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Laws in Alberta require drivers to buy a mandatory amount of insurance, as stated by the Alberta Insurance Act. The industry is regulated by the Superintendent of Insurance of the Alberta Treasury Board and Finance and the Automobile Insurance Rate Board.
But there are some ways in which car insurance in Edmonton is not quite the same as in other parts of the country. For one, The province's car insurance system has elements of no-fault and tort-based systems. The province also uses a grid rating system (also referred to as "the Grid") to determine the maximum amount an insurance company can charge you. It considers things such as when you received your driver's license, the number of driving convictions you've had, the number of at-fault claims you've made in the last six years, and the length of license suspension in the past 15 years.
As a driver, your rates will go up or down depending on these factors (and others). But they can never exceed the maximum premium outlined on the Grid for a driver with your record.
Insurers must compare the base premium determined by the Grid to the policyholder's quoted premium and charge the lesser of the two. Only a few Albertans end up paying the Grid rate.
You can see where you fall on the spectrum by using the Grid rate calculator from AIRB.
| Insurance coverage | Category | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Personal liability and property coverage (PLPD) | Mandatory | This coverage provides financial aid when you're at fault for an accident. Your insurance will pay the bills of anyone you injured in the accident. (Likewise, your accident benefits will pay for your medical costs.) The minimum you're required to carry is $200,000. This means your insurance company will pay for expenses up to $200,000. Experts often recommend that policyholders increase their coverage to at least $1 million. The liability part of your insurance contract will pay for: - Medical costs for anyone you've injured - The cost to repair or replace another person's property - Legal fees that stem from the accident and finally - Damages to the injured parties. |
| Accident benefits | Mandatory | This part of your policy covers costs when you or a passenger are in an accident and need medical care. Accident benefits also provide compensation for: - Lost wages - Funeral expenses - Surviving spouses and dependents. |
| Direct compensation for property damage (DCPD) | Mandatory | This covers the cost of repairing or replacing your car after you're in a collision you did not cause. If you are 100% not at fault, DCPD will cover 100% of your costs. It's possible to be partially at fault for causing an accident. In this scenario, you'll still receive compensation from DCPD, but it will be a reduced amount. For example, if you're 50% responsible, you'll only receive 50% of your benefit. DCPD has no deductible and filing a claim won't affect your premium in the future. (You can opt to purchase a deductible — this will reduce your premium slightly.) |
| Collision coverage | Optional | This helps pay for repairs if you collide with another vehicle or crash into a stationary object. Collision coverage will pay to repair your car if you're at fault for an accident. |
| Comprehensive coverage | Optional | This helps pay for repairs if an event other than a collision damages your car (e.g., vandalism or adverse weather). Calgary sits in Alberta's Hailstorm Alley, making it prone to severe summer storms. Hail causes millions of dollars in damage to vehicles each year. Comprehensive insurance will cover this peril. |
| Named perils | Optional | This is a cheaper option than comprehensive. It only protects against the perils listed in your policy. |
| Comprehensive Cover Limited Glass (SEF 13D) | Endorsement | This limits a vehicle's glass coverage for a reduced premium. |
| Loss of Use (SEF 20) | Endorsement | If your car is unusable, this endorsement will pay for temporary transportation. You can use the money for taxis and public transit up to a limit. |
| Legal Liability for Damage to Non-Owned Automobiles (SEF 27) | Endorsement | This extends your physical damage insurance to a rental vehicle. |
| Accident Rating Waiver (SEF 39) | Endorsement | If you are found responsible for causing an accident, this endorsement prevents your premium from rising. It only applies to scenarios that your insurance company agreed in advance to cover. |
| Limited Waiver of Depreciation (SEF 43R) | Endorsement | This endorsement prevents the insurance company from factoring in depreciation when calculating a claim payout. For this endorsement to apply, the damage needs to be caused by an insured event. |
| Family Protection (SEF 44) | Endorsement | This is excess coverage for accidents that involve an underinsured driver. This endorsement will cover the total cost of a claim. |
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When we looked at RATESDOTCA data, we found that in 2022:
These amounts are based on the cheapest quotes offered to a 35-year-old male driver in late 2021 with a clean driving and insurance record who drives a 2018 Honda Civic.
