High-Risk Auto Insurance Companies Ontario: How to Find Coverage

If you're searching for high risk auto insurance companies in Ontario, the short answer is that coverage is usually still available, but it may come from a different part of the market. Ontario has standard insurers for typical driving profiles, specialty or non-standard markets for drivers with tickets, claims, lapses or convictions, and a last-resort option for drivers no voluntary insurer will accept. Which market fits you depends on your history and each insurer's underwriting rules. This guide explains what high risk car insurance in Ontario means, who is considered high risk, how standard and non-standard markets differ, and how to find coverage and work back toward standard rates over time.

About the author: BrokerUnion is an independent, RIBO-licensed Ontario insurance brokerage. Our licensed brokers help drivers with tickets, past claims, lapses and other difficult insurance histories compare both standard and specialty markets for high-risk auto insurance in Ontario.

What is high-risk auto insurance in Ontario?

High-risk auto insurance is coverage for drivers whom insurers expect to have a higher chance of future claims, usually because of their driving record, claims, insurance history or other risk factors. FSRA describes high-risk drivers as those who have had many convictions or at-fault accidents, policies cancelled for non-payment, or other risk-related characteristics. "High risk" isn't a single legal label. Each insurer applies its own approved underwriting and rating rules, so a driver one company declines may be accepted by another, and the same driver can be priced very differently by two insurers. You may also hear it called non-standard auto insurance or specialty auto insurance. Most importantly, being high risk doesn't mean you can't get insured. FSRA notes that while an individual insurer may decline you, the insurance industry as a whole cannot refuse to sell you basic insurance.

Standard vs high-risk auto insurance: what's the difference?

The coverage itself follows the same Ontario rules. What changes is which insurers will accept you, how they underwrite you, and what you pay.

Every Ontario policy, standard or high-risk, must include at least $200,000 in third-party liability and the mandatory accident benefits.

Who is considered a high-risk driver in Ontario?

There's no single checklist, and two drivers in the same category can be treated very differently depending on severity, timing and the insurer. These are the situations that most often lead to high risk driver insurance in Ontario.

Drivers with multiple tickets

One minor ticket rarely moves a driver out of the standard market. Several convictions in a short period, or a serious one such as stunt driving or excessive speeding, can. Insurers look at the type of conviction, how many, and how recent they are. Getting insurance after multiple tickets in Ontario is usually possible, but you may be offered fewer markets and higher premiums until the record ages.

Drivers with at-fault accidents

Insurers weigh at-fault collisions heavily because they are strong predictors of future claims. One at-fault accident may raise your premium with your current insurer; several can affect eligibility with standard insurers. Insurance after at-fault accidents in Ontario often comes down to how many, how severe and how long ago.

Drivers with multiple claims

Even claims that weren't your fault, such as theft or comprehensive claims, can affect how insurers see your profile if there are several in a short time. Insurance for drivers with claims in Ontario is still available, but some insurers limit how many claims they'll accept.

Drivers after a licence suspension

A suspension, whether for demerit points, unpaid fines, a medical review or a conviction, usually makes a driver harder to insure. The reason and length matter. Getting insurance after a licence suspension in Ontario normally requires a reinstated, valid licence, and many standard insurers will want time to pass first.

Drivers with a DUI or other major conviction

Impaired driving and other criminal driving convictions are among the most serious factors. Many standard insurers won't write these drivers for a period of time, so specialty markets or the residual market may be the realistic option. Insurance after a DUI in Ontario is possible once you're legally licensed to drive, but expect significantly higher premiums and stricter terms.

Drivers with a lapse in insurance

A gap in coverage, even when you weren't driving, can affect eligibility because insurers value continuous insurance history. Insurance after a lapse in insurance in Ontario is easier to place if you can explain and document the gap, such as time living abroad or not owning a vehicle.

Drivers whose policy was cancelled or non-renewed

A previous insurer cancelling your policy, especially for non-payment, or choosing not to renew it, is something new insurers will ask about. Finding insurance after a cancelled auto insurance policy in Ontario usually means disclosing the reason and, in some cases, using a non-standard market for a period.

Newcomers with limited Canadian insurance history

Newcomers aren't high risk because they're new to Canada, but limited Canadian insurance history can narrow the standard options at first. Some insurers may consider documented foreign driving and insurance history where their underwriting rules allow it.

Young or inexperienced drivers

New drivers aren't automatically high risk, but limited experience combined with a ticket, claim or high-performance vehicle can make a profile hard to insure. See BrokerUnion's guide to comparing auto insurance quotes in Ontario for how insurers weigh experience.

