evets

haha so true, I can think Melbourne is pretty similar traffic wise, if not worse in reality. When I got a car after using public transport for so long, I was a little surprised about the amount of traffic on the roads in Melbourne, especially around Chadstone.
Thinking it more as reading and replying to these posts, Melbourne is a bit of a sprawl in itself now.
The traffic in rush hour GTA especially the motorways is horrendous, I now have to plan my journey to and from the office so I can avoid the worst of it.

Still have to disagree, then again I have been driving on the right hand side of the road before, many years ago. Took me a day to get to grips with it, since I nearly killed myself within 10 mins of driving out of the rental place and pulling into the left hand lane. Then I made sure I kept a mental note of it.
I only read the handbook, as one day driving to work I hit an odd situation. No traffic lights and had to chat to my colleagues what to do. First on the right has right of way. New to me, as I think I may have pulled a red light as they went flashing at one point. So decided to read the handbook.

Even an Australian colleague I work with based in Canada, says it does not take much time to switch back and forth when he visits home. The hardest thing is switching from automatic to manual cars. Years of experience DO count and especially when you switch back and forth between countries. You become so much more aware and pre-empt your journey, for me I do not tail gate now.

Yep agreed, and I totally understand your feedback. But for me, Ontario not recognising your past no claims history is sad. Yes new city and new conditions. When I went for car insurance in Australia, they quite happily accepted my UK no claims even though I had not had a car for 4 years and was comparable to what I would have paid in central London.
Still beg to disagree, insurance companies in Ontario from what I understand will still increase your premiums if still claim free.

How was your first insurance premium in WA compared to what you paid in Canada.. more or less? Did they accept your driving history from Canada or did you get classed as a new driver?

Piff Poff

It may be different, the traffic is different, i don't remember seeing huge oil field equipment being moved around the gta for example, just pointing out that Ontario insurance is expensive. My daughter learned to drive in Alberta (not a different country) has driven for 5 years in Canada and by moving Province, she is now paying 3x the amount for insurance. To this end she and her boyfriend have found a new place to live that is in walking distance to work - not a two hour bus ride and is now selling her car that she only got earlier this year.

lins and Stef McLachlan

We had this problem when we arrived seven years ago. The only Insurance company that I know will give you some credt for UK no claims and driving experience is Johnsons....There used to be an office in Windsor Ontario but has relocated to either Chatham or London. A google search should bring it up. There may be an office near to where you are.

I got insured with another company, then within a couple of weeks I heard about Johnsons, so cancelled the first policy.....didnt get charged a cancellation fee, and saved a whopping $1200 changing to Johnsons

Farmboy1892

Just to let you all know I contacted Johnsons and got a really good quote with a great level of cover. Our UK credentials have been taken into consideration and whilst it is nowhere near as cheap as what we would have been paying back at home it is at least a step forward to getting my wife mobile.

Thanks

Farmboy

dbd33

You can buy a homeowner's building coverage policy without content coverage. You can buy tenant's policies which cover contents but not the building. I haven't heard of a contents only homeowner's policy, it may exist but I would think a packaged homeowner's policy covering building, content, and liability would make more sense. These are not expensive policies so having three on one house seems like a lot of administration for little potential saving. Is there some reason other than cost for wanting multiple policies?

lins and Stef McLachlan

You are welcome, glad they could help you. Stick with them until you get to max no claims here, then shop around. We didnt find they reduced much with each claim free year. We are now on max no claims and went with Kent and Essex a year ago, saving over $700.
Stef

DandNHill

That's interesting. We're coming up for 6 years. Currently with Johnson's. So maybe time to shop around for renewal?

evets

Good to hear, I tried but subsequent moves between countries and not being able to provide the last 3 years of a NCB meant I failed to qualify. Shame!

And now driving here for around 4 months, I think Ontario is penalising me for driving with some of the worst drivers in the world.

With colleagues telling me try to avoid making any claims and paying cash if you hit someone, I really wonder what is the point of taking out car insurance, aside from it being mandatory.

lins and Stef McLachlan

What have you got to lose? We gained a lot by doing that.
Let me know how you get on.
Stef

dbd33

It may be useful in the case of a disputed claim. If you're in collision with someone who has deep pockets and a litigious nature then your legal fees may bankrupt you. If you're insured then the insurance company will provide the lawyer to deal with the claim.

It's sensible to have insurance though I didn't bother for seven or eight years. Something that's common among Ontario drivers.

DandNHill

I would have insurance for the personal injury liability.

evets

True, it was an off the cuff remark. Hearing horror stories about areas like Brampton, makes you realise how important it is to have good cover.

dbd33

It's news to me that there are horror stories about driving in Brampton. At least anymore so than in the RoC. I commuted up and down the 410 for 18 months and saw a fist fight between drivers most weeks but that was all, no different to the 401 or QEW. What have I missed?

evets

Not driven enough in the area and surrounding suburbs to truly comment. The Brampton stories are from colleagues who live in and around the area.
In Mississauga, I have seen quite a lot of accidents IMO, for such a short period of time and nearly been taken out at least 3 or 4 times.

DandNHill

I have two comments on driving/insurance in Brampton.

It's crazy expensive to insure a car in Brampton. Like bat shit crazy!!!!

Why is it so expensive? Because they drive like morons!!! Every day when I was working in Brampton I would see at least one accident. They behave like they're at the fun fair driving dodgems!!!

Whenever hubby and I go out we will regularly see bad driving and comment "that's why our premiums are so high!"