Every driver in Canada is required by law to have car insurance. While coverage options in each province are different, Ontario drivers must purchase private insurance.
At a minimum, they must have the following four mandatory coverage:
Beyond mandatory coverage, a driver in Ottawa can expand their auto insurance protection further. While there is a wide range of optional coverage, most insurance providers offer the following auto insurance packages:
Drivers seeking coverage beyond what’s available through the above-named package types can also add endorsements. Some of the most common endorsements in Ontario include:
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Cheapest Rate | $2,691 |
Average Rate | $3,483 |
Savings: $792 (23%) |
Cheapest Rate | $1,685 |
Average Rate | $2,166 |
Savings: $481 (22%) |
Cheapest Rate | $1,577 |
Average Rate | $2,075 |
Savings: $498 (24%) |
The average cost of auto insurance in Ottawa in 2021 was $1,257.20, according to RATESDOTCA’s Auto Insuramap tool. This is about 24% less expensive than the average provincial premium of $1,655.
Below is a list of rates according to different postal code regions within Ottawa.
City | Postal code | Premium |
---|---|---|
OTTAWA-Average | $1,257.20 | |
OTTAWA | K1A0A1 | $1,217.00 |
OTTAWA | K1G0A1 | $1,378.00 |
OTTAWA | K1H0A1 | $1,239.00 |
OTTAWA | K1J0A1 | $1,256.00 |
OTTAWA | K1K0A3 | $1,378.00 |
OTTAWA | K1N0A1 | $1,217.00 |
OTTAWA | K1P0A1 | $1,217.00 |
OTTAWA | K1R0A1 | $1,217.00 |
OTTAWA | K1S0A2 | $1,335.00 |
OTTAWA | K1V0A1 | $1,239.00 |
OTTAWA | K1Y0A1 | $1,217.00 |
OTTAWA | K1Z0A1 | $1,217.00 |
OTTAWA | K2A0A1 | $1,217.00 |
OTTAWA | K2B0A1 | $1,217.00 |
OTTAWA | K2C0A1 | $1,335.00 |
OTTAWA | K2P0A1 | $1,217.00 |
In 2021, rates varied across Ottawa, from a low of $1,217 to a high of $1,335. While drivers based in postal code regions K1A, K1N, K1P, K1R, K1Y, K1Z, K2A, K2B and K2P paid the least, those in the postal code area of K2C paid the most.
Many factors go into determining a car insurance rate, but some of the most significant are claims frequency and auto theft. In parts of the city where there is a higher concentration of drivers, there are likely to be more claims and rates will be higher. If there’s a high volume of car thefts in a city or a concentration of thefts in a part of the city, rates are also likely to be higher.
According to RATESDOTCA’s 2021 Auto Insuramap tool, auto insurance premiums were decreasing in many Ontario cities largely due to COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns which kept many drivers off the road. In Ottawa, however, between 2021 and 2020 rates increased about 3.6%, going from $1,213.
Ottawa drivers may not experience the highest car insurance rates in the province, but that doesn't mean they can't save money on their premiums too.
Comparing rates is the best defense against premium increases (beyond maintaining a clean driving record, of course!).
That's why we launched InsuranceHotline.com back in 1994 to help drivers save money and time while shopping for car insurance in Ottawa and beyond. Shoppers in Ottawa who obtained a quote on InsuranceHotline.com in 2021 saved a total of $474.98.*
Find out how much you can save by comparing car insurance quotes today.
In 2021, Ottawa ranked 44th out of 53 Ontario cities for the most expensive car insurance premiums, according to RATESDOTCA’s Auto Insuramap tool.
The average annual premium for drivers in the nation’s capital was $1,257. This rate is 42% less expensive than the average annual premium for drivers in the city with the most expensive premiums -- drivers in Vaughan paid $2,179.
While many factors go into determining auto insurance premiums, they tend to be greater in cities where many people are commuting daily. With the increased traffic density comes an increased risk of collision and rates go up accordingly.
To see how auto insurance premiums in Ottawa compare, check out the list below which compares Ottawa auto insurance premiums to 10 cities in Ontario where drivers are paying the highest rates.
