Compare Ottawa car insurance quotes online

Ottawa drivers are pretty lucky when it comes to auto insurance rates—they pay some of the lowest premiums in Canada. And yet, there’s always room for a deal on car insurance in Ottawa. 

For starters, as with any sizable purchase, it pays to shop around for the best rates on auto insurance in Ottawa. If you already have coverage and it’s coming up for renewal soon, it could be worthwhile to get a few quotes from other providers—if only to confirm that your insurance premiums are still competitive. 

On top of that, though, there are several other ways you could lower your auto insurance rates. Here’s what drivers need to know about comparing car insurance quotes for Ottawa. 

What affects auto insurance costs in Ottawa?

Insurers base their premiums on risk-related factors. Some of these are out of your hands, and some are not. 

How age affects auto insurance

Age is a big factor when it comes to auto insurance. Insurers see younger drivers as riskier prospects due to their less-honed decision-making skills and lack of driving experience, so their premiums are typically higher. The stats support these concerns. For instance, according to the Ontario Road Safety Annual Report for 2021 (the most recent one available), the age category with the highest percentage of drivers involved in collisions was drivers aged 21 to 24.

How gender affects auto insurance

In Ontario, there are three genders recognized by insurers: male, female and gender X. Not all insurers offer the option to select gender X. This is set to change by Jan. 1, 2026, when the Financial Services Regulatory Authority of Ontario (FSRAO) says all insurers in the province must include gender X in their practices. 

In Ontario, male drivers are most often behind the wheel during accidents, so insurers are likely to charge them more for auto insurance. This is true for Ottawa drivers, too. “Almost three-quarters (70%) of the 128 drivers involved in the 84 fatal collisions were male. This percentage was higher in comparison to the 52% of males in the licenced driver population,” notes the Ottawa Fatal Collision Review Committee in its 2020 annual report.

How where you live affects insurance premiums

Residents of densely populated cities—say, Toronto or Vancouver—are at greater risk of auto accidents and car damage. Ottawa, having a much lower population density, gets a break in this regard. But something that Ottawa drivers should be aware of is that the city has the sixth-highest auto theft claims in Ontario, according to the Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC). This may affect Ottawa auto insurance rates in the future—especially if you drive a vehicle that’s popular with thieves—so it’s worth looking for ways to reduce your premiums.

How the kind of car you drive affects your insurance

Want to pay low auto insurance rates? Then, carefully consider the car or truck you drive. According to the IBC, these are some of the factors that insurers take into account when deciding what rate to charge you:

• How expensive it is to repair or replace the vehicle 
• How well the vehicle is designed (e.g., safety features)
• How well the vehicle model typically fares in an accident (fewer injuries, less vehicle damage)
• How old the vehicle is 
• How often a particular make, model, year and body style is stolen  (check out Équité Association’s list of Canada’s top 10 most stolen vehicles to get an idea of which vehicles are hot on the black market)

How the amount of coverage you choose affects your premiums

The more coverage you select, the more you’ll pay for auto insurance. While you definitely don’t want to be underinsured, if your car is on the older side, you may not need full collision coverage. 

As of July 1, 2026, drivers in Ontario will be allowed to forgo certain types of accident benefit coverage that were previously required. The two that everyone must continue to pay for are medical rehabilitation and attendant care benefits. Every other accident benefit (such as lost wages and caregiving expenses) will be available à la carte in Ontario’s no-fault insurance system. 

How driver training affects insurance rates

Some insurers offer a discount on auto insurance if you’ve completed a  beginner driver education course approved by the Ministry of Transportation. 

How your driving record affects your insurance

Any claims, convictions, accidents or auto insurance fraud in a driver’s past can affect vehicle insurance premiums. (Insurers can find some of these by looking up your driver record.) Not all infractions stay on your record indefinitely. Demerit points, for example, are removed two years after the offence.

How much is car insurance in Ottawa? 

Car insurance in Ottawa is generally on the lower end of rates in Canada. To give you an idea, we researched the rates for a 38-year-old who drives a 2025 four-door, all-wheel-drive Honda CRV EX-L. Depending on the gender they select on their driver’s licence, they would pay the following for auto insurance in Ottawa each year:

Male: high $4,243; low $1,618
Female: high $4,197; low $1,618
Gender X: high $4,197; low $1,618

To estimate the cost of insuring different vehicles in Ottawa, read MoneySense’s guide to comparing auto insurance quotes.

How to lower car insurance in Ottawa

High auto insurance premiums aren’t inevitable. The following tips can help Ottawa drivers score a lower rate, says the Financial Services Regulatory Authority of Ontario.

1. Bump up that deductible

Drivers willing to pay a higher deductible when they make a claim are charged less for auto insurance.

2. Discover discounts

There’s a world of discounts on auto insurance, so it’s definitely worth investigating what’s available to you.

Auto insurers may offer you a lower premium if:

• You are a retiree 
• You are an alumnus of a university 
• You have a discount through your workplace
• You insure multiple vehicles with the same company
• You bundle your home and auto insurance 
• You use winter tires
• You install an anti-auto theft device like an alarm, a brake or steering wheel lock, or a GPS tracker.

3. Cut down those kilometres

The less frequently you drive, the lower the chance you’ll be involved in an accident. People who commute daily and/or drive long distances to get to work often pay more for auto insurance than those who don’t.

4. Save by making teens a secondary driver

The rate for adding your teen to your auto insurance policy as an occasional or secondary driver will be less expensive than adding them as a principal driver.

You can get low auto insurance in Ottawa!

While car insurance in Ottawa is less expensive than in other major Canadian cities, it still adds up, so look for as many discounts as possible. 

Read more about auto insurance:

• Compare high-risk auto insurance quotes for Ontario
• How to compare auto insurance quotes for Toronto
• Why car insurance premiums are rising and what to do about it
• Your complete guide to car insurance in Canada

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