How do insurers determine whether a driver is high risk?

Insurers look at your driving record (convictions and their severity), claims history, licence status and history, insurance history (lapses, cancellations, non-payment), the vehicle and how it's used, and where it's kept. Each insurer files and uses its own approved rules, so the same facts can lead to a standard quote at one company and a decline at another.

Which high-risk auto insurance companies operate in Ontario?

There's no single list of high risk auto insurance companies in Ontario that will accept every driver. Instead, coverage comes from different types of markets, and whether any one of them will insure you depends on your record, your vehicle, your location and that market's rules on the day you apply. FSRA confirms that a number of insurers specialize in insuring high-risk drivers, alongside the residual market.

What is non-standard auto insurance?

Non-standard auto insurance (sometimes called non standard car insurance in Ontario) is coverage written by insurers whose underwriting is designed for drivers outside standard guidelines. The policy still meets Ontario's legal requirements, but eligibility rules, pricing and payment terms differ from the standard market.

What is the Facility Association?

The Facility Association is a non-profit association of all insurers writing auto insurance in Ontario. Under the Compulsory Automobile Insurance Act, it provides insurance to licensed drivers and vehicle owners who would otherwise be unable to get it. It's intended as a last resort, usually at significantly higher cost, and is typically accessed through a broker.

What markets does BrokerUnion work with?

BrokerUnion publishes its insurance companies and markets, including personal auto markets such as Aviva, Intact, Travelers, Wawanesa, Economical, Gore Mutual, Coachman, Echelon, Jevco, Pafco, Pembridge, SGI, MAX Insurance and CAA Insurance. Which of these can quote you depends on the product, your risk profile, your location and each market's underwriting criteria, and BrokerUnion will tell you which markets were approached on your file, including which declined.

What is the best high-risk auto insurance company in Ontario?

There isn't one. The right insurer is the one that will accept your specific profile and offers the coverage you need at a competitive total cost. That can change from year to year as your record improves.

What happens if an insurance company refuses to insure me?

An individual insurer can decline you, but that isn't the end of the road. Ask why, then try other markets: other standard insurers, specialty insurers and, if needed, the Facility Association. An independent broker can approach several markets for you with one complete set of information. If you believe an insurer refused you on improper grounds, you can raise it with the insurer's complaints officer and then with FSRA.

Why is high-risk auto insurance more expensive?

Premiums reflect the expected cost of future claims, and a record with tickets, claims or convictions signals higher expected costs. Price is driven by:

• claims history and at-fault accidents
• the number, type and age of convictions
• licence status and history
• insurance history, including lapses and previous cancellations
• the vehicle, its value and repair costs
• where the vehicle is kept
• coverage selected and deductibles

Because each Ontario insurer uses its own filed rating rules, the same high-risk driver can receive materially different quotes. That's why comparing multiple markets matters more for high-risk drivers than for almost anyone else.

How to find high-risk auto insurance in Ontario

1. Gather your complete driving history. Order your driver's record so you know exactly which convictions appear and when they occurred.
2. Gather current and past insurance information. Collect policy documents, dates of coverage, and any cancellation or non-renewal letters.
3. Disclose tickets, convictions and claims accurately. Insurers will check, and surprises can end a quote or a policy.
4. Provide accurate vehicle and usage information. Include who drives the car, how far, and where it's parked overnight.
5. Compare available markets. Ask a broker to approach standard and specialty markets that may fit your profile.
6. Compare the same coverage. Line up quotes with the same liability limit, deductibles and optional coverages so price differences are real.
7. Review the policy before binding. Check exclusions, payment terms, cancellation conditions and the named drivers.
8. Ask about the path back to standard. Find out what would need to change for your profile to be considered by standard insurers.

Why accurate disclosure matters

When a driver has a difficult history, it can be tempting to leave something out. It almost always backfires. Insurers verify driving records, claims and insurance history, and information that doesn't match can lead to a declined application, a premium change mid-term, a cancelled policy, or problems with a claim. A cancellation for misrepresentation can make the next policy even harder to find. Full, accurate disclosure is also how a broker finds the right market. When BrokerUnion knows the complete picture up front, our brokers can approach the markets most likely to accept the risk, rather than collecting quotes that fall apart at underwriting.