Even if you don’t fit this driver profile, you should still prepare to pay more for insurance when you live in a major city centre like Edmonton. Why? Insurance companies assume the risk of collision, theft, insurance fraud, and other situations that could trigger a claim is higher in a city setting.
Curious about how your car insurance bill compares to your neighbours? We pulled the data for you in the table below. Your forward sortation area is the first three characters of your postal code.
If you want to see how your premium compares to drivers in another city in Alberta, check out the RATESDOTCA Insuramap for the complete picture of car insurance prices in the province.
| Forward sortation area | Neighbourhood | Average annual premium |
|---|---|---|
| T5A | Belmont, Belvedere, Casselman, Homesteader, Kennedale Industrial, Kernohan, Northeast Edmonton | $2,195 |
| T5B | Alberta Avenue, Bellevue, Cromdale, Eastwood, Industrial Heights, Montrose, North Central Edmonton, Northeast Edmonton | $2,195 |
| T5C | Balwin, Belvedere, Delwood, Kildare, Kilkenny, Northeast Edmonton | $2,195 |
| T5E | Calder, Evansdale, Glengarry, Griesbach, Killarney, Lauderdale, Northeast Edmonton, Northwest Edmonton | $2,195 |
| T5G | Alberta Avenue, Edmonton Municipal Airport, North Central Edmonton | $2,195 |
| T5H | Boyle Street, Central McDougall, McCauley, North Central Edmonton | $2,195 |
| T5L | Baranow, Bonaventure Industrial, Calder, Dominion Industrial, Dovercourt, Hagmann Estate Industrial, Huff Bremner Estate Industrial, McArthur Industrial, Northwest Edmonton | $2,195 |
| T5W | Abbottsfield, Beacon Heights, Beverly, Highlands, Industrial Heights, Montrose, Newton, Northeast Edmonton | $2,195 |
| T5J | Downtown, Downtown Edmonton, North Central Edmonton | $2,148 |
| T5K | Downtown, North Central Edmonton, Oliver | $2,148 |
| T5X | Baranow, Baturyn, Beaumaris, Carlisle, Dunluce, Eaux Claires, Lorelei, Northwest Edmonton | $2,148 |
| T5Y | Bannerman, Brintnell, Clareview Campus, Cy Becker, Fraser, Gorman Industrial West, Hairsine, Matt Berry, McConachie Area, Miller, Northeast Edmonton | $2,148 |
| T5Z | Belle Rive, Eaux Claires, Klarvatten, Lago Lindo, Mayliewan, Northeast Edmonton | $2,148 |
| T6V | Baranow, Cumberland, Hudson, Mistatim Industrial, Northwest Edmonton | $2,148 |
| T5V | Carleton Square Industrial, Gagnon Estate Industrial, Garside Industrial, Hawin Park Estate Industrial, Kinokamau Plains Area, Mistatim Industrial, Mitchell Industrial, Northwest Edmonton | $2,137 |
| T6B | Davies Industrial East, Eastgate Business Park, Girard Industrial, Kenilworth, Lambton Industrial, Morris Industrial, Northeast Edmonton, Pylypow Industrial, Roper Industrial, Southeast Edmonton | $2,137 |
| T6C | Avonmore, Bonnie Doon, Cloverdale, Coronet Addition Industrial, Holyrood, Idylwylde, King Edward Park, South Central Edmonton, Southeast Edmonton | $2,137 |
| T6P | Maple Ridge, Maple Ridge Industrial, Southeast Edmonton | $2,126 |
| T6S | Clover Bar Area, Northeast Edmonton | $2,126 |
| T6A | Capilano, Eastgate Business Park, Forest Heights, Fulton Place, Gold Bar, Northeast Edmonton | $2,115 |
| T5M | Alberta Park Industrial, Garside Industrial, High Park Industrial, Huff Bremner Estate Industrial, Inglewood, Jasper Place, Northwest Edmonton, West Edmonton | $2,100 |
| T5N | Crestwood, Glenora, Grovenor, North Central Edmonton, West Edmonton | $2,100 |
| T5P | Britannia Youngstown, Canora, Glenwood, Jasper Place, West Edmonton | $2,100 |
| T5R | Elmwood, Jasper Park, Jasper Place, Laurier Heights, Meadowlark Park, Parkview, West Edmonton | $2,100 |
