Your Ontario car insurance renewal should arrive about 45 days before your policy expires, according to the Financial Services Regulatory Authority of Ontario (FSRA). The new premium reflects two things: any rate change FSRA approved for your insurer, and changes in your own file, such as a new vehicle, a move or a ticket. That is why a renewal can go up even in a season when several insurers were approved for rate cuts. You are not obliged to accept the renewal offer, so use those 45 days to check it.

When does your car insurance renewal arrive in Ontario?

FSRA says you should receive your renewal from your insurance company approximately 45 days before your policy expires. That window is meant for reviewing what changed, adjusting coverage and shopping around if you want to.

If you decide not to renew, tell your broker, agent or insurer right away. FSRA warns that simply stopping payments leads to cancellation for non-payment. That can place you in a higher-risk category, and insurers may then charge you more for a future policy.

Note the expiry date when the renewal arrives. Leaving the review to the last few days makes it harder to get comparable quotes before coverage ends.

Why did my car insurance go up at renewal in Ontario?

A car insurance renewal in Ontario moves for two separate reasons, and it helps to know which one you are looking at.

1. Your insurer’s approved rate change. Ontario auto insurers need FSRA’s approval before they change the rates used to calculate premiums. FSRA reviews whether proposed rates are fair and reasonable. An approved change is an average across the insurer’s customers, and FSRA notes that approved rate changes may not affect all customers.

2. Changes in your own circumstances. FSRA lists the factors insurers use to rate you:

• the vehicle you drive
• your driving record, including accidents, tickets, convictions, years licensed and driver training
• where you live (urban areas usually cost more)
• age, gender and marital status
• kilometres driven each year, and whether you commute to work or school
• the coverage you buy and the deductibles you choose
• the insurer itself, since premiums differ from one company to another

FSRA gives moving, buying a new vehicle and getting a speeding ticket as examples of personal changes that can move your premium. It also says several factors are driving costs up across the market, including inflation and increased driving.

FSRA’s own figures show the overall trend. Average annual premiums for private passenger vehicles in Ontario, as published by FSRA:

Source: FSRA, “Your average premium.” Percentage changes calculated by AAXEL from FSRA’s figures. Each average covers all Ontario private passenger vehicles insured over the previous 12 months.

The provincial average rose by $212, or 10.6%, between October 2024 and June 2026. Your own renewal can sit well above or below these averages. Region is one reason; our post on why Ontario auto insurance rates vary by city explains that factor in detail.

Ontario auto insurance rate cuts in 2026: will your renewal be lower?

Possibly, but not automatically. Several insurers were approved for average rate decreases on renewals between August and November 2026, according to Money.ca’s September 20, 2026 review of FSRA’s rate approval filings. Examples it reported include The Personal at −5.3% and Certas at −2% for renewals from November 28, and Co-operators at −3.73% from September 11. The same review reported at least one approved increase.

Two cautions apply. First, these are average changes across each insurer’s book, and your premium still depends on your vehicle, record, location and coverage. Second, the amounts are often small. A 2% decrease on FSRA’s $2,218 provincial average is about $44 a year. A single new ticket or an added young driver can easily outweigh it.

To see what your insurer has been approved for, search FSRA’s Auto Rate Approvals database. It covers approvals since January 1, 2018 and is updated regularly. FSRA suggests using it as a signal of a rate change that may be coming your way.

What to check on your Ontario car insurance renewal before you accept

Put last year’s policy next to the renewal and work through this list.

1. Compare it line by line. Look at the premium for each coverage, each deductible, the listed drivers and the listed vehicles. A higher total is easier to explain once you see which line moved.
2. Confirm the facts it is rated on. FSRA says the information you give your broker, agent or insurer determines your rates, and an insurer can cancel a policy if that information is incorrect or incomplete. Check your address, annual kilometres, commute and who drives each vehicle. A commute that ended or a driver who moved out are common reasons a file goes stale.
3. Review your accident benefits. This may be your first renewal since Ontario’s July 1, 2026 changes made most accident benefits optional. According to the Insurance Bureau of Canada, existing policies renew with current coverage and limits unless you agree in writing to change them. Read which accident benefits to keep under the 2026 changes before removing any to save money.
4. Revisit deductibles and optional physical damage cover. FSRA notes that a higher deductible usually lowers your premium. It also says that collision or comprehensive coverage may not be cost-effective on a vehicle worth less than $2,000. Our guide to what auto insurance coverage you really need in Ontario covers these choices.
5. Ask about every discount. FSRA says all insurers must offer a discount if you install winter tires. It also lists driver training, graduated licence, group, mature driver, multi-vehicle, retiree and low-mileage discounts, among others. Some insurers discount home and auto bought together by 5% to 15%, according to FSRA, so ask whether bundling your home and auto insurance would help.
6. Understand your Direct Compensation – Property Damage choice. Since January 2024, Ontario drivers may elect not to claim DCPD coverage. FSRA cautions that opting out may not be the best option, so understand what you would give up before choosing it for a small saving.
7. Check your payment plan. FSRA says insurers are not required to offer monthly payments if your policy was cancelled for non-payment more than once in the past three years.

Should you switch car insurance at renewal in Ontario?

You can. FSRA says you are under no obligation to accept your current insurer’s renewal offer, and that quotes can vary widely among insurers. Renewal is also the natural time to move: FSRA notes that cancelling mid-term may bring a penalty, so starting a new policy when the old one expires can make more sense.

