The average car insurance cost Canada-wide is hard to pin to one number, because each province runs its own system and publishes its own data, if any. The latest official figures put Ontario at $2,164 a year, Alberta at $1,903 and British Columbia at $1,358 for Basic and Optional coverage. Below, you'll find every province and territory compared, the newest official figures, and what moves your own price.
What is the average car insurance cost Canada-wide?
There is no official national average. The provinces that publish figures measure them differently: Ontario's regulator reported $2,164 a year for the 12 months to October 2025, Alberta's rate board reported $1,903 for 2025, and ICBC reported $1,358 for Basic and Optional coverage in its 2024/25 fiscal year.
Prices are still climbing across the country. Statistics Canada reported that passenger vehicle insurance premiums rose 23.9% from December 2019 to December 2025. Overall consumer prices rose 21.0% over the same period.
Car insurance rates by province and territory
The table compares every province and territory on one consistent yardstick: the Instasure estimate for the same example driver. Provinces are listed from the highest estimate to the lowest.
| Province or territory | System | Instasure estimate, October 2026 (example profile) |
|---|---|---|
| Ontario | Private insurers. | $171 a month, about $2,060 a year. |
| Alberta | Private insurers. | $162 a month, about $1,950 a year. |
| British Columbia | ICBC basic, plus optional coverage. | $154 a month, about $1,850 a year. |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | Private insurers. | $107 a month, about $1,280 a year. |
| Manitoba | MPI basic Autopac. | $107 a month, about $1,280 a year. |
| Saskatchewan | SGI basic, plus optional packages. | $103 a month, about $1,240 a year. |
| Yukon | Private insurers. | $103 a month, about $1,240 a year. |
| Northwest Territories | Private insurers. | $103 a month, about $1,240 a year. |
| Nunavut | Private insurers. | $103 a month, about $1,240 a year. |
| Nova Scotia | Private insurers. | $99 a month, about $1,190 a year. |
| New Brunswick | Private insurers. | $83 a month, about $1,000 a year. |
| Prince Edward Island | Private insurers. | $75 a month, about $900 a year. |
| Quebec | SAAQ for injuries, private insurers for the rest. | $75 a month, about $900 a year (private policy only). |
How to read this table:
- Instasure estimates are modelled for one example profile: a 40-year-old driver, 15+ years licensed, no tickets or at-fault claims, a standard vehicle and full coverage. They are not quotes or averages of policies sold. Each province page shows the full range.
- In BC, Manitoba and Saskatchewan, the estimate includes public basic coverage plus typical optional coverage.
- In Quebec, the estimate covers only the private policy. The SAAQ's injury plan is funded by insurance contributions collected with your licence and registration.
- Territory estimates rest on very little public data. Treat them as a rough guide.
- Official averages, where provinces publish them, are in the next table.
An average blends every policy, from liability-only older cars to new SUVs with full coverage. That's why a full-coverage example can land above the average in some provinces and below it in others.
What newer official figures show
These are the latest official figures the provinces and their public insurers publish. They measure premiums in different ways and over different periods, so compare each one with its own history rather than with each other.
| Province | Newer figure | Period | Published by |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ontario | Average premium of $2,164 a year. GTA $2,810, other urban $2,076, rural $1,740. | 12 months to October 2025. | FSRA. |
| Alberta | Average premium of $1,903, up 8.7% from 2024. | 2025. | Alberta's rate board (AIRB), as reported by IBC. |
| British Columbia | Average premium of $1,358 for Basic and Optional, up from $1,268. | 2024/25 fiscal year. | ICBC. |
| Manitoba | Basic rates up 1.77%, or $21.89 a year on the average private passenger policy. | 2026/27 insurance year. | MPI. |
| Saskatchewan | Rates up 3.75% for most vehicle classes. About 98% of vehicles saw an average increase of $38 a year. | From June 1, 2026. | SGI. |
| Quebec | Insurance contribution on Class 5 and 6 driver's licences cut by 75%. | 2026. | Government of Quebec. |
Which provinces cost the most and least?