Rank | City | 2021 premium | Change from 2020 |
---|---|---|---|
44 | Ottawa | $1,257 | +3.6% |
1 | Vaughan | $2,179 | -6.7% |
2 | Ajax | $2,104 | -1.7% |
3 | Richmond Hill | $2,025 | -11.4% |
4 | Brampton | $1,976 | -26.8% |
5 | Mississauga | $1,971 | -16.9% |
6 | Pickering | $1,959 | -0.1% |
7 | Toronto | $1,953 | -11.3% |
8 | Oshawa | $1,833 | +12.1% |
9 | Whitby | $1,792 | +0.9% |
10 | Nobleton, Schomberg, Orangeville, King City | $1,766 | +14.2% |
When insurance providers are writing a new policy, they consider many factors. Some of the most common include:
Annual Savings: $324
Driver: Male, age 52, Ottawa, ON
Driving: 2011 Mazda CX-7 GS 4DR 4WD
Current Rate: $1,200
Lowest Rate Available: $876
Insurance Company: Motors Insurance
Annual Savings: $437
Driver: Female, age 26, Ottawa, ON
Driving: 2015 Honda Civic 4DR
Current Rate: $2,000
Lowest Rate Available: $1,563
Insurance Company: Wawanesa Insurance
Annual Savings: $212
Driver: Female, age 38, Ottawa, ON
Driving: 2012 Nissan Sentra SE-R 4DR
Current Rate: $1,800
Lowest Rate Available: $1,588
Insurance Company: Lombard Insurance
Annual Savings: $370
Driver: Male, age 26, Ottawa, ON
Driving: 2016 Hyundai Elantra SE 4DR
Current Rate: $2,700
Lowest Rate Available: $2,330
Insurance Company: Kingsway Insurance
Annual Savings: $624
Driver: Male, age 53, Ottawa, ON
Driving: 2011 Lexus RX 350 4DR
Current Rate: $2,600
Lowest Rate Available: $1,976
Insurance Company: RBC Insurance
Annual Savings: $456
Driver: Female, age 31, Ottawa, ON
Driving: 2015 Dodge Charger RT 4DR
Current Rate: $1455
Lowest Rate Available: $999
Insurance Company: Johnson
*Represents the average saved by Ottawa, Ontario, 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.
Comparing rates is the easiest way to see immediate savings on your auto insurance rates in Ottawa.
This is because different car insurance companies charge different rates depending on several factors, including their own insurance claims histories. If one company has processed many claims in your neighbourhood, for example, then they may charge you a higher rate for living there. Meanwhile, another company may not have had the same experience in your neighbourhood for one reason or another so they may offer a lower rate.
Hence the variances you see in rates that differ by hundreds, sometimes thousands, of dollars. This is where getting instant online Ottawa car insurance quotes comparing rates from a broad cross-section of the available insurance companies can help save you money.
Complete an Ottawa car insurance quote
1) The first step to locking in extra savings on your Ottawa auto insurance is to fill out our easy step by step quote form. The entire process can be completed in 5 minutes or less and at the end you are instantly provided with the lowest Canadian car insurance quotes available from our network of licensed insurance professionals.
Our unbiased search technology compares your rate against more than 30 Canadian insurance companies to help find you a lower insurance rate in Ottawa. Try it now and be included with more than one million Canadians who have used our service to find car insurance savings.
2) Lock in your insurance savings: Once you have received your quote, the next step is to lock in your insurance savings by speaking to a professional insurance broker or agent directly.
When you've selected the quote you'd like to go with or learn more about, InsuranceHotline.com connects you with a licenced professional who can help get you started with your new policy. Our mission is to make the entire process of shopping for auto insurance in Ottawa quick and easy so that you can get back to your day. Life can be busy and complicated, but shopping for the best Ottawa car insurance doesn't need to be. Not anymore.
Insurers across the province, not just in Ottawa, are looking to combat the increasing costs associated with car repairs, distracted driving-related claims, and widespread insurance fraud across the province. These are the three biggest factors driving up insurance claims despite previous provincial efforts to reduce premiums throughout Ontario. Fraud alone is estimated to cost drivers hundreds of dollars each per year, an amount that is passed on through auto insurance premiums.
The province is launching its first Serious Fraud Office in the spring to bring fair auto insurance to Ontario, but until then it's up to drivers to seek out savings. Comparing rates is obviously our favourite way to see immediate savings.
Car insurance rates in Ottawa are about 24% less expensive than the provincial average annual premium, according to RATESDOTCA’s 2021 Auto Insuramap tool.
Below is a list of some of the easiest and most effective ways to bring down your car insurance costs.
Insurance companies can apply for rate increases or decreases through the Financial Services Commission of Ontario (FSCO). If you're interested in being notified when cheaper car insurance rates become available, you can sign up for our rate alert service when prompted during the quoting process. This service actively monitors our network to alert you when a better auto insurance rate in Ottawa becomes available. It's free, non-intrusive and occurs every 3 to 6 months depending on your preferences. Just like mortgage rates, Ottawa car insurance premiums can change frequently. We will make sure you stay informed absolutely free and we will even remind you when it's time for your next auto insurance renewal, which is where real savings happen.
There isn't one provider that offers cheap auto insurance in Ottawa. Instead, premiums are determined by the details of each individual driver. Claims history and location each have a significant impact on auto insurance premiums. For example, a driver in an area that has a lot of traffic may pay more because insurance providers anticipate more claims in that neighbourhood.