Car insurance Markham, ON
Part of a series on car insurance rates in Ontario.
Fast facts about auto insurance in Markham
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 Markham, Ontario
Markham is an incredibly diverse city that sprouted out of a town north of Toronto. For the purposes of car insurance, it’s important to note that approximately half of the entire workforce commutes outside of the city itself for daily work, which automatically adds a significant amount of road exposure for those drivers.
Since there’s a correlation between kilometres driven per year and the risk of a collision, the car insurance rates for those commuters will be higher than if they worked inside the city. The 404, 407, and Highway 7 all govern traffic in and out of the city, making them hard to avoid.
Having said all of that, Markham’s drivers actually do a pretty good job of minimizing collisions overall (contrary to popular opinion). The collision rate for the entire city is fairly low at 2.61%, which is much, much lower than some other cities in Ontario.
What’s also likely to nudge Markham’s average car insurance rates into the high end of the spectrum is the nature of collisions—health benefits. Treatment and rehabilitation cost much, much more than replacing a car, and Markham’s collision injury rate is second only to Richmond Hill in the entire York Region.
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 Markham
Myth: More accidents happen in Markham, which raises rates.
That’s not really true. While Markham doesn’t have the lowest collision rate of all time, it’s not particularly high, either. Collisions recorded along the highway could inflate that collision count beyond what happens in the city itself, since roughly half of Markham’s workforce commute outside of Markham.
Myth: Markham’s drivers don’t pay attention to the road.
That’s not true, as we can see with the city’s moderate collision rate. However, the rates in Markham are on the high end of the scale for a reason. According to the Ministry of Transportation of Ontario, 38.83% of Markham’s collisions result in injury (second only to Richmond Hill in the York Region)—and treating injuries costs a lot more than repairing a car.
Myth: Everybody in Markham commutes to Toronto for work.
While not explicitly true, about half of Markham’s workforce commutes outside of the city itself for work on a daily basis. That doesn’t mean every commuter’s driving into Toronto, but it’s a safe bet that the majority are. Living here means you should have a plan to get downtown, just in case.
Myth: Highway 7 is faster and safer than the 404.
Highway 7 has become notoriously unreliable in Markham for its lack of proper planning, constant construction, and heavy congestion. It’s been part of a wider effort to take Markham’s status from a township to city, but this results in delayed, bumper-to-bumper traffic that facilitates collisions. That’s not good for your spare time or your car insurance rates.
How Markham’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 driving in Markham
Don’t drive on the 404 if you can avoid it.
Markham’s collision rate is moderately low, but a huge amount of collisions in the York Region occur on highways—and approximately half of Markham’s workforce commutes outside of the city for work. That means you’re putting yourself and your insurance rates at a statistically higher rate of experiencing a collision when you drive on the highway, so it’s worth finding another route to work!
Consider installing anti-theft measures in Quantztown homes.
Markham’s crime rates aren’t too high in general, but the York Regional Police’s crime mapping tool shows that Quantztown sees a much higher rate of reports than other neighbourhoods. Parts of Unionville are starting to see a rise in criminal activity too. Break-ins jumped from 477 in 2016 to 714 in 2017 (across the whole city), nearly a 50% increase. Security systems can reduce your rates!
Move to the safest neighbourhoods if possible.
Some of Markham’s neighbourhoods are safer than others, making it worthwhile to prioritize them the next time you need to move. Cornell, Greensborough, and Markham Village are known as some of the safest areas in the city right now.
Lower crime rates and lower claims rates means lower car (and home) insurance rates for you.
If you have to use the 404, make use of the high-occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes.
The 404 is an important artery for Markham’s commuters, but it’s also a serious drain on your time, fuel, and even your auto premiums. Carpool with a friend, spouse, or family member if you’re driving into Toronto. Even better: try alternating driving days so that you can reduce your total amount of kilometres driven on an annual basis. That’ll help lower your rates moderately.
Markham Insurance FAQs
How do I get the cheapest car insurance in Markham?
Good news—you can get the cheapest car insurance quotes in Markham (and the rest of Ontario) from an insurance broker, and you’re in the right place to get started!
