Archie Montrose5 Best Car Insurers in Vancouver
It can be difficult to choose among the hundreds of providers of car insurance in Vancouver. Luckily for you, we have some experience with this.
We have already looked into the best car insurance companies in Ottawa and Toronto. Now, we have narrowed it down for Vancouver, too!
We studied the brokers, agencies, and providers of car insurance in Vancouver. We took a look at their services, reviews, and the value they can give to you as a potential customer.
After looking at your options, we can then discuss frequently asked questions. We will also talk about how to pick the best insurance company and policy to fit your needs.
How much do car insurance policies cost in Vancouver?
Although there are insurance quote calculators online, none of them are perfectly accurate. There will always be discrepancies since there is no one-size-fits-all solution when it comes to insurance.
The discrepancies come from numerous factors such as your coverage, type of vehicle, and car mileage. Nevertheless, there are reports on the average amounts drivers pay per province.
As it turns out, areas in British Columbia currently pay the most.
| Area | Price |
| British Columbia | $ 1,832 |
| Ontario | $ 1,528 |
| Quebec | $ 717 |
| Alberta | $ 1,316 |
| Canadian Average | $1,320 |
Despite being directly beside BC, Alberta pays $ 500 less. Quebec pays the least for car insurance, with a provincial average of $ 717.
Even Ontario, the most populated province, pays less than BC areas. The high price of policies may be due to the lack of competition and a spike in costs for insurers.
To curb the high rates, the government of British Columbia has introduced a new no-fault system. The system can reduce basic and optional car insurance rates by 20%.
Nevertheless, you can still expect insurance premiums to rise over the next few years. To maximize your savings, it would be best to ask for quotes from different providers when it comes to add-ons.
You can also ask yourself if you need optional insurance coverage at all to keep your costs down.
The Best Car Insurance Companies In Vancouver
We sifted through all the options (both insurers and brokers – we’ll note which one each entry is) using a set of criteria. Here were the main concerns for us:
1. BCAA
| Criteria | Rating |
| Insurance Coverage | 4/5 |
| Number of Offices | 5/5 |
| Convenience | 5/5 |
We have to begin with one of the largest and oldest providers of car insurance in Vancouver: The British Columbia Automobile Association.
The BCAA has more than 20 locations in the area. Multiple reviews testify to the quality of their service, as their locations garner above-4-star rating averages from Yelp and Google reviews.
The BCAA provides a wide range of services, but most know them for their car insurance packages. Through the company, you can apply for and renew your ICBC mandatory insurance via phone or on-site.
What sets them apart from competitors are the inclusions in their optional car insurance policy. If you purchase their optional insurance, you get free tire repair and replacement, guaranteed car repairs, and pet coverage.
Aside from these, BCAA also offers one accident forgiveness, which is something more insurers should really offer. If you’re proven to be at-fault for a collision, their forgiveness policy prevents your premium from going up after your first accident.
BCAA also offers roadside services in case you experience breakdowns while driving.
Although insurance quotes are highly variable, most of the policyholders we polled said that the costs of BCAA policies are significantly lower compared to others. You can also opt to become a member of the association to receive a 20% discount on BCAA optional car insurance.
Aside from car insurance, the BCAA can provide motorcycle, RV, home, and life insurance among others. This can be handy if you’re looking for a single provider for these.
That being said, while they do excel in automobile insurance, there are a handful of complaints regarding other forms of insurance. We found a handful of policyholders complaining about sluggish responses to policies and queries.
Pros
- More than two dozen service locations
- The website is informative and easy to use
- Offers a wide range of insurance policies and services
- Association members receive a 20% discount on optional car insurance
- Has first-accident forgiveness
Cons
- No operations on Sundays
Customer Reviews:
Helpful
BCAA had to rescue me and my car yesterday. Over the years I’ve had to call on them to help me out a few times. Each time I received amazing service.
The guys are always friendly and very helpful. They gave me great tips on how to keep my car up and running well to avoid costly (yet simple) trips to the dealership.
Last night was no different. The guy went above and beyond to make sure I got my car home safely. Then while checking out the engine, etc. he noticed that my driver’s side door was squeaky so he sprayed it with some sort of lubricant to get rid of the noise.
It made a long day more bearable.
Thank you BCAA!!
-Allison K, Yelp
Competitive prices
I visit the Burnaby (Canada Way) location regularly and have recently renewed both of my auto policies as well as my strata and condo policies with their team. I find their rates competitive and service excellent in all of my recent visits. On my last auto renewal, BCAA’s coverage saved me over $150 vs. ICBC’s optional coverage and the agent took the time to explain the differences in the two coverage to help me make an informed decision (BCAA’s was better in every respect!).
