How Does Car Insurance Work in Barrie?
Car insurance is mandatory in Ontario, but it’s important to understand the factors that influence your insurance premium and the types of coverage you should consider.
Below is a breakdown of what’s included in your car insurance package in Barrie when you get a quote with MyChoice, categorized by mandatory and highly recommended coverages. Together, the mandatory and recommended coverage premiums reflect the average car insurance cost in Barrie referenced above.
| Coverage Type | What’s Included | Average Annual Car Insurance Premium |
|---|---|---|
| Mandatory | – Third-Party Liability – Accident Benefits – Uninsured Automobile | $854 |
| Highly Recommended | – Direct Compensation: Property Damage – Collision – Comprehensive – OPCF 20 – OPCF 27 – OPCF 44R – OPCF 39 – OPCF 43 | $1,061 |
| Coverage Total: | $1,915 |
Mandatory Coverages:
| Coverage Type | Coverage Details | Average Annual Car Insurance Premium |
|---|---|---|
| Third-Party Liability | Protects you if you injure someone or damage property while driving, and covers legal costs if you’re sued. | $267 |
| Accident Benefits | Covers medical costs, income replacement, and more for you and others injured in an accident, regardless of fault. | $572 |
| Uninsured Automobile | Protects you if you’re hit by an uninsured or an unidentified driver and suffer injuries or vehicle damage. | $15 |
| Coverage Total: | $854 |
*The above coverages are mandatory in Barrie and will always be included in a standard car insurance quote.
Highly Recommended Coverages:
| Coverage Type | Coverage Details | Average Annual Car Insurance Premium |
|---|---|---|
| Direct Compensation: Property Damage | Covers damage to your own vehicle if you’re not at fault in an accident with another insured driver in Ontario. | $470 |
| Collision | Covers your vehicle if you hit another car or object and you’re found at fault. | $287 |
| Comprehensive | Covers damage to your vehicle from non-collision events like theft, vandalism, fire, or weather. | $206 |
| OPCF 20: Loss of Use | Pays for rental or other transportation if your car is out of service after an at-fault accident or comprehensive claim. | $24 |
| OPCF 27: Rental Vehicle | Extends your coverage to rented or borrowed vehicles, protecting you if damage occurs while you drive them. | $25 |
| OPCF 44R: Family Protection | Covers you and your family if you’re hit by an uninsured, underinsured, or hit-and-run driver and their coverage isn’t enough. | $19 |
| OPCF 39: Accident Forgiveness | Prevents your insurance premiums from increasing after your first at-fault accident, as long as you stay with the same insurer. | $28 |
| OPCF 43: Waiver of Depreciacion | Ensures you get the full purchase price back—not a depreciated value—if your new vehicle is written off. | $2 |
| Coverage Total: | $1,061 |
*Any of the above highly recommended coverages in Barrie may be removed from your quote, but we strongly recommend keeping them to have adequate protection.
Most Expensive Postal Codes in Barrie
The average cost of auto insurance in Barrie is $1,915 per year, below are the postal codes with the most expensive car insurance in Barrie:
| Postal Code | Average Annual Car Insurance Premium |
|---|---|
| L4M | $1,982 |
| L4N | $1,976 |
Least Expensive Postal Codes in Barrie
L9X is where you’ll find the cheapest insurance premiums in the city of Barrie.
| Postal Code | Average Annual Car Insurance Premium |
|---|---|
| L9J | $1,849 |
| L9X | $1,854 |
How Barrie Car Insurance Rates Compare to Nearby Cities
Barrie’s car insurance rates are comparable to those in other towns in the region.
| City | Average Annual Insurance Premium |
|---|---|
| Barrie, ON | $1,915 |
| Innisfil, ON | $2,216 |
| Bradford, ON | $1,871 |
| Vaughan, ON | $2,451 |
| Toronto, ON | $2,231 |
| Midland, ON | $1,628 |
Car Insurance Cost in Barrie by Age
Age is a major driving factor in whether you can expect higher insurance premiums. Generally, the idea is that older drivers have more experience and are thus more likely to be responsible and capable of avoiding accidents.
