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Car insurance in Windsor

The Ambassador Bridge and the Detroit-Windsor Tunnel are two of Windsor's most important connections with the U.S. and Detroit. Given their proximity to the border, drivers in and around Windsor should buy a quality car insurance plan that provides good coverage in Canada and the U.S.

If you don't carry valid car insurance in Ontario, you may get fined up to $50,000 — not to mention potentially getting your car impounded and your license suspended.

The Financial Services Regulatory Authority of Ontario (FSRA) is the governing body overseeing the province's auto insurance industry. It ensures all insurance providers are licensed and follow the rules. Insurance companies must also. FSRA also approves or denies any rate changes that insurance companies want to implement. Without FSRA's approval, insurers can't change their rates.

You can secure the cheapest auto insurance rates by comparing quotes on LowestRates.ca. Luckily, plenty of auto insurance companies serve Windsor, and one of them will be your perfect fit — but comparing quotes is the only way to find out which one it is. At LowestRates.ca, you can find the cheapest car insurance prices from Windsor car insurance providers, just like that.

Mandatory Windsor car insurance coverage

By law, car owners in Windsor must carry standard auto insurance coverage. A standard auto insurance policy will include the following.

• Third-party liability insurance:

  Liability insurance protects you if you are sued for property damage, injuries, or the death of another person. Ontario's minimum amount for third-party liability coverage is $200,000.

• Statutory accident benefits insurance:

  This coverage will help pay for supplemental medical benefits, rehabilitation services, and attendant care if you are injured in a car accident. It also includes income replacement and caregiver benefits if your injuries prevent you from working or providing care to a dependent. Here are the minimum policy limits for accident benefits:

  • $3,500 per person for medical care for minor injuries.

  • $65,000 per person for combined medical and attendant care for severe injuries for up to five years (benefit period may be more extended for children).

  • $1 million per person for combined medical and attendant care for catastrophic injuries.

• Uninsured vehicle insurance:

  Under this provision, your family can receive compensation if you are in an accident with a driver who doesn't have liability insurance.

Optional Windsor auto insurance coverage

Drivers in Windsor can choose to increase the coverage on standard policies and opt for additional coverages that protect them from other risks.

Some of those additional coverages may include:

• Direct compensation property damage insurance (DCPD): This type of coverage, also known as DCPD, protects you when your vehicle or items inside your vehicle are damaged. It's automatically included in a standard policy but Ontario drivers can file a form to remove it, making it a quasi-optional coverage. Your insurance provider will compensate you directly for a loss, even though another person may be at fault. You don't have to sue the other person in court to receive compensation.

• Collision insurance: This optional coverage helps pay for damage to your vehicle when you cause an accident. Without collision coverage, your insurance company wouldn't otherwise pay for damage to your car.

• Comprehensive insurance: This optional coverage pays to repair or replace your car when it's damaged by something other than a collision with another vehicle. Covered perils include fire, wind, hail, water, vandalism, falling objects, and theft.

• All-perils insurance: This coverage blends collision and comprehensive insurance into one product. The benefit of buying all-perils is that you only have to pay a single deductible.

• Specified perils: This coverage protects you against most perils included in comprehensive coverage. The difference is that theft, vandalism, and falling objects are excluded.

• Extra third-party liability coverage: Legal damages are often higher than the standard $200,000 liability coverage. You can purchase $1 million to $2 million in third-party liability coverage for more protection.

• Additional accident benefits coverage: The standard coverage amount for medical care is $65,000 for severe injuries and $1 million for catastrophic injuries. However, with healthcare costs increasing, you should boost your benefits to as much as $1 million for medical care and $3 million for attendant care. Although it may raise your premium, you and your family won't have to worry about being able to afford housekeeping, dependent care, and funeral expenses.

• More robust coverage for collisions with uninsured or hit-and-run drivers: You can purchase a higher level of protection for you and your family in the event you are injured or killed, or an uninsured or hit-and-run driver damages your vehicle. You can boost the coverage amount up to your third-party liability coverage level by adding OPCF 44R, the Family Protection Endorsement, to your policy.

• Loss of use coverage: You may one day need a rental or replacement vehicle while your car is being repaired. This coverage will cover the cost of that rental car. The endorsement OPCF 20, Coverage for Transportation Replacement, adds loss of use coverage to your policy.

• Borrowed and rented vehicle coverage: Your Windsor auto insurance policy can be extended when renting or borrowing a car. You'll need to add OPCF 27, Liability for Damage to Non-Owned Automobile(s), to your coverage to gain this protection.

• Leased vehicle coverage: If you drive a leased vehicle, you must add an endorsement to your auto insurance: OPCF 5, Permission to Rent or Lease Automobiles and Extending coverage to the Specified Lessee(s). This is for long-term leases rather than short-term car rentals.

• New vehicle replacement: All cars depreciate when you drive them off the lot. New vehicle replacement coverage allows you to replace your vehicle with a new car if it is damaged in a covered event. Your insurance company will not factor in any depreciated value. The Removing Depreciation Deduction endorsement, OPCF 43, offers this type of protection.

Auto insurance providers offer other optional coverage types as well. If you have questions about your coverage, request a car insurance quote using LowestRates.ca's online quote tool above. It's simple and free to use. Once you find the cheapest car insurance that meets your needs, a licensed insurance professional will connect with you to answer any questions and secure your rate.

