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28,128 Canadians

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What our users say:

March 27
Jennifer was very helpful and…
Jennifer was very helpful and knowledgeable. Very good experience so far.
Jeremy Allin
March 25
Very professional friendly and…
Very professional friendly and genuine....they made me feel like I mattered
Charles D Bedard
March 25
Immediate response
Immediate response
Donald Henderson
March 19
It was quick and easy and saved me over…
It was quick and easy and saved me over $400.00...
Dennis Coulson
March 19
It is easy to make the quotes with the…
It is easy to make the quotes with the cheap price.
Thuy Nguyen
March 15
Absolutely amazing!
Absolutely amazing! Got a great deal and the best agent possible! Thank you very...
Adam Michael Peters
March 15
I found the representative a good…communicator
I found the representative a good communicator and he help me to feel comfortabl...
James Mirowski
March 15
Very friendly voice o the other end
Very friendly voice o the other end, and very happy with my quote
Joe Moreira
March 15
It was a professional and fast answer…
It was a professional and fast answer to my request, it couldn’t be more perfe...
Mahrez Djellouli
March 15
very satisfied
agent was very very helpful explain a lot of things we dint know very happy wit...
Joao Medeiros
March 13
Great service
Very helpful
Jessica
March 8
Easy to use and logical site
Easy to use and logical site
keith houghton
March 8
Fast and knowledgeable response to…
Fast and knowledgeable response to enqueries
Andrew Leung
March 7
The best thing that they follow up.and…
The best thing that they follow up.and they are honest. Adel
Adel Almousa
March 6
Very helpful team !
Very helpful team !
Shivali Patel
February 15
Super fast seriously half the price!
Super fast seriously half the price of my previous broker. I worked with Khadija...
N. Gul
January 31
Representative was extremely helpful…
Representative was extremely helpful and was able to assist in all our needs.
Laura Dunsford
January 19
I was treated very well
I was treated very well, the person that was helping me was very helpful and fou...
Tim Bob
January 18
Great service
The response to my inquiry was quick. I received a phone call a few hours later ...
Sherri Leclerc
December 4
Quick turnaround
Quick turnaround, I am really happy with the process so far.
Breno Mendonca
November 11
process was easy and professional
The process was easy and professional
James Robichaud
November 1
The young man was very courteous and…
The young man was very courteous and professional. We didn't qualify due to low...
Teresa Penning
October 26
Quick and friendly response.
Quick and friendly response.
Dan Rochon Rochon
October 13
prompt respond
prompt respond, knowledgable
Brano Lapin
September 27
The agent was Patient and knowledgeable…
The agent was Patient and knowledgeable answered all my questions
Richard Young
August 31
The agent (Jan) was most professional
The agent (Jan) was most professional, courteous, and friendly.
Kewal Khanna
July 27
They gave me a lot of important…
They gave me a lot of important information
Liliana FERNANDEZ
July 13
THE PERSON ANSWERED ALL MYY QUESTIONS
THE PERSON ANSWERED ALL MYY QUESTIONS
Antonio

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Get the best rates on usage-based car insurance.

Paying too much for car insurance? Lower your premiums with a usage-based auto insurance policy from LowestRates.ca.

Whether you're a young driver, live in a big city, or own a car that's subject to high insurance rates in Canada, usage-based insurance policies can lower the cost of your premiums by rewarding you for good driving habits.

Ready to find the best usage-based car insurance policy? Click the "Get Started' button.

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See how our customers with collision coverage save big on auto insurance.

CustomerLocationVehicleLowest rateAverage rateSaved
Quote from March 27, 2024
Customer
Female, 34 years old
Location
ontario
Vehicle
2013 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE LAREDO 4DR 4WD
Lowest Rate
$229/mth
$2,742/yr
Average Rate
$343/mth
$4,111/yr
Saved
$114/mth
33.30%
Quote from March 27, 2024
Customer
Male, 21 years old
Location
ontario
Vehicle
2014 FORD FIESTA SE 4DR
Lowest Rate
$179/mth
$2,149/yr
Average Rate
$258/mth
$3,099/yr
Saved
$79/mth
30.66%
Quote from March 27, 2024
Customer
Male, 44 years old
Location
ontario
Vehicle
2013 CHEVROLET CRUZE LT TURBO 4DR
Lowest Rate
$306/mth
$3,676/yr
Average Rate
$407/mth
$4,888/yr
Saved
$101/mth
24.80%

Auto insurance quotes are compared from CAA, Coachman Insurance Company, Economical Insurance, Gore Mutual, Onlia Insurance, Pafco, Pembridge, SGI, Travelers, Zenith Insurance Company

 

Let’s talk telematics.

How does usage based insurance work?

Usage-based insurance (UBI) uses onboard technology to monitor your driving habits and adjust your premiums based on how you drive.

With UBI car insurance, a small telematics device is installed in your vehicle and transmits data back to your insurance company while you drive. The device logs driving metrics such as braking, cornering, acceleration, speed—even where you drive and what time of day you're on the road. If the data show that you're a low-risk driver, you might qualify for a significant discount on your car insurance premiums.

What data does usage based insurance plans collect?

The types of data collected vary from company to company, but most telematics boxes capture four key driving metrics: acceleration, braking, cornering and speed. Some devices also record where and when you drive. Once these metrics are collected and analyzed, your insurance company will determine if you qualify for a premium discount.