Drivers under the age of 25 can expect higher insurance premiums, while those in their 50s and 60s can expect the lowest insurance rates. However, once you reach a certain age, your premium rates start to rise again – usually when you reach the age of 65 or become a senior citizen.
Based on studies, 75-year-old male drivers pay 21% more for auto insurance than 55-year-old male drivers. This is because as people get older, they go through physical changes that can affect their driving ability, such as changes in vision, attention, fitness, and reaction time.
Take a look at how much car insurance costs can vary by age in Ontario:
| Age | Average Annual Rates | Average Savings with MyChoice |
|---|---|---|
| 18-20 | $5,496 | $1,093 |
| 21-24 | $2,834 | $564 |
| 25-34 | $2,183 | $434 |
| 35-44 | $1,915 | $381 |
| 45-54 | $1,628 | $324 |
| 55-64 | $1,513 | $301 |
| 65+ | $1,551 | $309 |
Car Insurance Cost in Barrie by Driving History
Your driving record plays a major role in determining the cost of your insurance premiums. Insurance companies will usually request the following:
- Demerit point total
- Any convictions, suspensions, and reinstatements under the Highway Traffic Act and Criminal Code of Canada
- Records of collisions
- Any driver’s license replacements/renewals
A clean driving record will help you get lower premiums, while a record laden with violations will get you tagged as a high-risk driver and cause insurance companies to charge you more.
In Ontario, driving violations remain on your record for two years, but they can affect your premium rates for far longer. Take a look at how traffic violations can impact your insurance rates below:
| Driving Violation | Average Annual Car Insurance Premium |
|---|---|
| Clean driving record | $1,915 |
| Insurance cancellation due to non-payment | $2,662 |
| Licence suspension for alcohol-related offences | $2,011 |
| One accident | $3,753 |
| Speeding ticket | $2,317 |
Car Insurance Cost in Barrie by Vehicle Model
Below is a breakdown of the estimated insurance costs for various car models in Barrie. This should give you an idea of what you can expect to pay for car insurance based on the vehicle model you drive.
| Car Model | Average Annual Car Insurance Premium |
|---|---|
| Volkswagen | $1,762 |
| Honda | $1,757 |
| Tesla | $1,181 |
| Toyota | $2,016 |
| Hyundai | $1,931 |
| GMC | $1,722 |
| BMW | $2,229 |
| Mazda | $1,786 |
| Mercedes | $1,897 |
| Nissan | $1,940 |
| Subaru | $1,662 |
The Best Car Insurance Brokerages in Barrie
Unlike insurance companies, insurance brokerages don’t sell their own policies. Instead, they work similarly to how mortgage brokers work. They gather quotes from several different companies and narrow down the best options for you.
You can work with insurance brokers to help you find the best-rated policies in your city. Here are some of the top insurance brokerages in Barrie:
| Brokerage | Address | Phone number |
|---|---|---|
| BrokerUnion Insurance Brokerage | 494 Veterans Dr Unit 4 Barrie, ON L4N 9J5, Canada | +17052521900 |
| Aim Insurance Brokers Ltd o/a McCam Insurance | 92 Caplan Ave Suite 645 Barrie, ON L4N 9J2, Canada | +17057375620 |
| Benson Kearley IFG – Insurance Brokers & Financial Advisors | 51 King St Unit 4 Barrie, ON L4N 6B5, Canada | +19058983815 |
| Laura Vivian Insurance and Financial Services | 494 Veterans Dr Barrie, ON L4N 9H8, Canada | +12262403388 |
Driving in Barrie
Barrie is an up-and-coming waterfront city located just 90 kilometers north of Toronto. Previously known as a bedroom community – a city made up mostly of residents who commuted to a bigger city for work – Barrie is gaining a reputation as one of the fastest-growing populations in Canada.
