High Risk Insurance in Ontario | Get Best Rates

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Are you looking for high risk insurance in Ontario? Have you had some bad luck with tickets, accidents, traffic convictions or payment issues and need high risk auto insurance? Has your insurance company cancelled your policy, or have you been denied coverage? Thousands of motorists experience these issues and require high risk insurance.

We understand your situation and believe in second chances for high risk drivers

Getting affordable high risk auto insurance can be challenging. We’ll help you drive toward lower rates and get back on the road quickly. It's frustrating when you're considered a high risk driver and need non-standard auto insurance. You pay more for and it's difficult to find an insurance company that will insure you. Don't worry, we can help you get insured with the most affordable premiums and policy options in the province.

Our main goal is to not only help you get coverage but help you get out of the high risk category as soon as possible. We know you want to pay less. We’ll help you get on the path toward real savings.

We partner with the most high risk insurance companies in Ontario!

ThinkInsure is a leading high risk insurance broker. We are experts in the non-standard auto insurance category. Every day we help high risk drivers get insured for the cheapest rates in Ontario. We'll compare quotes from all the top high risk insurance companies to get you the lowest price. If you are having trouble getting insured we can help. Get started by comparing free quotes online or give us a call. We'll do the shopping, find the best rate, and get you insured!

Keep reading to learn how high risk insurance works and find out how you can get lower rates.

5 star high risk insurance reviews

Rated 4.7 out of 5 stars in 1254 Google reviews

We've helped thousands of drivers get insured and save on high risk insurance.

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eugene

2022-11-24 02:16:08

Todd did an excellent job helping me to switch car insurance. It was a smooth process and thanks to him the very next day I was covered. I’ve recommended Todd to all my friends. Thinkinsure is a great place for all your insurance needs. Thank you! P.S. It’s winter in Canada! Get your winter tires installed.

Ronaldo Marquez

2022-11-23 01:14:52

Neil Sullivan was so accommodating. He will assist you patiently from the quote up to the necessary documents needed for approval..awesome experience..

Mathan Sivapatham

2022-11-22 20:49:58

Neil is a great help! Two years in a row, he's been super helpful at getting me the best quote.

Nick J

2022-11-19 16:25:34

Great friendly and knowledgeable staff. Kimberly handled me getting a new policy when i was in a difficult situation. Outstanding work on her part. I would recommend thinkinsure 110% for all your insurance needs.

Sharren Patterson

2022-11-18 06:19:48

In what seemed like an endless search for better car insurance rates, I was relieved beyond measure when Denise Snider Phillips from ThinkInsure helped me close the deal. I worked with other brokers/agents, and something always went wrong. Denise followed up, as promised and sent documents as promised (without any surprise increases). I was able to e-sign quickly and easily, and Denise sent the temporary pink slips. She even followed up to make sure I'd received them. I am truly impressed and will be calling her when it's time to manage our house insurance.

Ya'aqob Ben Israel

2022-11-17 22:32:59

He help me find an affordable price under critical circumstances

Charlie Dantuma

2022-11-15 22:13:03

Great company. I was in a bit of a situation with my last insurer and I went to these guys for some help. I ended up speaking with Kimberly and she walked me through everything step by step and helped me sort everything out. She also helped me get insured for the best price with the coverage I wanted. For sure will be recommending you to everyone.

Mary Ientile

2022-11-09 02:00:35

I had the pleasure of dealing with a lovely young lady by the name of Lisa. She went thru both of my tenant and auto policies thoroughly. I felt she genuinely cared and tried to get the best rate for me. I felt valued as a customer and not just a number. She took her time and was quite patient and listened to me and my concerns and explained everything to me. She is quite an asset to your company. I am going to refer the company to my family and friends. Once again thank you Lisa

How to find cheap high risk auto insurance

Just follow these quick and easy steps to see the lowest high risk car insurance quotes in Ontario.

1) Start your quote

Enter your postal code and some basic information.

2) Enter your driving details

Provide your driving and vehicle information.

