Car insurance Kitchener, ON
Part of a series on car insurance rates in Ontario.
Fast facts about auto insurance in Kitchener
Average annual car insurance rate
Regular drivers in the city
Collisions per year (approximately)
%
Collision rate for the city
Average age
Average household income
%
Unemployment rate
Population
Understanding car insurance in Kitchener, Ontario
Kitchener stands as a key economic hub outside of the GTA as a part of the Tri-City Area (alongside Waterloo and Cambridge). A budding smart city and one half of Canada’s own Silicon Valley, it sees many commuters enter and leave the city on a daily basis.
While Kitchener is highly enmeshed with Waterloo (sharing a single police force, for example), insurers may see accidents in one region as separate from the other. Accidents on Waterloo’s Highway 85 may or may not count toward Kitchener’s claims rate, depending on the insurer (and they keep that actuarial science closely guarded).
Having said that, Kitchener’s rates aren’t too surprising. It has a moderate average car insurance rate that reflects a moderate annual collision rate.
Although the rate seems high for its population, so too does the number of drivers. According to the city’s 2016 census profile, over 91,000 people drove to work every day out of the city’s entire population of 233,222 residents. That’s a disproportionate amount of drivers on the road each and every day, which raises the statistical likelihood of a collision.
Get your bundle on & save!
Want even cheaper insurance? Save up to 50% on home and up to 18% 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 18% on car insurance when you bundle them.
Busting myths about driving and insurance in Kitchener
Myth: Kitchener and Waterloo are the same city.
False. Locals know they’re different, even though they share some public services and administration, like the Waterloo Region Police Force. Still, it’s important to remember for people moving here or just earning their driver’s license. Every residential area has its own crime rates, claim rates, and collision rates. Living on one side of the line between Kitchener and Waterloo could yield different rates than the other. Check with multiple insurers (or us) to get the best rate!
Myth: Kitchener is a rough city.
Definitely false. While crime rates have been rising across Canada in general (raising car and home insurance rates alike), Kitchener’s overall crime severity index only stands at 61.2 (shared with Waterloo and Cambridge).
While that’s higher than neighbouring Guelph’s index of 54.6, it’s pretty average compared to other Canadian cities. London’s stands at 68.4, and Thunder Bay’s stands at 85.9. Saskatoon’s stands at 117.8, and Regina’s at 125.8.
Myth: The 401 makes it easy to commute into Kitchener.
False! Although the stretch of the 401 between Cambridge and Kitchener just recently had lanes added, the on and off-ramps at Kitchener’s Highway 8 frequently slow to a crawl during peak traffic times—and if there’s an accident, then expect to get comfy.
You may be better taking back roads than the 401, especially if you need to get to Waterloo on the other side of the city.
Myth: Kitchener’s public transit isn’t reliable.
This depends on where you’re traveling. Public transit to and from the downtown core works reliably, especially with the addition of the light-rail transit system. However, bus lines haven’t focused on transporting people into the southern end of the city, or to Conestoga College’s campus.
Luckily, Grand River Transit just recently opened Door 3 at Conestoga College as of November 14, 2019.
How Kitchener’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 Kitchener
Learn how roundabouts work (they’re everywhere now).
Kitchener has invested pretty heavily into roundabouts in recent years. Love ’em or hate ’em, they’re here to stay—and cycling lanes are being proposed for new ones, too. Remember to use the left signal to indicate that you’re continuing in the roundabout and the right signal to indicate when you’re about to exit. Also yield to trucks entering them, as they have the right to use both lanes.
For even safer driving, just assume that nobody else understands how signalling works in a roundabout, either.
Street parking is all about where you look.
Easy parking can be hard to come by, but decent parking is everywhere in Kitchener (there are over 3,400 roadside spaces). If you’re looking for free parking around the Tannery, then check out the streets on the other side of the Deloitte building on Oak and Michael (you’ll know the huge smokestack when you see it).
For downtown engagements, carefully scan the sides of the roads for parking spots carved out on the sides of the road. Kitchener’s downtown core has undergone substantial redesigns, so many roadside parking spots blend in with the sidewalks right beside them.
Kitchener’s intra-city highways are good until rush hour.
Kitchener has a surprisingly robust highway system for a mid-sized city, and it connects to Waterloo pretty well. The only problem? Everybody uses them, even just to get around smaller parts of town.
