Windsor is the southernmost city in Canada and is so close to the border, Canadian content rules don’t apply, but the Highway Traffic Act for Ontario still does. Windsor is known as the “Automotive Capital of Canada” more for its manufacturing, than the number of cars on the road but that doesn’t make transportation any easier. The Detroit-Windsor tunnel is one of the busiest border crossings in North America transporting as many as 150,000 people to and from work every day. If you’re commuting to the US for work, you need to make sure you have insurance for both countries. If you stay local, it’s possible you may get into an accident with someone from Detroit. With all this in mind, the people of Windsor need to shop around for car insurance quotes to make sure they’re paying the best price and getting the best value. At Ratehub.ca we help you find car insurance quote in minutes from multiple providers saving you time and money.
Windsor car insurance, like all other cities in Ontario, is provided by private insurance companies. The basic and mandatory coverages for all Windsor drivers include: No-Fault Insurance, Third-Party Liability Insurance, Accident Benefits, Direction Compensation-Property Damage (DCPD), and Uninsured Motorist. You can opt to pay for more coverage if you feel more comfortable.
Here is a complete overview of the available coverage options for Windsor drivers:
Coverage | Description |
---|---|
Public Insurance |
Basic auto insurance coverage provided by the Provincial government. This generally includes liability, accident benefits and uninsured motorist coverage.
Available: No |
Private Insurance |
Auto insurance policies created & sold by private insurance carriers. Though these carriers must still abide by Federal and Provincial regulations.
Available: Yes |
No-fault insurance |
Having no-fault insurance doesn’t mean you can’t be found at fault. This coverage means you must first deal with your own insurance company for all claims, whether you’re at fault or not. But, Ontario will allow a no-fault driver to sue an at-fault driver for additional damages and costs that are not covered by their accident benefits.
Available: Yes |
Third-party Liability Insurance |
Protects against damage caused by you while driving and includes injury and death to others and property damage. This is the only insurance coverage that is mandatory across Canada. Minimum coverage for Ontario is $200,000.
Available: Yes |
Accident Benefits |
Covers your medical benefits if you’re injured in a crash, whether you’re at fault or not. The coverage includes your medical costs, while also paying for additional recovery costs, such as rehab, income replacement, and payment for and attendant care, if needed.
Available: Yes |
Direct Compensation-Property Damage (DCPD) |
Covers damage to your vehicle and its contents, and for the loss of use of your vehicle when damaged – if another person was at fault. This coverage only applies if the crash occurs in a province where DCPD is mandatory, if two or more insured vehicles are involved, and if both insurers are licensed within that DCPD province.
Available: Yes |
Uninsured Motorist |
Uninsured motorist coverage protects against injuries you and your family members sustain in a crash caused by an uninsured motorist. It can also cover your vehicle damages, if the uninsured driver is able to be identified.
Available: Yes |
Collision Insurance |
Protects against damages sustained in a collision. This insurance covers you if your car is damaged in a crash – in both cases whether you crash into another other car or whether you crash into a stationary object.
Available: Yes |
Comprehensive Insurance |
Protects against any losses a car owner may suffer, from events not related to driving. Such losses could include theft or damage from attempted theft; vandalism; environmental damage to a car from floods, fallen trees, and hail, etc.
Available: Yes |
Specified Perils |
Covers your financial losses for damage caused specific perils – but only for perils chosen specifically for your policy. Available coverages are for theft; fire; damage from hail, lightning, wind, or flooding; earthquakes; explosions; riots; aircraft crash damage; and damage sustained during any transportation relocation.
Available: Yes |
All Perils |
This combines the coverages you get with collision and comprehensive insurance. Additionally, all-perils also covers you if an employee, or someone who drives or services your car, steals it. It also covers you if someone you live with steals your vehicle.
Available: Yes |
Emergency roadside assistance |
This service covers you for roadside callouts for emergencies such as dead batteries, towing, flat tires, keys locked in your car, empty gas tank, etcetera. Many insurance companies offer roadside assistance either included or in addition to other coverages.
Available: Yes |
*Table information sourced from http://www.ibc.ca (2017)
The traffic-heavy 401 highway ends in Windsor and makes for a lot of cars exiting onto the city’s streets. The Windsor-Essex Parkway would extend the 401 into Detroit but may win an award for the most expensive road ever built in Canada on a per km basis. The E.C. Row Expressway, the fastest east-west artery through town running 15.7km with nine interchanges, does have an award. It’s famous for being the shortest freeway that took the longest time to build, according to the Guinness book of world records, it took 15 years to complete. All these highways and international commuters crossing the border every day don’t seem to negatively affect Windsor for their car insurance. The people of Windsor pay some of the lowest premiums in Ontario but those are only some of the factors. Insurance companies also want to understand who you are as a driver, so they will look into your type of driver’s license and how long you’ve had it, your daily commute, as well as any at-fault collisions, traffic tickets or moving violations currently still on your record. Insurance calculations are complex, and no two companies use the same weighted criteria, but overall here are the factors that determine the rate you will receive from a Windsor car insurer.
Research which car insurance company provides the best value for you and your car. In Ontario, rates change four times a year, but lucky for you comparing rates with us is free.
Some auto insurance companies will give loyalty discounts to drivers who remain active with them for years. Especially if they add family members or multiple vehicles to their policy.
If you use the same insurance company for both your home and auto insurance, your insurer will often thank you with a discount on your premium.
If you have multiple drivers and vehicles in the same household, by putting them all on one policy can save you money.
This is the portion you pay when settling a claim before your insurance provider will pay the rest. If you’re willing to double down on your deductible, it could save you money.
If you’re a member of an Ontario faction of CAA, a large corporation, union, or a school alumnus, it could help you get cheaper car insurance.
Paying monthly adds administrative costs to your insurer. If you can help them by paying one lump sum annually, they will thank you by lowering your premiums.
Be a safe driver, the insurance companies love it. Obey the rules of the road and drive according to road conditions, they look upon this fondly. If you, through these practices, can reduce your chances of an accident, you will pay less.
You can save up to 5% simply by adding winter tires to your car. With winter driving conditions being so treacherous throughout Ontario it pays to be safe!
There are telematics devices that collect driving data. With user-based insurance (UBI) you can earn your discounts if you’re not driving far or often. These devices even look at advanced stats like how carefully you brake and accelerate.
Are you new to driving? A driver’s education course can save you money. Car insurance providers will think of you as a safe driver if you’ve received lessons by professionals.