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• How does Mississauga auto insurance work?
• How to get the cheapest Mississauga car insurance quotes
• Mandatory and optional coverages in Mississauga
• How much does car insurance in Mississauga cost?
• Mississauga car insurance rates by postal code
• Factors that influence your Mississauga auto insurance premium
• Tips on getting the cheapest car insurance in Mississauga
• Frequently asked questions about car insurance in Mississauga

How does Mississauga auto insurance work? 

It's illegal to drive in Ontario without a valid car insurance policy, which must include third-party liability, statutory accident benefits, DCPD, and uninsured automobile insurance. Mississauga drivers can buy optional car insurance products over and above standard coverage if desired.

Mississauga insurance operates under a 'no-fault' system. This means each driver deals with their respective insurance company after a collision. They don't need to interact with another person's insurer, even if they caused the accident.

It is important to note that Mississauga auto insurance operates under a private insurance model, meaning Mississauga car owners buy insurance from private companies. You can purchase it from brokers, agents, or direct from insurance companies.

Mandatory and optional coverages in Mississauga

How much does car insurance in Mississauga cost?

The average price for car insurance in Mississauga is $1,971 per year, according to RATESDOTCA Insuramap data.

The price of Mississauga auto insurance is well above the Ontario average, which the Insurance Bureau of Canada says is $1,655, and Ontario's car insurance regulator says is $1,659 as of June 2022.

When we compare the Mississauga price for car insurance against individual cities in Ontario, it is still considerably higher.

Mississauga's car insurance price is still high when you compare it against individual cities in Ontario. Here's the price difference between other Ontario cities and Mississauga.

• Sudbury: $1,258 (36% cheaper)
• Waterloo: $1,351 (31% cheaper)
• Oakville: $1,408 (29% cheaper)
• Markham: $1,744 (12% cheaper)

Mississauga is a vast, heavily populated suburb of Toronto that's home to numerous commercial zones in addition to many residential subdivisions. While many other Ontario cities have their own commercial and industrial zones but these cities are smaller in size and outside of the GTA.

GTA cities, like Markham and Oakville, rates are higher by comparison due to congestion and population density.

Mississauga is also home to many logistics and transport operations, given that the country's largest airport is located here. Plus, Mississauga is expanding; it recently saw its portion of Highway 401 expand its lane availability. The high cost of Mississauga car insurance reflects these aspects of the city's makeup.

Here’s how Mississauga compares to other major GTA cities:

Source: RATESDOTCA Auto Insuramap

Mississauga car insurance rates by postal code

The cheapest neighbourhoods for Mississauga car insurance are located within the postal codes L5H and L5J. It costs $1,378 per year to insure a car. Rates in those neighbourhoods fell by 36% and 33%, respectively, year over year.

Several postal codes are tied for the area with the highest average auto insurance premium, which is $2,410 per year. The RATESDOTCA Insuramap survey found this rate in the L4T, L4V, L4X, L5P, and L5T postal codes.

Even though L4T occupied the top spot in 2021, auto insurance decreased by 12% compared to the previous year. This postal code is just south of Brampton, notorious for having some of the highest car insurance prices in Ontario.

Source: RATESDOTCA Auto Insuramap

Factors that influence your Mississauga auto insurance premium

Age 

How much you pay for insurance depends a lot on your age. Drivers in their teens and early twenties, males especially, pay the highest car insurance premiums. Prices begin to decrease by your mid-twenties, and the price gap between men and women levels out by age 30. Your rate takes another dip in your fifties.

The vehicle you drive 

Base model cars tend to fetch lower insurance premiums than ones with luxury trim. This is because basic cars are cheaper to repair and replace. When shopping for a new car, remember to factor in insurance costs when deciding between makes and models.

Where you live 

The place you call home affects your rates, down to your postal code. Insurance companies group drivers by geographic location and examine claims activity within those boundaries. Your neighbours affect your rate, too. More neighbours filing claims to their insurer equals higher rates, while fewer claims equal lower rates.