This is a can reduce traffic to a crawl or even a full stop during rush hour, causing problems for commuters from outside the city. Get on the road by 4:00 p.m. after work to get ahead of the worst traffic jams.
Avoid collisions with cyclists, because you’re going to see a lot more of them.
Kitchener has made a push to promote cycling in the city as a part of a larger initiative to become a smart city. To that end, the city has created 5 kilometres of dedicated bike lanes, primarily around Water Street, Belmont Avenue, and Queen’s Boulevard.
Cyclists will be much safer, although some areas may have reduced lanes (especially downtown). Be prepared to drive more cautiously.
Kitchener Insurance FAQs
Which Kitchener postal code has the highest premiums?
With an estimated premium of $1,382, residents with an N2C postal code generally have the highest premiums in Kitchener.
Proximity to busy roadways affects what you pay for auto insurance. For example, N2C neighbourhoods border Highway 8 and the Conestoga Parkway to the north and Homer Watson Blvd to the west. They are also a short drive from the 401.
Who sets car insurance rates in Kitchener?
Insurance companies set car insurance rates in Kitchener based on multiple factors that affect the likelihood of their customers making claims. Therefore, individual Kitchener drivers’ habits and characteristics are essential in determining the average Kitchener auto insurance premium.
For example, LowestRates.ca reports that Kitchener residents prefer “sensible cars.” Driving a safe, reliable vehicle is an excellent way to keep your insurance costs down.
Learn more about how to lower car insurance in Ontario.
What mandatory coverage do I need to have in Kitchener?
Every auto insurance policy in Ontario must include the same basic mandatory coverages, which include:
- Statutory accident benefits
- Third-party liability coverage
- Direct compensation – property damage coverage
- Uninsured auto coverage
Learn more about mandatory car insurance in Ontario.
Beyond mandatory coverages, every policyholder can enhance their auto insurance with custom add-ons. You can increase your limits, adjust your deductibles, and add optional endorsements or protections like collision and comprehensive coverage to suit your unique needs.
How do Kitchener car insurance quotes compare to other cities in Ontario?
According to RatesDotCa estimates, Kitchener’s average auto insurance price is $1,331, $224 lower than the 2021 Ontario average of $1,555.
Kitchener joins Windsor as a larger Ontario city with low insurance rates for its size. However, despite Kitchener having a larger population than Windsor, the average Windsor driver pays $1,491 for auto insurance annually, about 11% more than the Kitchener average.
Greater Toronto area residents pay the highest car insurance premiums in Ontario. As a result, Kitchener drivers can spend between 39% and 25% less than residents of the 10 Ontario cities with the highest car insurance rates.
What factors determine my car insurance quotes in Kitchener?
Kitchener residents can save on insurance by living and working outside of the Greater Toronto Area for several reasons:
- Better traffic conditions
- Lower instances of car theft
- Lower vehicle repair prices due to lower rent and labour costs
In addition to where you live, these factors also determine the price of your quote:
- What you drive: The safety rating of your vehicle and the potential cost of repairs factor into how much you’ll pay for coverage.
- How far you drive: Driving long distances increases your rates, especially if you’re heading onto the 401 for work every morning.
- Your age, gender and driving experience: New, young male drivers pay more for insurance than drivers over 25 who have years of safe driving experience.
- Your driving record: Including traffic tickets, accidents and charges for reckless driving or driving without insurance.
- Your insurance history: Gaps in your insurance coverage and missed payments on previous policies can make insurance more expensive in the future.
- The coverage you choose: We understand the importance of saving money. Still, it’s crucial to select affordable deductibles and enough coverage to protect you and your family from financial losses if you need to make a claim.
Find out if you can save on the quality car insurance you need with aha, get your 3-minute quote anytime.
Sources for fast facts about Kitchener:
- Stats Canada, 2016 Census Profile, Kitchener
- Ministry of Transportation, 2016 Road Safety Report
- CTV News, “Kitchener begins building separated bike lanes as part of pilot program”
- CBC News, “Canada’s first ‘Dutch-inspired’ roundabout could be built in Kitchener”
- Kitchener.ca, “Parking options”
- Crime Severity Index, 2016 Census
Source for average insurance rates by city:
- Survey of 2,800 auto insurance policy holders in Ontario
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