Markham is Toronto’s largest northeast suburb and the 16th largest city in Canada. Not bad for a community that didn’t declare itself a city until 2012. Even then, with a population of over 300,000, there was still controversy. Having been a town so long, many residents doubt the value of becoming a city.

Since Markham grew largely due to the encroachment of Toronto from the south and west, it’s not a typical city in many regards. A town of under 60,000 people in 1976, its explosive growth was as a bedroom community for the Big Smoke. Rather than having a downtown area built around a historical settlement, Downtown Markham is a planned central business district currently under development. Fully 72 of the planned 243 acres of development a lot as green space. Adjacent to the Unionville GO station, the urban hub features easy access to public transit. Over 13,000 people will work in the area, while as many as 10,000 will live there.

Though Markham has drifted from suburb to tech center, the population remains automobile-friendly. Markham doesn’t fully escape the car insurance crunch that big city living creates, though it does better than some suburbs to the west. A centrally located male driver, 35 years of age and driving an 8-year-old sedan with a clean driving record still pays over $1,400 annually for auto insurance, as of 2016. This is $400 more than drivers in Kingston, for example, though still less than the same policy would cost in Brampton or Vaughan.

How Much Does Car Insurance Cost in Markham

The average cost of car insurance in Markham is $1,699.

*Methodology: We used a sample profile for a male driver aged 30 years with his own vehicle having mandatory coverage. He drives a Honda Civic 2012 car with an average mileage of 5000 – 8000 km per year to commute to work. He has a clean driving record history of 5 years with no accidents or collisions.

We surveyed the car insurance prices in the city of Markham for the purpose of illustrating the range in quotes based on driving record, location, and other criteria. To get a customized quote, enter your postal code above.

Affordable Car Insurance in Markham

Though Ontario’s car insurance market is based on competition, the industry as a whole experiences heavy regulation. Between these two points, there is an opportunity for many drivers to uncover savings for their own car insurance policies. Every insurer uses a unique method to weigh the variables that affect auto insurance pricing. No two companies generate exactly the same cost for policies of similar coverage.

Every vehicle on Ontario’s roads must have a minimum level of coverage, defined by the government. No insurer can sell less than this amount. One problem with mandatory insurance levels is that, in some cases, coverage may not be adequate to pay all costs resulting from an accident. In particular, accident benefits and third-party liability coverage could be insufficient.

Changes to Statutory Insurance Coverage

Statutory accident benefits decreased in June 2016 as part of the Ontario government’s efforts to relieve high insurance costs for consumers. The changes to accident benefits redistributed amounts that insurance companies have to pay and, in some cases, cut in half a dollar amount that an accident victim could receive. Third-party liability coverage of $200,000 — the mandatory minimum — may not cover settlements against an at fault driver after a serious collision.

Between these two provisions, many insurance professionals recommend that motorists purchase additional coverage. For most drivers, this is a good idea, but it’s one that drives the cost of insurance up. It does remove the chance for serious out-of-pocket expenses landing on the driver.

Car Insurance Options and Discounts

Options abound in the car insurance market. The most common additions are collision and comprehensive insurance. These options extend insurance protection to repair or replace your vehicle. In some cases, basic insurance may pay for some repairs if you’re not at fault, but for protection in most cases, you need these options. These might also be a condition of financing if you borrowed money to buy your car.

You can also customize your policy with options that affect your personal insurance needs. Those who travel and rent cars frequently can select non-owned vehicle coverage, to extend their personal insurance to rentals, avoiding the need for expensive damage waivers offered by rental agencies.

Discounts and packages offer ways to reduce the overall cost of auto insurance. Many insurers offer a range of discounts for which a motorist can qualify. Ask about discounts that apply to you. Most insurers won’t add these automatically, even if they are aware you qualify.

Similarly, many insurers bundle popular options together in packages that cost less than the individual price of each option when combined. You may even add features you didn’t expect at no net cost.

Driving in Markham

• High-volume traffic in Markham is dominated by the north-south Highway 404 and the east-west 407ETR.
• Highway 7 is largely a 6 lane, east-west route that parallels the toll-based 407. It’s divided through parts of Markham and western sections include bus rapid transit lanes. However, streets intersecting with Highway 7 do so at level crossings. East of McCowan Road, Highway 7 reduces to 4 lanes with central turning lanes.
• Highway 7 unofficially retains that name, though it is no longer officially a provincial highway as it passes through Markham.
• Many people consider the 404 to be Don Valley Parkway North, though the north-south route changes names at Highway 401. Though the width of the 401 requires complex routing at the 404/Don Valley interchange, cars heading in and out of Markham have direct routes over the 401 itself.

List of Driving Schools in Markham Ontario

Road Information for Markham

• The Ministry of Transportation for Ontario offers road information for Markham and York Region on its 511 Traveller’s Road Information pages.
• The City of Markham lists public infrastructure projects including road repairs and improvements on its website.
• York Region also provides transportation and traffic information for the area.
• The Weather Network provides weather forecasts for Markham and the surrounding area.
• The nearest DriveTest center serving Markham is at 320 Harry Walker Parkway South in Newmarket.

Driving Facts for Markham

• Since Highway 7 was downloaded from the provincial to the municipal governments, the name of the road is a hot issue. Some feel that, with frequent stoplights and level crossings, a more “city street” type name would help visitors avoid expectations for a fast route through Markham. The city proposed “Avenue 7” to maintain the historic association with Highway 7. However, 14th Avenue runs south of the 407 and 16th Avenue runs north, so there’s a strong logical case for “15th Avenue” as a new name.
• York Region maintains a number of “county” roads through Markham. These are numbered roads, usually four lanes, and handle high volumes of traffic in both north-south and east-west directions.
• The 407ETR has 12 exits either in or shared with Markham. This is the highest number of service exits into a single community along the 407ETR’s length.
• Though Steeles Avenue runs through Markham from Yonge Street to York-Durham Line, the City of Toronto handles snow removal, maintenance, and policing. Steeles represents the boundary between Markham and Toronto on the south side.

List of Markham Auto Insurance Brokers and Companies

Drivers in Markham who want the best car insurance pricing know the importance of comparison shopping. Aiding their efforts, Ratelab’s car insurance calculator accesses dozens of auto industry partners in one process, to uncover the lowest rates for the most appropriate policy. Start today by entering your home postal code.