Will an insurance claim raise my rates?
Quick answer
It depends on fault and claim type. Comprehensive claims — hail, theft, vandalism, glass — generally don’t trigger a surcharge because no driver is at fault. Under Ontario’s Fault Determination Rules you’re assigned 0, 25, 50, 75, or 100 percent of the blame; a collision where you’re found 0% at fault generally shouldn’t raise your premium, while substantial fault can.
- Drivable or not
- At fault or not
- Free written estimates
Comprehensive vs. collision — the distinction that matters
Comprehensive coverage pays for events outside your control: hail, falling branches, deer strikes on the exurban roads north of the city, theft, vandalism. Insurance companies price it on the risk of place and season, not on your driving, so a comprehensive claim usually leaves your rate where it was.
Collision coverage pays when your car hits something, and here fault is what moves the premium. A collision where you carry a substantial share of the blame commonly brings a surcharge that fades after a few clean years; a collision that was entirely the other driver’s doing generally should not.
How Ontario assigns fault
Ontario insurance companies apply the province’s Fault Determination Rules, which assign each driver 0, 25, 50, 75, or 100 percent of the fault based on the collision pattern — rear-end, lane change, left turn, parking lot. The percentage on your file is what matters for your renewal, not who felt guilty at the scene.
One point confuses many GTA drivers: under DCPD, your own insurance company pays for your vehicle damage even when the other driver caused the crash. Do not let that worry you. Being paid under DCPD does not make the collision “your” claim for rating purposes — the fault percentage does, and at 0% fault your record stays clean.
Deciding whether to file
Weigh the repair cost against your deductible plus any realistic surcharge. Minor single-panel damage that barely clears a $1,000 deductible is often worth paying out of pocket; significant damage almost never is. Send us photos first — we give you the real repair number so you can do the math before you ever call your insurance company.
