Car Insurance in Ontario: Protect your vehicle

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Driving a car in Ontario? Make sure you’re covered

Are you a Toronto car owner, navigating the city’s busy streets on the daily? Do you commute downtown from Mississauga during rush hour? Or perhaps you enjoy a yearly road trip to Ottawa to see the sights? Wherever you drive in Ontario, you need car insurance you can trust – and Sonnet has you covered with insurance for experienced or new drivers. Get customized coverage, in language you can understand, at a competitive price – and do it all online. We’ve changed car insurance for the better, so your drive is worry-free.

Why do you need car insurance in Ontario?

In Ontario, if you own a vehicle, by law you must have auto insurance. Think of car insurance as a future investment. The average cost of a car repair claim in Ontario is $8,611. Car insurance will protect you from having to pay out of pocket. Plus, if you cause damage or injuries to other people while driving, you’ll be responsible for those costs too. Accidents happen, even to good drivers. Having the best auto insurance in Ontario means you’ll have financial help when they do.

What does car insurance in Ontario cover?

The Ontario government regulates coverage for car insurance. To make sure everyone has basic protection, certain coverages are required by law. There are also options to add to or increase your car insurance coverage. The best way to know what’s covered and what’s not is always to review your actual auto policy.

Here’s a list of car insurance coverages that are mandatory in Ontario (plus a few you might also need to have), as well as optional coverages that will protect you above and beyond!

Essential car insurance coverage in Ontario
Liability

You must have liability coverage in order to drive in Ontario. It protects you and other drivers financially in case of an accident where you’re at fault. Liability covers any damages, injuries or losses experienced by another driver or individual.
Accident Benefits

If you sustain any injuries or damages from an accident, the standard benefits will cover your costs for medical, rehabilitation, and income replacement. In Ontario, there is additional coverage for caregiver and housekeeping or home maintenance benefits. You can also choose to upgrade any of your standard accident benefits coverages or purchase optional benefits.
Collision - Not Your Fault

Also known as Direct Compensation - Property Damage (DCPD). This is the portion of your insurance policy that covers the damage to your vehicle to the extent that you’re not at fault for a collision.

Heads up! As of January 1, 2024 this coverage is optional in Ontario. It was previously mandatory. Having DCPD on your policy is strongly recommended to avoid paying out of pocket to cover damages if an accident isn’t your fault.

If you lease or finance your car, this coverage is usually required by your lessor or lender. Find out more about insuring a leased or financed car.
Collision - Your Fault

If you hit another vehicle or object (like a street sign or fire hydrant) or roll your vehicle, this will cover you for the cost to repair or replace your vehicle.

Heads up! Collision is optional but highly recommended. Without it, you’ll have to pay out of pocket if your car is damaged in an accident where you’re at fault.

Do you lease or finance your vehicle? Having this coverage is usually required by your lessor or lender. Find out more about insuring a leased or financed car.
Comprehensive

It’s not just when you’re driving that your vehicle could be damaged. Comprehensive insurance in Ontario has your vehicle covered for damage from things like falling objects, vandalism, fire, theft, lightning, windstorm and earthquake.

Heads up! This coverage is optional but highly recommended. If you don’t have it, you’ll have to cover the costs if any of the above (and more) happen.

Do you lease or finance your vehicle? Having both comprehensive and collision coverage may actually be required by your lessor or lender. Find out more about insuring a leased or financed car.

Optional car insurance coverage in Ontario
Accident Forgiveness

Clean record for the last 6 years? We won’t increase your rate due to your first at-fault accident and we automatically apply this protection again if after another 6 years you’ve got a clean record.

Heads up! Accident Forgiveness applies to your first at-fault claim only. If you have another at-fault accident, your Accident Forgiveness will be removed from your policy. You’ll be rated for both accidents – and any at-fault accidents after that.
Ticket Forgiveness

Protect that squeaky-clean history and your rate! When it comes time for renewal, your minor ticket won’t impact your rate. We’ll pretend like it didn’t even happen.
Enhanced Protection Bundle (Ontario only)

Ontario drivers get the benefits of four great coverages and savings to match, all in one convenient bundle.