Your driving record

Any convictions under Ontario's Highway Traffic Act will affect your premiums. Think of speeding, driving under the influence, and driving without a license. In Ontario, convictions stay on your insurance record for six years, so protect your driving record.

Your insurance history 

Your insurance history is important. Traffic convictions have a significant impact on your insurance history. Failure to pay your premiums on time will also destroy your credibility with your insurer and lead to a massive increase in your premium. It can also result in the cancellation of your policy, which will make finding cheap insurance with another provider nearly impossible.

Driving for a rideshare app without informing your insurer can also trigger a policy cancellation. All rideshare apps offer commercial insurance to drivers, but you're still obligated to let the provider of your personal policy know about your intention to start a new side hustle.

The coverage options you choose to include in your policy 

Certain forms of auto insurance coverage are mandatory in Ontario — liability, accident, uninsured driver, and property damage — but you can choose to enhance your policy with a range of products. Adding them will raise your premium. Optional auto insurance in Ontario includes several products that reimburse you for physical damage to your car by circumstances that are not covered in a standard policy. Another form of optional insurance is endorsements, special contracts that amend a standard policy. For example, some endorsements will protect your premium from rising after your first at-fault accident, and there others that ensure depreciation won't be deducted from a claims settlement.

Your policy's deductibles 

A deductible is an amount you agree to pay before your insurance company kicks in with the benefit detailed in your policy. Insurers will lower your premium if you increase a deductible since you're demonstrating that you're willing to shoulder a greater portion of the cost.

Whether you’re bundling with other insurance products, such as home insurance 

Insurance companies will reward you for giving them more business by bundling your home and auto policies.

Gender and marital status 

In Ontario, insurance companies can consider your gender and marital status when calculating your premium. Men are considered riskier to insure, and their premiums tend to be higher than women. Nonbinary drivers are offered female rates. Married drivers are perceived as being at lower risk to insure, which might benefit their premium.

The company's insurance claims history 

Insurance companies have to ensure they have enough in their coffers to meet their obligations to their policyholders in the present and the future. That's why insurance companies are one of the most fiscally conservative entities in the financial marketplace. Suppose insurers observe that they're paying out more claims than what they're taking from payments (tracked using a metric known as the 'combined ratio'). In that case, they will need to increase premiums for their customers.

Tips on getting the cheapest car insurance in Mississauga

Saving on car insurance is easier than you think. These 10 tips help ensure you’re getting the cheapest Mississauga car insurance rate:
 

1. Shop around - Rates often change. In Ontario, changes to car insurance rates are approved every three months. Depending on the quarter, just a few insurers might increase or decrease their rates. Sometimes dozens do!
2. Increase your deductible - Most car insurance policies default to a $500 deductible, which is the amount you pay in the event of a claim. Increase yours to $1,000 and you're looking at saving five to 10 percent on your car insurance.
3. Pay your premiums annually - Paying your premiums all at once instead of once a month can avoid those pesky administrative fees that typically accompany monthly payments.
4. Multi-line discount - Bundle your home insurance and car insurance policies together under one insurance provider to save five to 15 percent.
5. Insure all vehicles, together - More cars under the same policy equals more savings on each policy. If you have more than one set of wheels, save up to 10 to 20 percent by insuring them on the same policy.
6. Winter tire discount - In Ontario, if you have—and install—winter tires, you will qualify for a discount of up to five percent.
7. Review your policy annually - Double check your coverages every year. If you no longer need certain protection, removing it from your policy is one way to reduce costs.
8. Telematics - Install a telematics device in your vehicle to save money with good driving habits. Ask your insurer for more information.
9. Ask about discounts - Ask and you shall receive. Ask your provider about discounts they offer and what you may qualify for. 
10. School’s cool - Are you a young or new driver, or are you adding one to your policy? Encourage them to enroll in an accredited driver's training school. The money you'll save on insurance typically offsets the cost of the training within in the first year.