| T5S | Armstrong Industrial, Edmiston Industrial, McNamara Industrial, Morin Industrial, Northwest Edmonton, Place LaRue, Stone Industrial, West Edmonton | $2,100 |
| T5T | Belmead, Callingwood South, Glastonbury, Summerlea, Terra Losa, West Edmonton | $2,100 |
| T6E | Coronet Industrial, Davies Industrial West, McIntyre Industrial, Papaschase Industrial, Queen Alexandra, Rosedale Industrial, South Central Edmonton, Southeast Edmonton, Strathcona Junction | $2,100 |
| T6G | Garneau, McKernan, South Central Edmonton, University of Alberta | $2,100 |
| T6H | Allendale, Brander Gardens, Calgary Trail North, Empire Park, Lendrum Place, Pleasantview, Southwest Edmonton, Strathcona Junction | $2,100 |
| T6K | Ekota, Kameyosek, Lee Ridge, Menisa, Meyonohk, Michaels Park, Mill Woods Town Centre, Richfield, Satoo, Southeast Edmonton | $2,100 |
| T6L | Bisset, Crawford Plains, Daly Grove, Greenview, Jackson Heights, Kiniski Gardens, Meyokumin, Mill Woods Town Centre, Minchau, Pollard Meadows, Sakaw, Southeast Edmonton | $2,100 |
| T6M | Donsdale, Gariepy, Jamieson Place, Oleskiw, Rural West, The Hamptons, Wedgewood Heights, West Edmonton | $2,100 |
| T6N | Edmonton Research and Development Park, Parsons Industrial, South Edmonton Common, Southeast Edmonton | $2,100 |
| T6R | Bulyea Heights, Carter Crest, Falconer Heights, Haddow, Hodgson, Leger, MacTaggart, Magrath Heights, Rhatigan Ridge, Southwest Edmonton | $2,100 |
| T6W | Ambleside, Blackmud Creek, Heritage Valley Area, Rutherford, Southwest Edmonton | $2,100 |
| T6X | Ellerslie, Ellerslie Industrial, Southeast Edmonton | $2,100 |
| T6J | Blue Quill, Calgary Trail South, Duggan, Ermineskin, Greenfield, Keheewin, Rideau Park, Skyrattler, Southwest Edmonton | $1,940 |
| T6T | Larkspur, Laurel, Silver Berry, Southeast Edmonton | $1,940 |
These premiums are based on the lowest quote offered to a 35-year-old man driving a 2018 Honda Civic with a conviction and claims-free insurance record. Yours might be different. Comparing quotes is the best way to find out if you could pay less for insurance.
Even though car insurance premiums in Edmonton are on the hefty side, there are pockets where drivers pay less than the provincial average.
Take the neighbourhoods of Duggan (T6J) and Wild Rose (T6T), located in Edmonton’s south end. Drivers in both locations pay approximately $1,940 annually, or 8.7% less than the average Edmonton driver and 2.6% less than the average Albertan. It's a savings of $51.
The data are clear: drivers in major Alberta cities pay the most for car insurance.
To fairly compare cities, we used the same driver profile to pull quotes: a 35-year-old man driving a 2018 Honda Civic with a conviction and claims-free insurance record.
| City | Geographic designation/population size | Premium |
|---|---|---|
| Calgary | Large urban / 1,372,178 | $2,230 |
| Edmonton | Large urban / 1,057,181 | $2,124 |
| Airdrie | Medium / 77,027 | $2,000 |
| Lloydminster | Medium / 20,204 | $1,849 |
| Okotoks | Medium / 31,413 | $1,849 |
| Grande Prairie | Medium / 67,627 | $1,806 |
| Lethbridge | Medium / 101,799 | $1,780 |
| Stony Plain | Small / 18,371 | $1,724 |
| Morinville | Small / 10,442 | $1,724 |
| Medicine Hat | Medium /65,203 | $1,722 |
| Red Deer | Medium / 104,392 | $1,712 |
| Sylvan Lake | Small / 16,354 | $1,712 |
As you can see from the table, Edmonton is the second most expensive city to get car insurance in the province (after Calgary). It costs Edmonton drivers $412 more per year than the cheapest car insurance cities like Sylvan Lake, Red Deer and Medicine Hat.