Rental Costs
We’ll take care of your rental car costs after an at-fault collision or during a comprehensive claim. You’re covered for up to 30 days per occurrence for a rental car comparable to your own. This doesn’t cover loss or damage to a borrowed or rented vehicle.

Non-Owned Vehicle Coverage
We’ll cover you for the loss or damage to a borrowed or rented vehicle comparable to your own.

Roadside Assistance
We’ll reimburse you up to $50 for emergency expenses. This includes tow truck services, battery replacement, or installing a spare tire.

Hit and Run Deductible Waiver
We’ll waive your deductible up to $1,000 in the event of a hit-and-run if it’s reported to the police within 24 hours.

How much is car insurance in Ontario?

Car insurance rates are unique for each driver. Car insurance companies in Ontario look at your personal driving and claims history. They also consider where you live and the type of vehicle you have. Plus, they’ll factor in how you use your car. Here are some examples of the average price of car insurance with Sonnet in Ontario. Get a free online car insurance quote to see how much you would pay.

$241/month avg.

Auto insurance in Toronto costs around the same as daily rideshare (Uber) trips for a week from Midtown to the Yonge-and-Dundas area.

$196/month avg.

The average person in Waterloo, can bundle their home and car insurance for less than the average household spends monthly on dining out.

$308/month avg.

The cost of insuring an older vehicle in Mississauga is on average around half of a typical monthly grocery budget for two.
“…I’ve enjoyed the easy customer service and quick responses to all of my questions. I look forward to adding home insurance in the near future.” “From the moment we joined Sonnet, we felt protected. We were fully covered for damages to our vehicle and couldn’t be happier with the repair outcome. The process was a breeze!”
How you can save on car insurance in Ontario

Try usage-based car insurance

Sonnet Shift rewards you for making smart choices behind the wheel. You could save up to 35% just for driving safely, plus 10% for driving less.

Canadian University Alumni

Get more from your degree. University Alumni can save on car insurance in Ontario.

Engineering & accounting graduates in Ontario

Engineers and accountants can appreciate a well-designed solution. Use our online platform and claim your engineering or accounting graduates discount.

More ways to save on car insurance in Ontario

You could save an average of $474 with Sonnet’s group discount. It’s easy - start an online quote and search for the name of your organization or association. A few organizations that trust Sonnet:

TELUS SmartHome Security

Learn more

Tangerine

Learn more

Deloitte

Learn more

How to get the best car insurance in Ontario

Here are a few important steps to take if you want to get the best coverage and pricing on your Ontario auto insurance.

Step 1: Review your car insurance regularly. We want you to feel confident that your car insurance suits your needs. That’s why you should review your car insurance every year at renewal, and every time you make a change to your policy. You might need to update your coverage depending on the change, like if you swap vehicles.

Step 2: Explore all the discounts available in Ontario. From bundling your home and car insurance to scoring a University and College Grad discount, there are more ways than one to save on your car insurance in Ontario! Plus, by law Ontario insurers also have to offer winter tire savings – extra incentive to get them on by the deadline.

Step 3: Try usage-based car insurance. If you have a good driving record, you’re in luck! Many car insurance companies in Ontario now offer usage-based insurance, which tracks your driving and rewards you for practicing safe habits behind the wheel. With Sonnet Shift, you could earn savings as high as 35%, and up to 10% more for driving less. Give it a test drive to see how much you could save!

Step 4: Consider Ontario’s rising rate of car theft. In Ontario, some vehicles are much more likely to be stolen than others. If yours is a top target for thieves, it could mean higher car insurance prices for you. To avoid costly surcharges, consider a “lower-risk” car or install a third-party anti-theft device.

Step 5: Make sure you have enough coverage if you’re hurt in an accident. Unlike other provinces, Ontario allows you to upgrade your Accident Benefits coverage if you need to. You can raise your income replacement if you’re injured and can’t work, for example. Read through your options and tailor your policy to suit your specific needs.

Questions about car insurance in Ontario? We’ve got answers

Getting an auto insurance quote with Sonnet is quick and easy – with plenty of help along the way. Read through our current blogs or most frequently asked questions about car insurance to get started.
How do I get the eSlip or pink slip for my new car insurance?

