Average cost of car insurance in Canada by province
Quick summary
The most detailed official average is Ontario's: about $2,218 a year ($185 a month) as of June 2026, and $2,868 in the Greater Toronto Area. Official 2024 averages for private passenger vehicles are $1,208 in New Brunswick, $1,302 in Nova Scotia, $1,018 in Prince Edward Island and $1,359 in Newfoundland and Labrador, Alberta's rate board reports $1,903 for full coverage in 2025, and ICBC reports $1,408 per Autoplan policy in British Columbia for 2025/26, which leaves out Optional coverage. No single official number covers all of Canada, because each province runs its own system and the figures are measured differently. Your own price depends on where you live, your car, your driving record and how much you drive, so use the average as a yardstick, not a quote.
What Ontario drivers pay on average
Ontario's regulator, the Financial Services Regulatory Authority of Ontario (FSRA), publishes the average annual premium for all private passenger vehicles insured in the province over the past 12 months, split by area.
| Area | Oct 2024 | Jun 2025 | Oct 2025 | Jun 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| All of Ontario | $2,006 | $2,120 | $2,164 | $2,218 |
| Greater Toronto Area | $2,638 | $2,765 | $2,810 | $2,868 |
| Other urban areas | $1,918 | $2,031 | $2,076 | $2,131 |
| Rural areas | $1,592 | $1,698 | $1,740 | $1,791 |
Source: FSRA, Your average premium, checked November 1, 2026.
Three things stand out:
- Location moves the price a lot. The GTA average is $2,868, while the rural average is $1,791. That is $1,077 a year more in the GTA, about 60% higher.
- The average keeps rising. From October 2024 to June 2026 the provincial average went from $2,006 to $2,218, up $212 or about 10.6%.
- A monthly view helps. $2,218 a year is about $185 a month. In the GTA it is about $239 a month, and in rural areas about $149.
FSRA reminds drivers that your premium can differ from these averages because of the vehicle you drive, your driving record and how often you drive.
Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Quebec: public insurers
These three provinces do not publish one average premium the way Ontario does. They publish rate changes and fees instead. Here is what the official pages say.
| Province | What the official page says | Date of page |
|---|---|---|
| Manitoba (MPI) | Basic rates rose 1.77% on average from April 1, 2026. That is $21.89 more a year, about $1.82 a month, for the average private passenger policy. MPI had asked for 2.07%. The page does not give the full average premium. | December 19, 2025 |
| Saskatchewan (SGI) | SGI Auto Fund rates are in a two-year 3.75% rate program. The second round starts June 1, 2027. The province says the average vehicle owner will pay about $39 more a year after that. | September 4, 2026 |
| Quebec (SAAQ) | For a passenger vehicle with no demerit points in 2026 the SAAQ contribution is $87.55: $21.54 on the licence (after a 75% rebate; $86.16 before) plus $66.01 on the vehicle registration. This pays for injuries only. Private insurers charge separately for damage and liability, and no official average is published. | April 24, 2026 |
Sources: MPI statement on the 2026/27 Public Utilities Board order; Government of Saskatchewan news release of September 4, 2026; SAAQ insurance contributions page. Your own price depends on your vehicle, driving record and, in Manitoba and Saskatchewan, your driver rating. Saskatchewan's announced 2027 average is an expected figure, so check SGI for your own.
Why there is no single Canadian average
Car insurance is run province by province, so the numbers are not collected or published the same way.
- Government insurers provide basic cover in British Columbia (ICBC), Manitoba (Manitoba Public Insurance) and Saskatchewan (SGI). Their basic rates are set through their own regulators and processes.
- Quebec splits the system: the SAAQ pays for injuries (it is included in your licence costs), and private insurers cover property damage and civil liability.
- The rest of Canada buys from private insurers, and the province regulates rates and wording.
Many sites publish "average" prices for every province. Most of them come from insurers, brokers or comparison sites using their own sample of quotes, and they do not say how the sample was chosen. We do not publish a provincial average unless an official source states it with a date. For each province we link to its official page instead.
What changes your price
There is no secret formula, but FSRA names the kinds of things that move a premium:
- Where you live and park the car
- The vehicle you drive
- Your driving record, including speeding tickets
- How often you drive
- Moving to a new address or buying a new vehicle
- An insurer's own approved rate change across all its customers.
