Brampton drivers pay triple for car insurance compared to other Ontario cities: Auditor General

A report by Ontario’s auditor general shows a Brampton driver can pay almost three times more in auto insurance than those in other parts of the province who have similar driving records. The report also recommends relief for those who face high rates.

The report released today (Nov. 30) found that quotes taken from insurance companies, where the only factor that changed was the location where the quote was taken, show a large gap when compared to those who live in Brampton.

For instance, an investigation revealed a person with a similar driving experience in London, Ontario, was quoted as low as $1,200 per year for car insurance while in Brampton, the number cited was as high as $3,350.

Brampton residents have long complained of high insurance rates compared to other parts of Ontario, Insurance companies say rates in Brampton are based on the high number of claims that are made throughout the city.

In her report, Auditor General Bonnie Lysyk points out that although Ontario has a lower injury rate for automobile accidents than most other provinces, it has higher private passenger insurance costs than the rest of the country.

To make the system more equitable and reduce rates for Brampton drivers and those in other areas hit with high rates, the report suggests the province’s regulator, the Financial Services Regulatory Authority of Ontario (FSRA), look at measures that are in effect in other provinces. They include:

• Ontario could pay directly for the treatment of auto-accident injuries—as is done more regularly in Alberta—instead of cash settlements with people who are injured to seek their own treatment
• Ontario could follow British Columbia and Saskatchewan by licensing or certifying repair shops to
  protect consumers against poor repairs and fraud.

As well, the audit recommends the FSRA reassess the way automobile insurance companies determine premiums that include using a person’s address, gender and age as variables in calculating automobile insurance premiums.