
Vehicle Repair Costs
The harder it is to repair a car, the more expensive it is to insure. You can expect high insurance premiums on luxury cars and foreign cars that don’t have a large dealership or service centre presence in Canada.
Vehicle Primary Usage and Annual Mileage
You may spend more or less time on the road depending on what you use the car for. Car usage influences insurance rates – generally, the more you use it, the higher your premiums. For instance, insurance premiums on a car you use as an Uber will be higher than on a car you almost exclusively take on weekend cruises.
A good way to measure how much somebody uses a car is by its annual mileage. If your car has low annual mileage, insurers may determine that this car is low-risk and thus grant you more affordable insurance rates.
Local Crime Rates
Living in high-crime areas means your car is at higher risk of being stolen or vandalized. If you live in an area where theft or vandalism often occurs, you may get higher car insurance rates.
Past Insurance Claims
Any auto insurance claims will drive your premiums up, regardless of who’s at fault. If you make many insurance claims, the insurer will see you as a high-risk policyholder and give you higher rates.
Loyalty Bonuses
Many insurance companies reward long-term customers with discounted rates. If you’ve been a policyholder at the same insurance company for several years, ask for a rate reduction or discount when you renew your policy.
Driving in Timmins
Known as the “City with a Heart of Gold”, Timmins is a large city in Ontario with a history in gold mining. Today, much of Timmins’ economy is based on the extraction of natural resources, including gold, copper, zinc, nickel, and silver. Timmins is just a few minutes away from the Trans-Canada Highway (Highway 11) and is about a seven-hour drive to Toronto.
Despite being one of the largest cities in Ontario land-wise, Timmins has a modest population of just 42,000 residents. It has plenty of opportunities in terms of employment, education, and recreational activities, yet it still retains a small-town charm to it.
Here are some more fast facts about driving in Timmins:
- Major highways: Highway 11, Highway 144, Highway 101, Highway 655
- Public transit options: Timmins Transit (bus, accessible minibus)
- Ridesharing services: Uride
- Parking space providers: The City of Timmins, private lots
- Top tourist attractions: Timmins Museum and National Exhibition Centre, Cedar Meadows Wilderness Park, Mount Jamieson Resort, Connaught & District Pioneer Museum, Thurston Stained Glass Studio
- Busy intersections: Algonquin Boulevard and Mountjoy Street, Algonquin Boulevard West and Theriault Boulevard, Algonquin Boulevard East and Brunette Road
- Airports: Timmins Victor M. Power Airport
Main Mode of Commuting in Timmins
Out of the 16,710 commuters in Timmins, 86.8% of them travel by car or other personal vehicle. Cycling is by far the least-popular commuting mode, with under a hundred bicycle commuters. Here’s a closer look at how Timmins’ commuters travel:
Main mode of commuting | Counts | Rates |
---|---|---|
Total – 25% sample data | 16,710 | 100.0 |
Car, truck or van | 14,510 | 86.8% |
Car, truck or van – as a driver | 13,120 | 78.5% |
Car, truck or van – as a passenger | 1,390 | 8.3% |
Public transit | 715 | 4.3% |
Walked | 1,025 | 6.1% |
Bicycle | 70 | 0.4% |
Other method | 390 | 2.3% |
Commuting Duration in Timmins
Over half of the city’s commuters enjoy a short commute of under 15 minutes. Even if their commute lasts over 15 minutes, most of them don’t spend over half an hour on the road. There are some people who spend over 30 minutes getting to work, but they’re relatively few and far between. Here’s a detailed look at commute times in Timmins:
Commuting duration | Counts | Rates |
---|---|---|
Total – 25% sample data | 16,710 | 100.0 |
Less than 15 minutes | 8,750 | 52.4% |
15 to 29 minutes | 4,975 | 29.8% |
30 to 44 minutes | 1,755 | 10.5% |
45 to 59 minutes | 360 | 2.2% |
60 minutes and over | 865 | 5.2% |
Driving Conditions in Timmins
Situated in Northeastern Ontario, Timmins gets very cold winters. From December to March, the average daily temperature is about -12°C. In the summer, average daily highs reach about 24°C. Winter tires are essential for driving around in Timmins during the snowiest months.
Here is an overview of the average driving conditions in Timmins:
- Average daily commute time: 22 minutes round trip
- Average annual rainfall: 555 mm
- Average annual snowfall: 1,653 mm
- Rainy days per year: 117.7 days
- Rainiest month in Timmins: June
- Driest months in Timmins: January
- Snow days per year: 142.2 days
- Snowfall months in Timmins: January – June, September – December
Traffic in Timmins
Traffic isn’t a major problem in Timmins, unlike other large cities in the province like Toronto or Ottawa. Most of its workforce enjoy a relatively short commute of just 11 minutes one way. Many residents bike or walk to work as well.
Traffic is perhaps most notable during winter months when the city is inundated with tourists seeking winter activities like snowshoeing, ice fishing, skiing, and snowmobiling. Timmins has 440 kilometres of wide snowmobiling trails that draw crowds from across the country.
- Population: Timmins has a population of about 41,145 people
- City area: Timmins’ city limits span 3,210 km2.
- Busiest highways: Highway 101 is the busiest in Timmins, Ontario.
- Average commute distance:
- Time spent in traffic annually:
- Average number of collisions:
The Most Common Questions About Car Insurance in Timmins
How much does Timmins car insurance cost?
Timmins car insurance costs about $1,157 on average.
Why should you compare car insurance rates in Timmins?
You should compare car insurance rates in Timmins because each insurance provider has its own way of computing premium rates. The best way to find a good deal would be to compare rates across different providers.