Ontario Car Insurance

Car Insurance In Ontario. Simplified.

Over 150,000 Canadians are injured on the road each year. This number only increases when counting the total overall collisions in Canada. The reality is that no matter how experienced you are at driving, you can never be sure of what or who you'll encounter on the road. Accidents do happen. Some things are out of your control, but what we have in our control are the measures set in place just in case of a collision.

When you have an Ontario car insurance policy that's right for you, you have the comfort of knowing that you are protected. Navigating all the available policies can be tedious and confusing—and you shouldn't have to do it alone. Instead, one of our qualified car insurance brokers will take care of the hard part for you by shopping dozens of insurance companies to find the best car insurance coverage for your needs.

What Is Car Insurance?

Car Insurance, or auto insurance, is insurance coverage for cars, trucks and other road vehicles. Car insurance provides financial protection against physical damage or bodily injury resulting from Ontario traffic accidents. Car insurance also provides protection against liability that could also arise from incidents in a vehicle.

Who Needs Car Insurance In Ontario?

Anyone who owns a vehicle needs car insurance. Ontario drivers are usually already well aware that car insurance is mandatory. Legally, everyone must have car insurance to drive, and you must produce proof of insurance if requested by a police officer. If you do not have at least minimum coverage and are in an accident, you must pay for the damages out-of-pocket. You could also be heavily fined if you are driving a vehicle that is not insured.

Be sure to speak with a car insurance broker who will find you the best auto insurance quote tailored to you to ensure you and your vehicle are appropriately protected by the right car insurance in Ontario.

What Does a Standard Auto Insurance Policy Cover?

If you get into a car accident, car insurance can cover the driver, the passengers and any other people who are involved in the collision—depending on your particular auto insurance. Ontario drivers must have mandatory insurance coverage, although optional coverage is available for drivers who want more comprehensive protection. Minimum coverage includes the following:

Third-Party Liability Insurance

This section of your Ontario car insurance policy protects you if someone else's (a third-party) property is damaged or is physically harmed during an auto accident. It will protect you if a lawsuit is filed against you, covering the cost of certain legal fees. This coverage option will also pay the costs of settling any claims. All drivers are required, by law, to carry third-party liability coverage, and our expert car insurance brokers recommend a minimum of $2,000,000.

Statutory Accident Benefits Coverage

This part of your Ontario car insurance policy provides accident benefit coverage in case you are injured in a collision—whether you caused the accident or not. These benefits can include:

• Medical expenses
• Rehabilitation
• Attendant care expenses
• Financial compensation, such as loss of income replacement

Direct Compensation—Property Damage Coverage

Also called DCPD coverage, this section of your policy covers damage to your vehicle and its contents. It also protects against the loss of use of your vehicle/contents in the event someone else was at fault for an accident. When a collision occurs, and you are not at fault, you can collect compensation directly from your car insurance company. That said, there are a few stipulations to DCPD coverage:

1. The accident must take place in Ontario.
2. At least one other vehicle must be involved in the collision.
3. Two or more vehicles are insured by an insurance company licensed in Ontario or has signed a special agreement with FSCO (the Financial Services Commission of Ontario) to provide this coverage.

Uninsured Automobile Coverage

This type of car insurance in Ontario protects you and your family in case of an injury or fatality due to a hit-and-run or uninsured driver. It also covers damage to your vehicle caused by an unidentified or uninsured motorist.

Optional Ontario Car Insurance: Additional Protections

Many additional insurance coverages offer extra protection, and there are always opportunities to increase your coverage on your basic policy. When you speak with one of our expert brokers about car insurance in Ontario, they will walk through all of your options and ensure you have the best insurance coverage for your needs. Depending on your car insurance provider, you can add the following levels of coverage to your current policy.

Physical Damage Protection

Physical damage protection is an additional coverage that you can choose to add to your car insurance. Ontario insurance brokers recommend this coverage if your vehicle is new or has costly parts to replace. Physical damage protection is a general term for a group of coverages, including comprehensive coverage, collision coverage and all perils coverage.