Among the provinces that publish recent averages, Ontario is the most expensive province for car insurance, at $2,164 a year, followed by Alberta at $1,903. BC's public system reported $1,358 for Basic and Optional coverage. For the Instasure example driver, Ontario, Alberta and BC have the highest estimates, and Quebec and Prince Edward Island the lowest.
If you're looking for the cheapest province for car insurance, read Quebec's figure with care. Quebec drivers also fund injury coverage through SAAQ contributions, paid with their licence and registration rather than to a private insurer. For 2026, Quebec cut the insurance contribution on driver's licences by 75%. A Class 5 licence for a driver with no demerit points costs about $50 instead of the $121 first planned, according to the Government of Quebec.
How much is car insurance per month in Canada?
Divide the annual averages by 12 for a monthly view. FSRA's Ontario average works out to about $180 a month, Alberta's 2025 average to about $159, and ICBC's 2024/25 BC average to about $113.
For the Instasure example profile, October 2026 estimates run from $75 a month in Quebec and Prince Edward Island to $171 in Ontario. So the average car insurance cost per month in Canada depends heavily on the province you're in.
Why public and private systems price so differently
Canada has three models for car insurance:
- Private: Ontario, Alberta and the Atlantic provinces use private insurers that compete on price.
- Public basic: British Columbia, Manitoba and Saskatchewan sell basic coverage through a public insurer: ICBC, MPI and SGI.
- Hybrid: In Quebec, the SAAQ covers bodily injury and private insurers cover vehicle damage and liability.
Injury claims explain much of the gap
Injury claims are often the largest cost inside a premium. BC's Enhanced Care model pays injury benefits regardless of fault and largely removes the right to sue. Manitoba and Saskatchewan also provide injury coverage through their public insurers, each with its own rules.
Alberta shows the other side. Under its current private system, third-party liability costs, mostly legal and litigation, now account for 58.2% of the premiums drivers pay. That figure comes from the rate board's 2026 Market and Trends Report, as summarized by IBC.
British Columbia shows how much the injury model matters. ICBC says its switch to Enhanced Care in 2021 saved the average customer $496, about 28%. Its October 2025 announcement added that basic rates won't rise through spring 2027, the seventh year in a row without an increase. Our guide to ICBC optional insurance explains where BC drivers still have price choices.
The trade-off is that in a no-fault system like BC's, injury benefits follow set rules and the right to sue is limited. A lower average premium doesn't always mean the same protection.
Ontario and Alberta are both changing
The two highest-cost provinces are reworking injury coverage:
- Ontario: Since July 1, 2026, only medical, rehabilitation and attendant care benefits are mandatory, according to FSRA. Income replacement and other benefits are now optional. Read our Ontario auto insurance changes 2026 guide before you drop any.
- Alberta: The province is moving to a Care-First model on January 1, 2027. Our Alberta car insurance 2026 guide covers the rate cap and the switch.
Average car insurance cost in 15 major cities
No public body publishes city averages for every province. This table uses one consistent yardstick instead: the Instasure estimate for the same example driver in each city. It shows how much location alone can move a price.
| City | Province | Typical estimate, October 2026 | Estimate range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brampton | ON. | $266 a month. | $212 to $329. |
| Vaughan | ON. | $231 a month. | $185 to $287. |
| Mississauga | ON. | $226 a month. | $181 to $280. |
| Toronto | ON. | $214 a month. | $171 to $266. |
| Hamilton | ON. | $185 a month. | $148 to $229. |
| Calgary | AB. | $170 a month. | $136 to $211. |
| Vancouver | BC. | $170 a month. | $136 to $211. |
| Edmonton | AB. | $162 a month. | $130 to $201. |
| Surrey | BC. | $162 a month. | $130 to $201. |
| London | ON. | $147 a month. | $118 to $183. |
| Ottawa | ON. | $146 a month. | $116 to $181. |
| Halifax | NS. | $109 a month. | $87 to $135. |
| Winnipeg | MB. | $107 a month. | $86 to $133. |
| Regina | SK. | $103 a month. | $82 to $128. |
| Saskatoon | SK. | $103 a month. | $82 to $128. |
Assumptions: a 40-year-old driver, 15+ years licensed, no tickets or at-fault claims, a standard vehicle and full coverage. These are modelled Instasure estimates as of October 2026, not quotes.
