Cheapest 10 Gas & 10 Electric Cars to Insure in Ontario (2026)

Last updated: February 7, 2026

If you’re shopping for a vehicle in Ontario and you care about keeping insurance costs down, the best approach is not to guess-it’s to understand how insurers price risk, then pick models that usually fall into the “lower loss experience” bucket (fewer claims and/or cheaper claims when they do happen). That’s the theme of this QuoteFinder guide: practical vehicle shortlists you can actually use, plus the Ontario-specific factors that quietly swing premiums by hundreds (or thousands) of dollars per year.

Below, you’ll get:

• 10 gas vehicles that show up as among the lowest average premiums in Ontario (with published average premium figures).
• 10 electric vehicles that are often among the lowest to insure (also with published figures).
• A deep Ontario breakdown of what drives premiums: CLEAR/claims experience, theft pressure, repairability, safety tech, trim choices, and city-by-city realities.
• Coverage pitfalls that can backfire-especially when you’re trying to “save” money by removing key protections.

How Ontario insurers actually price a vehicle

Ontario auto insurance pricing is a blend of:

• Driver factors (experience, convictions, claims, licensing history, prior insurance history, annual kilometres, commute/use pattern).
• Territory factors (your postal code’s claim frequency and theft pressure-often the single biggest swing inside the GTA).
• Vehicle factors (how often that year/make/model gets in claims, what those claims cost, how often it’s stolen, and how expensive it is to repair or replace).
• Coverage structure (liability limit, deductibles, optional endorsements, rental coverage, accident benefits selections where applicable).

Two Ontario-specific details matter a lot when you’re shopping vehicles:

1. Ontario has a standardized policy structure (OAP 1) that sets the baseline rights/obligations and core coverages. That doesn’t mean everyone buys the same protection, but it does mean the framework is consistent.
2. Vehicle rating in Canada heavily leans on claims experience tools like CLEAR (Canadian Loss Experience Automobile Rating). Insurers use claims data to estimate how likely a vehicle is to generate losses and how severe those losses tend to be.

What “cheapest to insure” means in this guide

This article uses two publicly available Ontario-focused datasets that publish model-level premium figures:

• Gas list (10 models): Based on the “Top 10 Cheapest Vehicles to Insure in Ontario in 2026” table published by MyChoice, using quote data collected in 2025 and a standardized driver profile for comparison.
• Electric list (10 models): Based on ThinkInsure’s published Ontario EV premium examples for “Most affordable electric cars to insure,” presented as model-level annual premiums.

Important: these are not your guaranteed prices. They are useful because they show which models frequently land in lower-cost territory when the driver profile is controlled or when quote datasets are aggregated.

The cheapest 10 gas vehicles to insure in Ontario (published averages)

The list below uses MyChoice’s Ontario table of the 10 cheapest vehicles to insure in 2026, with average annual and monthly premiums (from quote data collected in 2025). Source: MyChoice – The Cheapest Cars to Insure in Ontario (2026 update).

The cheapest 10 electric vehicles to insure in Ontario (published examples)

The EV list below uses ThinkInsure’s Ontario EV premium examples (“Most affordable electric cars to insure”) and selects the 10 lowest annual premiums shown in that section. Source: ThinkInsure – Cheapest cars to insure (Ontario breakdown).

Why some vehicles are cheaper to insure in Ontario (the real drivers)

1) Claims experience and vehicle rating systems (CLEAR)

In Canada, insurers rely on claims data to estimate future losses. One of the key industry tools is CLEAR (Canadian Loss Experience Automobile Rating), which uses historical insurance claim frequency and severity by vehicle to help price premiums. In plain English: if a vehicle’s claims tend to be less frequent and/or less expensive, it often gets priced more favorably (all else equal).

You can read IBC’s CLEAR overview here: Insurance Bureau of Canada – CLEAR.

2) Theft pressure (especially in the GTA)

Ontario has been at the centre of Canada’s auto theft problem in recent years, and theft risk directly influences comprehensive premiums. A vehicle that is frequently targeted can become expensive to insure even if it’s safe and practical. Theft also causes secondary costs: rental vehicles, storage, recovery, fraud investigations, and supply chain delays when replacements are scarce.

For theft awareness and model targeting, Équité Association publishes Canada’s top stolen vehicles list: Équité Association – Top 10 Most Stolen Vehicles. IBC also tracks theft claim trends and the impact on losses: IBC – Auto theft hurts everyone.

3) Repairability and parts cost (the hidden premium multiplier)

When insurers price collision and comprehensive, they don’t just consider the sticker price. They care about the real cost to return the vehicle to pre-loss condition:

• Parts pricing and availability
• Repair hours (labour time)
• Specialized work (aluminum, bonded structures, high-voltage EV procedures)
• Calibration requirements for cameras/radar/lidar and ADAS systems
• Rental duration while parts are on backorder

Vehicle complexity and rising repair costs have been widely discussed as contributors to premium pressure. A useful overview of broader claims cost drivers (including EV considerations) is covered in Statistics Canada’s discussion of rising vehicle repair/claims costs: Statistics Canada (PDF) – Impacts of rising costs and claims on personal automobile insurance.

