The Best Car Insurance Companies in Ontario, Ranked (2026 Analysis)
* We compared monthly premiums for the same applicant for 12 different carriers. This figure shows the approximate price difference for a 45-year-old male driver with a clean record driving a 2019 Honda Civic Sport with all perils coverage.
The 5 best car insurance companies in Ontario in 2026
The five best car insurance companies in Ontario as of August 2026 are CAA Insurance, belairdirect, Cooperators, Aviva, and Allstate.
* Monthly premiums for a single 45-year-old driver with a clean record driving a 2019 Honda Civic Sport in Ontario. Sample rates are current as of September 2026.
Which car insurance company is best for you?
No single insurance company in Ontario has the best car insurance for every driver. We’ve split our recommendations into different categories to target the unique insurance needs of every Ontarian:
- Best for drivers with clean records: CAA Insurance
- Best for young adults: belairdirect
- Best in the Greater Toronto Area: Cooperators
- Best for families and teen drivers: Aviva
- Best for drivers with a previous claim: Allstate
Best car insurance in Ontario for drivers with clean records: CAA Insurance
CAA Insurance may be best for you if you…
- Have no tickets, claims, or accidents in the past 10 years
- Have at least 5 years of driving experience in Canada
* We compared monthly premiums for the same applicant for 12 different carriers. This figure shows the approximate price difference for a 45-year-old male driver with a clean record driving a 2019 Honda Civic Sport with all perils coverage.
- Aviva
- belairdirect
- Cooperators
- Intact
- PC Insurance
- RBCV Insurance
Best car insurance in Ontario for young adult drivers: belairdirect
Belairdirect might be best for you if you…
- Are under 25 but no longer on your parents’ insurance
- Have struggled to find affordable insurance based on your age
- Have a clean driving record but can’t find cheap insurance
* We compared monthly premiums for the same applicant for 12 different carriers. This figure shows the approximate price difference for a 23-year-old male driver with a clean record driving a 2019 Honda Civic Sport with all perils coverage.
- Aviva
- belairdirect
- Cooperators
- Intact
- PC Insurance
- RBCV Insurance
Best car insurance in the Greater Toronto Area: Cooperators
Cooperators may be best for you if you…
- Live in Toronto or a neighbouring suburb
- Prioritize excellent coverage and service
* We compared monthly premiums for the same applicants for 12 different carriers in Toronto and Brampton. This figure shows the approximate price difference across all driver profiles.
- Aviva
- PC Insurance
- RBCV Insurance
- Allstate
Best car insurance in Ontario for families with teens: Aviva
Aviva might be best for you if…
- Your teen recently got their G1 or G2 license
- You have multiple cars and multiple drivers to insure
- Everyone in the household has a clean driving record
* We compared monthly premiums for the same applicant for 12 different carriers. This figure shows the approximate price difference for a 45-year-old male driver with a clean record driving a 2019 Honda Civic Sport and a 17-year-old female with a clean record driving a 2020 Honda Odyssey EX-L, both with all perils coverage.
- Allstate
- PC Insurance
- RBC Insurance
Best car insurance in Ontario with a previous claim: Allstate
Allstate might be best for you if you…
- You made one car insurance claim in the past five years
- You have no driving violations or tickets on your record
- You’ve struggled to find affordable coverage with a previous claim
* We compared monthly premiums for the same applicant for 12 different carriers. This figure shows the approximate price difference for a 45-year-old male driver driving a 2019 Honda Civic Sport with all perils coverage and one at-fault accident claim.
- Aviva
- Cooperators
- Desjardins
- PC Insurance
- RBC Insurance
- TD Insurance
What should you look for in a car insurance company?
A good car insurance company offers robust coverage packages with unique endorsements, a strong reputation for customer satisfaction, and a proven record of paying out claims.
Most of the auto insurance companies we analyzed met most or all of these criteria, so choosing the best company for you comes down to weighing your priorities. Think about:
- Price: What is your budget, and is it flexible? Are you willing to pay a little extra for good service or unique coverage options?
- Claims: Ask friends and family about their experience filing auto insurance claims. Carriers with a positive reputation for making the claims process smooth and fair may be a good fit.
- Customer service: Do you prefer to speak with a representative on the phone or self-manage your policy using digital tools?
- Financial strength: A.M. Best publishes financial strength ratings and reports on Canadian insurers. Look up any insurer that gives you an offer.
How much does car insurance cost in Ontario?
The average cost of car insurance in Ontario is $350/month for a household with two cars and two drivers and $200/month for a single car and driver.
Rates vary based on your coverage selections, your location within the province, your age and driving history, your vehicle type, and other key factors outlined below. Auto insurance rates in Ontario are also subject to change as insurance companies adjust their pricing algorithms to account for rising risk, increased operating costs, and new market strategies.
Factors that set auto insurance rates in Ontario
In Ontario’s private insurance market, the provincial government and insurance companies work together to set auto insurance rates.
Insurance companies are permitted to use their own pricing algorithms to set competitive rates in order to drive profit, expand their business, and respond to market conditions. But all rates must be approved by the Financial Services Regulatory Authority of Ontario (FSRA) to make sure that premiums are reasonable and not unfairly high.
