High Risk Insurance Ontario

Why is High-Risk Insurance so expensive in Ontario?

The logic is that the probability and frequency of the insurance company having to pay out on a claim associated to a driver with many traffic tickets, driver's license violations, at-fault accidents, history of cancellations for non-payment, or any combination of the above, is a lot higher compared to a driver with a driving and payment record that is much cleaner.

What is High-Risk Insurance?

High Risk Insurance in Ontario, also called Non-Standard car insurance, is meant to provide car insurance to licensed drivers who can't buy regular auto insurance from Standard car Insurance companies because of their higher than average risk profile.

High risk insurance is intended for people with multiple driving or driving-related violations or a combination of the following:

1. Rateable traffic convictions

2. At-fault accidents

3. Criminal convictions

4. Administrative suspensions of driver’s license

5. Non-administrative, driver's license suspensions when a driver's license is not reinstated within 3 years

6. New Drivers

7. Non-payment history – Cancellations and NSF payments

8. Drivers who may have not had driven in a significant period

9. Vehicles that do not meet eligibility requirements i.e. Branded rebuilt, vehicles over a certain age, usually 20 years or more

10. Any one or combination of the above or other risk-related characteristics

High risk insurance in Ontario is still governed by the same auto policy that people insured through standard Insurance companies are.

The Ontario Automobile Policy (OAP 1) is the car insurance contract that has been set as the standard and approved auto insurance policy by the Financial Services Regulatory of Ontario, formerly, the Financial Services Commission of Ontario (FSCO).

Time-Consuming– Many people are not sure where to get high risk auto insurance or who to ask for help. Think of the times you completed an online car insurance quote, only to be asked the same questions over again when calling to confirm your quoted price. Many times the quote you submit online won’t match the confirmed quote by the actual Insurance Broker or Agent.

Industry Confusion– People that are new to driving and auto insurance do not know the difference between an Insurance Broker vs Insurance Company vs Insurance Agent. The statistic is over 50% of people do NOT know the difference! Not knowing the difference could cost you more, way more! This is especially obvious in drivers who have no experience with an Insurance Broker and have always been insured through a Direct Writer like TD, RBC, Sonnet Insurance or Desjardins Insurance Companies.

All Licensed Drivers in Ontario are Entitled to Car Insurance– what this means for you is that you can’t be turned down for auto insurance unless you do not meet an Insurance Company’s Underwriting guidelines. If you don’t meet the risk criteria of ALL the Non-Standard (High Risk) then the Facility Association of Ontario is the last resort. This is the LAW! The unfortunate thing is that you will never be guaranteed the lowest price if you don’t shop around.

Who has the cheapest High Risk Auto Insurance in Ontario?

Affordable car insurance for high risk drivers is easy to find if you know the process. This question should be rephrased with "HOW TO GET THE CHEAPEST HIGH-RISK AUTO INSURANCE?"

Not all High-risk car insurance companies OR high risk insurance brokers are created equally. There isn't solely, one company or brokerage that offers the cheapest high risk auto insurance quote.

Auto insurance rates are standardized in Ontario through a regulatory body, Financial Services Regulatory Authority (FSRA), which means:

you can get the same quote from several Insurance brokerages who deal with the same high-risk car insurance company
not all brokerages can offer prices from ALL high-risk insurance companies; this depends on how many distribution agreements with high-risk insurers your insurance brokerage has.
cost of high risk auto insurance has to be authorized by FSRA
rules for accepting or rejecting risk also have to be authorized by FSRA
The cheapest high risk auto insurance is relative to the insurance broker you use to purchase it. This means that not every insurance brokerage will have a working relationship with the high risk insurance company that's quoted the cheapest. You would need to find an auto insurance broker that has a distribution channel with that insurer. Ideally, you'd want to choose an insurance broker with access to ALL insurance companies so your bases are covered.

Which Insurance Companies cover High-Risk Drivers?

1. Jevco Insurance: Jevco is a subsidiary of Intact Insurance.
2. Perth Insurance: Perth is a subsidiary of the Economical Insurance
3. Pafco Insurance: Pafco is a subsidiary of Allstate Insurance
4. Echelon Insurance: Echelon is a subsidiary of CAA Insurance
5. Coachman Insurance: Coachman is a subsidiary of SGI( Saskatchewan General Insurance)
6. Facility Association: Facility is essentially a risk-sharing pool for high-risk drivers that are TOO high risk for ALL the High Risk Insurance Companies. Facility is often referred to as the option of last resort.