Source: Statistics Canada
You can take many different routes to buy car insurance. You can choose to buy directly from an insurance company, compare rates with a broker, or use a comparison service.
A good rule of thumb is to compare car insurance quotes from multiple companies before you settle on one. This is the strategy endorsed by Alberta’s auto insurance regulator, the Automobile Insurance Rates Board (AIRB), and the Financial Consumer Agency of Canada. The fastest and cheapest route to shop the market is to use an insurance comparison quotes service like RATESDOTCA.
Here’s a list of major car insurance providers, including brokers, companies, and comparison services, with a presence in Edmonton and beyond.
| Company | Company type | Phone | Address |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alberta Motor Association Insurance Company | Insurance company | 1-780-474-8777 | 10310 G. A. MacDonald Ave NW, Edmonton, AB T6J 6R7 |
| Aviva Insurance | Insurance company | 1-780-428-1822 | 10130 103 St NW #1900, Edmonton, AB T5J 3N9 |
| Chubb Insurance Company of Canada | Insurance company | 1-403-261-3881 | 330 5 Ave SW #2400, Calgary, AB T2P 0L4 |
| Economical Insurance | Insurance company | 1-800-661-3274 | 10158 103 St NW #300, Edmonton, AB T5J 0X6 |
| Insurance Hotline | Quotes comparison | 1-855-821-7312 | 225 King St W, Suite 1000, Toronto, ON, M5V 3M2 |
| Intact Insurance | Insurance company | 1-780-428-7544 | 10830 Jasper Ave #700, Edmonton, AB T5J 2B3 |
| LowestRates.ca | Quotes comparison | 1-855-487-6911 | 1910 Yonge St. Suite 401, Toronto, ON M4S 3B2 |
| Millennium Insurance Corporation | Insurance company | 1-780-467-1500 | 2457 Broadmoor Blvd #200, Sherwood Park, AB T8H 0Y6 |
| Peace Hills General Insurance | Insurance company | 1-780-424-3986 | 10709 Jasper Ave #300, Edmonton, AB T5J 3N3 |
| Portage La Prairie Mutual Insurance Co | Insurance company | 1-780-423-3102 | 12220 Stony Plain Rd, Edmonton, AB T5N 3Y4 |
| RATESDOTCA | Quotes comparison | 1-844-726-0907 | 225 King St W, Suite 1000, Toronto, ON, M5V 3M2 |
| RBC Insurance | Insurance company | 1-780-944-5832 | 3904 17 St NW unit h-006, Edmonton, AB T6T 0C2 |
| Scoop Insurance | Insurance broker | 1-866-456-6620 | 300 Lincoln St. Unit 22, Welland, ON L3B 4N4 |
| TD Insurance Home & Auto | Insurance company | 1-780-409-0281 | 10025 102A Ave NW, Edmonton, AB T5J 2Z2 |
| Travelers Canada | Insurance company | 1-800-363-1072 | Scotia 1, 10060 Jasper Ave Suite 2500, Tower 1, Edmonton, AB T5J 3R8 |
| Wawanesa Insurance | Insurance company | 1-780-469-5700 | 5008 86 St NW, Edmonton, AB T6E 5S2 |
While there is no substitute for experience and a clean driving record, follow these tips to get the cheapest car insurance in Edmonton:
Edmonton is one of the coldest major cities in the world, with snowfall expected as late as May and early as October. If you own a car in Edmonton, you need winter tires. If your safety is not incentive enough, consider that insurance companies will offer discounts of up to 5% for drivers who have them.
The Edmonton Transit Service (ETS) is the city's public transit agency, operating the Edmonton Light Rail Transit (LRT) line as well as a large fleet of buses. For a city whose history and economy is so intertwined with oil and gas, the public transit system is surprisingly extensive, stretching all the way from Edmonton to the neighbouring cities of Beaumont, Spruce Grove and Fort Saskatchewan. The entire fleet is wheelchair accessible too.
Insurance companies take your annual mileage and daily commute into account when calculating your premium, so leave the car at home and save on insurance!