-Dave M., Yelp
2. Westland Insurance
| Criteria | Rating |
| Insurance Coverage | 5/5 |
| Number of Offices | 5/5 |
| Convenience | 4/5 |
With around forty years of experience under its belt, it’s probably unsurprising that Westland Insurance secured a spot on the list.
Westland Insurance started as a family business in the 1980s and has grown on a massive scale since then. Currently, they have 190 locations all over Canada so you can always find a location nearby.
You can purchase and renew your ICBC mandatory insurance through Westland via email, phone, or in person. It is best to call and visit them during the weekdays, as their locations are closed on weekends – that’s a bit of a downside, actually.
An advantage to choosing Westland, though, is the way they remind you of your renewal dates.
The ICBC always sends a reminder through the mail. If you get your insurance through Westland, they will also send you emails, texts, and automated calls to ensure that you have opportunities to renew.
Westland also offers optional car insurance. Their optional insurance pays for the repairs of your vehicle regardless of fault and the cause of the damage.
You can also receive a brand-new version of your vehicle through their Family Autocover insurance under certain circumstances. If your car is wrecked or considered a total loss, you may be eligible for a replacement vehicle.
Pros
- 190 locations all over Canada
- Sends notifications for insurance renewal
- Optional car insurance policies include vehicle replacement
- 24/7 insurance claims service
Cons
- Closed during the weekends
Customer Reviews:
Helpful, knowledgeable staff
A representative named Wani P. at Westland Insurance helped me with multiple transactions. Wani was knowledgeable, helpful, and very kind. She provided good advice about rates and made my experience much easier than expected. –Avril, Insureye
No hard selling
I’ve dealt with the Gibsons office for many years. Efficient, friendly service from the knowledgeable staff! No hig- pressure selling, but made me aware of my options. Thanks! –Linda, Facebook
3. AMC Insurance
| Criteria | Rating |
| Insurance Coverage | 4/5 |
| Number of Offices | 3/5 |
| Convenience | 4/5 |
A lot of people told us that AMC Insurance is one of the best providers of car insurance in Vancouver. To show you just how popular they are, AMC Insurance has a 4.8 star rating on Google averaged over 263 different reviews.
Unlike the ones mentioned previously, AMC Insurance is an insurance broker. As such, they work with numerous partnered insurance providers and pick out the policy that suits their clients.
What sets them apart is that they offer classic car insurance for vintage car owners. This insurance coverage includes basic collision protections and spare parts replacements.
Aside from automobile insurance, AMC also offers RV and motorcycle insurance, home insurance, and more. Despite their myriad services, multiple clients testify that AMC provides speedy actions regardless of the type of insurance their clients need.
With consistently fast service, AMC Insurance is one of the best vehicle insurance brokers in Vancouver. However, it may be hard for new clients to trust the company because of their website.
AMC’s website is straightforward, sure, but it only has the bare minimum of information. Although they share their partners’ information, they do not cite your optional insurance add-ons and coverage on their pages.
That’s not great. People want information easily accessible now, especially given how often they research products and service providers online before making purchases, so this is a real oversight for AMC.
At the very least, AMC still lists their insurance partners. With 24 different insurance providers to choose from, you can rest assured that they can probably provide the insurance coverage you need.
We should note that they only have one location in Vancouver, though. Nevertheless, their daily availability, wide variety of providers, and wide selection of policies earns them a spot on this list.
Pros
- Provides fast service
- Open daily
- Offers multiple types of insurance, even for vintage vehicles
Cons
- Website does not give detailed information about insurance coverage
- Only one branch in Vancouver
Customer Reviews:
Competitive rates
We were looking to purchase Auto Insurance for our imported vehicle and Home Insurance for our apartment unit. Mr. Mo Khalilbeigi quoted us the most competitive rates for both. He was professional and answered all of our questions patiently. He completed the required paperwork for out-of-province registration diligently and explained all of the important details we needed to know. Overall, we had a great experience and are happy to have found this location and Mo! –Shahriyar, Google Reviews
Quick service
Moe was extremely helpful and knowledgeable about getting my car insured after moving from the States. He helped us the same day and had everything sorted in under 30 minutes. Definitely recommended. – Jason, Google Reviews
4. Insure BC
| Criteria | Rating |
| Insurance Coverage | 4/5 |
| Number of Offices | 5/5 |
| Convenience | 4/5 |
Established in 1988, Insure BC is one of the largest groups of car insurance brokers in Vancouver and the entirety of Canada. Some of the brokers and agencies under their wing have also been operating since the 1920s.