4) Safety tech: it helps-but it can also raise repair costs

Modern safety tech can reduce accident frequency (great for premiums), but it can increase the cost of minor collisions (bad for premiums). A simple bumper hit can turn into a multi-sensor replacement + calibration invoice. The “cheap-to-insure” sweet spot is usually a vehicle with:

• Strong crash protection and reasonable accident avoidance features
• But not a repair profile where every small hit becomes a major electronics claim

5) Trim choices that quietly raise premiums

Many drivers unintentionally quote one trim and buy another. This is a common way “cheap-to-insure” vehicles become unexpectedly expensive. Watch for:

• Performance trims (more power, different driver mix, higher collision severity)
• Oversized wheels/low-profile tires (more rim damage claims, more expensive tires)
• Expensive headlights (matrix LED units can be shockingly costly)
• Panoramic roofs (glass replacement can be high and may increase claim severity)
• Rare trims (parts delays can increase rental costs)

Vehicles to think twice about in Ontario (theft-target reality check)

This guide is about finding vehicles that tend to insure well. But it also helps to know what can spike premiums quickly-especially in the GTA. One major factor is theft targeting. Équité Association publishes a national top-stolen list, and Ontario has been heavily impacted in recent years.

Here’s a practical way to use theft data when shopping: if a model consistently appears on “most stolen” lists, treat it as a must-quote-before-you-buy vehicle (and budget for anti-theft measures).

City-specific guidance in Ontario (how your postal code changes the “cheapest” list)

Ontario is not one insurance market-it’s many micro-markets. Your vehicle choice matters, but your location can matter just as much. Below are practical, city-specific insights you can use to adapt this guide locally.

Toronto

Toronto premiums are often pushed up by density (more collisions), high claim frequency, expensive repairs, and elevated theft pressure in certain pockets. If your goal is to keep premiums down in Toronto:

• Lean toward models with stable claims experience and strong availability of parts/repair networks.
• Avoid vehicles that are “theft famous” unless you’re prepared to install anti-theft protection and accept higher comprehensive costs.
• Be cautious with trims heavy in sensors/glass-parking incidents and minor collisions are more common in dense areas.

Brampton

Brampton is widely known for higher premiums due to higher claim costs and frequency. In a high-cost city, vehicle choice becomes even more important because it can either soften or amplify already-high base rates. Brampton drivers should prioritize:

• Lower replacement cost and repair simplicity.
• Strong safety features that reduce loss frequency.
• Lower theft targeting.

In Brampton, the “cheapest vehicles” tend to be the ones that remain insurable at reasonable premiums across multiple carriers-not just one insurer.

Mississauga

Mississauga is a blend: dense corridors, major highways, and a wide range of neighbourhood risk profiles. Two Mississauga postal codes can quote very differently. If you’re shopping in Mississauga:

• Run quotes using your exact postal code, not a generic “Mississauga” assumption.
• If you’re commuting daily on the 401/403/QEW corridors, collision exposure matters more-small differences in vehicle loss history can show up clearly in your quote.

Ottawa

Ottawa can price more favorably than many GTA pockets, but winter driving exposure and commuting patterns still matter. Ottawa drivers often do well with:

• Safe, stable compact cars and compact SUVs with predictable repair costs.
• AWD vehicles that reduce winter incident risk (especially for drivers who commute before roads are fully cleared).

Hamilton

Hamilton’s pricing can vary by neighbourhood and commute pattern. If you’re doing frequent highway commuting into the GTA, your risk profile can shift. Hamilton shoppers can keep premiums down by:

• Avoiding high-theft vehicles that trigger higher comprehensive costs.
• Choosing vehicles with widely available parts and straightforward repair profiles.

London

London premiums can be more manageable than the GTA, but theft and collision patterns still exist. The best approach is often “boring but durable”-vehicles with stable claims experience and common parts availability.

Windsor and border cities

Border cities can have unique theft and fraud patterns. The best practice is the same: quote early, check theft targeting, and avoid rare trims that create repair delays.

Coverage choices that affect your premium (and what not to cut)

Vehicle choice is only half the equation. The other half is how you structure coverage. Ontario’s standard policy framework includes mandatory coverages and optional coverages. For an overview of standard policy components and what determines rates, FSRA provides consumer guidance here:

• FSRA – What determines your auto insurance rate
• FSRA – What is in a standard auto insurance policy?
• IBC – Mandatory auto insurance requirements (Ontario)

Liability limits: the “cheap” move that can become very expensive later

Many Ontario drivers carry $1,000,000 or $2,000,000 in liability coverage because serious injury claims can exceed minimums quickly. Cutting liability limits can reduce premiums, but it’s one of the areas where “saving money” can expose you to catastrophic out-of-pocket risk.