Here are some fast facts about driving in Barrie:
- Major highways in Barrie: Highway 400, Highways 11, 26, 27, 90, 93, 131
- Public transit options: Barrie Transit, GO Transit
- Ridesharing services: Uber
- Parking space providers: The City of Barrie, Impark
- Top tourist attractions: Innisfil Beach Park, Barrie Centennial Park, Kempenfelt Bay, Snow Valley Ski Resort, Mount St. Louis Moonstone
- Busy intersections: Highway 400 and Essa Road, Highway 400 and Maple Drive, Essa Road and Fairview Road, Dunlop Street West and Ferndale Drive North, Dunlop Street and Hart Drive
- Airports: Lake Simcoe Regional Airport
Main Mode of Commuting in Barrie
Over 90% of Barrie’s residents commute by car, truck or van. Nearly 82% of them are drivers, so we can assume that most Barrie commuters drive their own vehicles. Here’s a closer look at how people commute in Barrie:
| Main mode of commuting | Counts | Rates |
|---|---|---|
| Total – 25% sample data | 54,965 | 100.0 |
| Car, truck or van | 49,825 | 90.6% |
| Car, truck or van – as a driver | 44,845 | 81.6% |
| Car, truck or van – as a passenger | 4,980 | 9.1% |
| Public transit | 2,060 | 3.7% |
| Walked | 1,780 | 3.2% |
| Bicycle | 280 | 0.5% |
| Other method | 1,025 | 1.9% |
Commuting Duration in Barrie
People in Barrie often experience shorter commutes, since over half of them take under half an hour to get to work. In fact, almost a third of them take less than 15 minutes to complete their commute. Let’s break down the commuting duration in Barrie:
| Commuting duration | Counts | Rates |
|---|---|---|
| Total – 25% sample data | 54,965 | 100.0 |
| Less than 15 minutes | 19,200 | 34.9% |
| 15 to 29 minutes | 14,775 | 26.9% |
| 30 to 44 minutes | 7,390 | 13.4% |
| 45 to 59 minutes | 5,580 | 10.2% |
| 60 minutes and over | 8,025 | 14.6% |
Driving Conditions in Barrie
Insurance premiums may change depending on your city’s driving conditions. Here’s a rundown of driving conditions in Barrie:
- Average daily commute time: 62 minutes round trip
- Average annual rainfall: 854 mm
- Average annual snowfall: 159.7 cm
- Rainy days per year: 138
- Rainiest month in Barrie: October
- Driest month in Barrie: January
- Snow days per year: 53
- Snowfall months in Barrie: December to March
Traffic in Barrie
Compared to its neighbour, Toronto, which has a population of 2.7 million people, Barrie only has around 140,000 residents. Despite this, traffic can build up on Barrie’s main thoroughfares on weekdays, particularly as 90% of Barrie’s residents drive to work. On weekends, Barrie’s roads become congested with tourists making their way to cottage country.
Here are some key facts about traffic in Barrie:
- Population: Barrie has 143,740 residents within its city limits.
- City area: Barrie’s urban area spans 171.53 km2
- Average commute distance:
- Time spent in traffic annually: Barrie residents spend roughly 377 hours in traffic every year.
- Busiest highways: Highway 400, which cuts through Barrie and connects the city with Toronto, is the most congested highway in Barrie. On weekends, congestion is most felt in the north, on the intersection of Highway 400 and Highway 11, going towards Orillia and Huntsville. Sunday evenings are especially bad as cottage country vacationers make their way home.
The Most Common Questions About Car Insurance in Barrie
How much is auto insurance in Barrie?
Auto insurance in Barrie costs about $1,915/year on average.
Is car insurance cheaper in Barrie?
Car insurance is cheaper in Barrie compared to its neighbouring city Toronto.
How can you get cheaper car insurance in Barrie?
Compare car insurance rates in Barrie with MyChoice, or visit our main car insurance page to learn other ways of getting cheap car insurance quotes.