How Can You Get Cheap Car Insurance in Waterloo?
You can get cheap Waterloo car insurance by finding the best deals. Here are several tips to help you do so:
Compare Rates Between Insurers
Waterloo 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 Waterloo 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 Waterloo.
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 Waterloo
- Waterloo car insurance is MORE expensive than the Ontario average.
- The average annual car insurance cost in Waterloo for a driver with a clean record is around $1,478.
- Drivers without a clean record in Waterloo can pay up to $3,258 annually, depending on factors like driving and claim history.
- Comparing Waterloo auto insurance quotes with MyChoice can save you up to $1,049 annually.
Who Provides Car Insurance Quotes in Waterloo?
Insurance brokers, agents, aggregators, and direct writers provide car insurance quotes in Waterloo. 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 Waterloo 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 Waterloo
Car insurance brokerages can help you find the best one based on your driving record, driving needs, vehicle, and budget. They can compare car insurance policies from different companies and answer all your questions.
MyChoice works with several established insurance brokerages in Waterloo. Contact them if you have any queries or need help looking for auto insurance:
Brokerage | Address | Phone number |
---|---|---|
Donovan Insurance | 72 Regina St N Waterloo, ON N2J 3A5, Canada | +15198863150 |
Zehr Insurance Brokers Ltd | 279 Weber St N Waterloo, ON N2J 3H8, Canada | +15197465900 |
Jeff Weadick Desjardins Insurance Agent | 69 Bridgeport Rd E Waterloo, ON N2J 2K1, Canada | +15197255885 |
Cane and Co. Insurance | 375 University Ave E Unit 105 Waterloo, ON N2K 3M7, Canada | +15195701117 |
How Does Car Insurance Work in Waterloo?
Car insurance in Waterloo works by providing financial coverage in case something bad happens to you or your car, depending on the protection you choose. Auto insurance in Waterloo 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 Waterloo.
Here’s a breakdown of the key elements of your auto insurance policy:
The mandatory car insurance requirement for Waterloo 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 Waterloo.
Once you meet the minimum car insurance coverage requirements, you can legally drive in Waterloo. 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 Waterloo 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 Waterloo. 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 Waterloo 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 Waterloo
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 Waterloo car insurance quotes:
Age, Gender, and Marital Status
Your personal demographics influence auto insurance premiums in Waterloo 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 Waterloo 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 Waterloo
The average car insurance rate in Waterloo, ON is $1,478/year or roughly $123/month. This rate is higher compared to Ontario’s provincial average of $1,385/year by approximately $90. However, there are some parts of Waterloo that may have higher auto insurance rates compared to the average rate.
The N2L area has the highest car insurance premium rate in Waterloo, ON. You can find out more details below:
Postal code | Average annual car insurance premium |
---|---|
N2L | $1,486 |
N2K | $1,481 |
Least Expensive Postal Codes in Waterloo
The N2J area in Waterloo has the least expensive auto insurance rates in the city, as detailed in the table below:
Postal code | Average annual car insurance premium |
---|---|
N2J | $1,567 |
Car Insurance Cost in Waterloo by Age
Generally, your age will affect the cost of a car insurance policy in any Canadian city, including Waterloo.
If you’re a younger driver below the age of 25, you will typically be charged a higher auto insurance premium. Younger drivers are seen as less experienced on the road, meaning they’re perceived as more likely to get into an accident or get demerit points. These factors make it pricier for auto insurers to cover younger drivers, hence their higher car insurance premiums.
Your car insurance premiums will go down once you reach the age of 25, but they’ll start to rise again once you turn 65. Senior citizens are seen as likelier to get injured or killed in a car accident. Because of this increased risk of death and injury, car insurance companies charge senior citizen drivers a higher premium.
We’ve broken down how your age can affect your car insurance cost below:
Age | Average annual insurance cost | Average savings with MyChoice |
---|---|---|
18-20 | $5,276 | $1,049 |
21-24 | $3,015 | $600 |
25-34 | $2,010 | $400 |
35-44 | $1,478 | $294 |
45-54 | $1,212 | $241 |
55-64 | $1,030 | $205 |
65+ | $1,174 | $234 |
Car Insurance Cost in Waterloo by Driving History
Your driving history also affects the cost of your car insurance in Waterloo.
Generally, drivers with a clean record enjoy the lowest car insurance premiums, as they’re seen to be less risky to insure. But if you have a lot of traffic citations on your driving record, an auto insurer will consider you a high-risk driver who’s more likely to earn more demerits or get into car accidents. This increases the cost of your car insurance.
While your demerit points and violations only stay on your Ontario driving record for two years, auto insurers may look back as far as 10 years into your driving history. This means even old violations or incidents can drive your car insurance premiums up.
Here’s a simple overview of how your driving history can affect the cost of your car insurance in Waterloo, based on our research:
Driving violation | Average annual car insurance rate |
---|---|
Clean driving record | $1,478 |
Insurance cancellation due to non-payment | $2,424 |
Licence suspension for alcohol-related offences | $1,771 |
One accident | $3,258 |
Speeding ticket | $1,924 |
Other Factors That Affect Car Insurance Prices in Waterloo
We’ve covered several factors that influence car insurance rates in Waterloo. Aside from those, several extra factors play a part in determining your Waterloo 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 Waterloo
Waterloo is one of the Twin Cities, with the other being Kitchener, ON. Because of their close proximity to each other, they’re often referred to as a singular area known as Kitchener-Waterloo. The Grand River flows just south of Waterloo’s east side.
