High-Risk Driver Insurance in Ontario
Ontario drivers can be classified as high risk after multiple convictions or at-fault accidents, premium non-payment cancellations or other risk characteristics. That can reduce regular-market options and significantly increase insurance cost.
What can make a driver high risk?
FSRA identifies several common reasons: many convictions, multiple at-fault accidents, policies cancelled because premiums were not paid, or other characteristics that make an insurer expect a higher probability of a claim.
The classification is not based on one universal Ontario score. An insurer evaluates the driver under its own underwriting and approved rating rules, which means market availability can differ from company to company.
FSRA — High-risk drivers →Basic auto insurance remains available even when the regular market declines
FSRA says individual insurers can decline a high-risk driver, but Ontario's insurance industry as a whole cannot refuse to sell basic auto insurance. Facility Association is the insurer-of-last-resort mechanism for drivers unable to find coverage in the regular market.
FSRA — High-risk driver guidance →Can an Ontario insurer refuse a high-risk driver?
A particular insurance company may decide not to offer coverage when a driver falls outside its underwriting rules. FSRA says, however, that the insurance industry as a whole cannot refuse to sell the basic auto insurance required to drive legally in Ontario.
Some insurers specialize in higher-risk drivers. When coverage cannot be found in the regular market, Facility Association acts as an insurer of last resort through the industry pool.
Why Facility Association insurance costs more
FSRA states that Facility Association coverage costs much more than regular auto insurance. It exists to maintain access to required insurance for drivers who cannot obtain coverage in the standard market, not as a low-cost alternative to regular-market policies.
For research purposes, a Facility Association premium should therefore not be mixed into a normal-market average without clearly identifying the risk class and market segment.
Facility Association →Can a high-risk profile improve?
A driver profile can change over time as convictions and accidents become older and as new claim-free driving history accumulates. FSRA's general pricing guidance says a better driving record is associated with a lower premium.
The exact point at which a driver can return to a regular-market insurer is company-specific. Canada Rate Lab therefore avoids promising a fixed number of years for every situation.
FSRA — Driving record and insurance rates →Frequently asked questions
It can, depending on the underlying driver history, licence status, convictions, accidents, experience and insurer rating rules. There is no defensible universal surcharge or discount percentage for every driver in the same situation.
No. FSRA averages are market benchmarks. Your vehicle, postal area, driving record, years licensed, annual kilometres, coverage, deductible and insurer can produce a materially different premium.
Compare quotes using the same drivers, vehicle, address, annual kilometres, liability limits, optional coverage and deductibles. Then separate the effect of the driver change from any coverage change.
Related Ontario research
Compare the market trend with your own renewal
Ontario-wide averages and insurer rate approvals provide context, but your policy can move differently because of your own driver, vehicle and coverage changes.