Car insurance rates in Oshawa spike 5.89 per cent year-over-year: report

Oshawa drivers are facing another year of rising car insurance costs, according to a new study from Canadian insurance technology company MyChoice, with the average annual premium rising from $1,998 in 2025 to $2,116 in 2026.

Average car insurance premiums in Oshawa increased 5.89 per cent year-over-year, substantially higher than the provincial average increase of 4.45 per cent.

Oshawa’s rate increase was just the 12th highest on Ontario, however, with Vaughan seeing the biggest spike at 8.86 per cent to $2,705, with Kingston, Milton and Markham also seeing increases of more than eight per cent.

MyChoice, which analyzed thousands of insurance quotes generated between January and June 2026, said increasing premiums are tied to “local risk factors,” like the number of reported collisions and thefts in a specific municipality.

Brampton ($3,471) and Scarborough ($3,047) were among the most expensive cities for insurance in Ontario, with car theft an important factor in the rates.

One positive development in 2026 is the continued decline in vehicle thefts across much of the GTA, the study declared, but some postal codes – such as Scarborough – continue to experience theft rates dozens of times higher than others.

MyChoice also broke down accident rates in Oshawa by postal code, with south and west Oshawa (LIJ postal code) reporting the highest percentage of accidents on their record at 15.3 per cent.

While car insurance premiums in Oshawa are dwarfed by some of its GTA neighbours, it is among the highest priced markets in Durham Region.

“We’re seeing premium increases spread across a much broader range of communities in 2026, said MyChoice CEO Aren Mirzaian. “While traditionally expensive markets continue to face challenges, insurers are increasingly adjusting rates based on localized claims experience and evolving market conditions. Oshawa’s results reflect that broader trend.”

See the full study and methodology here: https://www.mychoice.ca/blog/car-insurance-market-overview-2026/