Car insurance by province in Canada: public plans, private markets and what you can compare

Car insurance in Canada is set province by province, and the first question at renewal is not "which insurer is cheapest?" but "what am I actually allowed to shop for?" In British Columbia, Saskatchewan and Manitoba, a Crown corporation (ICBC, SGI and MPI) sells the basic coverage every registered vehicle must carry, so you can only compare the optional top-up. In Quebec, the SAAQ pays for bodily injury no matter who caused the accident, and private insurers sell the mandatory property damage liability and cover for your own car. In Ontario, Alberta, the four Atlantic provinces and the three territories, private insurers sell the whole policy, under rules set by each provincial regulator.

This overview explains the three models, what is mandatory in each, and which guide to read next. All prices in examples are illustrative, not market rates.

The three models in one table

The minimum third-party liability limit also varies: $200,000 is common, Nova Scotia and Manitoba's Basic Autopac use $500,000, and Quebec's private minimum is $50,000 because injuries are handled by the SAAQ. The comparison table of provincial systems lists each province and where to verify the figure.

Public basic plans: BC, Saskatchewan, Manitoba

In these provinces you cannot drive a registered vehicle without the public basic plan, and you cannot buy basic coverage from anyone else. Price comparison therefore applies only to optional coverage.

• British Columbia. ICBC's Basic Autoplan includes third-party liability, Enhanced Care injury benefits (a no-fault model in force since 1 May 2021) and other coverages. Optional coverage such as extra liability, collision and comprehensive can be bought from ICBC or from private insurers. See the ICBC renewal guide.
• Saskatchewan. SGI's Auto Fund provides plate insurance with injury benefits (no-fault by default, with a tort option you can choose) and damage coverage for your vehicle subject to a deductible. Packages that lower the deductible or add liability are sold separately.
• Manitoba. MPI's Basic Autopac includes the Personal Injury Protection Plan (PIPP), a pure no-fault system, plus liability and all perils coverage with a deductible. Extension coverage tops it up.

The MPI and SGI guide explains the renewal timing and discount scales in the two Prairie public plans.

Quebec: SAAQ for injuries, private insurers for property

Quebec is a hybrid. Under the Automobile Insurance Act, the SAAQ compensates Quebec residents injured in a vehicle accident regardless of fault, and you generally cannot sue for those injuries. The private policy covers civil liability for property damage (minimum $50,000) and, optionally, damage to your own vehicle. Claims between insurers for vehicle damage follow the direct compensation agreement and fault rules used by the industry. Insurers and brokers are supervised by the Autorité des marchés financiers (AMF). Details are in the Quebec guide.

Private markets: Ontario, Alberta, Atlantic Canada, the territories

Here you can compare the whole policy, but each province fixes what must be in it.

• Ontario requires third-party liability (minimum $200,000), statutory accident benefits, uninsured automobile coverage and direct compensation property damage (DCPD, which drivers can opt out of since 1 January 2024). Since 1 July 2026, only medical, rehabilitation and attendant care benefits remain mandatory accident benefits; most others became optional. Read the Ontario 2026 changes guide before renewing. The regulator is the Financial Services Regulatory Authority of Ontario (FSRA).
• Alberta regulates rates for basic coverage through the Automobile Insurance Rate Board and is moving to a "care-first" injury model scheduled to start on 1 January 2027. See the Alberta guide.
• New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, PEI, Newfoundland and Labrador and the territories have tort systems with accident benefits, each with a rate review body. See the Atlantic and territories guide.

What sets the price everywhere

Whatever the system, a premium reflects the expected cost of claims for drivers like you. Common rating factors include where the vehicle is kept, years licensed, claims and convictions, the vehicle's make and model, use and kilometres. Public plans use their own scales (ICBC's driver-based discount, SGI's Safe Driver Recognition, MPI's Driver Safety Rating). The rating factors guide explains each one and which you can change.

A quick decision path at renewal

1. Which province is the vehicle registered and kept in? That decides the model. If you have moved, you must register and insure in the new province within the period its law allows.
2. Public basic plan? Confirm the basic renewal, then compare only the optional coverage, line by line.
3. Quebec? Compare the private policy: civil liability limit (most drivers buy $1 million or $2 million), chapter B coverage for your own vehicle and endorsements.
4. Private market? Compare the full policy on identical terms using the renewal checklist and the quote comparison tool.
5. Ontario? Decide which optional accident benefits you need before accepting the renewal.

Worked example: same driver, two provinces (illustrative)

Two households each spend $2,400 a year on car insurance for a similar SUV.

• In Ontario, the whole $2,400 is open to competition. A quote that is 10% cheaper on identical terms saves $240.
• In British Columbia, suppose $1,500 is Basic Autoplan and $900 is optional coverage. Only the $900 can be shopped. A private optional quote that is 10% cheaper saves $90, not $240.

That is why the effort worth spending on comparison differs: in public-plan provinces, focus on choosing the right optional coverage and keeping your discount position; in private markets, a full comparison at each renewal can pay off.

When to get professional help

If you are moving between provinces, insuring a vehicle used for ride-hailing or deliveries, insuring a modified or imported vehicle, or have had your licence suspended, a licensed broker or agent can tell you how the local rules apply. If you have been injured, speak to a lawyer licensed in your province about benefits and any right to sue.

Frequently asked questions

Is car insurance mandatory in every province?

Yes. Every province and territory requires at least third-party liability insurance for a registered vehicle, and most also require accident benefits or participate in a public injury plan.

Can I buy BC Basic Autoplan from a private insurer?

No. Basic Autoplan is sold only by ICBC through Autoplan brokers and ICBC's own channels. Optional coverage can be bought from ICBC or from private insurers.

Does my Quebec policy cover my injuries?

Injuries in a vehicle accident are covered by the SAAQ for Quebec residents, not by your private policy. Your private policy covers property damage liability and, if chosen, damage to your own vehicle.

Which regulator do I contact about a private insurer?

The insurance regulator of your province: for example FSRA in Ontario, the AMF in Quebec, BCFSA in British Columbia, or the Superintendent of Insurance in Alberta and the Atlantic provinces. The official sources directory lists them.

Sources

• Canadian Council of Insurance Regulators — links to every provincial and territorial insurance regulator
• ICBC — Basic Autoplan and optional coverage in BC
• SGI — Saskatchewan plate insurance and injury coverage
• Manitoba Public Insurance — Basic Autopac and PIPP
• SAAQ — public bodily injury insurance in Quebec
• Autorité des marchés financiers — Quebec insurance regulator
• FSRA — Ontario auto insurance rules and accident benefits