Insurance companies are only permitted to use certain factors associated with an increased risk of claims to set premiums. These factors include:
- Location: Insurance companies can use your postal code to estimate the risk of auto theft, motor vehicle accidents, and other potential claims in your area.
- Driving history: Insurers can consider how many years you’ve held a license, along with any past accidents, tickets, or claims, to estimate your risk of future claims.
- Driving habits and vehicle storage: Drivers who commute long distances regularly or store their car on a public street are more likely to file insurance claims than drivers who work from home and drive only for pleasure or who store their car in a private, locked garage.
- Age, gender, and marital status: Young drivers, male drivers, and single drivers are associated with a statistically higher rate of claims, independent of actual driving experience.
- Vehicle type: Insurers have access to extensive data on claim frequency and severity across all types of vehicles. If the car you drive is associated with a high rate of claims, you’ll pay more for coverage.
- Coverage choices: A policy with only the mandatory coverage required by provincial law costs less than a full coverage policy. Insurers can also set prices for individual endorsements, perks, and deductible settings.
Some factors, such as race, credit history, and religion, are considered discriminatory and not permitted to be used in insurance eligibility or pricing decisions in Ontario.
Auto insurance pricing trends in Ontario (2020–2026)
According to FSRA data, car insurance prices in the province rose by an average of 12.3% between June 2024 and October 2025, with the greatest increase in rural areas. Auto insurance rates have increased in Ontario in recent years due to:
- Post-pandemic driving trends: As COVID-19 restrictions lifted, many drivers returned to Ontario roads in increased numbers and with rusty driving skills, leading to a sharp uptick in traffic congestion and risky driving behaviours.
- Inflation: As global economic pressures drive up the cost of vehicle repair components and medical care, insurance companies are forced to pay out larger amounts to cover claims. In turn, Ontario insurers have hiked up prices to account for their growing operating costs.
- Increased vehicle complexity: From high-end EVs to standard passenger cars, today’s vehicles are more technologically complex than ever — and more expensive to repair, thanks to extensive electronic components and specialized repair techniques.
- Rising auto theft: Auto theft rates soared across Ontario between 2017 and 2025, with parts of the Greater Toronto Area seeing increases of 500% or more. Theft generates massive costs for insurance companies and drives up the cost of comprehensive coverage.
“Car theft is driving higher insurance costs, definitely. In Ontario, we have seen a huge rise in car insurance theft claims. Within the last year there was a study and over a billion dollars was paid out in car theft claims across Canada. —Reza Aziz, RIBO-licensed insurance broker
Mandatory and optional car insurance coverage in Ontario
All car insurance companies in Ontario offer the same core coverage options. Some coverage is mandatory under Ontario law; some coverage is technically optional but considered standard across the industry. You may also have the opportunity to add certain non-essential endorsements or perks to your policy to round out your financial protection; these vary more between insurers.
Mandatory coverage
Ontario law requires all drivers to carry four essential types of car insurance coverage.
* DCPD coverage is no longer legally required in Ontario, but it’s still included by default in all personal auto insurance policies and can only be removed by signing a written waiver (OPCF 49).
Standard optional coverage
In addition to the four types of mandatory insurance coverage, most insurance policies in Ontario include all or some of the following options. You should speak with a licensed insurance broker before removing any of these coverage options from your policy.
* Until July 1, 2026, these benefits were mandatory in Ontario. Although they’re now optional, most insurance companies still include them in all policies by default.
** Specified perils is essentially a more limited version of comprehensive coverage. This option is usually only available by speaking with an agent or broker.
If you have an active loan or lease on your vehicle, your lender likely requires you to maintain physical damage coverage—that is, comprehensive and collision or all perils coverage—on your vehicle until it’s paid off in full.
Optional endorsements and perks
On top of the standard options outlined above, most insurers offer some coverage choices that are truly optional, including Ontario’s standard Policy Change Forms (OPCFs).
Beyond the minimum limits required for all car owners, every Ontario driver’s insurance needs look different. It’s worth sitting down with a licensed advisor to review your options, your finances, and your driving habits to determine what level of coverage makes sense for your situation.
Car insurance discounts in Ontario
Most insurers in Ontario offer car insurance discounts that can reduce all or part of your premium in the following situations:
- If you bundle home and auto insurance from the same provider
- If you stay claims-free for a certain number of years (typically 3–5)
- If you maintain a clean driving record (i.e., no tickets or accidents) for a certain number of years
- If you install winter tires on your vehicle from November/December to March/April
- If your vehicle is equipped with an anti-theft or recovery device
- If you are over the age of 50
- If you reduce the number of kilometres you drive per year
- If you attend school full-time away from home
- If you enrol in a usage-based insurance (telematics) program
How to compare car insurance quotes
You can compare car insurance quotes online through a digital platform like PolicyMe. Request quotes for the same coverage from at least 3–5 insurance carriers to find the best options.
- Estimate your coverage needs: Consider your overall finances, the amount you could afford to pay out of pocket if your vehicle was damaged, and any lender requirements if your car is financed or leased.