What you need for a high-risk auto insurance quote

• Ontario driver's licence number and licence history
• Driving record
• Tickets and convictions, with dates
• Claims history, including at-fault and not-at-fault claims
• Previous insurance information and dates
• Cancellation or non-renewal letters, if any
• Vehicle year, make and model
• Vehicle identification number (VIN)
• How the vehicle is used
• Estimated annual kilometres
• Postal code where the vehicle is kept
• Other drivers in the household
• Coverage you want (limits and deductibles)
• Current policy or declarations page, if available

How can I lower my high-risk auto insurance premium?

No single step lowers every driver's premium, but these habits improve your options over time:

• Keep a clean driving record and avoid new convictions; time without incidents is the biggest factor.
• Keep continuous insurance. A new lapse resets much of your progress.
• Pay on time. Cancellation for non-payment is a major red flag for insurers.
• Compare multiple markets at every renewal, since your eligibility can change.
• Review your vehicle choice. Cars with lower repair costs and theft risk are cheaper to insure.
• Review deductibles and coverage with your broker, keeping a deductible you can actually pay.
• Ask about eligible discounts, such as winter tires or bundling, where the insurer offers them.
• Keep your information current, including address, drivers and vehicle use.

When can I return to standard auto insurance?

There's no universal timeline. It depends on the type and severity of each conviction, how many incidents you have, your claims, how much time has passed, your continued driving and insurance history, and each insurer's underwriting rules. Some drivers qualify for standard markets again after a few clean years; serious convictions can take longer. A broker can review your record at each renewal and tell you when standard insurers may be willing to consider you again.

How Ontario's 2026 auto insurance changes affect high-risk drivers

Since July 1, 2026, only medical, rehabilitation and attendant care accident benefits remain mandatory on new and renewing Ontario policies; income replacement, caregiver, death and funeral and other benefits are now optional. When you compare high-risk quotes, check that each one includes the same optional benefits, because removing them makes a quote look cheaper while leaving you with less protection. BrokerUnion's overview of Ontario auto insurance changes 2026 explains the reform in more detail.

Why work with BrokerUnion for high-risk auto insurance?

Hard-to-insure drivers in Ontario often spend days calling insurers one at a time, repeating the same history and collecting declines. A high risk insurance broker in Ontario, sometimes called a non-standard insurance broker, changes that. BrokerUnion offers:

• Independent advice. BrokerUnion is a RIBO-licensed brokerage and no insurer owns it, so we work for you, not for one company.
• Standard and specialty market access. We work with multiple personal auto markets and can approach both standard insurers and those that write non-standard risks, where your profile fits their rules.
• A licensed broker on your file. One broker reviews your history, explains your options and answers questions in plain language.
• Quote comparison on equal coverage, so you see real price differences, not differences in protection.
• Transparency. We'll tell you which markets were approached on your file and which declined.
• Renewal support. We review your record at renewal and look for better markets as your history improves.
• Claims support when you need it.

For what to look for in any broker, see how to choose an insurance broker in Ontario.

Frequently asked questions

Get a high-risk auto insurance quote in Ontario

Having trouble finding auto insurance? Let BrokerUnion review your driving history and compare available Ontario insurance markets for your situation. Whether you've had tickets, an at-fault accident, a lapse or a cancellation, a licensed broker will look for coverage suited to where you are now.

• Get a quote online: get a high-risk auto insurance quote
• Speak with a licensed broker: (905) 492-7070
• Email: info@brokerunion.ca
• Learn more: auto insurance in Ontario

High risk auto insurance companies in Ontario each follow their own rules, so the right coverage starts with an accurate profile and a comparison of the markets that fit it.

About BrokerUnion

BrokerUnion Insurance Inc. is an independent, RIBO-licensed insurance brokerage headquartered in Pickering, Ontario, with offices in Pickering, Barrie, Mississauga, Whitby, Sudbury and Kitchener. No insurer owns BrokerUnion. Our licensed brokers help Ontario drivers compare standard, new driver and high-risk auto insurance across multiple markets. This guide was written by the BrokerUnion Insurance Editorial Team. Regulatory details come from FSRA and the Government of Ontario sources listed below. It does not guarantee acceptance, placement or pricing with any insurer.

Sources

• Financial Services Regulatory Authority of Ontario (FSRA): https://www.fsrao.ca/
• Facility Association: https://www.facilityassociation.com/
• Government of Ontario, Compulsory Automobile Insurance Act: https://www.ontario.ca/laws/statute/90c25

Coverage availability, eligibility, pricing, underwriting criteria and policy terms vary by insurer and individual circumstances. Policy wording governs in all cases.