Ontario's Worst Cities for Driving 2019
We grade the cities across Ontario based on tickets and collisions of its hometown drivers.
Your driving record and history has a direct impact on the auto insurance premiums you pay. With tickets and collisions on your record, you can expect to pay more for your auto insurance than if you didn’t. It’s a reality that most drivers know and expect.
You might also expect, however, that residents in large urban areas, like Toronto, would report having more tickets on their driving record, on average, as well as collisions. It’s a big city after all with more vehicles on the road and drivers, and thus a greater chance for something to happen.
Yet, according to InsuranceHotline.com this may be a myth. Based on the details provided by shoppers who obtained Ontario auto insurance quotes, you have to look beyond Toronto’s borders to find the cities whose drivers admit to having the most tickets, collisions, or a combination of the two, on their driving record. These are infractions and collisions that could have occurred in the driver’s hometown or anywhere their travels have taken them.
We measured all three categories, and then assigned each city a grade based on its variance from the Ontario average.
In Orangeville, for example, drivers were 1.9 times as likely to have a ticket, accident, or both, on their record than the Ontario average. In North York, a driver is 22 percent less likely to have a ticket, crash or both on their record than the average, and Toronto drivers are 21 percent less likely to have a black mark on their driving record.
The Top 10 Worst Cities in Ontario for Driving
| City/Town | Grade | |
|---|---|---|
| Orangeville | D | |
| Bradford | D | |
| Woodstock | D | |
| Sault Ste. Marie | D | |
| Brantford | D | |
| Orillia | D | |
| Thunder Bay | C | |
| St. Thomas | C | |
| Caledon | C | |
| Barrie | C | |
The Top 10 Best Cities in Ontario for Driving
| City/Town | Grade | |
|---|---|---|
| North York | A | |
| Toronto | A | |
| East York | A | |
| Etobicoke | A | |
| Mississauga | A | |
| Brampton | A | |
| Scarborough | A | |
| York | A | |
| Thornhill | A | |
| Oakville | A | |
Breaking it Down
The Lowdown on Tickets
On average, 6.9 percent of drivers in the province admit to having at least one ticket on their driving record while getting quotes. However, drivers in some cities and towns exceed this average considerably.
| City/Town | % of Drivers with a Ticket (No collision) | |
|---|---|---|
| Caledon | 15.0% | |
| Orangeville | 13.2% | |
| Bradford | 12.2% | |
| Peterborough | 12.0% | |
| St. Thomas | 11.2% | |
| Sudbury | 11.0% | |
| Thunder Bay | 10.9% | |
| Bolton | 10.8% | |
| Stoney Creek | 10.6% |
Accidentally Speaking
From a collision standpoint, overall 8.9 percent of Ontario drivers admit to having been involved in a collision in the last 10 years. Yet, there are areas in the province where the average is two full percentage points higher.
| City/Town | % of Drivers with a Collision (No tickets) | |
|---|---|---|
| Woodstock | 13.6% | |
| Orleans | 12.8% | |
| Sault Ste. Marie | 12.4% | |
| Kanata | 12.3% | |
| Gloucester | 12.2% | |
| Whitby | 11.5% | |
| Pickering | 11.5% | |
| Brantford | 11.3% | |
| Orillia | 11.2% | |
| Burlington | 10.9% | |
Double Trouble
Having both a ticket and collision on your driving record is detrimental to your auto insurance premiums and approximately 3.5 percent of Ontario drivers admit to having at least one of each in their relatively recent past. In 13 communities across the province, however, the average is 5.5 percent or higher.
| City/Town | % of Drivers with both a Ticket and Collision | |
|---|---|---|
| Orangeville | 9.4% | |
| Bradford | 8.4% | |
| Sault Ste. Marie | 8.4% | |
| Woodstock | 7.4% | |
| Brantford | 6.9% | |
| Orillia | 6.6% | |
| Cambridge | 6.3% | |
| Thunder Bay | 6.3% | |
| St. Thomas | 5.9% | |
| Barrie | 5.9% | |
| Welland | 5.8% | |
| Oshawa | 5.6% | |
| Pickering | 5.5% |
What’s It All Mean to Your Ontario Car Insurance?
Your driving record matters. Your driving record is an influential factor in determining your Ontario auto insurance rate. Sure, there are others like where you live, your insurance history, and the type of car you drive; but your driving record and history is indicative of how you are when behind the wheel. Every at-fault (or partially at-fault) accident or traffic ticket conviction will likely increase the cost of your premiums.
What’s more, traffic ticket convictions affect your insurance rates for no less than three years and accidents stay on your record for at least six! With a less than perfect driving record, you can find yourself paying a lot of extra premium over the years.
Whatever your driving record, compare quotes each year to ensure you are getting the best car insurance rates going. Each insurance company calculates their rates differently and if your driving record changes, for any reason, the insurer who last offered you the best insurance rate, may no longer be your best choice.
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