No car insurance company is the best choice for every Canadian driver. Each insurer prices age, driving record, vehicle and postal code differently, sells in different provinces and handles claims in its own way. This page compares the main companies, explains where the public insurers fit, and sets out how to collect quotes that can be compared fairly. Our other guides, including costs by province and coverage explainers, are in the car insurance hub.
Main private insurers
Where each company sells car insurance, and how, differs. The table notes what each insurer states on its own website.
| Company | How it sells | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| Intact | Directly and through brokers | Describes itself as the largest property and casualty insurer in Canada; usage-based program: myDrive |
| belairdirect | Directly | Sells car insurance in Alberta, Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, PEI and Newfoundland and Labrador |
| TD Insurance | Directly | Does not sell car insurance in British Columbia, Manitoba or Saskatchewan; usage-based program: TD MyAdvantage |
| Aviva | Through brokers and directly | Usage-based program: Aviva Journey |
| Economical | Through brokers | Part of Definity Financial, the same group as Sonnet |
| Wawanesa | Through brokers | Auto insurance in Ontario, Quebec, Alberta, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and PEI, among others |
| Sonnet | Online only | Sells car insurance in Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and PEI; part of Definity Financial |
Our Sonnet Insurance review covers Sonnet in detail. Desjardins and The Co-operators also sell car insurance and are worth including in a comparison where they operate.
Where the public insurers fit
Drivers in British Columbia, Manitoba and Saskatchewan must buy minimum coverage from the government insurer, Quebec drivers must buy bodily injury coverage from the government insurer (the SAAQ) and can buy the rest elsewhere, and drivers in Alberta, Ontario and the Atlantic provinces buy coverage from private insurers; collision and comprehensive coverage is mandatory only in Manitoba and Saskatchewan. Where a government insurer sells part of the coverage, private companies compete only for the rest:
| Province | Public insurer | What private insurers can sell |
|---|---|---|
| BC | ICBC | Optional coverage beyond Basic Autoplan |
| Saskatchewan | SGI | Coverage beyond the public plan |
| Manitoba | MPI | Coverage beyond the public plan |
| Quebec | SAAQ (bodily injury) | All property damage coverage |
How each system works is explained on the BC (ICBC), Saskatchewan (SGI), Manitoba (MPI) and Quebec (SAAQ) pages.
What separates the companies
Price is only one difference. When quotes are close, these are worth weighing:
| Feature | What to check |
|---|---|
| Claims service | Reviews of how the insurer handles larger claims, including total losses |
| Distribution | Direct, broker or both; broker-only insurers do not quote directly |
| Telematics | Whether a usage-based program exists and whether your driving score can raise the premium as well as lower it |
| Bundling | The size of the home and auto discount |
| Coverage options | Accident forgiveness, depreciation waivers, rental coverage |
| Availability | Whether the insurer sells in your province |
How an insurer handles a write-off matters most after a serious crash; the process is covered in what happens when your car is written off.
How to get quotes you can compare
| Method | How it works |
|---|---|
| Direct insurer online | Enter your details for a quote from that insurer |
| Comparison site | Submit once, get quotes from several insurers |
| Insurance broker | A broker shops the insurers it represents |
| Calling each insurer | Individual quotes by phone |
A fair comparison uses identical coverage in every quote: the same liability limit, the same deductibles for collision and comprehensive, and the same endorsements. Because direct insurers and broker-only insurers are reached through different channels, a broker quote plus two or three direct quotes covers more of the market than either channel alone. The discounts to ask each company about are listed in our guide to lowering a car insurance premium.
Your age and record set the range you will be quoted in; see car insurance cost by age and car insurance for new drivers. Ontario-specific options are covered in cheap car insurance in Ontario.
Related reading
Sources
The figures and rules on this page come from these sources, last checked against them on October 2, 2026. How we check facts.