Once you've purchased your car insurance, we’ll send you an email with a link to activate your Sonnet account. Your pink slip and proof of insurance will be accessible directly through your account dashboard. Here you can also get the steps to add your eSlip right to your phone’s digital wallet.

If you would like to download an eSlip, here are the steps to add it to your phone:
Currently eSlips are available for iOS users only. Android available soon.

  1. Download the Sonnet Insurance app from the App Store (iOS) or Google Play store app (Android).
  2. Log in to your account in the app using the same email and password you set up for your Sonnet account.
  3. For first-time users, tap the ‘Get your eSlip’ banner over the ‘More’ tab. Agree to the terms and conditions for eSlips. Choose your vehicle (for single policies) or choose your policy then vehicle (for multiple polices).
  4. eSlips will automatically update in your digital wallet app after a policy change or renewal. If you notice that it hasn’t automatically updated, tap on the ‘More’ tab, then tap ‘Pink Slip’. Choose your vehicle (for single policies) or choose your policy then vehicle (for multiple polices).
  5. Your eSlip will automatically be added to your phone’s digital wallet.

Heads up! If you are an iOS (iPhone) user, the Background app refresh setting must always be turned ON. This setting allows eSlips to automatically update when you make a policy change or renew your policy.

Follow these steps to turn this setting ON:

  1. Go to your iPhone Settings and scroll down until you see the Sonnet Insurance App.
  2. Simply tap the Background App Refresh toggle, so it is ON (green).

Want to view your physical pink slip in your account? Follow these steps:

  1. Log in to your account and click on the ‘Easily access your digital pink slip’ card.
  2. For single policies click ’Download’. For multiple policies, choose your policy number and then click ‘Download’.

We’ll also send you a hard copy of your pink slip through the mail (which takes about 5 business days).

Haven’t received your liability slip in the mail? First, double check the mailing address listed on your account. You can do this by signing into your account and selecting Settings. If your mailing address is incorrect or you would like to request a new pink slip be mailed, contact us.
Will my Sonnet car insurance cover me as an Uber or Lyft driver?

Using your vehicle to carry paying passengers is considered business use and is NOT covered by your policy. This includes, but is not limited to Uber, Lyft or any other similar ridesharing services.
What are the benefits of signing up for Sonnet Shift?

With Sonnet Shift, you control your premium and your savings – with a chance to improve every 3 months from your policy start date. But that’s not all. Here are just a few of the benefits to signing up for Sonnet Shift:

  • Sign up for free
  • Get a 10% one-time enrollment discount just for signing up
  • Earn up to a 35% discount on your premium by driving safely
  • Save even more by driving less with an annual Mileage Discount of up to 10% at renewal
  • Enroll all the drivers in your household to maximize control over your savings
  • Improve your driving with personalized tips based on trips you’ve already taken, to help you learn safer habits
  • View your projected discount (so you can keep up the good work!) or surcharge (so you can learn safer habits and start saving)
  • Have your driving data at your fingertips 24/7

If Sonnet Shift isn’t for you there are still plenty of other ways you can save on your auto insurance.
How do you buy car insurance in Ontario?

The Ontario government sets out required coverages and approves pricing for auto policies. In some provinces you can also purchase your insurance from the province. In Ontario, you purchase your car insurance through a private insurer. With Sonnet, you can get an auto insurance quote online in 5 minutes. All you’ll need is your driver’s license number, vehicle identification number (VIN) and the answers to a few simple questions – we do the rest of the work for you!

Heads up! Check out these tips on how to get a car insurance quote if you live in Toronto.

Start saving on your car insurance today

Don’t wait for renewal to take advantage of a better price. Find out how much it could cost you to cancel and switch to Sonnet.

The 5 minutes to get insured is based on the average Sonnet customer experience.

Average monthly premiums for auto insurance in Ontario are based on current Sonnet policies as of July 2020, with assumptions made to determine demographic groups.

The average cost of an auto claim in Ontario is based on 2019 claims data from Sonnet and Economical Insurance.

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