How Does Car Insurance Work in Cambridge?
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 Cambridge 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 Cambridge referenced above.
| Coverage Type | What’s Included | Average Annual Car Insurance Premium |
|---|---|---|
| Mandatory | – Third-Party Liability – Accident Benefits – Uninsured Automobile | $830 |
| Highly Recommended | – Direct Compensation: Property Damage – Collision – Comprehensive – OPCF 20 – OPCF 27 – OPCF 44R – OPCF 39 – OPCF 43 | $1,064 |
| Coverage Total: | $1,894 |
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. | $249 |
| Accident Benefits | Covers medical costs, income replacement, and more for you and others injured in an accident, regardless of fault. | $566 |
| Uninsured Automobile | Protects you if you’re hit by an uninsured or an unidentified driver and suffer injuries or vehicle damage. | $15 |
| Coverage Total: | $830 |
*The above coverages are mandatory in Cambridge 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. | $465 |
| Collision | Covers your vehicle if you hit another car or object and you’re found at fault. | $284 |
| Comprehensive | Covers damage to your vehicle from non-collision events like theft, vandalism, fire, or weather. | $204 |
| 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. | $27 |
| 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: | $1,064 |
*Any of the above highly recommended coverages in Cambridge may be removed from your quote, but we strongly recommend keeping them to have adequate protection.
Most Expensive Postal Codes in Cambridge
The annual average auto insurance premium in Cambridge is $1,894, around $20 more than the provincial average of $1,874.
Here’s a detailed look at the most expensive postal codes for auto insurance in Cambridge:
| Postal Code | Average Annual Car Insurance Premium |
|---|---|
| N3H | $1,947 |
| N1T | $1,931 |
Least Expensive Postal Codes in Cambridge
N1S (Cambridge Southwest) has the lowest insurance rates in the city, below the average.
| Postal Code | Average Annual Car Insurance Premium |
|---|---|
| N1S | $1,811 |
Car Insurance Cost in Cambridge by Age
Auto insurance rates are affected by age because it’s usually related to driving experience.
Age affects your car insurance rates because it’s closely related to your driving experience. Teenagers pay more for insurance because they’re less experienced and are more likely to get in an accident, but their rates will lower as they age. Meanwhile, senior citizens pay more because they’re much more likely to get hurt in an accident.
Here’s a breakdown of how age influences car insurance rates in Cambridge:
| Age | Average Annual Car Insurance Premium | Average Savings with MyChoice |
|---|---|---|
| 18-20 | $5,436 | $1,081 |
| 21-24 | $2,803 | $558 |
| 25-34 | $2,159 | $429 |
| 35-44 | $1,894 | $377 |
| 45-54 | $1,610 | $320 |
| 55-64 | $1,496 | $298 |
| 65+ | $1,534 | $305 |
Car Insurance Cost in Cambridge by Driving History
Your driving history impacts auto insurance premiums because it can predict your accident risk. High-risk drivers are more likely to get in accidents, landing them higher insurance rates. Conversely, safe drivers are less likely to be involved in an accident, giving them lower rates.
Your traffic violations and demerit points will “reset” after two years, but insurance companies usually check your driving record as far as 10 years back.
Here’s a look at how different driving violations affect your auto insurance rates:
| Driving Violation | Average Annual Car Insurance Premium |
|---|---|
| Clean driving record | $1,894 |
| Insurance cancellation due to non-payment | $2,633 |
| Licence suspension for alcohol-related offences | $1,989 |
| One at-fault accident | $3,712 |
| Minor speeding ticket | $2,292 |
Car Insurance Cost in Cambridge by Vehicle Model
Below is a breakdown of the estimated insurance costs for various car models in Cambridge. 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 |
|---|---|
| Hyundai | $1,910 |
| Infiniti | $1,850 |
| Mercedes | $1,876 |
| Toyota | $1,994 |
| Audi | $2,355 |
| Mazda | $1,951 |
| Volkswagen | $1,742 |
| Chevrolet | $1,781 |
| BMW | $2,205 |
| Ford | $1,734 |
The Best Car Insurance Brokerages in Cambridge
Car insurance brokers can answer your questions and compare deals between multiple insurers to help you choose the right auto insurance policy.