3) Compare the lowest quotes

See rates from the leading high risk insurance companies.

Choose your policy

Choose the lowest rate for your high risk car insurance. Confirm the details with us and get insured.

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Get the cheapest rates

One-stop shopping for comparing and finding the lowest high risk insurance prices.

Largest selection

Choose from the largest selection of high risk providers in Ontario.

Get insured quickly

Start with a free quote and then insured quickly, often on the same day.

We don't judge

We understand that you've had some driving challenges. We don't judge and will help you get a policy when others won't.

High risk experts

Our team of high risk insurance brokers are experts in non-standard coverage.

Get back to savings

We'll assist in getting you back into more affordable regular insurance as soon as possible.

What is high risk auto insurance?

High risk auto insurance is an insurance category for drivers who are more likely to file a claim, get in an accident, or default on payment.

High risk auto insurance is also referred to as non-standard insurance. There are a variety of reasons why you may be labelled a high risk. Most have to do with having too many tickets, license suspensions, DUI charges, claims or cancellations.

A mistake, oversight, or accident could result in you becoming a high risk driver. Dangerous driving habits can also put you in this category. For example, getting caught excessively speeding, driving carelessly, or driving while distracted.

Some providers are reluctant to offer a policy to high risk drivers because of the increased chance of a claim. Many are either not willing to insure them or will provide insurance at a much higher premium. Many providers specialize in high risk auto insurance.

How does high risk insurance work?

Many people have heard about high risk insurance but most are unclear about how it works. You will be considered high risk after you’ve received a serious driving conviction, have payment issues, or have other insurance issues. You are high risk if you have a poor driving or insurance record.

When you get a quote, you’ll have difficulty getting a policy from most insurance companies. But some insurers specialize in offering high risk auto insurance. These are the ones that will issue you a policy but at a much higher premium.

If high risk insurance companies are not willing to insure you, can still get insurance through Facility Association. This is the last resort for drivers who cannot find coverage. Since you are considered a significant risk by insurers, your premiums will reflect this. Depending on your situation you could have to pay anywhere from $7,000 to $10,000 or more for Facility insurance.

How long will I be considered a high risk driver?

While it's not an ideal situation, you will not always be classified as a high risk driver. Once you fall into the high risk category, you can start to work your way toward lower rates. If you maintain a clean driving record you will be able to move back into regular auto insurance. How long it will take will depend on your specific situation. For many drivers, it's 3 to 5 years. This occurs when tickets, claims or accidents are removed from your record.

You have protections and rights as a high risk driver

There are protections for your right in place. The Financial Services Regulatory Authority of Ontario (FSRAO) works to protect insurance consumers, including those labelled as high risk drivers.

Who is most likely to need high risk auto insurance?

Certain individuals are more likely to fall within the high risk classification. They are:

Young and teen drivers
First-time drivers, new immigrant drivers
Drivers over 65
People with a lapse in insurance
If you’ve had a DUI conviction
Drovers with multiple tickets or claims
Drivers with criminal driving convictions

How is high risk different from standard car insurance?

While the types of coverage your receive under a high risk auto insurance are essentially the same as standard car insurance, there are some differences. The main one is an insurer's reluctance to insure you because of your level of risk. Here are some ways high risk insurance is different:

Fewer providers offer it
It is significantly more expensive
You have limited payment options.
There may be some coverage limitations
You may have higher deductibles

Is high risk insurance the same across other parts of Canada?

Insurance is regulated at the provincial level. So, how high risk insurance is treated will vary by province. For example, since B.C., Manitoba and Saskatchewan have government-run programs, and in other provinces it is handled by private insurers.

Why is high risk insurance so expensive?

High risk insurance is so expensive because it’s a greater risk for insurers to give certain types of drivers a policy.

If a driver has multiple tickets, convictions, claims, or even payment issues, the chances are they are more likely to exhibit this same type of behaviour again. This increases the likelihood that an insurer would have to pay out a claim. The more severe and costly the driving offence, the higher you can expect your premiums.

