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Car insurance quotes by age
Your age is a major factor in what you’ll pay for auto insurance, since driving experience is one of the biggest predictors of on-road risk. Older, more experienced drivers tend to pay lower premiums overall, while new drivers pay the highest rates of any age group.
Most insurance companies aren’t actually looking at your age when they run your quotes, but at the number of years you’ve held a valid driver’s license. If you got your license later in life, you might see higher rates than your peers of the same age.
The difference is significant regardless of where you live or what you drive. Below are sample rates for Ontarians of different ages, all driving a six-year-old Toyota RAV4 in the suburbs of London, ON:
Features | Annual premiums* |
|---|---|
18 years old $5,660 | $5,660 |
25 years old $3,420 | $3,420 |
35 years old $2,290 | $2,290 |
45 years old $2,080 | $2,080 |
55 years old $2,280 | $2,280 |
65 years old $2,020 | $2,020 |
Features | Annual premiums* |
|---|---|
18 years old $4,690 | $4,690 |
25 years old $3,120 | $3,120 |
35 years old $2,360 | $2,360 |
45 years old $2,140 | $2,140 |
55 years old $2,200 | $2,200 |
65 years old $1,980 | $1,980 |
* Rates shown are based on a sample driver profile and standardized coverage selections. Your actual premium will vary based on your personal details, driving history, location, vehicle, and insurer underwriting criteria.
Car insurance quotes by vehicle type
Insurance companies don’t just look at your profile when issuing quotes—they’re also looking at your car. Your auto insurance quote will take into account the type and frequency of insurance claims associated with cars like yours.
Use the Insurance Bureau of Canada’s How Cars Measure Up tool to visualize average claim frequency for your vehicle.
Make and model
The model you drive tells insurers about your vehicle's overall specs and driving capabilities. Some cars, like sports cars, may also be associated with riskier types of driving.
Model year
Older cars are worth less, which usually makes them more affordable to insure. That said, they may also lack modern safety technology that's standard on new cars, thus increasing crash risks.
Vehicle type and engine size
Electric vehicles may come with unique costs and risks, and larger and more powerful cars are likely to come with higher premiums.
The table below compares the starting rates for 6 brand-new vehicles, assuming a 35-year-old driver with full coverage living in London, ON:
Features | Annual premiums* |
|---|---|
Compact sedan (Toyota Corolla) $2,796 | $2,796 |
SUV (Toyota RAV4) $2,750 | $2,750 |
Pickup truck (Ford F-150) $2,210 | $2,210 |
Minivan (Chrysler Pacifica) $3,250 | $3,250 |
Luxury vehicle (Lexus NX) $3,460 | $3,460 |
Hybrid vehicle (Mitsubishi Outlander) $2,830 | $2,830 |
Features | Annual premiums* |
|---|---|
Compact sedan (Toyota Corolla) $2,916 | $2,916 |
SUV (Toyota RAV4) $2,690 | $2,690 |
Pickup truck (Ford F-150) $2,270 | $2,270 |
Minivan (Chrysler Pacifica) $3,340 | $3,340 |
Luxury vehicle (Lexus NX) $3,490 | $3,490 |
Hybrid vehicle (Mitsubishi Outlander) $2,880 | $2,880 |
* Rates shown are based on a sample driver profile and standardized coverage selections. Your actual premium will vary based on your personal details, driving history, location, vehicle, and insurer underwriting criteria.
Car insurance quotes by location
Location is one of the most powerful factors that insurance companies use when calculating rates.
Why location matters
Where you live plays a major role in your car insurance rate. Areas with higher rates of car theft, heavy traffic, or a high rate of serious collisions tend to pay more for auto insurance.
It’s not just about your driving
Even safe drivers can pay more depending on their postal code. Insurers look at local trends (like crashes and claims) to assess your overall risk.
Real example: The GTA
The Greater Toronto Area has some of the highest auto theft rates, with over $350M in losses in 2023.1 That’s why drivers there pay nearly 30% more for insurance—about $700 extra per year, on average.2
Source: 1Insurance Bureau of Canada, 2FSRAO
Take a look at the table below to see how much it costs to drive in your city (or the closest population centre), assuming you live in the suburbs:
Features | Annual premiums* |
|---|---|
Sudbury $1,980 | $1,980 |
Windsor $2,000 | $2,000 |
Ottawa $2,030 | $2,030 |
Sault Ste Marie $2,040 | $2,040 |
London $2,290 | $2,290 |
Mississauga $2,450 | $2,450 |
Toronto $2,450 | $2,450 |
Features | Annual premiums* |
|---|---|
Sudbury $1,960 | $1,960 |
Windsor $2,090 | $2,090 |
Ottawa $1,990 | $1,990 |
Sault Ste Marie $2,120 | $2,120 |
London $2,360 | $2,360 |
Mississauga $2,530 | $2,530 |
Toronto $2,570 | $2,570 |
* Rates shown are based on a sample driver profile and standardized coverage selections. Your actual premium will vary based on your personal details, driving history, location, vehicle, and insurer underwriting criteria.
Car insurance quotes by driving record
If you’ve had at-fault accidents or traffic tickets in the past, insurers see you as a higher risk. When you request car insurance quotes, you’ll need to share details about your driving history to help insurers decide how much to charge you.
