FARAH1305

Hi everyone,

Can anyone recommend car insurance companies? i've just got a quote online and it's astronomical (415 per month). Google estimates averages are 175 - I am astonished we were quoted so much more.

Do insurance companies take into account your UK driving record? Hubby and I are acciden and ticket free.

Hurlabrick

Which province are you talking about? Varies by province.

But yes, I ended up paying that sort of amount. I had 30 years UK no claims AND proof of it and zero penalty point - didn't cut any ice whatsoever!

If you are talking about Ontario, this sounds about right. Car insurance IS expensive in Canada, best get used to it until you can build up Canadian no-claims doscounts.

It is said that one particular insurer will take into account UK driving experience, but the resultant annual premium seems to be about the same as if you went with a different insurer that treats you as a novice.

FARAH1305

Jesus - we can expect to pay nearly 415 per month?!??! that is insanity. We will be in Ontario.

dbd33

One variable you can change is your postal code, for a start don't live in Brampton. A colleague just moved from Mississauga to Waterdown (Greater Hamilton) and said the car premium went from over $500/month to just under $400. Note that changing the car doesn't make much difference (unless one is exotic or RHD or plated out-of-Province). The problem with being a newcomer is that credit score is an important rating criterion and a newcomer doesn't have one.

Hurlabrick

Yep. If you DO find out how to pay less, PLEASE don't tell me. I doubt you will succeed though. You will quickly find that Canada vs UK is 'swings and roundabouts'. You will certainly find that cellphone plans and internet is dearer, but no point in comparisons, just be ready for it! Equally some things are silly cheap - got two good sized T-Bone steaks for $13 in the local supermarket :-))

scrubbedexpat133

Car Insurance is very expensive in Canada. When it comes to driving the average Canadian is as good at it as the average Brit is at Ice Hockey. The other part of the problem is that despite numerous countries having higher standards of driving, more stringent testing and a lower accident and death rate. It is outside of Canada so it couldn't possibly be as good. My own Canadian Mrs left the handbrake on and tried to drive away on her test and still passed.

There are some companies here that will take into account your UK experience. You will need a letter from your insurance company stating that you have x years of claim free, accident free and ticket free. Also in that letter ask them to specifically state that you have been insured continually for x years. (provided that you have) This seems to be important to Canadian insurers.

As for buying the car insurance they are still partying like its 1999 . Online options are limited to say the least. You are going to have to ring someone and go through it all the old fashioned way. That will likely be Monday to Friday 8-5 ish. I recommend that you ring Johnson Insurance. I have been with them since I moved here nearly 10 years ago and they will take into account your UK history with the letter mentioned above. Every year I ring around and they have always been the cheapest by quite a bit. It wont be anything like as cheap as the UK but likely a lot less than 415 a month.

dbd33

Technology is in its infancy in the Canadian insurance industry. Many companies are hampered by a structure of tied sales agents, if the companies offer online sales they're cutting out their own middle men and that bureaucracy slows the pace of change. What you do see now is some single company websites for policy maintenance and simple sales (a foreign person alas is not a simple sale) but what's missing is consolidator sites that take your details and then scan all the company sites to get the best price; the way the airline ticket sites work. It'll come though, most companies use the same packaged software so someone will slap a front end on it eventually. The good news is that the claims sites are better than the new business ones. I uploaded pictures of my crashed car and the next day I was in touch with the Total Loss Express Team who were ready to settle there and then so as to avoid storage charges for the wrecked car. Very quick, all done by email.

Rich_BC

Out of interest, what car is it?

Lichisadave

OrangeMango

I think in Ontario the car insurance in general higher than in other provinces.

I have also heard that some companies have some kind of scheme for their employees, offering them cheaper deals.

dbd33

It's nothing like as expensive as in the territories but knowing that is only useful if you're mulling Whitehorse vs. Brampton as a place to live.

zac stone

Atlantic Xpat

I see your Ontario, and raise you Newfoundland. I suspect insurance, like most things, is more expensive here.

Engineer_abroad

Engineer_abroad