Compare car insurance quotes for new immigrants for free.

 

Get quotes from 50+ Canadian providers in 3 minutes.

Get quotes from 50+ Canadian providers in 3 minutes.

24,827 Canadians

have compared rates and saved money over the last 24 hours

What our users say:

September 25
Fantastic
A great experience will recommend this to family and friends. Thanks!
Shelley Pasternak
September 21
Promp response upon filling…
Promp response upon filling questionnaires,courteous representative.
arturo morales
September 21
They were really quick
They were really quick, and very helpful.
Katrina
September 20
On rate
The rates are very interesting
Georges Joseph
September 19
Very skilled people
Very skilled people Answered all my questions
Mike Walter
September 19
Amazing company.
Very professional company. So easy to use 5 ⭐️
Paul
September 15
well informed agent and fast respond.I…
well informed agent and fast respond.I can say one of the better one in the indu...
aj azma
September 14
Fast response
Fast response, great price!
Thuan Nguyen
September 10
The representative was very sweet and…
The representative was very sweet and understanding.
Faouzi Idrissou
September 9
responsive to what I need was calling…
responsive to what I need was calling me while I was still on the website, I tho...
Curtis Leong
September 9
Convenient way to do something that can…
Convenient way to do something that can be a pain in the b.... Thank you
Rick
September 8
I received all the information i was…
I received all the information i was interested in. Very nice service.
Wlodzimierz Wojtysiak
September 8
Most of the staff was very prompt and…
Most of the staff was very prompt and knowledgeable. The online application is e...
Karen Hall
September 7
Easy to use and call back promptly
Easy to use and call back promptly
Donna DAmore
September 6
Very helpful
The company is doing great. They tell you what is the best for you to do
Susan Paradero
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
June 23
One Stop Shop - best rates with multiple companies
Found great rates with multiple companies which made it very easy to quickly ass...
Maryann O
June 22
Very professional polite & knowledgeable
Very professional polite & knowledgeable
Raymond Beaudoin
June 18
Easy and fast
Easy and fast. Saved $1000
Olga Baldin
June 11
Very prompt response
Very prompt response. Instructions were very clear. Had my best interest at hear...
Shairoz Kherani
June 10
Great dealings
Great dealings. Very pleased
Tim Cote
May 17
questions answered
questions answered
Aaron Ridsdale
May 10
Easy & Professional
Easy, fast, efficient & professional.
Nancy
May 8
Fast, friendly and knowledgable service.
I was still completing the online search form for new insurance when my phone ra...
Bonnie Wilson
May 6
Fast and easy
They phoned me literally within 30 seconds after my search and helped answer all...
Haley Adkins
April 26
Very little time on hold
Very little time on hold Easy to understand Friendly Really got a great deal
Melanie
April 26
My consultant Anees took me through the…
My consultant Anees took me through the whole process from my initial call, to r...
D.A.
April 22
My agent was easy to understand so the…
My agent was easy to understand so the process went well.
Jeffrey Kirkham

Car insurance quotes for newcomers to Canada: What you need to know.

For newcomers, there can be a lot of paperwork and planning to prepare for a new life in Canada. But finding the best deal on auto insurance doesn’t have to be complicated.

With so many companies offering insurance it can be tough to pick where to start, and it can seem pricey. Newcomer car insurance rates are often above average because the insured lack a Canadian driving history. That’s not a guarantee, however. Some companies may take prior driving history from other countries into account, and some offer discounts that can offset higher rates.

The way to find the best auto insurance for new immigrants is by comparing rates online. By using our LowestRates.ca online tool you can compare rates from more than 50 auto insurance companies almost instantly. Within three minutes of entering your information, you’ll receive newcomer car insurance quotes online to review.

Looking for cheap car insurance for newcomers? Read on to learn more about getting Canadian car insurance that fits your needs and about how you can reduce your insurance premiums. You can also use our comparison tool now to start shopping around.

Front view of a car. Illustration.

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

CustomerLocationVehicleLowest rateAverage rateSaved
Quote from September 24, 2023
Customer
Male, 29 years old
Location
ontario
Vehicle
2015 SUBARU IMPREZA WRX 4DR AWD
Lowest Rate
$260/mth
$3,121/yr
Average Rate
$327/mth
$3,919/yr
Saved
$67/mth
20.36%
Quote from September 24, 2023
Customer
Male, 27 years old
Location
alberta
Vehicle
2020 VOLVO XC90 R-DESIGN T6 4DR AWD
Lowest Rate
$252/mth
$3,028/yr
Average Rate
$313/mth
$3,752/yr
Saved
$60/mth
19.30%
Quote from September 24, 2023
Customer
Female, 41 years old
Location
ontario
Vehicle
2016 TESLA MODEL S 75D 4DR AWD
Lowest Rate
$96/mth
$1,157/yr
Average Rate
$250/mth
$2,997/yr
Saved
$153/mth
61.39%

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

 

Your questions about car insurance for newcomers, answered.

