See car insurance rates in Kingston, Ontario.
Part of a series on car insurance rates in Ontario.
Car Insurance Kingston FAQs
What type of auto insurance do I need in Kingston?
In Kingston, Ontario, there are several types of auto insurance coverage available. The minimum mandatory coverage that all drivers in Ontario are required to have is third-party liability coverage, which covers you if you are found to be at fault for an accident that causes bodily injury or property damage to someone else. Mandatory liability coverage includes the following:
Third-party liability coverage
This portion of your auto insurance policy provides coverage if you cause bodily injury or property damage to someone else. It covers the costs of lawsuits against you up to the limit of coverage and the costs of settling claims. In Ontario, the law requires you to have a minimum of $200,000 in third-party liability coverage, but most policies recommend at least $1 million.
Direct compensation-property damage (DC-PD) coverage
This part of your car insurance policy covers damages to your vehicle or its contents and loss of use due to an accident caused by someone else. It is known as direct compensation because you receive it directly from your insurance company, even if someone else caused the damage. To qualify for a DC-PD claim, the collision must have occurred in Ontario and involved at least one other vehicle that is insured by an insurance company licensed in Ontario or has a special agreement with FSRA to provide coverage.
Uninsured motorist coverage
Uninsured motorist covers you if you are in an accident with an uninsured, underinsured, or hit-and-run driver who cannot be later identified. It includes bodily injury coverage, property damage coverage, and underinsured motorist coverage. While not mandatory, this coverage can protect you from financial loss in case of an accident with an uninsured or underinsured driver.
Accident benefits coverage
This part of your auto insurance policy offers benefits if you sustain injuries in a car accident, regardless of who is at fault. It covers supplementary medical, rehabilitation, attendant care, caregiver, non-earner, and income replacement benefits.
What is the most affordable area for car insurance in Kingston?
Where you live is an important factor to consider when searching for the cheapest car insurance in Kingston. Densely populated areas are generally considered a higher risk due to the increased number of drivers, while more rural areas may be seen as lower risk. Your driving behaviour can also influence the cost of car insurance in a specific area, as risk assessments are based on the population and driving patterns within that postal code.
To find the most affordable car insurance rates in your area, we recommend shopping around and comparing quotes from multiple insurance providers. You can also speak with one of our licensed insurance brokers to help by shopping around on your behalf to find the best coverage options for your individual needs and budget.
What are the main things affecting my auto insurance premiums in Kingston?
The main factors that can affect your auto insurance premiums in Kingston, Ontario, include:
● Driving experience: Less experienced drivers may be charged higher premiums as they are considered a higher risk.
● Driving record: Drivers with a history of accidents, traffic violations, or claims may face higher premiums as they are considered a higher risk.
● Type of vehicle: The make, model, and year of your vehicle can affect your insurance premiums, as some vehicles are more expensive to repair or replace than others.
● Vehicle usage: The amount of time you spend on the road and the purpose of your vehicle, such as for business or pleasure, can affect your insurance premiums.
● Location: Where you live and park your vehicle can impact your premiums, as areas with higher rates of theft, vandalism, or accidents may be charged higher rates.
● Coverage options: The amount and types of coverage you choose can affect your premiums. Opting for higher coverage limits or additional coverage options can increase your premiums.
● Deductibles: The amount of your deductible, which is the amount you pay out of pocket before your insurance coverage kicks in, can also affect your premiums. Choosing a higher deductible can result in lower premiums.
● Gender: Male drivers may be charged higher premiums than female drivers as they are statistically more likely to be involved in collisions or reckless driving incidents.
Additionally, the number of drivers on your policy and their driving records can also impact your premiums. Adding a high-risk driver, such as a teenager or someone with a history of accidents or claims, to your policy can result in higher premiums.
It’s important to understand these factors when shopping for car insurance in Kingston, as they can impact the cost of your premiums. Working with a licensed insurance broker can help you find the best coverage options at the best price.