Everyone looking for cheaper car insurance should consider getting a quote from a brokerage like aha insurance. We use the information you provide to find the best policy available from our insurance partners.
We work with top Canadian insurance companies to ensure you pay a competitive price for the coverage you need. Our expert brokers are here to advocate for you anytime you have questions about your coverage, need to update your policy or make a claim.
You can get a quote from us online or by phone in minutes, and your rate is guaranteed for 30 days!
What types of auto insurance are offered in Markham?
In Markham, you have access to the same auto insurance options that you have elsewhere in Ontario. By law, every Ontario driver must have:
- Statutory accident benefits coverage
- Uninsured vehicle coverage
- Direct compensation for property damage
- Third-party liability insurance
In Ontario, you need to have at least $200,000 worth of liability coverage under your auto policy to pay for medical expenses, rehabilitation and legal fees if an accident occurs. We recommend securing a policy with higher liability coverage limits because liability expenses for serious accident injuries can quickly exceed $200,000.
Markham’s accident rates aren’t exceptionally high, but the percentage of accidents that result in injury is significant. Treating accident-related injuries is more expensive than repairing a vehicle. It’s essential to speak with an insurance expert about how much insurance you need to adequately pay for treatment and rehabilitation if someone is injured in an accident.
In Ontario, you can also secure optional increases to your statutory accident coverage to help you and your loved ones recover from an accident, including:
- Income replacement benefits
- Medical, rehabilitation and attendant care benefits
- Caregiver benefits
- Housekeeping and home maintenance expenses
- Benefits to cover death and funeral costs
In addition to accident benefits, you may also want to consider adding collision coverage and comprehensive coverage to your auto insurance policy. Collision and comprehensive insurance are vital for individuals who drive newer, more expensive vehicles, especially those who regularly drive on highways and in busy urban areas, which is common for Markham residents.
Suppose you couldn’t afford to pay to replace your vehicle or make significant repairs after a major collision or peril such as fire or theft. In that case, you’ll want to explore your collision and comprehensive auto insurance options.
What factors determine my car insurance rates in Markham?
Your location is just one factor that insurance companies use to determine your auto insurance rates. However, the answers to the following questions can have an even more significant impact on what you pay for insurance:
- What’s your age and driving experience?
- Do you have accidents or tickets on your Ontario driving record?
- Has there ever been a gap in your auto insurance coverage?
- Do you have secondary drivers on your policy?
- Do you have children who will soon be learning to drive?
- How often (and far) do you and other members of your household drive annually?
- What type of vehicle do you drive?
- What is your insurance deductible? (A lower deductible offers more coverage but will increase your rates)
- Do you have comprehensive or collision coverage?
- Have you bundled your home and auto insurance policies?
Is it possible to lower the cost of your car insurance in Markham?
It’s always possible to lower the cost of your auto insurance no matter where you live in Ontario.
The key is to drive and park your vehicle as safely as possible, so claims don’t increase your insurance rates. This is where minimizing the time you spend driving on the 404 and Highway 7 and commuting less by carpooling can help you save.
Unfortunately, you can’t change your driving record or claims history overnight; it takes time to establish your reputation as a low-risk driver.
Here are a few additional actions you can take to lower the cost of your car insurance in Markham:
- While not the most practical solution, moving to a safer neighbourhood like Cornell, Greensborough, and Markham Village can lower your insurance rates when you change your address.
- Choosing a vehicle with a high safety rating can lower your premiums and help you stay safe when you drive into Toronto.
- When it’s time to renew your car insurance policy, make sure you get all the discounts you deserve by getting multiple insurance quotes to find the best rates.
Sources for fast facts about Markham:
- Statistics Canada, Markham 2016 Census Profile
- Ministry of Transportation, 2016 Road Safety Report
- The Star, “Good intentions, bad design make Hwy. 7 a jumble of contradictions: Hume”
- YorkRegion.com, “Has Markham neighbourhood Unionville become break-and-enter-ville?”
- CrimeReports, York Regional Police
- Your Markham RealEstate,”Markham’s Most Family-Friendly Neighbourhoods”
Source for average insurance rates by city:
- Survey of 2,800 auto insurance policy holders in Ontario
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