MatthewShepherd

So Ive been living in Alberta for three months and its about time i went to buy a car. Was going to get one on finance at local garage but i could only get it for 18 months (due to my visa) and it was over $600 a month. So I've decided to buy one out right for less money. Anyway thats not the issue, I was looking at insurance and its sky high! Ive been driving for 17 years but only 3 months in Canada. I have my license changed over but as i'm new here I think i get treated like a new driver! Is this so? because the insurance is mental expensive!!! Is there company that will take my years into account?

Gozit

Insurance is a huge naffing ripoff in Canada. People with years of no claims pay between $1000-1500 per year. People with no Canadian driving experience, well ha you're in for it..... Not many companies here will take your UK NCD. I personally don't know of any that will.

Piff Poff

What are you calling expensive, if it's around a grand - 1500 depending on vehicle it's probably about right.

Gozit

Err in the UK its alot cheaper.

MarkG

It wouldn't be, if people in the UK drove like they do here .

iaink

But you're not in the UK. It's a lot more litigious here and medical expenses after an accident a lot higher with physio etc. Plus the rip off factor.

I think in BC there is a specific form to get foreign noclaims and in Ontario you need the right letter from your UK insurers for your broker, probably something similar in Alberta . It's all in the wiki (blue bar at top) .

haggis88

My insurer recognised my UK No-Claims, and while i didn't get as much discount as I would have for 4 years Canadian No-Claims I still got a fair chunk off.

My original quote was $4300 for my truck, but with the discount applied it was dropped to $1800/yr....this year i'm paying $1200 for 2 vehicles, so it does drop significantly when you've driven here for a year or two

beckiwoo

There is and despite me emailing my previous insurance companies with the template and stating specifically that they will not accept anything else, they still sent me their bog standard templated no claims letter.

I have given up and just hope and pray if I get a car I'm not going to be paying $4,000 for the privilege.

Gozit

True

flat to the mat

It's not expensive though , we pay around a grand each for an F150 and a Cherokee SRT , my 18 yr old 1400 for a Subaru Impreza , no annual road tax or MOT's makes it bargain central compared to rip off Britain .

christmasoompa

You pay $3400k a year in insurance alone and think that's a bargain?!

Plenty of cars are tax free in the UK, MOT is only £30 a year, and my insurance is around £180 a year. So I'd say it's rip off Canada when it comes to motoring, not rip off Britain.

MatthewShepherd

Cheers guys!

magnumpi

The driving test in Ontario lasts 7 mins, consists of a drive to a quiet street, a reverse park, turn in the road and a drive back to test centre. Done !!

Now compare that with the UK

Gozit

Seriously? Well i'll stop worrying then
When did you do your test

scrubbedexpat091

If in BC and don't get any of the discounts, you may not pay 4,000 but it will probably be pretty steep, ICBC's base rates without a discount tend to be high. Back in 2008 for a 2005 Sunfire before I had any discounts, I was paying just under 3,000 a year, 2,800 something.