Comprehensive Car Insurance Coverage

This type of coverage protects your vehicle if it's damaged by something other than a collision with another vehicle or object. Comprehensive insurance coverage will cover the cost of repair  for vehicle damage or replacement entirely in case of:

• Fire
• Theft
• Vandalism
• Windstorm
• Glass breaking
• Collision with an animal

Collision Insurance

With collision coverage on car insurance, Ontario drivers are protected from damage if they're at fault for an accident with another vehicle or an object. There are options for how much coverage is available to you, and your trusted Morison Insurance agent can walk you through what limit is best for your policy. If you're not at fault for the accident, you'll be covered under the direct compensation—property damage coverage—included in your mandatory coverage. Even if you practice defensive driving and have a clean record, it's still possible you could wind up in a collision. Some objects you may collide with that would be covered with this addition to your policy include:

• Another vehicle
• A trailer attached to another vehicle
• Objects in or on the ground, such as a parking barrier or a street sign
• The ground itself, such as during a rollover

All Perils Coverage

This type of coverage offers the most protection. It combines the coverage found in collision coverage and comprehensive insurance coverage. Essentially, all perils coverage covers all causes of loss except those specifically mentioned as exclusions in your policy, which an insurance broker can make clear to you. This includes if your vehicle is damaged by someone in your household or an additional driver. It also protects against loss or damage in the event your vehicle is stolen.

Loss Of Use Protection

Also called "transportation replacement," this coverage will ensure that you receive a rental car in the event of an automobile accident. You will have access to the rental while your vehicle is being repaired—whether the accident was caused by you or someone else. This endorsement of your policy helps your life continue as normal while your car is being repaired. You'll be able to take your children to school, go to work, and run errands as usual.

This type of coverage is also straightforward to add to your automobile insurance policy. It's a more cost-effective option than renting a car out-of-pocket since you don't know how long the repairs to your vehicle might take. Being in a car accident is stressful enough. You can alleviate some of that stress with loss-of-use protection by ensuring you can still get around.

Accident Forgiveness Coverage

Did you know that one at-fault accident can cause your automobile insurance rates to skyrocket? A policy with accident forgiveness protection would prevent your automobile insurance premiums from increasing in the event of your first at-fault accident. Rather than having a stain on your driving record, it would be like the first accident never happened. The driving record on your existing policy would not be affected.

Accident forgiveness protection saves you from soaring premiums after your first at-fault accident. Most importantly, this extra coverage is the equivalent of one coffee per month—often working out to about $5 monthly. If you're an experienced driver with a good track record, knowing your driving record is protected is worth the peace of mind.

Vehicle Depreciation Waiver

Are you thinking of purchasing or leasing a brand-new vehicle? Consider vehicle depreciation coverage. A brand-new car depreciates very quickly in the first days and months of ownership. If you were to get into a severe accident soon after purchasing a brand-new car, your basic coverage would deduct depreciation from the amount given to you to replace your vehicle. This amount would be much lower than you initially paid to purchase your car. Vehicle depreciation coverage ensures you receive the vehicle's value as if it were still brand-new.

Conviction Protection Coverage

This type of coverage can be added to your car insurance in Ontario, so your insurance premiums don't increase if you have one minor conviction on your record. Without this protection, your rates can increase by 15% on renewal if you have a little conviction, such as a speeding ticket for going 10 kilometres over the speed limit. Regarding potential additions to car insurance, Ontario drivers should consider this one carefully. Most people occasionally break the rules in a minor way, like going slightly over the speed limit, and it's frustrating to deal with a rate increase for a relatively minor offence.

Is Car Insurance Mandatory In Ontario?

Yes. Car insurance is mandatory in Ontario. If an uninsured driver is caught behind the wheel, it may cost both the owner and driver up to $50,000 in fines, license suspensions and vehicle impoundment. Not to mention, if you're involved in an accident and do not have insurance, you will be personally responsible for any medical costs and repairs. If you're found at fault for the accident, you could get into serious legal trouble if driving without insurance.

How Much Is Car Insurance In Ontario?

