Getting an insurance policy on your car is quite expensive as auto insurance rates continue to climb across the country. However, there is a way to adequately insure your car without spending too much money—but only if you are willing to make a few changes.

In the previous quarter, insurance premiums in Ontario went up to a yearly rate of almost 14 per cent, signalling a record increase in two consecutive quarters, according to price comparison firm LowestRates.ca.

Also, in Alberta, auto insurance rates reached a record high after increasing to over 16 per cent. According to Pete Karageorgos, head of consumer and industry relations at the Insurance Bureau of Canada, the secret to getting the best auto insurance rates in this increasingly expensive market to be a careful driver.

However, every province seems to operate differently when it comes to auto insurance. For drivers in Quebec, it is a less expensive purchase with motorist paying an average of $642 for auto insurance in 2018. But the story is completely different for those in Ontario who have to pay an average of $1,445 just to insure their vehicles.

In British Columbia, theyrecorded the highest annual insurance premiums with an average fee of $1,680.

Auto insurance in Montreal is relatively cheap and according to a report, Quebecers can keep their auto insurance rates at the lowest by combining public and private insurance while placing limits on limits on liabilities. But inOntario, insurance coverage is gotten only from private insurance firms, who are affected by numerous lawsuits and increasing claims yearly. Also, the province suffers serious challenges due to numerous fraudulent claims—with a bulk of them as a result of organized crime.

However, irrespective of the province and how they provide their insurance, auto insurance rates are increasing due to the technological features being implemented in recent vehicles.

In the past, repairs due to relatively minor collision would have been fixed by simply pulling out the dents. Now, these same accidents would require more in-depth and expensive repairs as it may involve changing cameras or sensors for tech systems such as blind-spot monitoring, adaptive cruise control, lane detection and many other advanced features. For these features to function properly, experts are deployed and the parts are installed with optimal precision, however, this contributes to more labour time and the overhead repair cost for the parts installed.

Motorists in Ontario have to purchase their auto insurance from private insurers and unlike Quebecers, they carry higher third-party liability. Ontario drivers can be hit with expensive legal suits when they cause accidents that led to deaths or severe injuries, but in Quebec, such lawsuits are not allowed beyond the fixed pay-out rate—especially since these high compensation fees attract expensive legal fees.

Ontario has become a hotbed for insurance fraud due to motorist’s ability to file lawsuits, as there are now multiple schemes from fake collisions to high-level organized crime which pads up the costs at rehabilitation centres.

In Quebec, a hybrid coverage method is used. Claims from accidents leading to bodily harm are covered by the compulsory public insurance plan and also in certain cases ofsevere physical damage—for example, in a hit-and-run. For all other coverage types, such as damaged property, a private insurer is responsible for providing such an insurance plan.

Nonetheless, there are several ways to keep insurance premiums at the barest minimum. For one, increasing your deductible can save motorist some money, but there is a risk factor. If you increase the limit from say $1,000 to $2,000 that you’re responsible for, this implies that you would be tasked with paying that amount in the event that an accident occurs. Therefore, it is advisable to peg it at a threshold that you can afford.

Also, it is important to know that accidents can have a huge effect on your premiums for a period of over six years, especially with the sophisticated technologies in today’s vehicles. Insurance companies are now rewarding customers who make little or no claims and are safe drivers.

Vehicles that are in high demand due to their brand and model also play an important role in determining insurance rates, as they are more likely to be victims of theft.

According to a 2018 report by the Insurance Bureau of Canada, 2003 to 2017heavy-duty Ford pickup trucksmade up the top five vehicles on their hotlist. Therefore, owners of these vehicles can reduce their premiums by installing anti-theft devices.

Another way to reduce premiums is to shop around every year before renewal as making continuous comparisons each year can save motorists a lot of money. The difference between the cheapest and the most expensive premiums could run into thousands of dollars, said Justin Thouin, co-founder of LowestRates.ca.