- Gather your documents: To get online auto insurance quotes, you’ll need your driver’s license number, your car’s vehicle identification number (VIN), and the same information for any additional drivers or vehicles. If you don’t have those details on hand, you may be able to enter your information manually.
- Request quotes from at least three insurance companies: You can get quotes individually from each insurer or work with a platform like PolicyMe to compare rates from multiple companies at one time.
- Review your offers with a licensed advisor: PolicyMe will always schedule a call with an advisor who can go over your options, help you confirm your coverage choices, and maximize your savings opportunities.
The most important consideration when comparing car insurance quotes is how much coverage you need. A cheap policy with insufficient coverage could cause you greater financial problems than a slightly pricier plan that meets your full coverage needs.
FAQ: The best car insurance in Ontario
Methodology
PolicyMe’s rankings are based on an independent, data-driven review of Ontario’s best car insurance products and providers.
Our analysis combines 550+ quotes for auto insurance products with in-depth research on 12+ insurance carriers. We assigned each carrier a star rating out of five based on a mix of average pricing, coverage options, shopping convenience, financial strength ratings, and publicly-available customer service reviews, then ranked the results.
Rankings are determined first by star rating and then by price. Our findings are entirely data-driven and do not include paid placements, but should not be considered a substitute for personalized financial advice.
About star ratings
Each product received a star rating out of five based on pricing, customer satisfaction and ease of purchase, customized by age group, sex at birth, and smoking status. We awarded two stars to every provider with insolvency protection from the Property and Casualty Insurance Compensation Corporation (PACICC) and a financial stability rating of “B” or higher from a respected credit rating agency such as A.M. Best.
Carriers with an average price at least 5% below the industry average for at least three driver profiles received one extra star for affordability, while providers with at least two markers of positive customer experiences (positive Google reviews, an above-average J.D. Power score, and/or positive Reddit reviews) earned an extra star for customer satisfaction. Finally, carriers offering convenient online quoting options earned a half-star for accessibility, and those with at least one coverage package or endorsement not offered by all carriers earned an additional half-star for coverage options.
About driver profiles
Pricing data was obtained by requesting publicly available insurance quotes online for 10 unique driver profiles:
- Couple: 45-year-old male and 45-year-old female, 2021 Ford F-150 XLT Supercrew 4WD, 2019 Honda Civic Sport, 15k kilometres driven annually, no recent claims, convictions, or accidents
- Single adult: 45-year-old male 2019 Honda Civic Sport, 15k kilometres driven annually, no recent claims, convictions, or accidents
- Family: 45-year-old male and 17-year-old female, 2019 Honda Civic Sport, 2020 Honda Odyssey EX-L, 15k kilometres driven annually, no recent claims, convictions, or accidents
- Single young adult: 23-year-old male, 2019 Honda Civic Sport, 15k kilometres driven annually, no recent claims, convictions, or accidents
- Previous claim: 45-year-old male 2019 Honda Civic Sport, 15k kilometres driven annually, no recent convictions, one at-fault accident claim 18 months ago
- Low-mileage: 45-year-old male 2019 Honda Civic Sport, 3k kilometres driven annually, no recent claims, convictions, or accidents
- Previous conviction: 45-year-old male 2019 Honda Civic Sport, 15k kilometres driven annually, no recent claims or accidents, one speeding ticket (<49 kmph above) 18 months ago
- EV owner: 45-year-old male 2023 Tesla Model Y Long Range AWD, 15k kilometres driven annually, no recent claims, convictions, or accidents
- New to Canada: 45-year-old male, 2019, 15k kilometres driven annually, no recent claims, convictions, or accidents, G license received August 2026, no previous insurance history in Canada
For each profile, five quotes were requested from each insurer in the following postal codes:
- N6H 5W1 (London, Ontario)
- M5T 1L4 (Toronto, Ontario)
- N1M 1H3 (Fergus, Ontario)
- L7A 2V4 (Brampton, Ontario)
- K1Z 8G2 (Ottawa, Ontario)
About coverage packages
Each quote in our analysis represents the same basic all-perils coverage package:
- Third-party liability coverage: $1 million
- Accident benefits: All benefits except for dependant care and indexation
- Family protection coverage (OPCF 44R): Included
- Collision coverage: $500 deductible
- Comprehensive coverage: $500 deductible
Where available, all perils coverage with a $500 deductible was substituted for collision and comprehensive insurance. No endorsements other than OPCF 44R were added to any quote.
Disclaimer
PolicyMe’s findings use unaltered data and are free from paid placements or sponsored influence. While we strive to keep our information up-to-date, we cannot guarantee the validity of third-party data. These results are intended as a helpful reference and not as a substitute for personalized financial advice.
This article is for general information only and is not insurance or legal advice. Examples and any sample quotes or rate ranges are illustrative and do not constitute an offer or guarantee of coverage, price, or eligibility. Actual coverage, discounts, and premiums depend on your individual circumstances and the insurer provider; if there is any discrepancy, your policy and insurer documentation govern. For advice about your situation, speak with one of our licensed insurance professionals.