This logic is the same for someone with a clean record. If a person has been driving for 15 years and has never had a ticket, accident, or claim, they would be at a much lower risk of filing a claim and have lower rates.

How much is high risk insurance in Ontario?

The cost of a high risk car insurance is considerably more expensive than a regular policy. You can expect to see a 20% increase at a minimum. In some cases, you will see your rates increase by as much as 300% or more. This means many can expect premiums to be double or triple compared to regular car insurance in Ontario. We’re talking about an increase of thousands of dollars.

The average cost of insurance for drivers in the province is $1,655. So, if your rates were to double you would have to pay $3,310 per year. If they tripled, you would have to pay $4,965.

The average cost of high risk auto insurance ranges from $2,500 to $5,000 or more per year depending on the company and the reasons why you are considered high risk. Costs could climb to as high as $20,000 per year.

For example, a person with an impaired or reckless driving charge will pay much more than someone who has multiple minor convictions in a short period of time.

High risk driver insurance cost breakdown by top reason

There are a lot of reasons why you could fall into the high risk category. The most common are tickets, accidents, licence suspensions and cancellations. As you can see in the chart below, high risk auto insurance is significantly more expensive than the provincial average drivers pay.

Accidents have the biggest effect on high risk costs, follows by suspension and then cancellations. They can increase by as little as 20% to as high as 300% or more depending on the severity of your driving issues.

We’ve pulled quotes from our high risk customers to give you a sample of how much you can expect to pay based on the reason for being classified as high risk by the type of violation:

Violation	Average high risk premium	Premium increase compared to the provincial average	% increase compared to provincial average
Tickets
1 ticket within the past 3 years	$4,720	$3,065	185%
2 tickets in 3 years	$5,285	$3,630	219%
3 tickets in 3 years	$6,113	$4,458	269%
Accidents
1 collision in past 3 years	$4,670	$3,015	182%
2 collisions in past 3 years	$5,432	$3,777	228%
3 collisions in past 3 years	$6,314	$4,659	281%
Cancellations
1 cancellation in past 3 years	$4,249	$2,594	156%
2 cancellations in past 3 years	$4,900	$3,245	196%
Suspensions
1 suspension in past 3 years	$4,909	$3,254	196%
2 suspensions in past 3 years	$5,951	$4,296	259%

High risk auto insurance by city

There are high risk drivers in every city. We compiled over 4,000 quotes from some of the biggest cities in Ontario to see what cities have the most and least expensive high risk auto insurance.

Cities in the Greater Toronto Area occupy the 5 most expensive cities for high risk insurance. Brampton has the most expensive prices at $7,676 per year. Our data also suggests Ottawa is the most affordable at $3,460 annually.

Overall, the average cost for high risk auto insurance in the province is $5,340. Premiums range from as low as $1,757 up to $28,361. One thing is clear, the most expensive high risk auto insurance rates are in the GTA.

See below for costs in your city:

City	Minimum premium	Maximum premium	Average annual premium	Average monthly payment
Brampton	$2,971	$18,747	$7,676	$640
Mississauga	$3,068	$28,361	$7,519	$627
Richmond Hill	$3,409	$14,019	$7,318	$610
Markham	$3,448	$16,915	$6,940	$578
Toronto	$2,472	$17,526	$6,359	$530
London	$2,183	$16,153	$6,077	$506
Oakville	$1,875	$12,048	$5,825	$485
Hamilton	$2,335	$13,879	$5,777	$$481
Milton	$2,335	$$13,879	$5,708	$476
Burlington	$1,915	$13,880	$5,387	$449
Newmarket	$3,159	$9,818	$5,297	$441
Cambridge	$2,001	$13,019	$5,251	$438
Windsor	$1,863	$10,724	$5,248	$437
Kitchener	$2,295	$13,283	$5,217	$435
Oshawa	$1,875	$11,009	$4,264	$355
Ottawa	$1,795	$8,143	$3,460	$288

Methodology

We culled internal data from high risk auto insurance quotes completed on ThinkInsure.ca. *Estimates are between January 1, 2021, and June 1, 2022. Results can vary based on your specific situation.

