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About Ottawa auto insurance brokers
Insurance brokers in Ottawa, and Ontario as a whole, are as much a part of the auto insurance ecosystem as the policy or insurance companies themselves. Brokers work for you, the consumer, providing you research and quotes from a variety of insurance companies. This is one of several crucial qualities that distinguishes them from insurance agents. If you’d like to learn about other differences between the two, read on.
What is an auto insurance broker?
An auto insurance broker is someone who represents multiple insurance companies. They work with you to provide research and information about each company. In addition, they can tell you which company will offer the best rates/quotes for your specific circumstances.
Because they act as independents, brokers offer mostly neutral or unbiased information, while being paid by the insurance companies they represent. The fee or commission they are paid is based on a percentage of the policy premium you purchase. There is usually no extra cost to you for working with an auto insurance broker.
Auto insurance brokers vs. insurance agent
While both brokers and agents sell insurance, they are decidedly not the same. That’s why before contacting one or the other, you should first learn how they differ.
What is an auto insurance agent?
Insurance brokers work with multiple companies and can offer a variety of products to choose from. Insurance agents, on the other hand, represent only one company.
There are no choices in the products or services they offer, and any information provided would be biased towards the company they represent. There is no opportunity to comparison shop with agents.
That said, since you are dealing directly with the auto insurance company, there may be an opportunity to save money. Administrative or other costs can be handed down to you, theoretically, especially if it means that the agent can close the sale.
Insurance agents are paid either with a base salary and commission combination, or a straight commission from the policies they sell.
How can an auto insurance broker help me find the best car insurance rate in Ottawa?
Having the ability to comparison shop is a great way to save on auto insurance in Ottawa. Thanks to an auto insurance broker, that's exactly what you can do.
An auto insurance brokerwill do all the legwork and research for you and present you with quotes from several different insurance providers, so you can choose one that suits you. They can also help you find the right company based on your specific driving needs and ensure that their selection is unbiased and untied to any particular insurance provider
Insurance broker vs. insurance agent vs. insurance comparison website
Now that you know the difference between auto insurance brokers and agents, it’s time to compare the two side by side to quote comparison websites.
| Broker | Agent | Comparison website |
|---|---|---|
| Is independent and represents multiple insurance companies. | Represents only one company that they work for directly. | Aggregates and compares the cheapest insurance rates from the top providers in your area. |
| Pay is a commission or fee, usually based on the annual premium of your policy. | Can receive a base salary and commission or just a commission, depending on their employer. | Comparison sites are paid by insurance partners after connecting you with them through their online portal. |
| Works for the customer. | Works for the insurance provider. | Works for you and connects you to a broker who can discuss your specific needs during the comparison process. |
| Brokers help save you money by representing a variety of insurance companies and offering you rates from them. | Agents sell auto insurance from one provider. They do not offer research or comparisons to other companies. | Comparison sites help save you money by comparing rates from several insurance companies in their partner network. Rates.ca, for instance, has more than 50 partners. |
How can an auto insurance comparison website help me find the best car insurance quote in Ottawa?
Having choice and variety is a great way to find cheap auto insurance rates. Comparison sites like Rates.ca offer you just that.
By inputting a few details about your insurance needs, location and vehicle, you can pull up the cheapest auto insurance rates from insurers in your area in just a couple of seconds. RATEDOTCA, for instance, compares quotes from over 50 top auto insurance providers in Canada to give you as much choice and flexibility as you need. They do all the work while you sit back and receive all the rewards (for free).