The table below shows how much various driving convictions impact the car insurance rates of a 35-year-old woman living in London, ON:
Features | Annual premiums* | Versus clean record |
|---|---|---|
Clean record $2,350 | $2,350 | 0% |
Speeding $3,200 | $3,200 | +36% |
First at-fault accident $3,830 | $3,830 | +63% |
Major conviction $4,240 | $4,240 | +80% |
Impaired driving $7,020 | $7,020 | +199% |
Features | Average annual premium* |
|---|---|
Clean record 0% | $16.20 |
Speeding +36% | $18.45 |
First at-fault accident +63% | $19.80 |
Major conviction +80% | $23.40 |
Impaired driving +199% | $55.35 |
Rates shown are based on a sample driver profile and standardized coverage selections. Your actual premium will vary based on your personal details, driving history, location, vehicle, and insurer underwriting criteria.
What affects your car insurance quote?
Age & driving experience
Drivers with more years of licensed driving experience typically receive lower insurance quotes.
Vehicle type
The make, model, and safety features of your car influences repair costs and accident risk.
Location
Areas with higher traffic, collision rates, or vehicle theft tend to have higher premiums.
Driving record
Speeding tickets, at-fault accidents, or impaired driving convictions can increase your quote.
Coverage
Higher limits and lower deductibles increase your premium, while higher deductibles lower it.
Insurance history
Continuous insurance coverage and a clean claims history can help lower your rate.
What do you need to get a car insurance quote?
To get car insurance quotes, you’ll need to provide insurance companies with basic information about you and the vehicle(s) you want to insure, including:
- Name, address, and personal information for all drivers on your car insurance policy
- License number for all drivers on your policy
- Vehicle identification number (or make, model, year, and body style)
- Insurance history (including any past claims)
- Driving history
- Selected coverage options
How to find the best coverage for the right price
A car insurance quote isn’t a final price—it’s a starting point. It shows what a given insurance company would charge based on your details and the auto insurance coverage you selected. From there, you can adjust your coverage options to fit your budget.
Bundle with your home
Buying both auto and home insurance from a single trusted insurer could earn you a significant bundling discount on both insurance plans.
Match your deductibles with your savings
A higher deductible on your collision or comprehensive coverage will save you money on premiums—but don’t raise it so high that your rainy day fund won’t cover your out-of-pocket costs.
Weigh the costs and benefits of add-ons
Optional coverage like roadside assistance or non-mandatory accident benefits could add value to your policy, but they’ll also raise your auto insurance premiums.
Don’t default to mandatory coverage
Government-mandated auto insurance minimums are a broad social safety net—and much too low for most drivers. Look at your finances and risk holistically when making coverage decisions.
Personalized quotes from trusted insurers in minutes
Ready to get quick car insurance quotes? With PolicyMe, complete a simple 10-minute online application and instantly see real quotes. No sales pressure, no obligation to buy.
Choose your coverage level
Answer a few questions about you and your vehicle, then select the coverage level you’re comfortable with.
Customize your plan
Once you’ve completed your application, you’ll be able to explore coverage options at different price points.
Review and finalize your quote
We’ll recommend a trusted insurance carrier based on your profile, though you can review all your options before finalizing your pick.
What should your quote include?
In Ontario, all car insurance policies include minimum amounts of third-party liability coverage for bodily injury and property damage; statutory accident benefits; uninsured motorist coverage; and direct compensation property damage (DCPD) coverage.
You can waive DCPD coverage in writing or opt for various additional coverage or endorsements, such as:
- Collision coverage
- Specified perils
- Comprehensive coverage
- All perils
- Rental car coverage
- Selected coverage options
- Accident forgiveness
FAQ: Car insurance quotes
No single insurance company in Canada has the cheapest car insurance for every driver. While big-name carriers like Desjardins and TD may quote lower rates on average, your individual driver profile will impact which rates you’re eligible for. Comparing personalized quotes is the only way to determine which insurer is cheapest for you.
The best website to get car insurance quotes is one that shows real rates from licensed insurers and lets you compare coverage easily. A digital insurance broker like PolicyMe, with accessible human advisors and an efficient quoting system, is the best source for online quotes for auto insurance. Avoid entering your information on websites that don’t have a valid broker license; these are typically lead generation forms designed to capture and sell your personal data.
If you’re paying $200 per month for car insurance in Canada, you’re not alone. That’s below the current average for drivers in Ontario, making it a competitive quote—especially if you’re under age 25, drive a high-value or high-risk vehicle, or have recent car accidents or tickets on your driving record.
A $500 deductible makes it easier to file car insurance claims for damage to your vehicle, but a $1,000 deductible will keep your month-to-month car insurance costs lower. Each driver should analyze their personal finances and risk tolerance to determine which option is a better fit.
A car insurance quote is the estimated price calculated by an insurance company for a certain amount of car insurance coverage for a specific driver.
PolicyMe is a licensed insurance broker. We work with a panel of trusted insurance carriers and show you quotes from multiple insurers in one place. If you purchase a policy, it is underwritten by the insurer you choose, and we are paid a standard commission by that insurer. This broker model lets us compare pricing and coverage across carriers, so you can select the best overall value rather than being limited to a single company’s product.
Insurance companies ask for a lot of personal information upfront when getting quotes. While it might feel intimidating, that information allows insurers to give you an accurate price that’s tailored to you and your specific situation.
With limited information—say, your location and vehicle information but not your name, age, or driving history—all an insurance company can offer is a ballpark estimate that might be significantly different from what you’d actually end up paying.
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