The price of car insurance in Ontario doesn’t have a single price attached to it. Car insurance cost has many factors, making it impossible to give a solid price, and there's no guarantee that an average rate would help estimate your costs. However, our team of brokers at Morison Insurance will do everything they can to get quotes at competitive rates. We will do this by comparing prices offered to you by multiple insurance brands.

What Factors Will Affect My Car Insurance Premium In Ontario?

There are multiple factors that your insurance provider will consider upon calculating your car insurance premium. By looking at these different factors, your insurance provider calculates risk by determining how likely your car will be involved in a collision, the likelihood of theft and how expensive it will be to repair or replace.

Factors that influence your car insurance premium include:

• The make and model of your vehicle: The type of vehicle you drive is one of the prime variables determining your auto insurance rate. Luxury vehicles and new cars are more expensive to insure because they're more valuable.
• Your vehicle's age: How old your vehicle is will impact your insurance premiums.
• Your driving record/history: Naturally, your driving record and history significantly influence establishing your premium. Not only is being a proactive driver essential for keeping the roads safe, but there are also many benefits if you have a clean driving record.
• Any additional/secondary drivers: Did your teenager just get his or her license? Or perhaps you're a one-car family? The amount of drivers using your vehicle will impact your premiums.
• Your postal code: If you live in a community with frequent vehicle break-ins or vandalism, that will impact your insurance premiums because your car is more likely to get damaged.
• Your age and sex: While there's a common misconception that your insurance premiums will lessen at the age of 25, age and sex slightly influence your insurance premiums. That may surprise some drivers, but the Financial Services Commission of Ontario (FSCO) has ruled the sex of a driver is a variable in how car insurance rates can be determined.
• Your marital status: Not all insurance providers factor marital status into your premium. A qualified car insurance broker at Morison Insurance will be able to provide further clarity on what does and doesn't impact your premium. We aim to find you the best possible coverage so you can always have peace of mind.

What Do I Need To Get Car Insurance In Ontario?

Getting car insurance in Ontario isn’t something that you can do just snapping your fingers. There are 5 items that you need in order to get car insurance when you’re in Ontario. They are as follows:

• A Driver’s License: To insure a vehicle in Ontario, you need to have a valid driver’s license. This means having it fully renewed, so an expired license won’t get you insurance.

• Current Insurance Company: Of course, this only applies if you already have insurance and are just updating your package, or switching providers. The name of the company providing you with insurance, your policy number, and date that your current package expires are all required information.

• Previous Tickets: Any previous infractions on your driving record need to be reported to your new insurance company in order for them to get you a rate.

• Previous Claims: Since your claims history plays such a large role in determining your insurance rates, it is essential that every claim that you’ve made is included in your report. This even includes anything on your comprehensive coverage and any other optional insurance coverage.

• Vehicle Information: As always when dealing with car insurance, information about the vehicle, including its make, model and year, is needed in order for an insurance plan to be properly packaged. Having a Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) is also mandatory.

Are There Car Insurance Discounts?

Yes! Various car insurance discounts can help you with your insurance premiums. Those discounts include bundling your home and car insurance, being a student driver, winter tire discounts and much more. Speak with an expert broker at Morison Insurance when you’re getting a new car insurance quote or renewing your policy, to see what car insurance discounts apply to you. 

What Is a Car Insurance Deductible, And How Does It Work?

A car insurance deductible is the amount of the cost you've agreed to cover on your own in the event of an accident before your insurance company covers the rest. Very often, a standard deductible is about $500. For example, if your car requires $2,000 worth of repairs after a collision, you will pay $500, and your insurance policy will cover the remaining $1,500.

Usually, the deductible only applies if you are at fault for the accident. If another driver hits you, and they are found to be 100% at fault, you will not have to pay a deductible for your car insurance. Ontario drivers, remember that the lower your deductible, the higher your insurance premium will be. To learn more about how your deductible impacts your insurance premium, speak with one of our car insurance brokers, and we will happily take the time to discuss.

Do I Need Third-Party Liability Coverage?