Shockingly, the Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC) estimates that as many as 60% of Edmonton’s stolen cars are left with keys inside prior to being stolen. In an effort to combat these numbers, Edmonton Police Service, the RCMP and the IBC have launched the “Lock Out Auto Theft” campaign to help drivers protect themselves and their vehicles from crime.
Make your car less attractive to thieves by securely locking it, and installing an approved car alarm or GPS tracker.
One sure-fire way to reduce your car insurance premium is to bundle it together with home or tenant insurance. By using the same insurer for multiple products, you will receive what’s known as a multi-line discount, sometimes saving you as much as 15% off each individual policy. This is also true if you have more than one vehicle. Insuring them all with the same company will incentivize the insurer to offer a better deal.
If you are a young driver under the age of 25, or only recently got your license, you will face the highest insurance rates. You are paying for a lack of experience. Once you have had your licence for six years, assuming you have a clean record, you can look forward to more affordable premiums.
In the meantime, driver education courses are available. Insurance companies offer reduced rates for successful completion of these, because not only are you learning valuable skills, but it demonstrates a willingness to be safe and considerate behind the wheel. Find available programs by consulting this list of licensed training schools in Edmonton.
Usage based insurance (UBI), sometimes called telematics or pay-as-you-drive insurance, makes use of a device installed in your car to monitor your driving habits.
Most companies offer a discount simply for signing up to such a program, and if you demonstrate good, defensive driving, you will be rewarded with even greater discounts. Some of the metrics used to determine your rate are average speed, acceleration, braking and time spent driving.
If the UBI device determines you are not driving safely, you will not receive the discount, but your rates cannot be increased because of it. In an expensive city like Edmonton, this is a great solution for good drivers who are sick of paying high premiums caused by the bad habits of others.
Every year, when your auto insurance is up for renewal, spend a few minutes reviewing your existing coverage. If circumstances have changed you may be able to remove some protections that you no longer need. If you are confident that you are a safe driver and can afford to pay a higher deductible in the event of a claim, commit to a higher deductible and you will receive lower quotes.
If you are alumni of the University of Alberta, a City of Edmonton employee, or a member of a local trade union like Local 488 or CUPE Alberta, additional discounts may be available. Look on your organisation’s website for information about which insurance companies are affiliated.
Additionally, ask if you can pay your entire annual premium in one lump sum in exchange for a better deal. Many insurers welcome this as it cuts down on their administrative costs.
Comparing quotes from top insurance providers is the best way to save on Edmonton car insurance. All you have to do is spend a few minutes on our site and we’ll show you multiple rates side by side. Finding the best coverage for the lowest price has never been this easy.
First things first, compare rates. The easiest and quickest way to comparison shop for cheap car insurance in Edmonton is through RATESDOTCA. Alternatively, drivers should talk to their providers about discounts. Discounts are available that reward drivers for their experience on the road, for bundling policies, and installing anti-theft devices, among other things.
Edmonton has a lot to offer its citizens and visitors. It is the capital of Alberta and has a population of about 1 million. As a result, a dense population results in more cars, leading to more collisions, theft, and insurance claims.
As a large metropolitan city serving a dense population, Edmonton residents can take advantage of ridesharing programs. Companies that provide ridesharing programs in Edmonton include:
Many of these companies offer insurance coverage to their drivers. For example, as of 2020, Uber provides commercial insurance by Economical Insurance in Ontario, Quebec, and Alberta. Drivers receive:
$2 million of uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage, $2 million of third-party liability coverage, loss or damage to a vehicle and coverage between trips. The insurance provides $1 million of third-party liability coverage if your insurer denies coverage.
Just remember to always inform your insurance provider of your plans to become a driver for a ridesharing app, even if the app offers coverage. Not doing so could void your personal auto insurance policy (and having one is a prerequisite for rideshare drivers).
Each province is different when it comes to temporary car insurance. Alberta does not have temporary options. The province allows drivers to use an existing plate and registration for up to 14 days. There are no six-month policies available in Alberta.
*Shoppers in Alberta who obtained a quote on RATESDOTCA and transacted via our contact centre from January to December 2021 saved an average amount of $736. The average savings amount represents the difference between the shoppers’ average lowest quoted premium and the average of all other quoted premiums generated by RATESDOTCA.
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