We arrived in Ottawa last week on TWPs (I am now actually back in the UK briefly).

Partner needs a car, so we do a mad dash round to find one before he started work on the Monday. The first frustration was that on the forecourts they don't put the prices on the cars, which was annoying because we wanted to see what we could get for our budget without having to go into a salesman's office whilst they go through their printouts to tell us what they had.

Eventually found a suitable car. Next frustration - partner needed an Ontario driving licence to get the plates. Rushed to the nearest place and got the licence. Then rushed back to our new apartments for a copy of the lease to prove our address. Then had to ring an insurance company back, but by the time we had got the licence etc, they had gone. Walked into an insurance office we came across on the way back but they said quotes take at least two days.

Anyway, the following day he phoned a company and got the insurance. $2900 !!! We knew insurance was more expensive in Canada but that seems ridiculous. They won't take into account that you have been driving for years - they start from the date of your new Ontario licence - and they don't recognise foreign 'no claims'.

We are just hoping that the premium will go down next year (providing we get a TWP extension or our PR by then of course!)

Many do recognise foreign no claims (in part at least), BUT, you need the correct documentation to prove it, and you need to shop around.

No surprise that running around at the last minute wont get you the best deal, a bit of planning and preparation goes a long way.

Never come across this two days for a quote thing either, there are many places that do online quotes, or have 800 numbers that will offer quotes then and there, and my broker always got back to me within an hour.

Iaink - who is your broker? I am due in Toronto soon i will need to sort out insurance.

Thanks

[QUOTE=iaink;8902457]Many do recognise foreign no claims (in part at least), BUT, you need the correct documentation to prove it, and you need to shop around.

They said that they wouldn't recognise a foreign 'no claims' letter whatever. I think it was Desjardins that he went with which I believe is a major company.

Certainly some insurance companies in Alberta recognise driving experience from the UK so a notional 3-4k came down to 1k. I've no experience of Ontario but would be worth shopping around. A few companies I contacted in Alberta went purely by north american experience so if I'd taken the first company I'd be paying 3k.

I know what you mean by the absence of prices on the cars. Its their way of keeping control of the sales process I suppose. When I was looking I'd try to print the listings for each dealer from the internet before going to have a look.

When I first came I used McDougal, a local company. Just go through the phone book and call around a bunch of places, some want your business, some cant be bothered.

Now Ive been here years and dont have the driver history / no claims complication my insurance was cheapest through belairdirect.com

There has been discusion in the past about bringing the correct drivers history transcript from the DVLA in order to prove your record, when I came I just needed a fax from my UK insurer, but companies here now are more concerned with the format of the note now I think. probably something in the wiki about it by now for those that care?

Hi Boris,

I had the same problem 3 years ago when I landed in Ottawa. The best quote I got for a new car was from Belair Direct. $1400 for a year. I've been with them ever since.

Good luck!