Yes. In Ontario, you are required to have third-party liability coverage for your vehicle. This type of coverage protects you from the expenses associated with damage or bodily harm accidentally caused by you upon someone else (a third party). Our expert car insurance brokers recommend a $2,000,000 liability limit. Legal fees are especially easy to rack up should you ever be involved in a complicated claim, and this type of coverage protects you from unforeseen legal costs.

Does Ontario Car Insurance Cover Vandalism?

If you choose to purchase the optional comprehensive coverage for your car insurance in Ontario, it will cover vandalism. Comprehensive car insurance coverage applies to damage that is caused by something other than a collision, including vandalism, fire, and more.

Can I Insure a Car In Someone Else's Name?

It is impossible to insure a car registered in another person's name in Ontario, as you have no legal interest in the vehicle. Only the vehicle owner can choose to insure it in their own name. However, if you do drive regularly and don't actually own a vehicle, there is another option called non-owner car insurance. Ontario residents should consider this type of coverage if they often rent cars, borrow other people's vehicles or participate in car sharing, as it offers insurance protection for the drivers themselves rather than just the vehicle owner.

Does Driving a Manual Vs. Automatic Car Impact My Car Insurance in Ontario?

If you prefer manual or automatic vehicles, you may be concerned that your choice is affecting your car insurance. Ontario drivers don't need to worry about that—car insurance companies don't request that information, so it's safe to say it doesn't affect your coverage or premiums. You're free to select the type that works best for your driving habits.

Will My Car Insurance Premiums Decrease Considerably At Age 25?

Yes and no. Many car insurance myths exist out there, and this is a widely held belief that isn't entirely true. However, because of the tendency of drivers to become lower risk as they enter their mid to late twenties, you should witness a steady decline in your premiums over the years.

Can the High Theft Risk Surcharge Be Waived For My Car Insurance in Ontario?

Some auto insurance companies are responding to high rates of vehicle theft by introducing a surcharge of $500 on the insurance premiums for vehicles that are at an increased risk of being stolen. However, getting this surcharge waived or receiving a discount on your comprehensive car insurance coverage may be possible if you invest in anti-theft measures for your vehicle. Eligible measures vary based on the car insurance company you're with but may include installing a steering wheel lock, wheel and tire lock, or brake pedal lock on your car.

If I Hire a Rental Vehicle, Am I Covered By My Personal Auto Insurance?

Yes, if you have the right auto insurance coverage. Your personal car insurance can transfer to a rental car if you add the optional coverage. However, rental companies do offer their own insurance, which can be more comprehensive than your personal auto insurance. In this circumstance, some drivers opt into rental car insurance from the rental company to avoid any costs to repair a car that isn't their own. This may also be beneficial to you while renting a car on vacation in another country. Speak to a broker at Morison Insurance, who will find you coverage that protects you in all circumstances, even while renting a car.

Do Traffic Tickets Affect My Car Insurance Premium?

Yes, generally. Anything that negatively impacts your driving record will also affect your car insurance premium. Minor traffic tickets may have a slight impact on your insurance premiums. Major tickets (like speeding in a construction zone) will significantly raise your premiums. Any serious or criminal tickets (like driving under the influence) can cause colossal increases to your insurance premiums, and some insurance companies may not even be able to insure your vehicle.

Is My Car Insurance Impacted If I Let My Friend Drive My Car?

You can let someone with a driver's license drive your car, but be aware that when doing so, you are taking all the risk and liability onto your insurance policy. Regardless of whether your friend or family member is insured under their own policy, you would be liable for any accidents that occur in your car.

Where Can I Get a Quote for Car Insurance in Ontario?

At Morison Insurance, we are more than happy to help you get the auto insurance quotes and policy that's right for your coverage needs. As a family-run business, we take great pride in treating all our clients as extended family. When you choose Morison Insurance, you choose a company that truly has your best interests at heart. We're here to help you find the right car insurance policy that will give you peace of mind just in case you wind up in an accident, your vehicle is stolen or if your vehicle is otherwise damaged.

To speak with a dedicated car insurance broker at Morison Insurance and get your personalized quote for car insurance in Ontario today, we invite you to fill out the quote request form on our website or give us a call at 1-800-463-8074.