Welcome to your car insurance guide for Kingston, where you will learn about car insurance premiums in Ontario along with tips on how to select the best policy for your needs. We’ll also discuss ways to save on insurance and bust some popular car insurance myths.
What are typical Car Insurance rates in Kingston?
These average rates give you an overview of car insurance prices in Ontario and select provinces in Canada. The first chart compares provinces while the second compares ages. Differences among provinces and age groups are considerable.
Drivers in Ontario spend more on auto insurance than in any other province. Government efforts have been made to reduce insurance rates in Ontario, but rates are still disproportionally high when compared to the rest of Canada.
When compared to Toronto, Mississauga, Brampton, Hamilton and, London, Ontario drivers in Kingston enjoy somewhat lower rates. Car insurance premiums here range between $80 and $100 per month.
Get to know all Car Insurance components
Car insurance is compiled from a variety of coverages. Some are mandatory, some are optional. What you choose among the optional components depends on your needs.
| Insurance component | Description | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Collision insurance | Collision insurance is for damages to your car as a result from an accident. If the car is beyond repair, this coverage pays a reasonable cost for replacement. | Not mandatory |
| Liability insurance | Liability insurance is for damages caused to another person as a result of the accident and includes things like medical bills, lost earnings, legal fees, etc. Depending on the province where you reside, you can be sued for damages, causing your costs to go into the millions. This mandatory coverage is not expensive, so it’s a good idea to buy more than the minimum requirement. | Mandatory |
| Comprehensive insurance | Not all damages are caused by accidents and that is where comprehensive insurance comes in. It protects against extreme weather, vandals, falling objects, fire, theft, etc. | Not mandatory |
| All perils | If someone in your household steals your car or someone listed as an additional driver damages it, all perils is the coverage that helps mitigate the risk. | Not mandatory |
| Uninsured motorist / Hit-and-run coverage | This is mandatory coverage to protect you from hit-and-run drivers, and drivers that don’t have insurance. | Mandatory |
| Accident Benefits | This car coverage is for medical and other relevant expenses such as nursing care and income replacement resulting from the accident. | Not mandatory |
What cars are the most expensive ones to insure?
The cost of car insurance is influenced, in part by the types of claims associated with them. These are: accident benefits insurance claims, collision insurance claims, comprehensive insurance claims, and direct compensation property damage insurance claims. Here are some examples of cars (model years 2014-2018) with higher insurance costs:
- BMW X6
- BMW 4th series
- Tesla Model S
- Cayenne
- BMW 3rd series
- Audi Q7
- Mercedes-Benz S series
- Hyundai Genesis
- Audi S5
- Mercedes-Benz CLS
- Mercedes-Benz C series
- Audi A5
- Subaru/Toyota BRZ
- Dodge Charger Ford Mustang
- Lexus IS
The make and model are not the only aspects that influence your car insurance. Other factors have a strong impact as well, including but not limited to your driving habits, age, driving history, location, policy type and coverage level.
7 Ways to save on Car Insurance in Kingston
- Car Insurance Deductibles: Can you manage a higher deductible if you are in an accident? If so, increase your deductible to lower your premium. However, this only works if you have the cash to support the higher deductible.
- Bundle: If your insurer offers both home and auto insurance, you may be able to bundle to get a discount.
- Minimal Coverage: Match your coverage to the vehicle’s value. If you drive an old car that has a lower value, you can cut your policy back to liability only, the minimum coverage required by law. While this lowers your premium, remember that this strategy protects damages to the other car in an accident, but damages to your car will not be covered.
- Rental Car Rider: A rental car rider on your policy costs between $20-$30/year. This is much cheaper than what you’ll pay (around $20/day) for coverage on the car at the rental agency.
- Short Distance to Work: Your commute affects your premium. The shorter the commute, the lower the premium.
- Private Garage: Let your insurer know if you park in a private or secure garage. Safer parking spaces can lead to lower premiums.
- Winter Tires: Insurers like you to be proactive in lowering your risks. Winter tires may get you a discount since they are proven to be safer on snow and ice.
Kingston Car Insurance quotes, examples
Sample car insurance quote #1:
A male driver, 45 years old, has no claims in the last three years, no at-fault accidents, and no license suspensions. Vehicle: 2018 Mazda 3 GX, CAA member, comprehensive coverage (including collision). Policy: $1,000 deductible, 3rd party liability – $2,000,000.
$62 per month ($744 annually)
Sample car insurance quote #2:
A female driver, 52 years old, has no claims in the last three years, no at-fault accidents, and no license suspensions. Vehicle: 2014 Ford Escape, collision-only coverage (no comprehensive). Policy: $1,000 deductible, 3rd party liability – $1,000,000.
$52 per month ($624 annually)
Sample car insurance quote #3:
A female driver, 34 years old, has no claims in the last three years, no at-fault accidents, and no license suspensions. Vehicle: 2016 Toyota Camry, comprehensive coverage (including collision). Policy: $1,000 deductible, 3rd party liability – $1,000,000.
