Car Insurance in Hamilton: Quote online today
Protect your vehicle with Sonnet. Plus, save up to 20% by bundling home and auto!
Get your car insurance in Hamilton with Sonnet – in just minutes!
Whether you’re parked on King St. for a night out or cruising up the 403 on a day trip to T.O., you need the right coverage for whatever could happen to you and your vehicle. The good news? Sonnet’s here to simplify your search for the right car insurance. Get customized coverage that’s easy to understand, at a competitive price. And, quote and buy your policy online in minutes. Looking for more savings? Try Sonnet Shift and you could save up to 35% for safe driving.
Why do you need car insurance in Hamilton?
It’s mandatory to have car insurance in Hamilton if you operate a vehicle. Driving in Hamilton also means putting up with potholes (hello Barton Street!), rush hour traffic, and risky roads like the Lincoln M. Alexander Parkway, where speed-related collisions have recently jumped over 41%.1 With an increased risk of accidents, car insurance is more important than ever. It can help you cover unexpected costs if your car needs to be repaired or replaced, or if somebody gets hurt. Accidents happen, even to the best drivers. Car insurance provides the financial help you need.
Mandatory and optional car insurance in Hamilton
Hamilton follows the same rules for car insurance as the rest of Ontario. To make sure everyone has basic protection, certain coverages are required by law. Here’s a list of car insurance coverages that are
Essential car insurance coverage in Hamilton
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.
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.
This covers loss or damage to your vehicle and its contents in an accident with another vehicle to the extent that you’re not at fault. In the event of a claim, you’ll always work directly with us – not the other person’s insurer. We’ll also set you up with a rental car if you need it!
DCPD isn’t mandatory in Ontario, but it’s considered essential. Without it, you’ll have to pay to repair or replace your vehicle if you’re not at fault in a collision with another vehicle.
Heads up! Vehicle hit and run accidents aren’t covered under DCPD. Want coverage in case of a hit and run accident? Make sure you have Collision or Upset coverage added to your policy.
This covers loss or damage to your vehicle and its contents caused by specific events. These events include an accident with another vehicle where you’re at fault or an accident with an object (like a guardrail or a tree). This also provides coverage if your car rolls over, or if your vehicle is subject to a hit and run and reported to police within 24 hours.
Although it’s optional, this coverage is considered essential. Without it, you’ll have to pay out of pocket to repair or replace your vehicle if these events happen. If you lease or finance your car, this coverage is usually required by your lessor or lender.
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
Optional car insurance coverage in Hamilton
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!
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.
Ontario drivers get the benefits of four great coverages and savings to match, all in one convenient bundle.
Loss of Use Coverage
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.
Damage to 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 Hamilton?
$249/month is the average cost of car insurance in Hamilton with Sonnet. Get car insurance for less than the average cost of basic monthly utilities for an apartment in Hamilton.
How car insurance is calculated in Hamilton
Insurance companies calculate prices based on the likelihood of a claim. And with thousands of daily commuters in Hamilton, accidents and fender benders are common – which can impact car insurance costs in the region. But don't just settle for the cheapest car insurance in Hamilton. Having the best car insurance means you have the right coverage for you and your car – and a price you’re happy with.
Other factors that affect your Hamilton car insurance quotes
- Your driving record
This is probably the number one factor that impacts car insurance costs in Hamilton! Things like speeding, distracted driving and failing to stop at red lights or stop signs are just a few offences that can raise your insurance rates. - Your claims history
Insurers in Hamilton will examine your claims history when calculating your car insurance premium. At-fault accidents on your record can be seen as a risk and increase what you pay. But, being claims free for six years or longer can qualify you for accident forgiveness with Sonnet! - The car you drive
Your choice of vehicle plays a major role in the cost of your car insurance in Hamilton. Insurers consider factors like the car’s make, model, age, value, and potential repair costs when determining rates. Opting for a vehicle that’s less prone to theft can also help you secure a more affordable insurance rate. - The neighbourhood you live in
Neighbourhoods with higher levels of traffic and car-related incidents can be seen as riskier, since they’re often tied to a higher chance of accidents and claims. So, living in a busier part of the city could mean higher insurance costs for you. - Your daily commute
The more time you spend navigating congested roads and intersections (like notorious Main and Wentworth), the higher the risk of accidents and insurance claims. If you opt to take HSR, or the GO train if you’re commuting, it can save you money on your insurance. - The coverage you want
The coverage you choose for your car insurance in Hamilton also impacts your price. Add-on protections like Collision or Upset and Comprehensive do come with a bit of an increased premium, but they provide important financial safeguards in the event of an accident, car theft, and so much more.