How is High-Risk Insurance calculated in Ontario?

High-risk insurance companies use similar rating models as standard auto insurance companies. The method to calculate the cost of car insurance is generally the same for high-risk insurance companies compared to regular or standard companies, however, insurance premiums may vary depending on the company and their eligibility criteria.

Similarities include:

How your vehicle is rated. Based on the CLEAR rating system. i.e. how likely injuries and extent of physical damages would result from a car accident based on the type of vehicle or statistical findings around the make and model of a vehicle.
How you use the vehicle, i.e business, commute or pleasure, kilometers driven
Your postal code or territory in which you operate the vehicle

What Criteria are used for rating High-Risk Drivers in Ontario?

The difference between high-risk auto and standard auto insurance rests on how the high risk driver is rated.
It's common sense that driving behaviour is the differentiating factor for assessing risk and insurance premium rating, as high risk drivers usually have more driving violations compared to Ontario drivers in the standard auto insurance market. There are few exceptions to this rule, one example is trying to insure a vehicle with a salvage brand. In this case, it's not the driver but the subject of insurance that would force you to look at the high risk auto insurance market, as they are the only companies that may even consider insuring a vehicle with the branding of salvage.

High-risk insurance companies use a risk point and surcharge system to determine the cost of your premium. Risk points, otherwise known as insurance points, are violation markers on your driving record for traffic violations and at-fault accidents.

Risk Points and surcharges are allocated according to the severity of driving violation.

The violations are broken down into groups. (This is just an example; every High Risk Insurance Company is slightly different.)

Minor Convictions – 1 Point: 20% surcharge for first conviction, 25% surcharge for each additional conviction
Major Convictions – 2 Points: 40% surcharge for first conviction, 50% surcharge for each additional conviction
Serious/Criminal convictions – 4 Points: 50% surcharge for first conviction 100% for each additional conviction
Cancellations: gaps of continued auto insurance resulting from lapses due to cancellations are factored into the premium. Cancellations for non-payment also determine the payment options that can and can’t be offered.
For a driver licensed less than four years, insurance points attaching to a conviction are doubled

How to get the cheapest High-Risk Insurance in Ontario?

Many Ontario drivers have never dealt with an Insurance Broker, but rather direct insurance agents like TD, RBC or any insurance company that sells directly to the consumer public.

Ontario drivers who are forced to look for auto insurance in the high risk market may not know the difference between an Insurance broker vs insurance agent. High-risk auto insurance is exclusively sold by licensed registered insurance brokers. If you've never dealt with an Insurance Broker the lack of experience may cost you!

In Ontario, Canada insurance rates are regulated and standardized, meaning the prices for car insurance, whether it’s high risk or not, cannot vary for a specific insurance co. from one Insurance Brokerage to another. However, not all high risk insurance brokers have distribution agreements or contracts to sell from ALL insurance companies. This could mean that not every broker can offer you the cheapest car insurance quote. Think of an Insurance Broker as someone that will try and get the best auto insurance quote from most or all insurance companies.

Insurance Brokers use a centralized database to produce prices and quotes, but if they don’t have a business relationship or a contract to do business with that Insurance company they can’t offer that price to you! Therefore the “cheapest” quote is relative to the Insurance companies the Insurance Brokerage represents.

This means that the “cheapest” quote isn’t going to come from every Insurance Brokerage, but only the Brokerage that is authorized to do business with THAT particular Auto Insurance company.

So when an Insurance Broker says “that’s the cheapest quote” they usually refer to the cheapest price for the companies they represent! That’s why it’s important to shop around and exhaust every channel to get the cheapest and best coverage in a high risk car insurance policy.

If you want the cheapest high-risk car insurance you need to shop around for the Best High Risk Insurance Brokerage with distribution channels from ALL High Risk Insurance Companies!

How much does High-Risk Insurance cost in Ontario?

The cost of High-risk insurance in Ontario varies depending on the high risk driver and the high risk auto insurance company. However, a good rule of thumb is to expect your car insurance premium to double in cost.
High-risk auto insurance policies range in price from as little as roughly $1,000 to as much as $10,000! The cost of high risk insurance depends on many factors.

Auto insurance companies calculate your premium by:

Assessing the high-risk driver, i.e. traffic tickets, at-fault accidents, and driver's license moving violations.
the subject of insurance (a type of vehicle)
How you use the vehicle: i.e. business or personal use, commuting, kilometers driven
Territory (Postal Code)
Regulatory change
Changing economic and market forces
As you can see many factors determine the calculation of your auto insurance premium. Even though an average cost for high-risk car insurance could be obtained with statistics, it wouldn't be a fair or an accurate reflection of what you might have to pay. The best thing is to contact a high risk insurance broker directly for a high risk auto insurance quote.

