What is the average cost of car insurance in Ottawa?
![cars driving in downtown Ottawa with Ottawa river]()
The average car insurance cost in Ottawa is $1,700. This is nearly $300 less expensive than the provincial average of $2,006. Rates are more than $500 per year, cheaper than car insurance in Toronto.
Rates are based on ThinkInsure customer quote data for Q1 2025 (Jan 1 to March 20, 2025).
How much is car insurance per month in Ottawa?
Using the average cost of $1,700, your monthly premium would be about $142 per month.
Here’s how different time frames break down Ottawa auto insurance premiums:
- Annually: $1,700
- Semi-annually: $850
- Quarterly: $425
- Monthly: $141.66
- Weekly: $32.69
- Daily: $4.66
Ottawa car insurance rates from 2019-2025
Insurance rates change frequently. They change based on data collected by insurers about claims, repair costs, accidents, and many other considerations. They also change based on your driving record and if you qualify for additional discounts.
In general, auto insurance costs in the city have been stable and have not increased as much as in other cities in the province. We compared quotes we’ve received from drivers to see how premiums change over time. As you can see in the chart below, rates have increased minimally per year since 2019. Below, you’ll see how prices fluctuate each year:
| Year |
Avg premium |
| 2025 |
$1,700 |
| 2024 |
$1,708 |
| 2023 |
$1,770 |
| 2022 |
$1,794 |
| 2021 |
$1,710 |
| 2020 |
$1,704 |
| 2019 |
$1,663 |
| Average rate (2019-25) |
$1,721 |
**
ThinkInsure Tip : Compare rates annually to maximize savings
A lot can change in a year, including how much you pay for auto insurance. Compare quotes with a broker each year to ensure you get the lowest possible rates and maximize your savings.
Ottawa auto insurance premiums by driver type
Your driver classification affects how much you pay for auto insurance. Your age, demographics, driver classification, and driving record factor into how insurance companies set your premiums. We looked at our customer quote data to see how these things affect your payments. Here’s what we found:
We decided to look at our customer quote data to see how these things affect your payments. Here’s what we found:
- Drivers who are younger (under 25) pay more than more experienced drivers.
- Being in the high-risk insurance category will more than double your payments.
- Mature drivers over 50 have the cheapest rates.
- Men pay more than women, and single people pay more than married couples.
- Tickets, accidents, suspensions, and policy cancellations will significantly increase your costs.
| |
Avg premium |
Monthly payment |
% difference |
| Driver type |
| All drivers |
$1,700 |
$142 |
0 |
| Young drivers (25 and under) |
$2,321 |
$193 |
36.53% |
| Middle age (25 - 50) |
$1,784 |
$149 |
4.94% |
| Mature/senior drivers (50+) |
$1,247 |
$104 |
-26.65% |
| High risk drivers |
$5,089 |
$424 |
199.35% |
| Demographics |
| Male |
$1,773 |
$148 |
4.29% |
| Female |
$1,566 |
$131 |
-7.88% |
| Married |
$1,485 |
$124 |
-12.65% |
| Single |
$1,867 |
$156 |
9.82% |
| Driving record |
| Clean driving record |
$1,700 |
$142 |
0.00% |
| 1 ticket with past 3 years |
$2,260 |
$188 |
32.94% |
| 1 accident in 3 years |
$2,544 |
$212 |
49.65% |
| 1 cancellation in 3 years |
2,935 |
$245 |
72.65% |
| 1 suspension in 3 years |
$2,356 |
$196 |
38.59% |
***
Save more per vehicle with a multi-car insurance policy
Insuring all your vehicles under one policy will help you save more on your car insurance policy. On average, Ottawa drivers save $179 per vehicle when they have two or more cars with the same insurer.
|
Average rate |
Average rate per vehicle |
Total savings |
Savings per vehicle |
| 1 car |
$1,700 |
$1,700 |
|
|
| 2 cars |
$2,684 |
$1,342 |
$358 |
$179 |
***
Ottawa car insurance rates vs. other big cities
Ottawa is known for its safe roads, and car insurance rates reflect this fact. Insurance is generally less than in other regions in the province. In some instances, you will pay hundreds of dollars less per year than in the GTA, for example. Below is a comparison of prices with other large cities in the province.
Auto insurance rates in Ottawa compared to local cities nearby
Even though Ottawa is one of the most affordable big cities for car insurance in Ontario, it’s still higher compared to smaller towns and cities in the region. As you can see in the chart below, where you live within Eastern Ontario can affect how much you pay by hundreds of dollars per year.
| City |
Avg premium |
| Ottawa |
$1,700 |
| Brockville |
$1,385 |
| Kingston |
$1,567 |
| Smiths Falls |
$1,317 |
| Cornwall |
$1,536 |
| Bancroft |
$1,881 |
| Hawkesbury |
$1,050 |
| Perth |
$1,362 |
| Pembroke |
$2,042 |
***
What areas in Ottawa have the cheapest car insurance?