Is car insurance mandatory in Canada?

Yes, in Canada, car insurance is mandatory in every province and territory. Driving without insurance can result in penalties, which may include fines or the suspension or loss of driving privileges.

Auto insurance falls under provincial and territorial jurisdiction. This means depending on where you live in Canada there may be different minimum requirements and prices

At a minimum, you’ll be expected to have third-party liability coverage. This protects you against losses caused by accidents, including death or injury of another person. It will also cover repair costs for vehicles which get damaged by yours. Liability coverage doesn’t cover the cost of repairing or replacing your vehicle. Be sure to research the minimum requirements for your province or territory online before purchasing a policy.

While car insurance is mandatory, in provinces with private insurance markets there are many options on who to purchase from. To get a better idea of how much new immigrant car insurance costs check out our online tool and get results within minutes.

What are the steps to getting car insurance as a newcomer to Canada?

First, you’ll need to get your Canadian driver's licence. 

Some countries have reciprocal license exchanges with Canadian provinces and territories. This means you can easily exchange the license from your previous country of residence for a new Canadian one. You’ll want to check your provincial or territorial government’s website to see if your license will qualify for an exchange. If it doesn’t, you’ll need to take written and road tests to get your license.

Next you’re ready to start shopping for an insurance policy. There are many companies in Canada that offer car insurance to newcomers, but rates can vary widely. This depends on a variety of factors including your age and gender, the age and model of your vehicle and where you live. The best way to make sure you find the cheapest car insurance policy for immigrants is to shop around.

All drivers — including newcomers — can find premiums that best fit their budget and needs when using the LowestRates.ca auto insurance calculator to compare policies.

What kind of car insurance do expats in Canada need?

Car insurance for expats in Canada has the same basic requirements as insurance for newcomers. If you continue to be insured under another auto insurance policy in your home country, you should ask your insurer what your policy covers while you live abroad. This helps ensure you have adequate Canadian coverage and that you aren’t paying extra for coverage you may already have.

Like newcomers, expats generally pay more than average for car insurance in Canada. The best way to save money is by comparing multiple quotes. An online tool like LowestRates.ca lets you do so in minutes.

How much does car insurance cost for newcomers to Canada?

New immigrant car insurance estimates are generally higher than average. The Insurance Bureau of Canada calculates average yearly costs of auto insurance across the country. This ranges from a low of $717 in Quebec to a high of $1,832 in British Columbia. In large part this is because of a lack of Canadian driving history. Newcomers to Canada generally pay more than these average rates, until they start to develop driving history in Canada.

Some insurance companies accept driving records outside of the country, and this may help lower costs. But other companies don’t. This difference alone can have an impact on how much you pay annually.

Otherwise, car insurance rates for newcomers are calculated largely using the same factors as anyone seeking insurance. These include their age and gender, the age and model of the vehicle being insured and how frequently they drive.

There isn’t a single company which offers the cheapest insurance for new immigrants. This is why comparing newcomer car insurance quotes to ensure you’re getting the best possible deal is essential.

Keep in mind that your international drivers license in Canada is only valid for a certain length of time (about three months), otherwise you’ll need to apply for an International Driver’s Permit (IDP) from your own country, or get a license in the province or territory you’re visiting.

Want to find the best car insurance for newcomers? LowestRates.ca can help. Enter your postal code and click “Get Started,” to launch the process and get car insurance estimates from 50+ Canadian providers.

What can newcomers do to get cheaper car insurance in Canada?

If you’re preparing to move to Canada, you’ll want to set up complete proper insurance, rather than a temporary policy. Be sure to let your provider know that you are planning a move to Canada, and the date that your policy should take effect.

Your choice of automobile plays a big role in what you pay. By purchasing a simple or pre-owned model you can reduce your rates. Vehicles that are unattractive to thieves or which lack costly to repair options tend to have lower premiums than new high-performance or luxury models.

Making consistent payments helps you save, and companies offer a range of discounts which may help further reduce your bill. Attending an accredited driver training program in Canada may also help you reduce your rates. Depending on your needs, you may choose not to purchase optional insurance coverage as part of your policies. For example, if you own your car, not adding on extra collision insurance can reduce your costs.

By comparing rates with the LowestRates.ca comparison tool, only a few minutes separate you from finding cheap car insurance for newcomers that suits your needs.

Where can newcomers to Canada purchase car insurance?

This depends on where you live, as some provinces only have one insurance option. For example, in British Columbia and Manitoba you have to buy your insurance policy from a single insurance provider, which you can start by visiting their webpage.

But in the majority of Canadian provinces or territories you’ll be purchasing a policy from a private insurance company. The best place to start purchasing newcomer car insurance is using an online comparison tool to get quotes from multiple companies.

Because each insurer has different considerations when calculating quotes, shopping around is essential to get the best price. At LowestRates.ca you can use our online tool to find dozens of affordable car insurance options quickly and easily.

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