About Charlottetown car insurance
When Canadians think of Charlottetown, they probably think of Anne of Green Gables and not much else. But there's much more to this city. Charlottetown lies in the middle of Prince Edward Island, making it a natural transportation hub for the province. Because it lacked a public transit system for so long, Charlottetown is also home to a robust set of roadways, and it's the focal point of several well-traveled PEI highways.
What's more, when it's time to insure their cars, Islanders are lucky: they pay the 2nd lowest auto insurance premiums in the country. Even so, drivers in Charlottetown need to make sure they have the right insurance for their vehicle, and that's where LowestRates.ca can help. With just a few clicks, PEI drivers can compare the best quotes from the top insurers in the province — just like that.
Most popular brands
Take a look at Charlottetown drivers' favourite car brands:
Who shops for auto insurance in Charlottetown?
Here's a snapshot of our auto insurance shoppers in Charlottetown:
Driving in Charlottetown: facts and myths
- Commuting from Cornwall to Charlottetown via the Trans Canada Highway will be slow until the end of 2016 due to construction on the Cornwall Perimeter Highway. Use alternative routes in and out of Charlottetown, especially during peak hours.
- On an annual basis, the highly visited Victoria Row is closed to vehicles between May and October. The closure takes place between Queen Street and Great George Street and is aimed at accommodating the high volume of foot traffic in the area.
- Routes 1 and 2 help you get around town. To get around Charlottetown, take Route 1 (the Trans-Canada) and make your way through the city's northern suburbs. To get to the harbourfront, take Route 2, the province's main east-west highway, and then take University Avenue all the way to the southern edge of the city.
- Charlottetown is so small that it doesn't even have a transit system. False. This was true 9 years ago though. T3 Transit (previously known as Charlottetown Transit) was founded in 2005 and now boasts 10 routes and transports 250,000 passengers every year.
- There's nothing to do in Charlottetown. False. It may be a small city, but there's as much to do in Charlottetown as in any big city across Canada. From local shops and markets, to scenic boating, walking tours, art galleries, theatres, and year-round festivals, there's never a shortage of activities in this harbourfront city.
- There's no parking in downtown Charlottetown. False. There are 4306 parking spaces downtown: 3000 streetside parking spots and 1306 parkade spaces. You'll definitely find somewhere to park when you visit downtown Charlottetown.
Charlottetown driving tips
- Take the Confederation Bridge. Despite being on an island, Charlottetown is easy to get to. Drivers coming in from the Maritimes, Quebec, and beyond can take the Confederation Bridge, the world's longest bridge over ice-covered waters. Make sure you stay under the 80km/h speed limit on the bridge and, when your trip is done, have cash or a credit card on hand to pay for the $45 departure toll.
- Take the Trans-Canada all the way to Charlottetown. After a short 15 minute drive across Confederation Bridge, you'll find yourself in the town of Borden-Carleton. From there, the way to Charlottetown is as easy as getting on the Trans-Canada. The drive from Borden-Carleton to Charlottetown takes about 45 minutes, but don't worry. The charming countryside scenery makes up for the long drive.
- Monitor Charlottetown traffic with the city's official street cam. For a bird's-eye view of traffic on University Avenue, check the city's official Island Cam at www.gov.pe.ca/islandcam. You'll get a sneak peek of downtown traffic from historic Province House, the very building where the Charlottetown Conference took place.
- Left turns aren't permitted at the intersection of Queen and Grafton Streets. Charlottetown city by-laws state that drivers entering this intersection have two options. They can travel straight through the intersection (while staying within the right half of the roadway nearest the centre line), or they can turn right by continuing through the intersection. If you go with this route, make sure you stay within the right half of the road nearest to the curb.