You can work with Cambridge insurance brokers to find the best insurance deals, so contact them for extra assistance when shopping for car insurance:
| Brokerage | Address | Phone number |
|---|---|---|
| Regal Insurance Brokers | 159 Main St Cambridge, ON N1R 1W5, Canada | +15196242150 |
| BrokerLink | 1165 Franklin Blvd Cambridge, ON N1R 8E1, Canada | +15196246072 |
| Monteiro Insurance Brokers Ltd | 12 Cambridge St Cambridge, ON N1R 3R7, Canada | +15196237031 |
| Conestoga Insurance Brokers Ltd. | 731 King St E Cambridge, ON N3H 3N8, Canada | +15196531134 |
Driving in Cambridge
With its rich architectural heritage, Cambridge is popular with filmmakers and played host to popular movies and TV series like The Handmaid’s Tale, American Gods, 12 Monkeys, and more. It’s also home to a large manufacturing industry that employs roughly 20% of its residents.
With all these activities, Cambridge can be a busy city to drive in at times. Here are some key facts about driving in Cambridge you should know:
- Major highways in Cambridge: 8, 24
- Public transit options: Grand River Transit (bus), GO Transit (bus and train)
- Ridesharing services: Uber, Lyft
- Parking space providers: The City of Cambridge, private lots
- Top tourist attractions: Fashion History Museum, Shade’s Mills Conservation Area, Cambridge Butterfly Conservatory, Queen’s Square Gallery, Riverside Park
- Busy intersections: Hespeler Road and Bishop Street, Hespeler Road, Maple Grove Road, and Fischer Mills Road, King Street and Bishop Street
- Airports: Region of Waterloo International Airport
Main Mode of Commuting in Cambridge
An overwhelming majority of Cambridge’s commuters travel by car, truck or van. Out of the 47,590 car users, 43,605 drive while the remaining 3,985 are passengers. Public transit and walking take the second and third-most popular commuting methods at 1,695 and 1,250 respectively. Here’s a closer look at how people commute in Cambridge:
| Main mode of commuting | Counts | Rates |
|---|---|---|
| Total – 25% sample data | 51,550 | 100.0 |
| Car, truck or van | 47,590 | 92.3% |
| Car, truck or van – as a driver | 43,605 | 84.6% |
| Car, truck or van – as a passenger | 3,985 | 7.7% |
| Public transit | 1,695 | 3.3% |
| Walked | 1,250 | 2.4% |
| Bicycle | 200 | 0.4% |
| Other method | 815 | 1.6% |
Commuting Duration in Cambridge
Most of Cambridge’s 51,550 commuters take 15 to 29 minutes to get to work. A smaller, but still considerable portion of them spend less than 15 minutes on their commute. That said, one-third of Cambridge commuters spend over half an hour commuting. Check this table for more details on commuting times in Cambridge:
| Commuting duration | Counts | Rates |
|---|---|---|
| Total – 25% sample data | 51,550 | 100.0 |
| Less than 15 minutes | 16,690 | 32.4% |
| 15 to 29 minutes | 18,540 | 36.0% |
| 30 to 44 minutes | 8,900 | 17.3% |
| 45 to 59 minutes | 3,480 | 6.8% |
| 60 minutes and over | 3,935 | 7.6% |
Driving Conditions in Cambridge
The weather, commute times, and other factors can affect your auto insurance rates. Here’s a quick look at the driving conditions in Cambridge:
- Average daily commute time: 46 minutes roundtrip
- Average annual rainfall: 32.11 mm
- Average annual snowfall: 28.41 mm
- Rainy days per year: 154
- Rainiest month in Cambridge: October
- Driest month in Cambridge: December
- Snow days per year: 57
- Snowfall months in Cambridge: January – May, October – December
Traffic in Cambridge
Cambridge is a city of over 130,000 people, making it the second-most populous city in the Waterloo Region. With its bustling manufacturing industry and frequent film productions, traffic in Cambridge may be heavier than in many other cities.
Here’s a quick look at the key traffic statistics in Cambridge:
- Population: 138,479 people live within Cambridge’s city limits.
- City area: Cambridge’s city area spans 112.99 km2.
- Time spent in traffic annually: Most Cambridge residents spend 46 minutes in traffic daily on average, totalling roughly 280 hours per year.
- Busiest highways: Cambridge’s Highway 8 connects to Highway 401, North America’s busiest highway that sees over 500,000 vehicles driving through it daily.
The Most Common Questions About Car Insurance in Cambridge
How much is car insurance in Cambridge?
The Average car insurance policy in Cambridge costs $1,894/year.
What information do you need for an auto insurance quote in Cambridge?
To get an auto insurance quote, all you need to provide is basic personal and vehicle information. However, you can get more accurate quotes by providing extra details like your driving history and past traffic violations.
How can you get cheaper auto insurance in Cambridge?
Compare car insurance rates in Cambridge with MyChoice, or visit our main car insurance page to learn other ways of getting cheap car insurance quotes.