How to get High-Risk Insurance in Ontario?

Sometimes it's cheaper to rent a vehicle for the year, or half-year, compared to paying crazy amounts that the substandard market charges! Just ensure you know what you are signing and ensure the vehicle is properly insured, whether the car insurance is purchased through the rental agency or independently through an Insurance Broker.

What’s the difference between a High Risk Insurance Company and an Insurance Broker?

There are differences between a High Risk Insurance company and an Insurance Broker that you should know! They are not the same thing!

Insurance Brokers are independent ( in most cases) from the Insurance Company
• Insurance Brokerages are the distribution channel for High Risk Auto Insurance Companies• High Risk Auto Insurance Companies will not sell directly to the public as they are not licensed
• Insurance companies administer and service claims, not Insurance Brokers (some exceptions apply where a company would allow the Brokerage to service some claims, but the Insurance company has the final decision)
Insurance Brokers are independent insurance professionals that represent your best interest. This compared to companies like RBC, TD insurance who are considered "direct writers" and represent the interest of the company. This isn't to say they don't have a fiduciary duty, but in a time where a claim is submitted, you have no recourse to an independent source, if something goes wrong, or simply disagree with a claim decision. An Insurance Broker will fight for you in that situation and among other things.

The relationship between an insurance brokerage and an insurance company is based on a business partnership (not in the legal sense). Think of an Insurance Broker almost like a Mortgage Broker, where they try and find the best rates from multiple lending companies for you. An insurance broker does the same but finds the best coverage and insurance costs from multiple high risk insurance companies.

High-risk auto insurance companies do NOT sell directly to the consumer. Instead, High-risk insurance companies use high risk insurance brokers to market and sell their products. Also, Insurance Brokers are licensed to sell insurance to the public, whereas high risk insurance companies do not.

The complexity and nature of the risk require the professionalism and experience of a High Risk Insurance Broker.

The High-risk auto insurance market in Ontario, Canada is small and usually always tied to a Parent company that offers regular or standard auto insurance. This means that Insurance companies will start a subsidiary company to offer high risk auto insurance, so they can separate standard auto from high risk auto business. This is done for business, regulatory and accounting purposes. Also, it wouldn't be fair for drivers who are not considered high-risk to be lumped together with a higher risk profile driver, since the losses of the few are paid by all policyholders. This is simply not fair.

How to find the best High-Risk Insurance Broker in Ontario?

Find an insurance brokerage that’s able to provide car insurance quotes from ALL high risk insurance companies.
This means that the Broker has distribution agreements with the respective high risk insurance companies and allowed to sell their product. The more high risk insurance companies the broker represents the better your chances of securing the cheapest price. However, price is not the only thing to consider!

Being insured through non-standard auto insurance shouldn't be an indefinite scenario and most drivers are always looking forward to entering back into the regular market. A good Insurance broker will help you transition back into the regular car insurance market where prices are cheaper, insurance coverage is better and payment options are less stringent.

An Insurance Broker should always try and find the best and affordable car insurance for you. Insurance brokers call this remarketing which involves searching for a better price with comparable insurance coverage on policy renewal or when a traffic violation, accident or anything else fall off your driving record that could save you money off your auto insurance premium.

You also want an insurance broker that's going to ensure that any claim you have will be handled fairly. A good insurance broker should be proactive about your insurance claim and addressing issues and concerns with you and your claim adjuster. Remember, an Insurance Broker works for you rather than an insurance company and usually make a positive difference to the settlement of your claim.

Finding the best high-risk insurance broker involves shopping around for an Insurance broker that will offer you more than just the best insurance coverage for the best cost. Auto insurance in Ontario is very expensive, which makes cost the number one factor when considering the insurance brokerage you choose. But some Ontario drivers want more than just cheap insurance from their insurance provider and insurance broker.

Additional things people may be looking for in a brokerage:

Customer service
Flexibility
Competence
Specialization
Options
Advocacy
Transparency
You may be looking for the most competent or someone that can treat you with the utmost customer service and peace of mind. After all, insurance is about having peace of mind.

How to get the best High Risk Insurance in Ontario?

Finding the cheapest price with comparable car insurance coverage involves shopping around, and getting quotes from ALL High Risk Car Insurance Providers.