Here's how it works:

  • Acceleration measures the rate at which the speed of your vehicle changes within a set period of time. If you increase your rate of speed rapidly (by stepping hard on the accelerator), the telematics device records that information.
  • Braking is measured in a similar way to acceleration: Your vehicle's telematics box records your braking data and transmits it to the insurance company. A pattern of hard braking, where you reduce your vehicle's speed rapidly, is a strong indicator of unsafe driving tendencies.
  • Cornering measures the rate and angle a vehicle travels around a corner. Approaching sharp corners or bends in the road at higher speeds should be avoided.
  • Speed is calculated via the GPS in your telematics box and is compared against a database of speed limits from across the country. Staying at or below the speed limit will greatly help you reduce your premium.
  • When/where you drive. Most telematics boxes have GPS capabilities that let insurance companies see when and where you drive. Where you drive and when you're on the road are two of the biggest predictors of future insurance claims.

Does telematics technology have any drawbacks?

Yes. Drivers and critics alike have two main concerns about this new technology:

  • Privacy: Critics say the information that's collected could be disclosed to third parties or be used to reject claims. Usage-based insurance companies maintain that your data will remain private and secure. Make sure your insurance company requires consent before they can share your information with a third party.
  • Interpretation: Some worry that a usage-based insurance plan may actually work against you. If your insurance company classifies you as a risky driver after analyzing your telematics data, in some jurisdictions, your premiums could increase.

Your usage-based auto insurance questions, answered.

Why get usage-based insurance?

Simply put, UBI auto insurance is a great way to obtain cheaper car insurance for your vehicle. Also known as pay as you drive insurance, you pay for the kind of driving you actually do, instead of the driving the insurance company thinks you do. And if you're a careful driver, your premiums will reflect that.

And there's another benefit: you get instant feedback on your driving habits. Many insurance companies have apps that give you real-time insights into how you drive and share recommendations on how you can become a better driver.

Recent studies also show that telematics technology really does make for safer driving. One report analyzed over 200 million miles of data collected from young drivers since 2011.

Some very promising trends emerged: for instance, the report showed a 40% drop in crash risk for new drivers with usage-based insurance compared to young drivers without a UBI insurance policy.

Not surprisingly, 80% of UBI customers agreed that technology helped them become better drivers, and many said they began to monitor their behaviour behind the wheel in an effort to reduce their premiums.

All in all, pay as you go car insurance policies can save lives and keep the cost of insuring your vehicle to a minimum.

How does telematics technology lower my premiums?

Traditionally, insurance companies use very blunt methods to calculate car insurance rates. Demographic data, like age and gender, combined with a driver's past record (number of years on the road, number of traffic violations and claims, etc.) were the only ways an insurance company could gauge how risky a driver was on the road.

But pay per use auto insurance plans use your real-world driving data to determine if you're a safer bet than other drivers with the same basic profile.

The first step is installing a little black box into a diagnostic port on your car (usually near the steering column). The unit is about the size of a matchbox, and it collects data on your driving habits and then transmits the data through cell phone networks and back to your insurance company.

Once your insurance company has the data, it can adjust your premiums accordingly. Remember: safe, cautious driving equals cheaper car insurance.

How much money can I save with usage-based insurance?

Pay-per-use car insurance customers usually see a savings of 10% to 25% on their yearly premiums. Drivers who fall into traditional high-risk categories (inexperienced drivers, drivers in big cities, etc.) can save even more.

Can my car insurance rates increase with a usage-based insurance plan?

In Quebec, Ontario, and Alberta, surcharges can be added to your premiums if you're classified as a riskier driver based on the data collected from your car insurance monitoring device.

Which company offers the best usage-based insurance?

There’s no single company that offers the cheapest UBI car insurance. Each insurance company calculates its pay as you drive car insurance rate discounts differently.

It’s best practice to compare usage-based car insurance online. Our auto insurance quoter allows you to compare UBI car insurance quotes from multiple providers which ensures you’re getting the best pay-per-mile car insurance available.

Do UBI plans all use the same data and apply it in the same way?

No. Each insurance company calculates its UBI rate discounts differently. For example, some assign more importance to speed and acceleration than to other variables. Others place greater weight on when you drive. It just depends on the insurance company. Compare quotes online for the best UBI car insurance rates.

Is usage-based insurance available in my province?

In Canada, pay per mile insurance is widely available in Quebec, Ontario, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Alberta, and P.E.I. Meanwhile, Saskatchewan hasn’t made any further announcements about integrating a UBI program since its pilot program for motorcycle drivers ended in 2014.

British Columbia is taking a "wait and see" approach to UBI due to some of the privacy concerns posed by the technology. Manitoba and Newfoundland and Labrador haven't made announcements about their own plans for introducing UBI — at least, not yet. UBI is a newer insurance option in Canada and provincial governments are still working out the kinks to ensure that it can be implemented safely and ethically.

Check LowestRates.ca to find out when UBI becomes available in your area.

Province / territoryIs usage-based insurance available?
AlbertaYes
British ColumbiaNo
ManitobaNo
New BrunswickYes
Newfoundland & LabradorNo
Northwest TerritoriesNo
Nova ScotiaYes
NunavutNo
OntarioYes
Prince Edward IslandYes
QuebecYes
SaskatchewanNo
YukonNo

Last updated: Nov. 8, 2021

How do I get a quote for usage-based insurance?

Contact us at info@lowestrates.ca and we'll connect you with a usage-based insurance expert to review your pay as you drive insurance options.

Zandile Chiwanza

Zandile Chiwanza

About the Author

Zandile is a Personal Finance Writer at LowestRates.ca. Before joining the team Zandile worked as the content editor for Real Estate Management Industry News. As a self-proclaimed budget warrior, Zandile dedicates most of her time to advocating for financial wellness.

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