What are the best high risk insurance companies?

View from inside a car driving down country road

It’s not about finding the best company for high risk insurance. It's about finding a provider that will insure you. There are a limited number of companies specializing in high risk auto insurance. And we partner with all of them. So, when you use us, you'll be able to find the lowest rate for high risk insurance.

There are several options for high risk insurance. Here are some of the top companies that offer insurance for the different types of high risk drivers.

Aviva Canada
CAA Insurance
Coachman Insurance
Echelon Insurance
Economical Insurance
Hagerty Insurance
Jevco Insurance
Pafco Insurance
Pembridge Insurance
Perth Insurance
Travelers Insurance
Facility Association

Speak with a ThinkInsure advisor to find out which one is a good choice for you.

Tips to get the cheapest high risk auto insurance

It's frustrating when you require high risk auto insurance. You may be paying more but there are still ways to get savings. Here are some tips and advice to help you save as much as possible on high risk car insurance in Ontario:

Complete driver training: Take certified a driving course and inform your insurer. This will qualify you for savings, especially if you are a new or young driver.
Take a defensive driving course: Taking extra driving courses could help young drivers under 25 get better rates. For example, you could take a defensive driving or winter driving course. Receiving this training could qualify you for a discount. Check for approved courses and driving schools.
Drive an insurance friendly vehicle: When you drive a sports car or expensive vehicle you may be considered a greater risk. Choose a vehicle that is known for to be insurance friendly. Check out our list of the cheapest cars to insure.
Use a broker: High risk insurance brokers are experts in the category and work with multiple high risk insurers. They will help you get insured and advise on how you can get back into more affordable premiums.
Boost your deductible: Increasing your insurance deductible to a higher amount will lower your premium. So, if your deductible is on the lower end, increase it. Just make sure you can pay that amount if you must file a claim.
Bundle: Combine your home and auto insurance together to get a discount. This is a simple way to save on all your insurance costs. Talk with our experts about getting all your insurance needs with one provider.
Avoid unnecessary claims: Too many claims can increase your payments. Can you afford the repairs? Does it make sense to file considering your deductible payment? Think twice before filing too many claims in a short timeframe.
Check before renewing: Always compare quotes and explore your options before renewing your insurance. Even if you are high risk, there may be ways for you to reduce your costs. Each year you are claims and accident-free, and your costs should drop.
Try UBI: Usage based insurance (UBI) can help you lower your rates by as much as 25%. Under the program, you are rewarded for good driving habits.
Know when tickets are coming off your record: It’s particularly important to know the dates when tickets and accidents will be removed from your record. This is when you can reduce your costs. Be sure to contact your insurer when this date approaches.

High risk insurance FAQs

What insurance companies will insure high risk drivers in Ontario?

There are a limited number of companies that offer non-standard policies. Not sure who? Most drivers don’t. Using a high risk insurance broker to shop is the most effective option to compare quotes. There are a few companies that offer high risk insurance in the province. There also is the Facility Association which is the last option for those who don't qualify with any insurers.

These are the leading insurance companies for high risk drivers:

Coachman Insurance (a subsidiary of SGI)
Echelon Insurance (Part of CAA)
Economical Insurance
Jevco Insurance (Part of Intact Insurance)
Pafco Insurance (Part of Allstate Insurance)
Perth Insurance (Part of Economical)
Facility Association (a risk sharing pool of insurers)

ThinkInsure works with all these providers plus some others and we will search Ontario's high risk insurance marketplace and get you insured at a lower price.

What is a high risk driver?

A high risk driver is a person who has a poor insurance record. This can be due to driving violations, a bad payment history, fraud, and other situations. These drivers do not qualify for standard or regular insurance. They are required to buy non-standard or high risk auto insurance through a high risk insurance company.

Even though you may be labelled a high risk driver now, it doesn’t mean you always will. Over time, with an improved driving record, you can move back into standard auto insurance.