Deductibles: the most honest lever for lowering premiums

If you want to reduce premium while staying properly protected, increasing deductibles is often the cleanest lever-especially if you have emergency savings to handle a higher out-of-pocket amount after a claim.

The DCPD opt-out (OPCF 49): savings with major consequences

Ontario introduced an option to opt out of Direct Compensation – Property Damage (DCPD) using OPCF 49. This can reduce premiums, but it is not a small tweak-it’s a fundamental decision about whether you want your insurer to pay for damage to your vehicle in not-at-fault collisions under that part of the policy framework.

FSRA has discussed the OPCF 49 change and the January 2024 effective timing in its announcements, and DCPD details are covered in standard policy explanations and forms.

If you want to read more about the change from a regulatory/industry perspective, see:

• FSRA – Auto update (OPCF 49 and DCPD optionality)
• Economical Insurance – Opting out of DCPD coverage in Ontario

Gas vs Electric: what changes from an insurance perspective

Electric vehicles introduce a few insurance-specific realities:

• Battery and high-voltage components: Damage that would be “repairable” on an ICE vehicle can become more expensive on an EV if battery integrity is involved.
• Specialized repair networks: Fewer qualified shops can mean longer repair times, which can increase rental/loss-of-use costs.
• Parts and calibration: EVs often have advanced driver-assist and sensor packages; calibrations add cost after even minor collisions.
• Replacement value: Many EVs still sit in higher replacement-cost bands than their gas equivalents, which can push premiums.

That said, EVs are not “always more expensive” to insure. It depends on the model, the segment, and the claims experience. Industry commentary and studies frequently emphasize that the premium gap varies and can be segment-dependent.

For a Canada-focused discussion of EV vs gas insurance cost pressure, see:

• Canadian Underwriter – Are EVs cheaper to insure than gas vehicles? It depends.
• MyChoice – Are electric cars more expensive to insure? (Ontario-focused analysis)

How to use this list when you’re actually shopping

Here’s the buyer workflow that produces the best real-world results:

1. Pick your segment first: small car, compact SUV, truck, EV hatchback, EV crossover. Don’t compare across segments if your needs differ.
2. Create a shortlist of 3–5 models: include at least one “boring” option (Corolla/Civic class) as a control.
3. Quote each model using the same coverages: same liability limit, same deductibles, same collision/comprehensive selections, same rental coverage, same annual kilometres, and the same principal driver.
4. Quote the exact trim: wheels, glass roof, performance variants, and tech packages can move the premium.
5. Check theft targeting: especially if you’re in Toronto/GTA.

Frequently asked questions (Ontario)

Is it better to buy a used car to save on insurance in Ontario?

Often yes-up to a point. A vehicle with a lower replacement value can reduce comprehensive and collision exposure, but very old vehicles can introduce safety trade-offs or limited parts availability that increases repair time and cost. The best “used” sweet spot is typically a model that’s common, safe, and easy to repair.

Do EVs always cost more to insure than gas vehicles in Ontario?

No. In many cases EVs can cost more due to replacement value and repair complexity, but some EV models price competitively depending on claims experience, segment, and postal code. Always quote the exact model and trim.

What’s the single biggest factor for Ontario car insurance: the car or the driver?

For most people, it’s the combination of driver + postal code. The vehicle is still crucial-especially for theft and repair severity-but location and driving history can dominate the outcome.

How do I check whether a car is “insurance-friendly” before buying?

Start with a quick quote and then learn the “why.” IBC’s resources on vehicle rating and how rates are set can help you understand the vehicle side of the equation: IBC – How auto rates are set and IBC – How cars measure up.

Sources & Data References

• MyChoice – The Cheapest Cars to Insure in Ontario (2026 update) (published model-level Ontario averages from 2025 quote data).
• ThinkInsure – Cheapest cars to insure (Ontario breakdown) (includes a list of EV models with annual premium examples).
• Insurance Bureau of Canada – CLEAR (Canadian Loss Experience Automobile Rating).
• Insurance Bureau of Canada – How auto rates are set.
• Insurance Bureau of Canada – How cars measure up.
• FSRA – What determines your auto insurance rate.
• FSRA – What is in a standard auto insurance policy?.
• Équité Association – Top 10 Most Stolen Vehicles (Canada).
• IBC – Auto theft hurts everyone.
• Statistics Canada (PDF) – Impacts of rising costs and claims on personal automobile insurance.
• FSRA – Auto update (OPCF 49 / DCPD optionality timeline).
• Economical Insurance – Opting out of DCPD coverage in Ontario.