How does mileage impact my auto insurance rate?
Mileage is another factor that insurance providers use to determine your risk level as a driver. The more you drive, the higher the chances of being involved in an accident, which can result in higher insurance premiums.
Insurance companies typically ask for an estimate of the number of kilometres you drive per year when calculating your premiums. The more you drive, the higher your premiums are likely to be. However, different insurance providers may have different criteria for how they assess your driving habits, so it’s important to check with your provider.
Some insurance companies also offer usage-based insurance, which uses telematics technology to track your driving behaviour and adjust your premiums accordingly. This can be a good option for those who drive less frequently or who have safe driving habits, as it can result in lower premiums.
In general, reducing your driving amount can be one way to do so if you want to lower your auto insurance premiums in Ontario. However, it’s important to be honest with your insurance provider about your driving habits, as providing inaccurate information can result in your insurance coverage being voided.
What type of car insurance does aha insurance offer in Kingston?
At aha insurance, we provide a variety of car insurance coverage options for Kingston, Ontario. In compliance with Ontario law, we offer third-party liability coverage as a mandatory coverage option. This type of coverage protects you from financial losses if you are held responsible for causing injury or property damage to another person in an accident. It includes third-party liability, direct compensation-property damage, uninsured motorist, and accident benefits.
In addition to mandatory coverage, there are other coverage options available that you may want to consider to protect yourself and your vehicle. Some of the most common optional coverage types include:
Collision Coverage
Collision is optional auto insurance that covers damage caused by an at-fault collision with another vehicle or object. This coverage pays for repairs or replacement of your vehicle up to its actual cash value and has a deductible. It’s not mandatory, but it’s useful for those who want financial protection for their vehicle, especially for newer or more valuable vehicles.
Comprehensive Coverage
Comprehensive is an optional type of auto insurance that protects against non-collision damage to your vehicle. This coverage pays for repairs or replacement of your vehicle in case of damage from theft, vandalism, weather events, falling objects, or animal collisions. It’s not mandatory but can be a good option for those who want extra protection for their vehicle beyond what’s required by law.
Specified perils coverage
Specified perils is optional auto insurance that protects your vehicle against specific perils listed in your policy, such as fire, theft, and hail. It typically has lower premiums than comprehensive coverage but provides less comprehensive protection. It can be a good option for those who want to save money on their premiums while still having some protection against specific risks.
All perils coverage
All perils is an optional type of auto insurance that combines collision and comprehensive coverage, offering protection against a wide range of perils such as theft, fire, and collisions. It provides more comprehensive protection but is typically more expensive. It may be suitable for those with newer or more expensive vehicles.
However, it’s important to review policy exclusions and limitations. A licensed insurance broker can help you find the best coverage options for your needs and budget.
We also offer several policy enhancements or endorsements (Ontario Policy Change Forms (OPCF)) that allow you to add or adjust the amount of coverage you have in select circumstances.
The type of auto insurance coverage you need will depend on your circumstances, such as your driving habits, vehicle type, and how often you use it. It’s important to review your insurance policy and understand your coverage to ensure you have the protection you need in the event of an accident.
What is dangerous driving, and how does it impact my car insurance rate?
Dangerous driving is a serious traffic offence that involves driving in a way that puts yourself, your passengers, or other road users at risk. Examples of dangerous driving can include excessive speeding, driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, reckless driving, and distracted driving.
In Ontario, dangerous driving is considered a criminal offence, and those convicted can face penalties such as fines, license suspensions, and even imprisonment. In addition to these legal consequences, dangerous driving can impact your car insurance rates.
If you are convicted of dangerous driving, your car insurance provider may consider you a high-risk driver and charge you significantly higher premiums. This is because you are considered more likely to be involved in accidents, which can result in costly insurance claims. Your insurance company may also choose to cancel your policy altogether.
