The report, commissioned by the Ministry of Finance, estimates Ontario drivers paid an average of $1,458 per vehicle in auto insurance premiums in 2015.
Despite having some of the safest roads in the country, Ontario drivers pay the most for their auto insurance coverage, according to David Marshall, author of the government-commissioned report titled Fair Benefits Fairly Delivered: A Review of the Auto Insurance System in Ontario.
With the average premium per vehicle reported as $1,458, Ontario drivers pay 24 per cent higher premiums than Alberta drivers ($1,179) and double what Quebec drivers pay ($724). The Canadian average, excluding Ontario, comes in at about $930.
Auto insurance premiums across Canada
The report details how all the provinces stack up, and for the estimated 9.7 million drivers in Ontario, auto insurance premiums are significantly higher than the rest of the country.
Province Average auto insurance premium Ontario $1,458 British Columbia $1,316 Alberta $1,179 Newfoundland and Labrador $1,090 Manitoba $1,001 Northwest Territories $974 Nunavut $968 Yukon $806 Nova Scotia $783 Saskatchewan $775 New Brunswick $763 Prince Edward Island $755 Quebec $724
"Ontario also has one of the least effective insurance systems in Canada," writes Marshall . "Claim costs continue to rise while automobile accidents continue to fall. The main cause is not inefficiency or excess profits by insurance companies or the behaviour of claimants, providers or lawyers. It is the way the system is structured."
It’s a system that produces an average claim cost of $11,556 per accident; which is 26 per cent more than that found in Alberta ($9,150), 85 per cent more than Newfoundland and Labrador ($6,235), and more than double the average claim cost in New Brunswick ($5,712), Nova Scotia ($5,491) and Prince Edward Island ($4,306). The claim cost for these provinces is highlighted in the report because auto insurance is purchased from a private sector insurance company, similar to Ontario.
In his comprehensive report spanning more than 100 pages, Marshall has recommended a five-part action plan, along with 35 recommendations, that he feels will help right the ship. According to thestar.com, the province will consult on the plan and announce details in the coming weeks.
What’s happening with Ontario car insurance rates today?
Currently, every insurance company in Ontario must have auto insurance rate changes approved by the Financial Services Commission of Ontario (a regulatory agency of the Ministry of Finance), and every three months these rate changes are published. Most recently, for the first quarter of 2017, approved rates increased 1.24 per cent. Anytime rates change, whether up or down, FSCO encourages consumers to shop around for their Ontario car insurance coverage, and on that front, InsuranceHotline.com can make that easy for you. Compare car insurance quotes today; it’s the best way to lower your car insurance rate and find a policy that fits your needs best.
