Car Insurance Sarnia: Rates, Quotes, Consumer Tips

What are typical Car Insurance rates in Sarnia?

The rates in the first chart show you an average of insurance prices in Ontario and how they compare to some other provinces in Canada. The second chart compares drivers of different ages. The differences in rates can be considerable.

Ontario drivers spend more on car insurance than any other province in Canada. Recent government efforts to bring down high auto insurance rates have not yet managed to change the fact that the premiums remain disproportionately high.

When compared to Toronto, Brampton, Mississauga, Hamilton, and London, drivers in Sarnia enjoy somewhat lower car insurance rates – they range here between $80 and $105 monthly.

Get to know all Car Insurance components

Car insurance is like a puzzle. There are some components that are mandatory. The rest of the pieces are selected based on the coverage you need. Let’s look at the various component.

What cars are the most expensive ones to insure?

Car insurance costs are linked, in part, to the types of claims associated with them: 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) that tend to have high insurance costs:

• BMW X6
• BMW 4^th series
• Tesla Model S
• Cayenne
• BMW 3^rd 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

Other factors, like your driving habits, age, driving history, location, policy type, and coverage have a bigger impact on your car insurance rates. The model/make alone is not a good predictor of your rate.

7 Ways to save on Car Insurance in Sarnia

Getting cheap car insurance in Sarnia is not easy since car insurance rates are high across Ontario. However, it is not impossible to get a good rate. We have collected a number of ways for you to reduce your car insurance rates.

1. Drop the Glass Coverage: Compare the cost of glass coverage to the cost of a new windshield. If your car has an inexpensive windshield, it may make sense to not have glass coverage.

2. Minimal Coverage: Drive an old car with little value? If you only have liability insurance, you’ll save on your premium. However, remember that while you’ll be covered if you damage someone else’s car, your car will not be covered and you will have to pay for your own repairs or vehicle replacement.

3. Rental Car Rider: A rental car rider on your policy is $20-$30 a year. A waiver at the rental company is around $20/day. If you rent cars frequently, consider adding a rental car rider to your policy.

4. Short Distance to Work: A shorter commute to work means a lower car insurance premium.

5. Annual Review: Review your coverage annually. As your life changes, so do your insurance needs and available discounts.

6.  Winter Tires: Many insurers will offer a discount if you install winter tires on your vehicle since this is a proven way to reduce your risk when driving in winter conditions.

7. Professional Membership: Some insurance companies offer discounts for members of professional organizations, like Certified Management Accountants of Canada or The Air Canada Pilots Association. If you belong to an association or professional organization, check to see if they have partnered with insurers to offer member discounts.

Sarnia 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.

$72 per month ($864 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.

$78 per month ($936 annually)

Sample 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.

$110 per month ($1,320 annually)

Car casualty rates in Ontario (including Sarnia)

According to casualty statistics from Transport Canada (2018), Ontario drivers are more cautious than drivers in other provinces.

However, this safe driving record is not reflected in car insurance rates in Ontario, which are still among the highest in the country.

Car Insurance in Sarnia – what you must know

• Car insurance is mandatory in Sarnia, as it is mandatory in the province of Ontario.
• The minimum third party liability coverage in Ontario (that is required by law and included in every car insurance policy) is $200,000.
• Other car insurance benefits in Sarnia, Ontario:
  • Disability income benefits will provide 70% of your gross income to a maximum of $400 per week.
  • The standard maximum for non-catastrophic injuries is $65,000. This is to help with costs like medical treatments, rehabilitation, and attendant care expenses (physiotherapy, chiropractic treatments, or an aide to assist you if you have been seriously injured).
  • The maximum for catastrophic injuries is $1,000,000.
  • Caregiver benefits max out at $250 per week for the first dependant, and $50 per week for each additional dependant.
  • If your injuries prevent you from your usual housekeeping or home maintenance routines, you may be eligible for benefits to hire assistance. The maximum benefit payment for this is $100 per week.
  • The standard amount of death and funeral benefits is $25,000 for your eligible spouse, with a further $10,000 for each dependant. Another maximum of $6,000 may be allotted for funeral expenses.

What cars are the least expensive ones to insure?

Some car models have lower accident records and when they are in a collision, the repair costs are lower too.  Here are examples of cars (model year 2014-2018) that cost less to insure.

• 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 that the car model is just one of the aspects defining your insurance rates. Your personal driving history impacts your rates a lot more than the make and model.

5 Car Insurance myths to know

Myth #1: If you lend your car, it will be covered through the insurance policy of another driver

When you lend your car, you lend your insurance. If your car is involved in an accident, your policy is impacted.

Myth #2: Insurance works in the same way across all Canadian provinces

The way insurance works varies across Canada. There are two systems – no-fault or tort (aka at-fault). The names are misleading as they don’t describe who is at fault in an accident, rather which policy pays for the damages and if the drivers can sue each other. Some provinces are no-fault, some are tort, and some use both systems. The differences don’t stop there. In MB, SK, and BC, insurance is only available through MPI, SGI, and ICBC respectively.

Myth #3: No-fault insurance means that none of the parties involved in an accident are at fault

This is not true. In an accident, there is always an at-fault party, or fault can be split between both parties if both are partially at-fault. No-fault means each driver’s insurance covers the claims costs, not just the at-fault driver. No-fault is designed to be a faster system since insurers don’t have to take the time and spend resources to figure out who is at fault.

Myth #4: It is more expensive to insure red cars

This myth is a classic but it’s not true in the least. The colour of your car has absolutely no bearing on the premium. Neon, lime green, hot pink, and yes – bright red – drive whichever colour you wish.

 Myth #5: If I have comprehensive coverage, I can always expect to get OEM (original equipment manufacturers) parts for my vehicle

In most cases aftermarket or recycled parts are used to keep the costs of claims down. Some insurance companies offer the OEM option if you purchase an additional rider. Each policy is different, so be sure to read and understand yours to know if OEM parts are covered or not.