It’s important always to drive safely and obey traffic laws to avoid dangerous driving convictions and the resulting impact on your car insurance rates. If you have a conviction for dangerous driving on your record, working with a licensed insurance broker can help you find car insurance coverage options suitable for your needs and budget.
Fast facts about auto insurance in Kingston
Average annual car insurance rate
Regular drivers in the city
Collisions per year (approximately)
%
Collision rate for the city
Average age
Average household income
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Unemployment rate
Population
Understanding car insurance in Kingston, Ontario
Kingston is a classic Ontarian city with a history of loyalists and an academic pedigree to boot. While many think that the city would have higher auto rates because it’s a university town, the average is actually quite modest.
A big part of that comes from the fact that the workforce doesn’t have to drive very far to reach their offices or job sites. Being outside the GTA means that people commute within the city instead of travelling hours away, which reduces exposure to risk on the road by quite a bit.
Get your bundle on & save!
Want even cheaper insurance? Save up to 50% on home and up to 15% on car insurance when you bundle them.
Get your bundle on & save!
Want even cheaper insurance? Save up to 50% on home and up to 15% on car insurance when you bundle them.
Busting myths about driving and insurance in Kingston
Myth: Kingston’s rates are higher because it’s a university town.
This one’s not true, as you can see by the average car insurance rate for the city. Having said that, we need to put an asterisk on that statement because car insurance is different for everybody. Students will probably see higher rates than a 30-year-old woman (especially men under 25). Drivers in their 40s, 50s, and 60s will likely have lower rates too (all else being equal).
Myth: North of Princess hasn’t been safe to live for years.
Wrong; that’s a stereotype from over 30 years ago. Neighbourhoods north of Princess are just fine.
The area did go through an economic transition from industrial to post-industrial workforces, but the area is on the rise as an up-and-coming neighbourhood.
Myth: Rideau Heights is a dangerous place to live.
Rideau Heights does have a reputation for higher levels criminal activity, which could correlate to claims related to theft or property damge. However, the community crime map from the Kingston Police indicates that far more reported crimes occur in the neighbourhoods between Queen Street and Johnson Street. Even with Rideau Heights itself, the vast majority of occurances happen north of John Coulter Blvd.
Myth: Kingston’s pot holes are worse than most cities in Ontario.
Some of Kingston’s roads did feature in CAA’s annual list of the worst roads in Ontario in 2017 and 2018 (shout out to Country Road 49!), but it didn’t make the list in 2019. However, some residents around here were so fed up with the pot holes that they tried to spur authorities to fix them faster by drawing inappropriate images around them.
How Kingston’s rates compare to other cities in Ontario
- North York: $4,261
- Etobicoke: $4,199
- Brampton: $4,071
- Scarborough: $3,825
- East York: $3,605
- Woodbridge: $3,603
- Richmond Hill: $3,579
- Mississauga: $3,473
- Markham: $3,389
- Niagara Falls: $3,321
- Bowmanville: $3,308
- Peterborough: $3,259
- Pickering: $ 3,245
- Newmarket: $ 3,216
- Hamilton: $3,201
- Brantford: $ 3,158
- Maple: $3,150
- Whitby: $3,087
- Ajax: $3,053
- York: $2,999
- Toronto: $2,983
- Barrie: $2,924
- Thornhill: $2,871
- Waterloo: $2,867
- Caledon: $2,780
- London: $2,765
- Fort Erie: $2,720
- Oakville: $2,720
- Sault Ste Marie: $ 2,713
- Kitchener: $2,705
- Milton: $2,680
- St Catharines: $ 2,550
- Windsor: $2,536
- Woodstock: $2,513
- Innisfil: $2,505
- Burlington: $2,476
- Kingston: $ 2,360
- Cambridge: $2,297
- Oshawa: $2,295
- Guelph: $2,268
- Gloucester: $2,256
- Stoney Creek: $2,222
- Nepean: $2,196
- Ottawa: $2,195
- Sudbury: $2,005
- Kanata: $2,002
- Thunder Bay: $1,973
- Wasaga Beach: $1,958
Quick tips on insurance and driving in Kingston
Avoid Kingston’s most dangerous intersections to keep a clean claims record.