How each province works
| Province or territory | Who provides basic cover | Minimum liability |
|---|---|---|
| Alberta | Private insurers | $200,000 |
| British Columbia | ICBC (government) | $200,000 |
| Manitoba | Manitoba Public Insurance (government) | Up to $500,000 |
| New Brunswick | Private insurers | $200,000 |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | Private insurers | $200,000 |
| Northwest Territories | Private insurers | $200,000 |
| Nova Scotia | Private insurers | $500,000 |
| Nunavut | Private insurers | $200,000 |
| Ontario | Private insurers | $200,000 |
| Prince Edward Island | Private insurers | $200,000 |
| Quebec | SAAQ for injuries, private insurers for the rest | $50,000 civil liability |
| Saskatchewan | SGI (government) | $200,000 |
| Yukon | Private insurers | $200,000 |
The minimum is a floor, not a plan. If you cause a crash, costs above your limit can become your own problem. Ask your insurer what a higher limit costs.
What is changing in 2026 and 2027
- Saskatchewan, June 1, 2027: the second round of SGI's two-year 3.75% rate program starts. The province expects about $39 more a year for the average vehicle owner.
- Manitoba, April 1, 2026: Basic Autopac rates rose 1.77% on average, about $21.89 a year for the average private passenger policy.
- Ontario, July 1, 2026: For policies entered into on or after this date, only medical, rehabilitation and attendant care benefits are mandatory. Income replacement, caregiver and housekeeping benefits became optional. If you have benefits at work or another plan, ask your broker what you actually need before dropping any optional cover.
- Alberta, January 1, 2027: The Care-First system starts. The Automobile Insurance Rate Board (AIRB) estimates it will lower the average private passenger premium by 13.7%, or $297 per insured vehicle, with about 88% of vehicles expected to see a decrease and about 10% an increase. Your own change may be different.
How to compare without overpaying
- Get at least three quotes for the same cover, limits and deductible, so you compare like with like.
- Ask about discounts: driving record, bundling home and auto, winter tires, training, low mileage.
- Use a deductible you could pay tomorrow. A higher deductible lowers the premium, but you pay more if you claim.
- Review at each renewal. Do not accept the renewal price without a check.
- Never drop cover just to save a few dollars. Check what the provincial minimum includes first.
- Be exact on the application. Wrong information about drivers or use can lead to a refused claim.
Our car insurance calculator compares the quotes you already have and shows what a claim would cost you. Our insurance guides list each province's official tools.
Questions people ask
How much is car insurance per month in Ontario?
On average about $185 a month ($2,218 a year) as of June 2026, according to FSRA. In the GTA the average is about $239 a month, and in rural areas about $149.
Is car insurance more expensive in Toronto?
Yes. FSRA's GTA average of $2,868 is about $737 a year above the "other urban" average of $2,131 (June 2026).
What is the average cost of car insurance in Canada?
There is no single official national average. Ontario's regulator publishes one for Ontario, the Atlantic provinces have 2024 averages from GISA data ($1,018 to $1,359 a year), Alberta's rate board reports $1,903 for full coverage in 2025, and ICBC reports $1,408 per Autoplan policy in British Columbia for 2025/26 (without Optional coverage). The figures use different methods, so compare them with care. Our car insurance cost page lists each one with its source and date.
Is car insurance going up in Saskatchewan?
SGI Auto Fund rates are in a two-year 3.75% rate program. The second round starts June 1, 2027, and the province expects the average vehicle owner to pay about $39 more a year. Your own change can be different.
Is car insurance going up in Manitoba?
MPI's Basic rates rose 1.77% on average from April 1, 2026, about $21.89 more a year for the average private passenger policy, according to MPI. The page does not state the full average premium.
How much is the SAAQ insurance contribution in Quebec?
For a passenger vehicle with no demerit points in 2026, the SAAQ shows $87.55: $21.54 for the licence (after a 75% rebate) and $66.01 for the registration. It covers injuries only. Private insurers charge separately for damage and liability.
Why did my car insurance go up?
An insurer's approved rate change, a change in your own situation (a ticket, a new address, a new vehicle), or both. Ask your insurer to explain the change, then compare quotes.
Will car insurance go down in Alberta in 2027?
The AIRB expects an average reduction of 13.7% ($297 per vehicle) when Care-First starts on January 1, 2027. Most vehicles should see a decrease, but some will see an increase.
Do I need more than the minimum?
Often yes. The minimum protects other people up to a limit, and a serious crash can cost more than that limit. Ask your insurer or broker what higher limits cost.