Drive safe and save up to 35% with Sonnet Shift
Want more control over your car insurance premium? With
Our free, easy-to-use smartphone app monitors your driving and scores it. Every three months you could earn savings of up to 35% for driving safely, and you could also get a Mileage Discount of up to 10% just for driving less.
Bundle home and auto
Bundling your home and car insurance could mean up to 20% in savings. Insuring more than one vehicle could also qualify you for multi-vehicle savings.
Engineering & accounting graduates in Ontario
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Online auto claims
Report car insurance claims online 24/7 directly through your account, and chat with a live Claims Professional if you need help. Or, do it over the phone – the choice is yours.
Customer satisfaction
Online doesn’t have to mean on-your-own. Email, chat or call our fully-licensed insurance agents and experience our top quality customer care.
24/7 towing
Get a tow you can trust. On top of our 24/7 claims reporting, Sonnet provides 24-hour
Questions about car insurance in Hamilton? 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.
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:
- Download the
Sonnet Insurance app from the App Store (iOS) or Google Play store app (Android). - Log in to your account in the app using the same email and password you set up for your Sonnet account.
- 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).
- 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).
- 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
Follow these steps to turn this setting ON:
- Go to your iPhone Settings and scroll down until you see the Sonnet Insurance App.
- 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:
- Log in to your account and click on the ‘Easily access your digital pink slip’ card.
- 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,
Collision and comprehensive coverage work together to protect your car from many kinds of damage – so you won’t need to pay out-of-pocket to repair or replace your car.
Collision coverage protects your car when you’re at-fault in an accident, such as:
- Your car hits another car
- Your car hits an object (like a road sign or a street light)
- Your car rolls over
Heads up! For some not-at-fault accidents, like if you’re involved in a
Comprehensive coverage is a little different, because it protects your car from damage that’s caused from things other than an accident. This could be a rock hitting your windshield or a tree falling on your car during a storm. While comprehensive coverage can differ between insurers, here’s what it commonly covers you for:
- Your car is damaged by fire
- Your car is vandalized
- Your car is stolen
- Your car is damaged by a falling object
- Your car is damaged from a wind or hailstorm
Heads up! Although not mandatory coverage, if you lease your vehicle, both collision and comprehensive coverage are usually required by your leasing or financing company. Learn more about
Using your vehicle to carry paying passengers is considered
Getting car insurance in Canada is easy. With Sonnet, you can get a car 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!
Did you know? Your
Yes, you’ll still need to get car insurance for your leased or financed vehicle. It’s not included in your lease or contract.
The leasing or financing company may have specific car insurance requirements as a condition of your contract with them. These could include a minimum deductible for collision and comprehensive coverages. You’ll also need to list them on your policy as an additional interest, since they have a stake in your car. And, they’ll require you to provide them with proof of insurance.
Still have questions?
Do you live in Toronto? Find out which has the
In Ontario, the minimum coverage required by law is:
Liability - Uninsured Automobile Coverage
Accident Benefits
You can’t legally drive without these three.
Heads up! As of January 1, 2024, Ontario auto insurance policyholders can opt out of Direct Compensation Property Damage (DCPD). DCPD was previously mandatory in Ontario. This coverage is also known as Collision – Not Your Fault.
Think carefully before removing DCPD from a vehicle. If you decide to opt out, here’s what to consider:
- You’ll have to pay out of pocket to repair or replace the vehicle even if you’re not at fault in an accident.
- You won’t be compensated by anyone else’s policy. And, you can’t sue anyone to recover damages. This includes anyone at fault for causing the damage. It also includes their insurer.
- If you have Collision or All Perils coverage, they will be removed from that vehicle.
- Extras like towing, storage, and a rental vehicle will also be removed.
- If you lease or finance your car, the contract with your lender might not allow it.
- You can’t remove the coverage through your Sonnet.ca account. You must call in and we’ll send you a paper consent form to fill out and send back to us.
We always want you to be fully protected! Have questions about your policy?
1 Source: City of Hamilton Annual Collision Report – 2022 Statistics and Trends (PW23062) (City Wide)
Average monthly premiums for auto insurance in Hamilton are based on current Sonnet policies as of February 2024, with assumptions made to determine demographic groups.