Welcome to InsuranceHotline.com, where Canadians shop and compare car insurance quotes to find the lowest rate available. For over 15 years, InsuranceHotline.com has been helping drivers all across Canada get car insurance quotes from competing insurers to save both time and money – instantly and for free. Through its vast network of insurance companies and licensed insurance professionals, InsuranceHotline.com provides auto insurance quotes in Ontario, Alberta, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Quebec, and Prince Edward Island.
Shopping for Auto Insurance Quotes
The rates charged by different car insurance companies to insure the same car and driver can vary by hundreds and even thousands of dollars, so it pays to shop around. The key is to find the one insurance company that has the lowest rate available, but with so many car insurance companies, calling around to get comparative quotes can be hard work and very time consuming. This is where getting instant online car insurance quotes which compare the rates from a broad cross-section of the available insurance companies can help.
Auto Insurance in Canada
In Canada, the law requires all licensed drivers to have auto insurance. But the rates consumers are charged depend on a wide variety of variables, all of which are assessed independently by every insurance company.
Auto insurance companies look at your driving profile, which includes things like the make and model of car you drive, your age, your gender, where you live, the number of tickets and accidents on your record, etc. and use that information to assess the risk of you making a claim in the future and set its rates.
There are also differences across Canada in terms of how the auto insurance industry is administered and regulated depending on the province. In British Columbia, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan, auto insurance is administered by the government. In Ontario, Alberta, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island and all other provinces except Quebec, auto insurance is administered by the private sector and a large number of private insurers. Finally, Quebec has a hybrid model; the government insures against injuries to people, and private insurers cover you for property damage.
Car insurance is most commonly distributed to consumers through a network of licensed insurance brokers who act as intermediaries between the insurance company and the consumer. They provide independent and expert advice, advocacy and support to consumers with respect to their car insurance needs and typically work with a small number of different insurance companies. Car insurance is also made available to consumers through captive agents who have access to the rates of just one insurance company. Finally, insurance can also be purchased directly from an insurance company through a website or call centre (these companies are most commonly known as “direct writers”).
Why Have Auto Insurance?
As with all types of insurance, auto insurance exists to protect consumers against future losses. By pooling the risks of individual consumers and charging each a small premium, insurance companies ensure that there are adequate funds available to pay the claims made by a subset of those risks. The types of things typically covered under a standard auto insurance policy in Canada include:
• Third-Party Liability - this coverage protects you in the event of an accident causing loss or damage to another person when you are at fault.
• Accident Benefits - this coverage offers benefits to protect you if you are injured in an accident regardless of who caused the accident.
• Uninsured Automobile Coverage - this coverage protects you in the event of death or injury caused by an uninsured motorist or by a hit-and-run.
In addition, optional coverage that is available on most car insurance policies include:
• Loss or Damage Coverage - these include: All Perils, Collision, Comprehensive and Specified Perils. You can purchase a combination of these to protect you against loss of or damage to your automobile caused by collision, fire, theft and a variety of other unpredictable risks.
More Car Insurance Information and Resources