Ontario drivers just can’t catch a break. Car insurance premiums in the province have jumped once again, with a 4.10% increase recorded in the first half of 2025, according to a new study by insurtech firm MyChoice. While some cities saw modest declines, others were hit hard, especially places already struggling with high rates of vehicle theft, accidents, and insurance fraud.
So, who’s getting hit the hardest? And where are things actually improving?
Brampton Still on Top — for the Wrong Reason
If you live in Brampton, you already know car insurance isn’t cheap. In fact, it remains the most expensive city in Ontario for car insurance, with the average premium now hitting $3,341 annually, a steep 10.92% jump from 2024. That’s nearly double the provincial average and significantly higher than nearby cities like Mississauga or Vaughan.
“Brampton has long been a high-claims zone for insurers,” said Aren Mirzaian, CEO of MyChoice. “From accident rates to theft trends, it’s a perfect storm for elevated premiums.”
While Brampton leads in raw dollars, Kingston topped the charts in terms of percentage hike. Drivers there saw a massive 14.73% increase, with premiums jumping from $1,378 in 2024 to $1,581 in 2025. Other major year-over-year increases include:
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Barrie: +13.78% ($1,915 avg.)
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Windsor: +12.69% ($1,891 avg.)
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Innisfil: +12.15% ($2,216 avg.)
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Belleville: +11.92% ($1,652 avg.)
Notably, all five cities were flagged in a recent MyChoice study as among the most dangerous cities to drive in Ontario, based on collision and infraction data.
Despite the overall trend, a few regions saw rates go down. Markham enjoyed the biggest drop at −7.05%, followed by:
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Mississauga: −2.17%
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Richmond Hill: −2.12%
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Toronto: −1.06%
These declines may reflect improvements in local road safety, fewer claims, or successful fraud-reduction efforts.
Ontario’s car insurance challenges stem from several ongoing issues:
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Auto theft is surging, especially for high-demand vehicles in the GTA, pushing up claims.
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Repair costs are ballooning, especially with newer cars equipped with advanced safety tech that’s expensive to fix.
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Insurance fraud and staged accidents continue to plague certain regions.
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Injury payouts and liability claims are rising steadily.
The Financial Services Regulatory Authority (FSRA) recently introduced a Fraud Reporting Service to force insurers to report suspicious claims in real time — a move aimed at cracking down on fraud and helping consumers in the long run.
While rates may be out of your control, there are ways to soften the blow:
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Install anti-theft devices to qualify for up to 15% off.
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Bundle home and auto policies for significant savings.
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Use winter tires to access seasonal discounts.
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Shop around. Even within the same city, quotes can vary widely depending on the insurer.
As rates continue to shift based on hyper-local data, drivers should stay alert, shop smart, and make safety a priority, both on the road and in their insurance choices.
