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Get the best rates on comprehensive auto insurance.
By law, Canadian drivers must purchase auto insurance to be on the road legally. Some insurance products, such as liability insurance, are mandatory, but there are several optional products drivers can choose to purchase on top of their mandatory coverage. Comprehensive car insurance is one such policy. LowestRates.ca can help you find the best rate if you decide to add comprehensive insurance to your policy.
What is comprehensive car insurance?
The name says it all: comprehensive car insurance coverage protects against a range of issues that could affect your vehicle — everything except collisions with other cars. Comprehensive auto insurance covers you against unexpected and accidental damage to your vehicle.
In most of Canada, comprehensive car insurance is optional, so you can't purchase it without buying a standard auto insurance policy first. LowestRates.ca can help you find the best rate if you add comprehensive insurance to your policy.
Is comprehensive auto insurance mandatory?
Comprehensive car insurance isn't mandatory but can be added to your policy if desired.
What does comprehensive car insurance cover?
Here are some of the most frequently asked questions drivers have about comprehensive car insurance:
- Does comprehensive car insurance cover theft?
- Does comprehensive car insurance cover vandalism?
- Does comprehensive insurance cover physical damage?
The answer is yes. Comprehensive car insurance covers all these perils, even if you are at fault for causing them.
Comprehensive automobile insurance also protects you against several other perils:
- Falling objects
- Natural disasters
- Civil disturbances like riots that lead to damage to your vehicle
- Fire damage
- Broken windows
- Explosions
- Animal damage
What is not covered by comprehensive insurance?
Comprehensive car insurance doesn't cover damage from collisions. To have protection in this scenario, you must purchase collision insurance. In addition, comprehensive auto insurance also won't cover damage to another vehicle due to an accident, any medical expenses and lost income.
Comprehensive insurance vs. collision insurance vs. full coverage insurance
| | Comprehensive | Collision | Full coverage |
|---|
| Is an optional coverage | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Covers collisions with other vehicles | No | Yes | Yes |
| Covers against theft and non-collision damage | Yes | No | Yes |
| Can be purchased without basic auto insurance | No | No | No — but ‘full coverage’ sometimes refers to mandatory coverage plus optional coverage |
Collision and comprehensive are both optional coverages (however, in Manitoba, both are included in a basic auto insurance policy).
Comprehensive car insurance compensates you if your car is damaged by most insurable perils, excluding a collision with another car. The type of perils that comprehensive car insurance covers include falling objects and environmental damage.
Collision insurance will provide coverage if your car collides with another car or an object, a guardrail, for example.
Comprehensive insurance is an add-on coverage that provides reimbursement to repair or replace a car that’s been damaged in a non-collision event (i.e., a felled tree, hail, theft, or vandalism).
Full coverage car insurance (or fully comprehensive car insurance) can refer to an auto insurance policy that includes mandatory coverages — accident benefits and third-party liability — and optional insurance like comprehensive and collision coverages.
Providers of comprehensive car insurance coverage across Canada
British Columbia: The Insurance Corporation of British Columbia (ICBC) provides all car insurance.
Alberta: Private market.
Saskatchewan: Saskatchewan Government Insurance (SGI) provides all auto insurance.
Manitoba: Manitoba Public Insurance (MPI) provides all auto insurance.
Ontario: Private market.
Newfoundland and Labrador: Private market.
New Brunswick: Private market.
Prince Edward Island: Private market.
Yukon: Private market.
Northwest Territories: Private market.
Nunavut: Private market.
Quebec: Semi-private market. You can purchase comprehensive insurance from private insurers.
How do comprehensive car insurance claims work in Canada?
First, it’s important to note that comprehensive insurance carries a deductible, meaning you’ll pay a certain amount before your insurance provider follows up with the benefit outlined in your policy.
For example, suppose your comprehensive policy has a $500 deductible attached to it. If a peril covered under comprehensive insurance causes $1,000 worth of damage to your car, you would pay $500, and your insurer would put $500 toward repairs.
Deductibles are meant to deter people from making small claims. You can reduce your overall insurance premium by offering to pay more than the minimum deductible required. Doing so saves the insurance company money and makes you appear like a more responsible driver.
All claims begin by reporting the accident to your insurance provider. Every provider has a hotline you can call to report a claim. Alternatively, many providers allow customers to start claims online through an app or website. The Financial Services Regulatory Authority of Ontario (FSRA) says that no matter who’s at fault, the parties involved should report the accident within seven days at most. Your insurance company may not have to honour your claim if you take too long to report the accident.
