How does Calgary auto insurance work?

If you own a car in Calgary, or anywhere else in Canada, you need car insurance. Before purchasing a policy, it’s helpful for drivers to understand how they are structured. There is coverage that’s required by law as well as optional coverage that drivers can purchase at their discretion if they’d like additional protection. Some details about each are outlined below.

Calgary operates within Alberta’s private insurance system, whereby you purchase insurance from a private company such as an insurance broker, insurance agent or a direct policy writer (someone who works for a particular insurance company).

However, there is a government advisory board called AIRB (Alberta Automobile Insurance Rate Board) that regulates the amount of money private companies can charge for basic coverage (PLPD and accident benefits). They release the approved rate changes every three months.

AIRB have devised a Grid rating system, which enables drivers in Calgary to see the maximum rate they will have to pay for a basic policy. Many young drivers have their rates capped by the grid, but if you have a few years of experience and a clean record, you can expect to pay less.

Optional coverages are not regulated, and private companies can charge whatever amount they see fit. However, as with any private industry, companies must have competitive pricing in order to attract customers.

Mandatory and optional car insurance coverage in Calgary

Calgary car insurance rates by postal code

Location within a city is one of the most significant factors influencing premiums. In 2021, RATESDOTCA’s Auto Insuramap tool indicated that Calgary residents located in the postal code region ‘T3Z’, in the southwestern part of the city, enjoyed the cheap premiums: $1,849. In the same year, residents in the postal code region ‘T1Y’, in the northeastern part of the city, who paid an average premium of $2,730.

While it’s difficult to pinpoint one specific factor that leads to high car insurance premiums in any city, drivers based in neighbourhoods where there is a high volume of collisions and/or many incidents of vehicle theft will pay more for coverage.

Insurance companies are always trying to gauge how likely a driver is to make a claim. Drivers in densely populated neighbourhoods may be more likely to be in a collision and as a result will pay more for protection.

Here is a list of average 2021 premiums for various postal code regions in Calgary.

Factors that influence your Calgary auto insurance premium

There are many factors influencing your car insurance premium, but the most important ones are:

Your address: If you live in an area of Calgary with relatively little crime and few collisions, insurance companies will be more willing to offer a low premium. However, Calgary is somewhat unique in that auto crimes are not limited to specific hot spots. Calgary police see more vehicle thefts from the downtown core in the warmer months, but this trend is reversed in wintertime, when thieves head to the suburbs and take advantage of idling cars being left unattended.

Your vehicle. If you drive a normal car, your rate will likely be cheaper than if you drive a sports car or high-end SUV. The reason for this is that replacement parts are cheaper and easier to get, and someone who opts for a sensible sedan over a souped-up muscle car is seen as a less risky insurance prospect.

Your driving and insurance history: If you have been driving for a long time, and have had no insurance claims, speeding tickets or other infractions, insurers will be clamouring for your business. You are a perfect, low-risk candidate and deserving of the lowest rates. According to internal data, the percentage of Calgary drivers who have had no accidents in the past 10 years is 85.60%.

Your driving habits: People who spend more time on the road have more chance of getting into an accident and have to pay more for insurance. This is why insurance companies request your annual mileage when completing a quote. According to internal data, the average distance driven by Calgary drivers is 14,028 km per year.

Your age: There isn’t much you can do about this one unfortunately. Drivers under the age of 25, or with less than eight years of driving experience, pay more for car insurance in Calgary. The data shows that this group is more likely to be involved in a motor accident, and insurance companies offset the risk by asking for a higher premium. Keep a clean record, and you’ll see rates decrease as you gain more experience.

*Represents the average saved by Calgary shoppers who obtained an auto insurance quote on InsuranceHotline.com and transacted via our contact centre between January and December 2022. The average savings amount represents the difference between the shoppers’ average lowest quoted premium and the average of the second and third-lowest quoted premiums generated by InsuranceHotline.com.