Auto insurance in Toronto
Getting car insurance in Toronto is simple with Sonnet. With our secure online platform, you can customize your auto insurance quote and buy online in just minutes. Plus, we’re here to help via phone, chat, or email.
Get a Toronto car insurance quote to see how much you could save
Being a driver in Toronto can be challenging. You may find yourself navigating traffic on the Gardiner Expressway, or sharing the road with pedestrians and cyclists. It’s important that both you and your car are well insured. With all the choices out there, it can be hard to find the best car insurance in Toronto.
At Sonnet, we make it simple to sign up for auto insurance. Get the coverage you need at a competitive price. Plus, do it all online. Looking for even more savings? Sign up for Sonnet Shift and you could save up to 35% for safe driving.
Why do you need car insurance in Toronto?
In Toronto, it’s mandatory to have car insurance if you own a vehicle. For one, there are a lot of accidents in the city. Plus, drivers in Toronto are 40% more likely to file a claim for a stolen vehicle than drivers in the rest of Ontario!1 Paying to repair or replace your vehicle can be costly. But with the right car insurance, it doesn’t have to come out of your pocket.
What does car insurance in Toronto cover?
Toronto follows the same rules for
Essential car insurance coverage in Toronto
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 Toronto
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 Toronto?
$241/month is the average cost of car insurance in Toronto at Sonnet. Get car insurance for around the same price as daily rideshare (Uber) trips for a week from Midtown to the Yonge-and-Dundas (soon to be Sankofa Square) area.
How car insurance is calculated
Car insurance prices are calculated based on the likelihood of a claim. This is why auto insurance in a dense city like Toronto can be more expensive than other cities in the province. The cost of car insurance will be different for each person, since insurers look at your driving record, the type of car you drive, and more. Remember, the cheapest car insurance in Toronto may not mean it’s the best car insurance for your needs.
Key factors affecting your Toronto car insurance rates
There’s a lot that goes into an auto insurance quote! Here are a few things car insurance companies look at when determining your car insurance rates in Toronto:
- Your driving record
Your driving record, insurance history, and past tickets can have a major impact on your Toronto car insurance rates. Here are the top five traffic tickets that affect your insurance rates: speeding, distracted driving, failing to stop at a red light or stop sign, driving without wearing a seatbelt, and illegal turns.
Interested in keeping your car insurance rate low? Consider acar insurance policy with ticket forgiveness . This is an add-on coverage that protects you from a rate increase after your first minor ticket. - The car you drive
The GTA has seen a massive rise in auto thefts, with some cars that are more targeted than others. If you want your Toronto car insurance to be cheaper, think about your car. You may want to avoid getting a car in the top stolen vehicles list. - The neighbourhood you live in
Car insurance policies can also vary based on where you live. Density and crime rates in your neighbourhood can impact the likelihood of a claim. So, if you live in a denser area like downtown Toronto you could be paying more for your car insurance. - Your daily commute
More road time means higher risk of an accident. Take the TTC or GO train for your daily commute? If so, you could get cheaper car insurance compared to someone who takes the 401 every day. - The coverage you have
Toronto offers both mandatory and optional auto insurance coverages. Add-on coverages like collision and comprehensive may increase the initial cost. That said, they could also help you save in the long run by insuring against accidents and theft.
Drive safe and save up to 35% with Sonnet Shift
Want more control over your auto 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 at renewal, you could be rewarded for driving less through our
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Bundling your home and auto insurance means more money in your pocket. Insure more than one vehicle and qualify for multi-vehicle savings.
Engineering & accounting graduates in Ontario
Engineers and accountants can appreciate a well-designed solution. Use our online platform and claim your
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Online auto claims
Report car insurance claims online 24/7 directly through your account, and chat with a live Claims team member 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 Toronto? 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 automatically update when you make a policy change or renew your policy.
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,
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? Learn more about how
Collision and comprehensive coverage work together to protect your car from many kinds of damage. When you have both, you’ll be covered for most types of damage. Plus, 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
Sonnet Shift offers big savings for safe drivers. Here are just a few of the perks you’ll get with Sonnet Shift:
- Free sign-up
- A one-time 10% Sonnet Shift enrollment discount
- Savings of up to 35% for driving safely
- At renewal, you could be rewarded for driving less through our
Mileage Discount .
For the best savings, make sure each member of your home is enrolled in Sonnet Shift. We’ll let you know your projected discount in the Sonnet Insurance app. Or, if we expect your premium to increase, we’ll give you an idea of how much. This can help you and your household learn and keep good driving habits!
Are you planning on using your car for Uber or Lyft? How about as a restaurant delivery driver? If the answer’s yes, your car will NOT be covered by Sonnet auto insurance. Sonnet offers personal auto insurance policies, and only covers personal use – like when you use your car to drive to and from work.
Using your vehicle to carry paying passengers or make deliveries is considered business use and is NOT covered by your policy. This includes, but is not limited to Uber, Lyft, Uber Eats, or any other similar ridesharing or delivery service.
Getting car insurance in Toronto is easy. With Sonnet, you can get a car insurance quote online in 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! Get a quote instantly.
Step 1: Fill out the required info. First, we’ll ask questions about where you live, and details about your car including the make, model, year, and VIN number. Then, tell us about you. We need info about your driver’s license, birthday, and more. Are there other drivers living in your household? We’ll need their details, too, even if they are insured elsewhere.
Did you know? Your postal code affects your car insurance in Canada. Whether you live in Toronto or anywhere else, your car insurance may change based on location.
Step 2: Add your savings. We offer a great selection of savings for Toronto drivers. Did you graduate from a Canadian University or College? Have a degree in accounting or engineering? You can save on your car insurance with Sonnet! We even offer savings to different organizations, unions, companies, and more. Just add your details during your quote and we’ll apply the savings instantly.
Step 3: Customize your coverages: There are certain coverages are mandatory in Canada, and they’ll be included in your quote. From there, you can tailor your add-on coverages to increase your protection, and choose your deductibles. Plus, get covered for rental cars and more with our
Step 4: Buy your insurance. We make it easy! Once you’ve finished your quote, you can get insured online in just a few clicks.
Step 5: Set up your account. After purchase, we’ll send you an email to create your Sonnet account. Instantly access your digital pink slips, proof of insurance, and more!
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?