When you make your report, you should have the following:
- The make, model, licence plate and registration of your vehicle.
- Details of the accident, including the date, time and location of the accident.
- A description and timeline of the accident.
- The damage to the vehicle and the cost of the damage, if possible.
Don’t worry if you don’t have all the information when you call. Your insurance agent, broker or company will guide you; starting the process is more important.
FAQs about comprehensive car insurance coverage in Canada.
How much does comprehensive car insurance cost?
You have to buy comprehensive insurance alongside a basic auto insurance policy. It can't be purchased separately. You may not see the cost of your comprehensive coverage separated on your monthly car insurance bill — it gets rolled into the total — but you can ask your insurance provider for an itemized bill breakdown.
The cost of comprehensive car insurance is influenced by your car's make, model, trim, and the size of your deductible (the amount you need to pay before the insurance company pays your benefit). One thing's for sure: comprehensive car insurance will increase your insurance costs. But without knowing any details about the car that needs insurance, it's hard to estimate the final price.
When you apply for a quote on our site, you can indicate whether or not you'd like to add comprehensive coverage to your policy. If you're insuring a current-year model, comprehensive coverage is automatically selected. That way, you can compare the price of basic insurance plus a comprehensive endorsement from multiple Canadian car insurance companies. Shopping the market can help you find cheap insurance that includes comprehensive coverage.
Compared to basic car insurance, a comprehensive policy will be more expensive. Still, you'll also get more from it because you'll be protected against the most insurable perils.
You can reduce your costs by increasing your deductible on your comprehensive policy.
Does comprehensive auto insurance cover rodent damage?
Most comprehensive car insurance will cover damage caused by rodents. Parked cars are at risk for infestations of rats, mice, or squirrels looking to nest. Once in your vehicle, they can wreak havoc by chewing through wires, insulation and upholstery and leaving droppings.
You can prevent an infestation by keeping your car clean and moisture-free and never leaving your windows and doors open when you intend to park your car for a while.
Is comprehensive car insurance worth it?
There are lots to consider before buying comprehensive coverage. For example, suppose you live in an area with a high frequency of natural disasters. In that case, consider adding it to your auto insurance policy. However, the general recommendation is to purchase comprehensive insurance if you can't afford to replace your car if it gets damaged or declared a total loss.
Does a comprehensive claim raise your car insurance rate?
No. If you make a claim against comprehensive car insurance coverage, your car insurance rate won't increase. However, your insurance company likely has a limit on the number of comprehensive claims you can make a year.
Do the rates for comprehensive vehicle insurance differ by province?
Auto insurance rates vary by province. Ones with private auto insurance systems may have more market competition, but that doesn't always translate into lower rates for comprehensive coverage. The other factors that affect your premiums include:
Location. Areas with a higher degree of natural disasters may have higher premiums. Think windstorms or gale-force winds on the east coast due to hurricanes or areas prone to flooding.
The number of claims in your area. If your neighbourhood has a lot of claims activity, your premium will likely be surcharged for it.
Insurance fraud. If your neighbours make many fraudulent insurance claims, you will likely pay more for insurance even if you personally stay on the right side of the law.
Who are the best providers of comprehensive insurance?
Car insurance companies don't sell comprehensive coverage separately from basic auto insurance policies (third-party liability and accident benefits). So, selecting an insurance company based solely on its comprehensive insurance rate is impossible.
The best car insurance company will offer comprehensive and mandatory coverages in the amounts you need and at a rate you can afford.
Who provides the cheapest car insurance in Canada?
Insurance companies won't typically offer flat-rate insurance. The insurance industry invests millions in predicting future risks, and the customers who pose more of it end up paying higher insurance premiums than ones deemed low-risk to insure. Insurance companies define high-risk customers as those likely to file multiple expensive claims against their auto insurance policy or with a track record of missing payments.
The best way to determine which insurance company provides your cheapest car insurance rate is to compare quotes from multiple companies. With LowestRates.ca, you can compare 50+ companies in three minutes or less.
Alexandra Bosanac
About the Author
Alexandra Bosanac is the Core Content Manager for LowestRates.ca. Her reporting has appeared in Canadian Business, the Toronto Star, the National Post, and the CBC.
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