What’s it like to drive and commute in Waterloo? Here are some key facts about driving and commuting in this city:
- Major highways in Waterloo: Conestoga Parkway (a.k.a. the Kitchener–Waterloo Expressway), 7, 8
- Public transit options: Grand River Transit (bus), ION Rapid Transit
- Ridesharing services: Uber, RideON Canada
- Parking space providers: The City of Waterloo, private lots
- Top tourist attractions: The City of Waterloo Museum, Waterloo Park, West Montrose Covered Bridge (a.k.a. Kissing Bridge), Conestoga Mall, Laurel Creek Conservation Area, Earth Science Museum
- Busy intersections: Homer Watson Boulevard and Block Line Road, Fairway Road and Wilson Avenue, King Street and Bishop Street, Homer Watson Boulevard and Manitou Drive
- Airports: Region of Waterloo International Airport
Main Mode of Commuting in Waterloo
Personal vehicles are by far the most popular commuting method in Waterloo, with 83.9% commuters preferring them. Public transit is at a distant second, with 6.5% of commuters who regularly use it. Check the table below for more information on how Waterloo’s commuters prefer to travel:
Main mode of commuting | Counts | Rates |
---|---|---|
Total – 25% sample data | 34,345 | 100.0 |
Car, truck or van | 28,810 | 83.9% |
Car, truck or van – as a driver | 26,245 | 76.4% |
Car, truck or van – as a passenger | 2,565 | 7.5% |
Public transit | 2,245 | 6.5% |
Walked | 1,910 | 5.6% |
Bicycle | 460 | 1.3% |
Other method | 920 | 2.7% |
Commuting Duration in Waterloo
Most commuters in Waterloo spend 15 to 29 minutes getting to work, about par for the course for a city that’s experiencing urban growth. However, over a third of Waterloo’s commuters still enjoy a short commute of under 15 minutes, meaning traffic is still relatively reasonable in the city. Take a look at the table below to learn more about the commute times in Waterloo:
Commuting duration | Counts | Rates |
---|---|---|
Total – 25% sample data | 34,345 | 100.0 |
Less than 15 minutes | 12,645 | 36.8% |
15 to 29 minutes | 14,215 | 41.4% |
30 to 44 minutes | 4,420 | 12.9% |
45 to 59 minutes | 1,155 | 3.4% |
60 minutes and over | 1,915 | 5.6% |
Driving Conditions in Waterloo
Driving conditions like rain, snowfall, and dry months can affect road safety. As a result, the typical weather and traffic in a city can make your car insurance rates higher or lower.
Here’s a guide to the average driving conditions in Waterloo:
- Average daily commute time: 43 minutes round trip
- Average annual rainfall: 776.8 mm
- Average annual snowfall: 159.7 cm
- Rainy days per year: 118.7 days
- Rainiest month in Waterloo: June
- Driest month in Waterloo: February
- Snow days per year: 62.2 days
- Snowfall months in Waterloo: December – March
Traffic in Waterloo
Waterloo is part of Canada’s Technology Triangle (CTT), an initiative for the economic development of Waterloo, Kitchener, and Cambridge. It’s also known for having a strong technology, insurance, and service-based economy, with job opportunities booming due to the hundreds of tech firms in the city.
Urban growth is still increasing in Waterloo, which can affect traffic and commuting in the city. Here’s a quick overview of the key traffic statistics in Waterloo:
- Population: 121,436 people live within Waterloo’s city limits.
- City area: Waterloo’s city limits span 64.06 km2.
- Average commute distance: The average Waterloo resident travels 13.68 km every day to their school or workplace.
- Time spent in traffic annually: The average Waterloo resident spends 43 minutes in traffic daily, totalling roughly 262 hours per year.
- Busiest highway: Waterloo’s busiest highway is Highway 401
The Most Common Questions About Car Insurance in Waterloo
How much is car insurance in Waterloo?
Car insurance in Waterloo costs an average of $1,478/year.
Why is car insurance expensive in Waterloo?
Car insurance gets expensive in Waterloo because of several factors, such as a rapidly increasing population and a greater incidence of car accidents. Nevertheless, the average car insurance rate in Waterloo is still much lower compared to other cities in Ontario.
Is auto insurance the same in Waterloo and Kitchener?
No, auto insurance is not the same in Waterloo and Kitchener. Kitchener’s average auto insurance rate is higher, costing residents $1,238/year for coverage. Waterloo’s average auto insurance rate is higher at $1,478/year.
Which city has cheaper car insurance, Waterloo or London?
Waterloo has cheaper auto insurance than London, ON. While Waterloo’s average car insurance rate is $1,478/year, the average auto insurance rate in London is $1,510/year. This makes Waterloo auto insurance cheaper by around $20/year.
How much is car insurance for students in Waterloo?
The price of car insurance for students in Waterloo will depend on several factors, such as the model and age of their vehicles and their driving records.
However, students will generally pay higher car insurance premiums than drivers who are 25 years old or older. This is because younger drivers like students are seen as less experienced and more likely to get into an accident, making them more expensive for insurers to cover.
Is ridesharing insurance available in Waterloo?
Yes, ridesharing insurance is available in Waterloo. If you’re interested in getting this type of policy, ask your insurance provider if they have ridesharing insurance and what rates they offer.