What You Need to Know About Car Insurance in St. Catharines
As a driver, choosing what car insurance to buy in St. Catharines is an essential decision. There are several special considerations relating to where in St. Catharines you live that you should take into account. St. Catharines, also known as the “Garden City”, is a manufacturing-based city in the Niagara Region in Southern Ontario, famous for its parks and trails.
Car insurance rates in St. Catharines are comparable to Canada’s average. Drivers can estimate paying between $1,200 and $1,500 a year. The average annual cost of car insurance in Canada is around $1,250, and $1,635 in Ontario. Even though prices are lower than in other locations, it’s still essential to compare quotes frequently to get the best rates for your policy.
Frequently Asked Questions about St. Catharines Car Insurance
What are the 3 types of car insurance in St. Catharines?
All drivers in St. Catharines are obliged by law to carry a specific amount of insurance, including the following:
Third-Party Liability Coverage
The third-party liability coverage section of your auto insurance will cover you if someone is injured, killed, or their property is damaged. It will cover settlement fees and claims resulting from any lawsuits you receive, depending on the extent of your coverage. Although $200,000 is the bare minimum required by law for third-party liability insurance, you can increase it. For instance, the majority of drivers boost their third-party liability coverage from $200,000 to $1 million.
Accident Benefits Coverage
Regardless of who caused the accident, this section of your auto insurance policy offers you benefits if you are injured (rehabilitation, income replacement assistance, additional medical care, attendant care, caregiver support, and non-earner status). Many of these coverages can also be expanded as needed as part of accident benefits coverage.
Uninsured Automobile Coverage
If an uninsured driver or a hit-and-run driver causes you injury or death, this section will safeguard you and your loved ones. It also includes damage an uninsured driver causes to your car.
Additionally, St. Catharines has a no-fault insurance program in effect. Drivers must use their own insurance company regardless of who caused the collision if they have no-fault insurance. In other words, you always deal with your insurance provider when you submit a claim or report an accident. This is known as direct compensation – property damage (DC – PD) coverage.
The following criteria must be met in order for the DC-PD part of your auto insurance policy to be in effect:
- The accident occurred in Ontario.
- At least one other vehicle was involved.
- At least one of the cars is also covered by an insurance firm that is authorized to do business in Ontario or has entered into a special contract with FSCO to offer this coverage.
What are the other types of coverage I can get in St. Catharines?
There are a number of add-ons for St. Catharines car insurance available. They consist of the following:
Specified perils
This add-on provides coverage for damages resulting from one of the following risks:
- Fire
- Theft or attempted theft
- Natural disasters: lightning, wind, hail, rising water or earthquake
- Explosion
- Riot or civil unrest
- Falling or forced landing of an aircraft or parts of an aircraft
- The stranding, sinking, burning, derailment, or collision of any kind of transport in, or upon which an insured vehicle is being carried on land or water.
Comprehensive
The losses under “specified perils,” falling or flying items, missiles, vandalism, and losses not included in collision coverage are some examples of what comprehensive will cover.
Collision
This section insures losses sustained when an insured car rolls or collides with something, such as another car. The ground’s surface, anything on or in the ground, and a trailer or another vehicle attached to the car covered by your insurance policy are all considered “objects.”
All perils
This combines collision and comprehensive insurance. It also covers damage or loss if a member of your household steals a vehicle covered by your insurance policy. Additionally, if an employee steals your automobile while driving it, servicing it, or having it repaired, your all perils coverage will reimburse you (e.g., if you gave your keys to a valet attendant to park your car and they stole it).
What are the types of endorsements I can add to my policy in St. Catharines?
Transportation Replacement (OPCF 20):
If the loss or damage was brought on by an insured risk, this coverage—also known as “loss of use”—pays for the cost of a rental car while your car is being repaired or replaced.
Rented or Leased Vehicles (OPCF 5):
With this endorsement, your insurance policy is extended to cover any vehicles you drive that are leased.
Liability for Damage to Non-Owned Automobile(s) and Other Coverages (OPCF 27):
This endorsement offers physical damage coverage for vehicles that you may drive but do not directly own, such as a car you rented or borrowed. In some situations, it also offers Liability, Accident Benefits, Uninsured Automobile, and Direct Compensation-Property Damage coverages.
Family Protection Coverage (OPCF 44R):
If you are involved in an auto accident, and you are not at fault, with a motorist who has no insurance, less insurance, or is an unidentified driver (e.g., hit and run), this coverage will cover you or a member of your family up to the same amount as your third-party liability coverage.
Removing Depreciation Deduction (OPCF 43):
When resolving a claim for loss or damage caused by a risk for which you are insured, this coverage removes the insurer’s right to subtract depreciation from the value of your vehicle.
Added Coverage to Offset Tort Deductibles (OPCF 48):
This endorsement lowers the deductible for damages for pain and suffering awarded by a court by $5,000 for Family Law Act claims and by $10,000 for non-Family Law Act claims.
Is auto insurance required in St. Catharines?
All automobile owners in Ontario are required by law to carry auto insurance. In fact, you need to provide proof of auto insurance in order to register a car or renew your registration. The Ontario government has mandated auto insurance for all drivers, and it is governed at the provincial level. This means that you must always have current automobile insurance, regardless of where in the province you reside.
Why should I purchase car insurance in St. Catharines?
There are many reasons you might wish to buy auto insurance outside of the legal ones. First off, a car is probably the second most expensive and valuable thing you will ever buy. If your pricey asset is totalled or damaged in an accident, car insurance can help.
Protecting yourself and your loved ones in case of an accident is a second reason why you should want auto insurance. Even if you are the one in the accident, your loved one’s health may still be affected by long-term medical problems. If someone is hurt, medical expenses may be covered by car insurance.
Finally, protecting yourself, your vehicle, and your loved ones is important, but what about other people? In an accident, you might walk away unscathed with only a little damage in your automobile, but the person who was hit might not be so fortunate. If you cause harm to someone else’s car or health, your auto insurance may be able to pay for it.
There are various other reasons you might desire car insurance or upgrades within your policy, even though auto insurance is required in St. Catharines. One of our Heroes can help you get the best coverage for your needs, whether you want the absolute minimum or all of the added features.