$89 per month ($1,068 annually)
Car casualty rates in Ontario (including Kingston)
Based on casualty statistics from Transport Canada (2018), Ontario drivers operate their vehicles in a safer manner than drivers in many other provinces.
| Province | Fatalities per 100,00 licensed drivers | Injuries per 100,00 licensed drivers |
|---|---|---|
| NU | 74.2 | 928.0 |
| YT | 24.1 | 681.1 |
| SK | 15.8 | 517.5 |
| PE | 13.2 | 573.8 |
| NS | 10.2 | 978.9 |
| NB | 9.0 | 484.3 |
| AB | 9.0 | 530.0 |
| BC | 8.0 | 555.7 |
| MB | 7.6 | 1310.0 |
| NT | 7.6 | 382.5 |
| Canada | 7.2 | 575.0 |
| NL | 6.6 | 460.8 |
| QC | 6.4 | 622.1 |
| ON | 5.8 | 491.3 |
Unfortunately, being a safe driver in Ontario is not reflected in the province’s car insurance rates as they remain among the highest in the country.
Car Insurance in Kingston – what you must know
- Car insurance is mandatory in Kingston and across the province of Ontario.
- The minimum third party liability coverage that is required by law in Ontario is $200,000.
- Additional car insurance benefits you can expect in Kingston, Ontario:
- Disability income benefits covers 70% of your gross income up to maximum of $400 per week.
- Non catastrophic injuries: The standard maximum amount for costs such as medical, rehabilitation, physiotherapy, chiropractic treatment or an aide to help with the ADLs (acts of daily living) is $65,000.
- The standard maximum for catastrophic injuries is $1,000,000.
- The maximum amount for the caregiver benefits is $250 per week for the first dependant. A further $50 per week is available for each additional dependant.
- You may be eligible for $100/week to hire help for housekeeping or home maintenance if your injuries leave you unable to do housework.
- The standard amount of death and funeral benefits is $25,000 to your eligible spouse. A further $10,000 is available for each dependant, and there is a maximum of $6,000 for funeral expenses.
What cars are the least expensive ones to insure?
Some makes and models are less accident prone and when they are involved in an accident, they are less costly to repair. Examples of such vehicles (model years 2014-2018) are:
- Smart Fortwo
- Ford F150
- Nissan Frontier
- Chevrolet Tahoe/Yukon
- Chevrolet Silverado/Sierra
- Fiat 500
- Ford Mustang Convertible
- Jeep Wrangler
- Buick Encore
- Honda CR-V
- Jeep Compass
- Chevrolet Equinox/Terrain
- Nissan Xterra
- Honda Pilot
- Hyundai Accent
Remember, however, that the car model is just one of the variables defining your insurance rates. Your personal driving history and habits have a far stronger impact on your rates.
5 Car Insurance myths to know
Myth #1: Insurance works in the same way across all Canadian provinces
The process varies across provinces in Canada. Some use a no-fault system. Some use a tort system. Some use a combination of both. The names are misleading as the systems do not drive who is at fault, but rather which insurance pays out and if one party can sue the other. Another regional difference is who can provide insurance in the province. Some provinces have a variety of options. Others have just one. In MB, SK and BC, only MPI, SGI, and ICBC, respectively, can provide car insurance coverage.
Myth #2: It is more expensive to insure red coloured cars
This myth has been busted over and over, yet it still prevails! The color of your car does not impact your premium. You could drive a hot pink, bright neon green, or dark purple car and it wouldn’t affect the rate.
Myth #3: The no-fault system results in lower costs since it eliminates the need for expensive legal processes required to determine who is at fault
This sounds like it should be true but in practice it is not. For example, Ontario has a mixed system, strongly being skewed towards no-fault insurance. Yet it has, by far, the highest car insurance rates in Canada.
Myth #4: If you get into an accident once or get a ticket, your insurance rates will always stay high
After three years tickets and accidents that have affected your rate no longer count against you.
Myth #5: If I have comprehensive coverage, I can always expect to get OEM (original equipment manufacturers) parts for my vehicle.
Each policy is different. Check yours to see if it allows for OEM parts (which may only be available as a separate rider). In many cases aftermarket parts are used to keep the costs of claims down.
Some cars, like Hyundai, Nissan, Ford, Buick, Chevrolet, and Jeep, are cheaper to insure. Others, like BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Audi, and Lexus tend to cost more. This is hardly surprising. The more expensive the car the more expensive the repairs. Check the tables above for the exact makes/models.
The cost of car insurance in Kingston, Ontario is dependent on many different factors. On average, Kingston drivers pay between $80 and $100 monthly. Things that affect your rate apart from your driving history, commute, vehicle make and model, etc., include a serious history of driving problems (which can double your rate) or two violations in the last three years, not including parking tickets (expect 20%-30% higher). Young drivers also pay more based on their inexperience.
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