Comparisons only work if every quote is for the same coverage, drivers and vehicles. Our guide on how to compare auto insurance quotes in Ontario properly covers that method; this post is about deciding whether your renewal needs a second look.

Two FSRA rules are worth knowing. Insurers, agents and brokers cannot require you to consent to the use of your credit information before giving you a quote or renewal, and cannot use credit information when processing renewals. If your record includes recent claims or convictions, see our page on high-risk car insurance in Ontario for how the options change.

An independent broker can quote several insurers at once. A broker can only quote the insurers it has contracts with, so ask which markets were checked.

What if you disagree with your renewal premium?

Start by asking your broker or insurer to explain the change line by line. If you are still unhappy, FSRA’s complaint process begins with the insurer’s complaint officer, who issues a final position. After that, you can take the matter to the General Insurance OmbudService (GIO), or to the Mutual Insurance Companies OmbudService for a mutual insurer. FSRA handles complaints about possible breaches of its rules. It cannot settle contract disagreements, issue a refund or get compensation for you.

If your renewal has arrived and something looks off, an Ontario auto insurance review takes one conversation. Book a renewal review with an AAXEL broker before your policy expires.

Frequently asked questions about car insurance renewal in Ontario

1. How early should my car insurance renewal arrive in Ontario? FSRA says you should receive your renewal from your insurer approximately 45 days before your policy expires. If it has not arrived within a few weeks of your expiry date, contact your broker, agent or insurer.

2. Why did my car insurance go up at renewal in Ontario? A renewal premium changes because of your insurer’s FSRA-approved rate change, changes in your own circumstances, or both. FSRA gives moving, buying a new vehicle and getting a speeding ticket as examples of personal changes. FSRA also says inflation and increased driving are pushing costs up across the market.

3. Are Ontario auto insurance rates going down in 2026? Some are. Several insurers were approved for average decreases on renewals between August and November 2026, according to a review of FSRA filings. Others were approved for increases, and FSRA’s provincial average premium was still rising as of June 2026.

4. How do I check if my insurer got a rate increase or decrease? Search your insurer’s name in FSRA’s Auto Rate Approvals database, which lists approvals since January 1, 2018. The figure shown is an average across the insurer’s customers, so your own premium change can be higher or lower.

5. What is the average car insurance premium in Ontario in 2026? FSRA reports an average annual premium of $2,218 for Ontario private passenger vehicles as of June 2026. The GTA average was $2,868, other urban areas $2,131 and rural areas $1,791.

6. Do I have to accept my car insurance renewal offer? No. FSRA says you are under no obligation to accept your current insurer’s renewal offer. If you will not renew, tell your broker, agent or insurer instead of simply stopping payments, which can lead to cancellation for non-payment.

7. Is there a penalty for switching car insurance in Ontario? FSRA notes that cancelling a policy mid-term may bring a penalty. Switching when your current policy expires usually avoids that, which makes renewal the natural time to move.

8. Will my accident benefits change automatically at renewal after July 1, 2026? No. According to the Insurance Bureau of Canada, existing Ontario policies renew with current coverage and limits unless you agree in writing to change them. Medical, rehabilitation and attendant care benefits remain mandatory.

9. Do Ontario insurers have to give a winter tire discount? Yes. FSRA says all insurance companies must offer a discount if you install winter tires on your vehicle. Ask your insurer what qualifies.

10. Who can I complain to about my auto insurance premium in Ontario? Start with your insurer’s complaint officer and get its final position. You can then go to the General Insurance OmbudService, or the Mutual Insurance Companies OmbudService for a mutual insurer. FSRA handles possible rule breaches but cannot issue refunds or settle contract disagreements.

Sources

All pages were opened on October 12, 2026.

• FSRA – Your average premium: average premium table (Oct 2024 to June 2026); how approved rate changes and personal circumstances affect premiums.
• FSRA – Auto insurance rate approvals: approval requirement; “may not impact all customers”; database since January 1, 2018; inflation and increased driving; no obligation to accept a renewal.
• FSRA – Auto Rate Approvals database: insurer-by-insurer approvals (linked for readers; see the verification note below).
• FSRA – Working with your broker, agent or insurance company: renewal about 45 days before expiry; non-payment cancellation; mid-term cancellation penalty; credit information rules; accuracy of information.
• FSRA – What determines your auto insurance rate: rating factors.
• FSRA – How to save on auto insurance: mandatory winter tire discount offer; discount list; 5–15% multi-policy; deductibles; $2,000 vehicle guidance; monthly payment rule.
• FSRA – What is in a standard auto insurance policy?: DCPD opt-out since January 2024; mandatory benefits after July 1, 2026.
• FSRA – How to resolve an auto insurance complaint: complaint steps; GIO and MICO; limits of FSRA’s role.
• Insurance Bureau of Canada – Ontario auto insurance changes: renewal continues current coverage unless changed in writing.
• Money.ca – Ontario auto insurance rate cuts this fall (Sept 20, 2026): insurer-level approved decreases (secondary source summarising FSRA filings).

Disclaimer

This article provides general information about car insurance renewals in Ontario as of October 2026. It is not legal or insurance advice for your situation. Premiums, approved rates and regulations change; check your policy documents and FSRA’s website, and speak with a licensed broker before changing your coverage.