How much is car insurance in Newfoundland?

Average car insurance in Newfoundland is $1,000–$1,400/year. St. John's has higher rates at $1,100–$1,600. Rural areas and smaller communities are generally cheaper.

What is the minimum car insurance in Newfoundland?

Newfoundland and Labrador requires minimum $200,000 third-party liability, accident benefits, uninsured motorist coverage, and collision (direct compensation property damage).

Is Newfoundland car insurance expensive?

No — Newfoundland is among the more affordable provinces. It is significantly cheaper than Ontario, BC, and Alberta. St. John's is the most expensive area within the province.

What companies sell car insurance in Newfoundland?

Major insurers in Newfoundland include Intact, TD Insurance, Aviva, Co-operators, Wawanesa, and various regional brokerages. Shopping through a broker gives access to the widest range of quotes.

Car Insurance Newfoundland | Complete Guide 2026

Newfoundland and Labrador operates a private, competitive car insurance market regulated by the Public Utilities Board (PUB). Like most Atlantic provinces, Newfoundland has a direct compensation property damage (DCPD) system and rates that are substantially lower than Ontario or BC. St. John’s has the highest rates in the province due to urban density and higher claims frequency, but even those rates are modest compared to Ontario or BC drivers.

Newfoundland has some of the most expensive car insurance outside Ontario. See average car insurance by province and our Canada car insurance guide for full context.

Newfoundland Insurance Overview

Market Structure

Feature	Details
Market type	Private, competitive
Regulator	Public Utilities Board (PUB)
Minimum liability	$200,000
System type	Modified tort with DCPD
Shopping	All coverage is shoppable

Average Costs in Newfoundland

By Driver Profile

Profile	Annual Cost
Experienced driver, clean record	$900–$1,200
Average driver	$1,000–$1,400
New driver (0–2 years)	$2,000–$3,000
Young driver (under 25)	$2,200–$3,500
At-fault claim on record	+30–60%

By City and Region

Location	Average Annual
St. John’s	$1,100–$1,600
Mount Pearl	$1,000–$1,400
Conception Bay South	$950–$1,350
Corner Brook	$950–$1,300
Grand Falls-Windsor	$900–$1,250
Gander	$900–$1,250
Rural NL	$850–$1,200

St. John’s drivers pay the highest rates in the province. The city’s hilly terrain, winter weather conditions, and higher traffic density contribute to more frequent claims compared to rural Newfoundland.

Mandatory Coverage

Required by Law

Coverage	Minimum
Third-party liability	$200,000
Accident benefits	Statutory
Uninsured motorist	Required
Direct compensation (DCPD)	Required

Statutory Accident Benefits

Benefit	Amount
Medical and rehabilitation	$25,000
Income replacement	80% of gross income up to $140/week
Death benefit	$10,000
Funeral expenses	$2,500

Newfoundland’s statutory accident benefits are modest — among the lower in Canada. Drivers without group disability coverage through their employer should strongly consider enhanced benefit options.

Optional Coverage

Coverage	What It Covers
Collision	Your vehicle in an at-fault accident
Comprehensive	Theft, fire, hail, moose collision (significant risk in NL)
All perils	Collision + comprehensive combined
Increased liability	Above the $200,000 minimum
Loss of use	Rental while your vehicle is repaired
Accident forgiveness	Protect record after first claim

Moose Collisions — A Serious Risk

Newfoundland has one of the highest moose populations in North America and thousands of moose-vehicle collisions annually. Comprehensive insurance covers animal strikes. If you are driving without comprehensive coverage and hit a moose, you are paying out of pocket for what can be $20,000–$50,000 in vehicle damage (or a total write-off).

Risk	Coverage
Moose collision	Comprehensive (not collision)
Deer collision	Comprehensive
Collision with another vehicle	Collision

How to Save on Newfoundland Car Insurance

Strategy	Savings
Compare 4–6 insurers	15–30%
Bundle home and auto	10–20%
Maintain clean record	20–50% long-term
Increase deductible	10–20%
Drive fewer kilometres	5–15%
Anti-theft device	Up to 10%
Pay annually	2–5%
Young driver education course	10–15%
Winter tires	Up to 5% from select insurers

Top Insurers in Newfoundland

Insurer	Notes
Intact Insurance	Largest insurer in Canada
TD Insurance	Competitive multi-product pricing
Aviva Canada	Present across Atlantic Canada
Co-operators	Strong in rural and Atlantic markets
Wawanesa	Competitive rates in Atlantic Canada
Johnson Insurance	Atlantic Canada specialist
Economical (Definity)	Broker channel

Independent insurance brokers in Newfoundland can access multiple insurers and are often the best starting point for comparison shopping.

Newfoundland vs Other Provinces

Province	Average Annual
Ontario	$1,900–$2,400
BC	$1,800–$2,400
Alberta	$1,400–$1,900
Nova Scotia	$1,100–$1,500
New Brunswick	$1,000–$1,300
Newfoundland	$1,000–$1,400
PEI	$950–$1,300
Quebec	$800–$1,300

Newfoundland rates are reasonable compared to most of Canada, though Atlantic provinces are generally among the more affordable outside of Quebec.

Filing a Claim in Newfoundland

Step	Action
1	Contact your insurer as soon as possible
2	Call 911 if there are injuries
3	File a police report if required
4	Document the scene with photos
5	Exchange insurance details with other driver
6	Get an approved estimate for vehicle repairs
7	Pay your deductible

For disputes, Newfoundland drivers can contact the Public Utilities Board or the General Insurance OmbudService (GIO) for independent resolution.