Ontario and the Greater Toronto Area
Ontario has the widest spread, and FSRA's own data shows the same pattern. GTA drivers averaged $2,810 a year as of October 2025, against $1,740 in rural Ontario. If you're shopping for car insurance in Toronto or car insurance in Brampton, expect quotes above the provincial figure. Our page on car insurance in Ontario shows estimates by driver profile and city.
Alberta
The model puts Calgary slightly above Edmonton for the same driver. Hail damage to a car is a comprehensive claim, which our Calgary hail insurance guide explains. See car insurance in Calgary or the wider page on car insurance in Alberta for local estimates.
What moves your own premium above or below the average
The average car insurance cost Canada-wide hides a wide spread of individual prices. How much is car insurance in Canada for you? Your own premium depends on a handful of factors.
Where you live. Insurers price by postal code, using local claim costs, collisions and theft. FSRA's regional figures show how large that gap can be.
Your record and experience. Tickets, at-fault claims and years licensed carry a lot of weight. Here is how the Instasure model prices a few Ontario drivers, as of October 2026:
| Ontario example driver | Typical estimate |
|---|---|
| Age 20, licensed 2 years. | $340 a month. |
| Age 25, licensed 7 years. | $212 a month. |
| Age 40, licensed 15+ years. | $171 a month. |
| Age 40, one minor ticket. | $202 a month. |
| Age 40, one at-fault claim. | $231 a month. |
| Age 65, licensed 15+ years. | $154 a month. |
Assumptions: standard vehicle and full coverage. Modelled estimates, not quotes.
Your vehicle. Repair costs and theft risk vary by model. Vehicles that show up on lists of the most stolen cars in Canada can cost more to insure for comprehensive coverage. Our guide on why car insurance is going up in 2026 covers theft, repairs and weather in detail.
Your coverage. Liability limits, collision, comprehensive and deductibles all change the price. A higher deductible lowers your premium, but you pay more when you claim.
How you drive and buy. Annual kilometres, commuting, bundling and telematics can each shift your rate. Ask about a home and auto bundle if you own or rent your home.
There's no single trick for cheap car insurance. The reliable approach is to compare insurers for the same coverage at every renewal. If tickets or claims have pushed you well above the average, our high-risk driver desk explains your options.
How to get an estimate for your postal code
Knowing the average car insurance cost Canada-wide tells you where your province sits. It can't tell you what you'll pay. To see your own number:
- Run the estimate. Use our car insurance calculator with your age, province, city, record and vehicle. It takes about a minute.
- Compare it with the tables. If your renewal is far above both the provincial average and your estimate, ask your insurer why.
- Get real quotes. A licensed advisor can collect car insurance quotes from several insurers for the same coverage.
- Watch the trend. The Instasure Rate Index will publish median estimates by province once each cell reaches 25 requests. As of October 2026, it is still collecting data.
If you live in Quebec, use this guide for information. Instasure isn't matching Quebec drivers with advisors at this time.
Michael’s take
As a planner, I treat a provincial average as a sanity check, not a target. If your renewal sits far above your province's figure, that's a reason to ask questions and shop around. It's not a reason to cut coverage until you hit the number. My rule of thumb is to compare at every renewal, and any time your premium rises faster than your province's trend.
I'd also look at car insurance as part of the whole household budget. Set your deductible at an amount your emergency fund could cover tomorrow. Keep your liability limit high, because one serious claim can cost far more than a modest premium saving. In Ontario, price each optional accident benefit before you drop it. For a household that depends on a paycheque, income protection usually matters more than a few dollars a month.
Next steps
- Get an instant car insurance estimate for your city and profile, then let a licensed advisor confirm real quotes.
- Learn how auto insurance works in each province on our car insurance in Canada page.
- In Ontario, book an accident benefits review before your next renewal.
- Adding a teen or first-time driver? See car insurance for new drivers.
- Read why car insurance is going up in 2026 for ten practical ways to lower your premium.