Where you live within a city can affect how much you pay for insurance. The difference between postal codes in Ottawa could be hundreds of dollars per year. It's something to consider if you are planning on moving.
Car insurance rates are typically the cheapest if you live in Rockcliffe ($1,243) or Greenly ($1,494). The most expensive neighbourhood is the Barrhaven area, with premiums of around $1,879 per year.
Below is an example of how rates vary throughout the city:
| Area |
Postal code |
Avg rate |
| Gloucester |
K1B, K1T, K1X |
$1,738 |
| Ottawa |
K1G, K1K, K1S, K2C, K1J, K1H, K1V, K1A, K1N, K1P, K1R, K1Y, K1Z, K2A, K2B, K2P |
$1,787 |
| Manotick |
K4M |
$1,807 |
| Napean |
K0A, K2G, K2H, K2J, K2R, K2E |
$1,728 |
| Vanier |
K1L |
$1,674 |
| Barrhaven |
K2J |
$1,879 |
| Kanata |
K2K, K2L, K2M, K2T, K2V, K2W |
$1,775 |
| Orleans |
K4A, K1W, K1E, K1C |
$1,801 |
| Stittsville |
K2S |
$1,774 |
| Rockcliffe |
K1M |
$1,273 |
| Cumberland |
K4C |
$1,676 |
| Greenly |
K4P |
$1,494 |
***
Ottawa car insurance premiums by vehicle brand and model
The type of car you drive can have a big impact on how much you pay. Some brands are known for being cheaper for insurance because of their safety rating, lower repair costs, and many other considerations.
Car insurance rates by brand
Here are the average premiums for the top vehicle brands. Ford and Subaru have the lowest rates, while BMW, GMC, and Tesla have the highest.
| Vehicle brand |
Average premium |
Monthly payment |
| All brands |
$1,700 |
$142 |
| Honda |
$1,982 |
$165 |
| Toyota |
$1,559 |
$130 |
| Ford |
$1,558 |
$130 |
| Hyundai |
$1,689 |
$141 |
| Kia |
$1,677 |
$140 |
| GMC |
$2,740 |
$228 |
| Chevrolet |
$1,893 |
$158 |
| RAM |
$1,621 |
$135 |
| Dodge |
$1,621 |
$135 |
| Jeep |
$1,860 |
$155 |
| Subaru |
$1,430 |
$119 |
| Mazda |
$1,656 |
$138 |
| Nissan |
$1,666 |
$139 |
| Volkswagen |
$1,548 |
$129 |
| Mercedes |
$2,128 |
$177 |
| BMW |
$2,604 |
$217 |
| Tesla |
$2,221 |
$185 |
| Audi |
$2,017 |
$168 |
| Lexus |
$1,696 |
$141 |
***
Car insurance rates by vehicle model
Vehicle brand matters, but so does the model you choose. Here is an overview of rates for popular vehicles, with the Prius having the cheapest premium.
| Vehicle models |
Average premium |
Monthly payment |
| Honda Civic |
$2,000 |
$167 |
| Toyota Corolla |
$1,775 |
$148 |
| Hyundai Elantra |
$2,126 |
$177 |
| Nissan Sentra |
$1,771 |
$148 |
| Kia Forte |
$1,945 |
$162 |
| Mazda 3 |
$1,966 |
$164 |
| Toyota Prius |
$1,281 |
$107 |
| Ford F 150 |
$2,157 |
$180 |
| Toyota RAV4 |
$1,496 |
$125 |
| Nissan Rogue |
$1,651 |
$138 |
***
Why is auto insurance cheaper in Ottawa compared to other cities?
Ottawa is the second biggest city in Ontario in terms of population. However, based on our customer quote data, it is the 6th cheapest for auto insurance based on a list of the 35 biggest cities in the province.
Ottawa has lower car insurance rates because companies consider it to be less risky. This means claims costs are lower compared to other areas in the province. There are fewer instances of fraud, theft, and collisions, which helps to keep overall costs low.
Here’s a look at Ottawa driving data:
- Collisions: According to Ottawa Police, there were 19,777 collisions in 2024. This is lower compared to other cities of similar size.
- Auto theft declining: Auto theft was down 20% in 2024. As reported by CBC News Ottawa, there were 1,519 thefts. Toyota (410), Honda (119), and Ford (117) were the biggest targeted brands. Gloucester-Southgate (149) and Bay (102) were the neighbourhoods with the highest number of thefts.
- Fewer commuters and less traffic: Ottawa has fewer daily commuters compared to cities in the GTA. According to 2021 Census Data, there are 190,190 drivers on the road. This accounts for 69% of commuters, which is a lower percentage than other large cities.