Is high risk car insurance more expensive than a regular insurance?

Yes, high risk car insurance is more expensive than regular coverage. It is one of the most expensive types of car insurance you can purchase. Premiums can be 2 or 3 times more expensive compared to normal rates.

For example, let’s say you pay were $1,500 annually. You could pay anywhere from $3,000 to $4,500 or more if you are considers a high risk driver.

How do I know if I need high risk auto insurance?

If you have recently had several tickets or accidents, there is a good chance you will need high risk auto insurance. But the only way to know for sure is to speak with your insurer. One sure-fire way to know for sure is if your current insurer chooses to not renew your policy. If this is the case, you will need to get insured with a high risk provider.

How do you choose a high risk insurance broker?

Working with a high risk insurance broker is the easiest way for high risk drivers shop for insurance. That is, if you choose the right one. When considering your options, look for a broker who has partnerships with multiple providers, to give you a greater opportunity to find a better price.

There are other things that should factor into you decision. They include:

How many high risk insurers do they have access to?
Can they help you transition back to standard coverage?
What level of customer service do they offer?
Can they help you get other types of insurance?
Do they offer claims assistance?
Do they offer other products and services you find of value?

Overall, a good high risk insurance broker can help you simplify the complexity and stress of trying to get insured when you are a high risk driver.

Is a high risk insurance different than a regular insurance?

There are similarities and differences between standard and non standard policies. Not all insurers offer high risk insurance. If they do, coverage and policy limits may be limited. You may have fewer options to choose from.

High risk insurance is applicable to more than just auto coverage, even though this is the most common. There are situations where you will need it for your home, business, or if you ride a motorcycle.

Will I always be considered a high risk driver by insurance companies?

Being considered a high risk driver for insurance is not permanent. High risk driving practices will affect you for several years. The specific amount of time will depend on the infraction.

It can take three years or more to get out of the category. Here are some things to do to get back into regular coverage as quickly as possible:

Accidents: It’s very important to re-establish a clean driving record. Drive safe, and avoid at-fault accidents and claims.
Obey road rules: You do not want to get rated for any traffic tickets. They can stay on your record for 3 to 6 years.
Never drive while drinking: Don't drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
Pay on time: You don't want to have your insurance cancelled for non-payment.

Save on high risk auto insurance in Ontario

Finding the most affordable high risk car insurance is easy with ThinkInsure. Our team of experts will compare quotes to find you the lowest price and get you insured.

ThinkInsure is your one-stop for high risk insurance. Compare online or give us a call. It's quick, free and you'll save more!

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Insurance Blog And News

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2022-11-24

Get High Risk Insurance in Ontario

Compare high risk insurance quotes from Canada's leading providers instantly and save with the lowest rates.

We've got the best high risk auto insurance rates

We understand your situation and believe in second chances for high risk drivers

We partner with the most high risk insurance companies in Ontario!

5 star high risk insurance reviews

How to find cheap high risk auto insurance

1) Start your quote

2) Enter your driving details

3) Compare the lowest quotes

Choose your policy

Why choose ThinkInsure for high risk auto insurance?

Get the cheapest rates

Largest selection

Get insured quickly

We don't judge

High risk experts

Get back to savings

What is high risk auto insurance?

How does high risk insurance work?

How long will I be considered a high risk driver?

You have protections and rights as a high risk driver

Who is most likely to need high risk auto insurance?

How is high risk different from standard car insurance?

Is high risk insurance the same across other parts of Canada?

Get a high risk car insurance quote

Why is high risk insurance so expensive?

How much is high risk insurance in Ontario?

High risk driver insurance cost breakdown by top reason

High risk auto insurance by city

What are the reasons you may need high risk auto insurance?

Speeding and traffic convictions

Impaired driving

At-fault accidents

Careless driving

Stunt driving

Policy cancellations

Missed insurance payments

A lapse in coverage

You’ve never been insured

Licence suspension

You’re a young or new driver

Vehicle