Factors that determine your car insurance rates in Windsor

Each driver in Windsor has different experiences and circumstances, leading to insurers offering different auto insurance premiums. It may not seem fair, but here are some reasons why this happens:

• Your driving experience: Insurance companies will weigh risks, and someone with more experience behind the wheel is likely less of a risk than a new driver with little to no experience.

• Your driving record: Some drivers are safer than others. Having and maintaining a clean driving record with few or no infractions is rewarded with a lower auto insurance premium.

• Your age and sex: Windsor auto insurance companies (along with all others) will discriminate based on age and sex. You are considered an even greater risk if you are male and under 25. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), male drivers are more likely to speed, get behind the wheel while drunk and neglect wearing a seat belt than their female counterparts.

• Your vehicle: Windsor auto insurance companies also look at the risk factors of cars themselves. Higher-end models can be more expensive to repair and replace, while lower-end models would be cheaper. Also, consider vehicles with enhanced safety features, which would help reduce risks and your premiums.

• Where you live (and park your car): High-crime neighbourhoods and heavily congested areas pose more risk of theft and collisions and will increase your auto insurance rates.

Car insurance rates for Windsor seniors

When it comes to car insurance, drivers above 50 and below 65 usually reap the benefits of being an experienced driver in the form of below-average premiums. However, this isn't the case for all seniors; it may be difficult for some to find lower rates. And cost-conscious retirees may also want to find ways to trim their expenses. In these instances, we recommend the following:

• Usage-based insurance (UBI): Some Windsor car insurance companies will offer you a cheaper premium if you opt to install a telematics device that tracks your driving habits in your car. The catch? You'll only be get a discount if you've demonstrated good driving habits. If you have an incident while driving with telematics, you may be punished with an increased premium.

• Bundle your insurance policies: Windsor car insurance companies appreciate loyalty and will reward you with discounts. You can save money by bundling other insurance (like home and auto).

• Join an association: Some associations and alumni groups offer discounts to members. Members of groups like the Canadian Association of Retired Persons (CARP) or the CAA (Canadian Automobile Association) are rewarded with discounts.

• Inquire about loyalty discounts: Ask about their loyalty rewards if you’ve been with the same company for a long time.

• Inquire about retiree discounts: You’ve made it this far as an accident-free and claims-free driver. Ask about discounts based on your driving experience.

• Look for a better rate elsewhere: Shop around. Sites like LowestRates.ca can help you save money by providing quotes from the top auto insurance companies serving Windsor.

Car insurance rates for students in Windsor

It's tough being a young or inexperienced driver. Drivers under age 25 are charged higher auto insurance premiums as they are considered more at risk of collisions than seasoned drivers.

As a new driver, there's no way around the surcharge, but there are things you can do to lower your car insurance and set yourself up for decreases in the future.

• Drive carefully: Start your driving record on the right foot. A claims and accident-free record will lower your premium later.

• Go to a driving school: Most Windsor car insurance companies offer discounts to drivers who attend a certified driving school.

• Buy a cheap used car: Older models are the most inexpensive to insure. Buy it outright (no car loans), and you won't have to buy collision and comprehensive insurance, which substantially increases your premium.

• Bundle your insurance policies: Insurance companies offer discounts of up to 20% to customers who bundle their plan with another product, such as tenant insurance.

• Try usage-based insurance (UBI): Installing a device that allows your Windsor car insurance companies to monitor your habits encourages better driving habits and can help reduce your rates, so long as you stay safe and remain claims-free. If you're found to have broken safe driving rules, your premium will increase at renewal.

• Compare insurance providers: Look for student car insurance rates on comparison sites like LowestRates.ca and save thousands of dollars in just a few clicks for free.

Car insurance for new immigrants to Windsor

New immigrants moving to Windsor may need help getting auto insurance. Depending on which country you emigrate from, you may need to build your driving and insurance history in Canada from the ground up; the Canadian government recognizes driving licences from the U.S. and Western European countries, but people from anywhere else must go through their new home province's graduated licencing system, which means newcomers often pay higher than average insurance premiums. To bring insurance costs down, we recommend trying the following:

• Bundle your insurance policies: If you rent or own a home, you can bundle your insurance with auto insurance to receive loyalty discounts.

• Go to driving school: Windsor auto insurance providers will give you credit for completing driving school. Learning solid driving habits from a licensed driving instructor will help reduce your risk on the road, resulting in a slight discount on your insurance.

• Get usage-based insurance (UBI): Your auto insurance provider can install a device to track your driving habits, which can reduce your rates if you stay safe, follow the rules, and remain claims-free. However, insurers in Ontario can use your data to increase your rates when your policy renews if the telematics device detects unsafe driving patterns.

• Continue building your driving record: The longer you drive and maintain a clean record, the more likely your car insurance premiums will decline over time.

• Compare insurance quotes: Comparison shopping via websites like LowestRates.ca will provide you with the cheapest auto insurance quotes in Windsor.

Car insurance for high-risk drivers in Windsor

A driver with many claims and accidents is labelled 'high-risk' by car insurance companies. Insurance companies must offer all drivers quotes, even if they're high-risk. However, insurers must compensate for the extra risk they take by insuring this demographic — making it difficult for high-risk drivers to find affordable insurance. However, you can eventually lower your rates. We recommend trying the following:

• Improve your driving record: This seems obvious, but it's essential. Take classes, unlearn your bad habits, and drive as safely as possible. Over time, your improved driving record will result in cheaper insurance premiums.

• Compare auto insurance rates: Even as a high-risk driver, you can benefit from looking at quotes from different insurance companies —comparison shop on sites like LowestRates.ca to discover the best rates for high-risk drivers.