Over the past few years, the Canadian auto insurance market has faced pressure to increase premiums for all drivers. While the pandemic led to lower rates due to rebates and lower claim rates, the return to normalcy has brought with it a historically high number of auto insurance claims. Higher claims, combined with inflation, tariffs, and financial volatility, force insurers to raise premiums in response.
What factors are influencing the insurance rate hikes? What does this mean for the average Canadian driver? Are there steps you can take to lower your premiums? Read on to learn why the auto insurance market is raising rates and what you can do to counteract these hikes.
The Price of the Car Is the Price of the Claim
When insurance companies calculate premiums for a given auto insurance policy, one of the biggest factors they consider is the cost to repair or replace the car. Higher vehicle values translate directly into larger repair bills and total loss payouts when a vehicle is declared a write-off.
According to the same Consumer Price Index report cited above, there was a 22.3% inflation in the cost of vehicle repair parts between 2019 and 2024. At the same time, the median used-vehicle price more than doubled, climbing from $18,900 to $34,445 over the same period.
The average cost per claim has also been on a steady upward trajectory since 2020, driven by more expensive parts, advanced safety features, and increased losses due to theft and extreme weather. In practice, this means that a single collision today can cost insurers thousands more than it did just five years ago, with the bill being passed down to policyholders through rising insurance premiums.
Supply Chain Disruption and Inflation Rewired the Whole System
Supply chain disruptions and rising prices brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic have had a profound impact on the auto insurance industry, affecting both costs and claims. Between December 2019 and December 2024, the Consumer Price Index for passenger-vehicle parts, accessories and repair services climbed by 22.3%, directly inflating the average cost per claim. At the same time, a global semiconductor shortage and factory slowdowns sent used-car prices soaring. By March 2022, they were up 24.5% year-over-year, as buyers and insurers shifted to the tighter pre-owned market.
The shortage of necessary components also lengthened repair times and pushed more vehicles into “total loss” status. Rental-vehicle expenses, a crucial element in many claims, have increased by 20.4% since December 2019. These disruptions in the supply chain have driven insurers’ expense ratios higher and prompted more assertive rate filings as insurance carriers work to keep underwriting profitable.
Tariffs and Global Trade: The Next Wave of Pressure
While inflation and an unstable supply chain are already raising prices domestically, international trade policies are putting more pressure on the auto insurance industry. In March of 2025, President Trump announced a 25% tariff on steel and aluminum imports from all countries, including Canada. Canada retaliated with 25% tariffs on U.S.-made cars and key components in early April 2025, introducing new cost and logistics uncertainties into cross-border parts flows.
Shifting tariff regimes and ongoing trade tensions mean that insurers must now factor in tariff-related cost spikes and delays when projecting future claim expenses. Together, these trade dynamics threaten to add additional costs to an already stressed auto insurance market. This makes underwriting even more complicated, with a predicted 1-2% rise in auto insurance premiums across the board.
EVs Are the Future, But They’re Making the Present More Expensive
In 2021, plans were announced by the Canadian government to fully transition to electric vehicles (EVs) by 2035. Quebec made these plans official in December 2024, mandating that the sale of vehicles with internal combustion engines be banned by December 2035. While this decision is positive for the future of the environment, the present reality of electric vehicles is presenting challenges to the auto insurance industry:
What This Means for the Average Driver
For the everyday Canadian driver, the combination of rising vehicle values, supply-chain inflation, trade-policy upheaval, and accelerated EV adoption means that auto insurance is becoming more difficult to navigate:
Key Advice from MyChoice
- Compare insurance quotes from different providers using MyChoice, especially when shopping for electric vehicle (EV) insurance. Some providers may offer discounts for eco-friendly vehicles or advanced security systems, while others may charge more due to the high cost of repairing and replacing an EV.
- Public insurers in B.C., Saskatchewan and Manitoba operate under different rate-setting regimes than private carriers in Ontario and Alberta. Regularly update yourself on insurance rate hikes and review your policy at least once a year.
- In some cases, you can lower your car insurance rates by bundling policies, insuring multiple cars at once, increasing your deductible, adding an endorsement to your policy, or taking defensive driving lessons. Ask your insurance company what steps you can take to keep your premiums low.