Recent auto insurance quotes in Ottawa
Recent auto Insurance Quote from Ottawa, Ontario
Male, 36 years old
2026 HONDA ACCORD TOURING HEV 4DR
June 21, 2026
Cheapest Quote
$ 393 / month
$ 4,712 / yearAverage Quote
$ 681 / month
$ 8,173 / yearSavings
$ 288 / month
$ 3,461 / year
42 %
Recent auto Insurance Quote from Ottawa, Ontario
Female, 51 years old
2011 MERCEDES-BENZ C250 4MATIC 4DR
June 20, 2026
Cheapest Quote
$ 56 / month
$ 676 / yearAverage Quote
$ 109 / month
$ 1,311 / yearSavings
$ 53 / month
$ 635 / year
48 %
Recent auto Insurance Quote from Ottawa, Ontario
Male, 37 years old
2019 KIA SORENTO LX 4DR AWD
June 20, 2026
Cheapest Quote
$ 466 / month
$ 5,591 / yearAverage Quote
$ 672 / month
$ 8,067 / yearSavings
$ 206 / month
$ 2,476 / year
31 %
Auto insurance quotes are compared from CAA, Coachman Insurance Company, Echelon Insurance, Economical Insurance, Gore Mutual, Pafco, Pembridge, SGI, Travelers, Zenith Insurance Company
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Top car insurance brokers in Ottawa
| Company name | Company type | Phone number | Address |
|---|---|---|---|
Halpenny Insurance Brokers | Insurance broker | 613-722-7626 | 104-1550a Laperriere Ave, Ottawa, ON, K1Z 7T2 |
Quotes comparison | 1-855-821-7312 | 225 King St W, Suite 1000, Toronto, ON, M5V 3M2 | |
KBD Insurance | Insurance broker | 613-212-2352 | 602-1420 Blair Towers Pl, Gloucester, ON, K1J 9L8 |
Quotes comparison | 1-855-487-6911 | 401-1910 Yonge St, Toronto, ON M4S 3B2 | |
Quotes comparison | 1-844-726-0907 | 225 King St W, Suite 1000, Toronto, ON, M5V 3M2 | |
Rhodes & Williams Limited | Insurance broker | 613-226-6590 | 1050 Morrison Dr, Ottawa, ON K2H 8K7 |
Rowat Insurance Brokers | Insurance broker | 613-680-1777 | 115-1433 Wellington St. W, Ottawa, ON, K1Y 2X3 |
Insurance broker | 1-866-456-6620 | 22-300 Lincoln St, Welland, ON L3B 4N4 | |
Smith Petrie Carr & Scott Insurance Brokers Ltd | Insurance broker | 613-237-2871 | 600-359 Kent St, Ottawa, ON K2P 0R6 |
Tanner Insurance | Insurance broker | 613-232-5704 | 200-2435 Holly Ln, Ottawa, ON K1V 7P2 |
Frequently asked questions about Ottawa auto insurance brokers
Need more information on Ottawa auto insurance brokers? We got you covered.
How much is the average car insurance in Ottawa?
According to the 2023 Rates.ca Insuramap, the average car insurance premium is Ottawa is $1,321 per year. That’s about 32% lower than the Ontario average of $1,744.
Should I use an insurance broker to find car insurance in Ottawa?
Everybody is different. An insurance broker can offer you choices from a variety of auto insurance companies. They do the research and provide you with the quotes. If that suits your needs, go for it. But it never hurts to talk to an agent, and certainly you should look at comparison sites like Rates.ca for a list of the cheapest quotes around.
Do I have to pay an insurance broker?
No. The insurance provider you end up with will pay the broker – usually in the form of a commission or a fee. The commission is based on a percentage of the premium you will pay.
How do auto insurance brokers make money?
They are paid by the insurance companies they represent. A fee or a commission is paid to the broker by the provider you end up selecting.
Do I get higher auto insurance rates from auto insurance brokers than insurance companies?
It’s possible but not necessarily the case. Brokers have the benefit of comparing rates and presenting the best ones to you. An insurance company can only offer what they have. However, they are in a position to negotiate and work with you on your policy needs.
Is Rates.ca an insurance broker?
Rates.ca makes it easy for consumers to search the auto insurance market online. It only takes a few clicks to be matched with a range of quotes from Canada’s top insurance providers.
Rates.ca also owns the Welland-based Scoop Insurance brokerage (formerly Kanetix Ltd.).
Who licenses insurance brokers in Ontario?
In Ontario, all brokers are licensed by the Registered Insurance Brokers of Ontario (RIBO). RIBO is a self-regulatory body established in 1981. They manage the licensing, professional competence, ethical conduct and insurance-related financial obligations of all independent general insurance brokers in the province. Find out more about RIBO now.
Where can I find the best car insurance brokers in Ottawa?
It all depends on your needs, location and how well you research the companies in your area. The best place to do that are sites like Rates.ca, which offer the cheapest quotes from top providers in Canada in just a few clicks. Their service is free and easy to use. So easy, in fact, that you can find quotes right this second, if you so choose.
Joel Kranc, Freelance writer
Joel Kranc is a freelance writer and content provider who has worked with Rates.ca since 2019. He holds an MA in political science from the University of Toronto and a film certificate from New York University.
He has been published in and worked for such companies as CNN, Rogers Media, Institutional Investor Magazine, The Globe and Mail, Infrastructure Investor, BenefitsPRO Magazine, Global Finance Magazine, With Intelligence, the CPP Investment Board, Hospitals of Ontario Pension Plan, and many more financial services and industry publications.
He is the author of "Retirement Planning in 8 Easy Steps," which, when released in 2015, was No. 11 on the Publisher's Weekly US Bestseller List for Business and Finance, beating out Mark Cuban's "How to Win at the Sport of Business."
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