Like other brokers, Insure BC offers their clients the insurance policies of different companies. What sets Insure BC apart is that their partners are the biggest insurance companies in the country.
Insure BC works with famous companies such as Aviva, Intact Insurance, Optimum West, and more. Through Insure, you can get multiple options for your auto and home insurance depending on what you need.
With 90 locations open 6 days a week, we think they rank pretty high on the convenience and accessibility scale. It’s also worth noting that they take inquiries and requests for quick quotes via their website.
Insure BC does not specify the exact coverage of their offered policies on the same site, however, which is again an oversight in this age.
On the bright side, they do mention that their policies may include lower premiums, first accident forgiveness, and new vehicle replacement. Mind that the operative word is “may” here; after all, they do have a lot of policies from different insurers available.
Still, they make our list for several reasons. Again, they have a massive range of products from different insurers on offer, which gives you the benefit of choice.
Moreover, according to surveyed clients, agents and staff are helpful and respond quickly to quote requests. That responsiveness and accessibility is always valuable.
Pros
- Website is very easy to navigate
- Multiple offices open at least six days a week
- Staff respond quickly, especially to quote requests
Cons
- Website still lacks detail about individual policies
- Tends to focus only on the policies from big insurers
Customer Reviews:
Efficient service and competitive rates
We had pleasant timely service and were able to get three different types of insurance at one time: vehicle, tenant, and storage with advice on the best deal for each! Very convenient and efficient! Cooperative generous staff who stayed past closing time to complete our transactions! Kudos to John and his teammates! – Brenda, Google Reviews
Responsive and helpful staff
The team at Insure BC is very helpful and super responsive. They made the process of buying insurance quick and pain free, offering the best coverage and price! I will definitely be using them for all my insurance needs. –Kiarrah, Google Reviews
5. Allwest Insurance
| Criteria | Rating |
| Insurance Coverage | 5/5 |
| Number of Offices | 3/5 |
| Convenience | 5/5 |
Allwest is a highly acclaimed car insurance broker in Vancouver. Allwest consistently receives stellar reviews on Google and is currently ranked among the highest-rated brokers here.
Just like the other brokers, Allwest offers ICBC and private car insurance to their clients. What makes them unique is the way they make the process convenient.
Allwest is perhaps the only car insurance provider in Vancouver that delivers their insurance policies. All you have to do is call their number and transact over the phone.
Once they have the necessary information, Allwest will deliver your insurance policy to your doorstep. According to multiple clients, the company often delivers ahead of their due date, which is absolutely stellar.
Allwest also offers numerous optional add-ons to your car insurance. Although they do not list all of their insurance partners online (tsk!), they provide details about the additional coverage options on their website.
Allwest’s additional coverage includes insurance for fleets, additional protection for storage-related damage, and additional roadside protections.
Allwest combines a wide variety of services with five decades of experience. However, one of their weak points is their lack of offices.
The company has a main office and four local branches spread all over Canada. Two of these offices are in Vancouver.
Despite the lack of accessibility in person, Allwest still shines when it comes to smooth transactions. Their policy delivery and over-the-phone transaction options set them apart from their competitors.
Pros
- On-time and unique automobile insurance policy delivery to your home
- Numerous options for insurance add-ons
Cons
- Closed during the weekends
- Only has two offices in Vancouver
Customer Reviews:
Delivers policy on time
Anna Lam is the ultimate professional. Fast response, 100% accurate, and usually delivers before the time promised. Highly recommended! –Martin, Google Reviews
Consistent and responsive staff
We’ve been using this agency for the past 10 years and have nothing but good things to say. A great team who are extremely responsive and their customer service is above and beyond that of any others we’ve worked with in the past. – Brad, Google Reviews
What to Look For When Choosing a Car Insurance Provider?
It is highly important that you find the right car insurance provider that covers everything you need. Here are the factors you should consider before signing any policy:
Check the Coverage
The mandatory insurance from the ICBC already has basic coverage. It includes minimum protections when it comes to collisions and damages.
In addition to these mandatory protections, the ICBC and other corporations offer additional benefits in case of accidents. These extra protections will come at the cost of higher insurance premiums.
As such, you should check the coverage of your policy and choose only the ones you will use.
Check the Reviews
You should check what others say about the company. Are they fast and efficient? Do they pay off all the claims made against them?
The last question is important. It would be best to check how much money they were able to release and how quick they released it.
Look for Available Discounts
Even if you choose an insurance policy with the bare minimum coverage, you may still get discounts. Ask your provider if they can help you save money, especially if you
· Have no history of collisions
· Have a low mileage on your vehicle
· Have multiple insurance policies with the same provider
· Are a senior citizen or retiree