Driving through dangerous intersections raises the odds of being involved in a collision. That’s bad for your auto insurance rates, so avoid these particularly bad intersections:
- Woodbine and Bayridge
- Centennial and Cat Woods Drive
- Norman Rogers and Sir John A. MacDonald Boulevard
Winters on the lakeshore can be harsh. Invest in winter tires for better safety (and rates).
Kingston sits right on the body of water where Lake Ontario flows into the St. Lawrence River. That means Kingston gets a fair amount of precipitation in the winter with little in the way of wind barriers.
Not only do winter tires improve your car’s grip on the road for better braking performance, but Ontario’s insurance companies are also required by law to give you a discount for using them.
Drive more cautiously at intersections, because red light cameras are coming.
Kingston’s “Vision Zero” plan includes tapping into automated enforcement, which can penalize you with a $325 ticket if your vehicle is caught running a red light.
If approved, Kingston wills start with cameras in 10 of the most high-risk intersections and consider more from there after evaluating their performance. Data from other cities indicates that they reduce instances of running red lights by 50%, so it seems likely that you’ll see more around town as time goes on.
Sources for facts about Kingston:
- Statistics Canada, Kingston 2016 Census Profile
- Ministry of Transportation, 2016 Road Safety Report
- Kingston Whig Standard, ” Red light cameras for ‘worst of the worst,’Kingston city staff say”
- Global News, “Pedestrian hit when crossing Sir John A. MacDonald Blvd. without crosswalk”
- Global News, “Kingston council ponders intersection cameras to catch red light runners”
- Global News, “Red light cameras part of Kingston’s ‘Vision Zero’ strategy”
- City of Kingston, “Vision Zero – About”
- Swamp Ward and Inner Harbour History Project
- TVO, “A café’s broken windows reflect tensions over gentrification”
- Kingston Police, Crime Map
- Global News, “Kingston, Belleville, Prince Edward County make CAA eastern region’s list of worst roads”
Source for average insurance rates by city:
- Survey of 2,800 auto insurance policy holders in Ontario
Google Rating: 4.8
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It was my best experience talking with an agent ever. Kristin Cooper is an incredible person, very profesional, caring and knowledgeable. I've got the best deal on my car and condo insurance. I'll recommend her to everybody who'll look for insurance.
Thank you very much.
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I filled out an online form just to check to see if there was a better price available and receive a call right away. I have never had more caring or professional customer service anywhere. The representative that I get to work with was knowledgeable, concise and caring.
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After dealing with over 13 insurance companies over an entire week, I received a call from Kristin who made the process so easy, so comforting and so streamlined! Not even a paper needed to be printed off and signed. Everything was set up on the spot- which is SO rare for Ontario Insurance companies.
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Leslie Anna Rose Obsioma
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Sales Representative (Beverley Gaeler) is very professional & indeed answers your questions politely. Very knowledgeable in terms of their insurance. Unlike other insurance brokers, definitely I will recommend this company to my friends & relatives.
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I dealt with representative named Beverly. She was super understanding, informative and trusty worthy, things I look for when dealing with people I have never met before.
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Ashley was extremely helpful and a pleasure to deal with. Besides the competitive premiums and great customer service I like how aha is up to date with the times - both technically and their business processes. An easy and pleasant experience, even during these challenging times with COVID-19. Happy to be a new customer!
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Great customer service, attention to details, willingness to help and fulfil my needs!
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Kristin Cooper is very sparkling and pleasant to deal with. The company is very client centric and all are staff are professional to help you out. Also when you are on hold the voice will keep you amused if you don’t mind waiting.
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