Car insurance for newcomers

New to Canada? We’ve got you covered

  • Buy insurance today, be covered when you land.
  • Onlia recognizes out-of-country driving experience.

Let Onlia make your transition to Canada seamless

Car insurance is mandatory in Ontario, but your out-of-country licence is good for 60 days after moving here.

Be sure to have an English or French license, also known as an International Driving Permit. You can request one from the licensing authority in your home country.


After the 60 days are up


You can exchange your home country’s driver’s licence for an 

Ontario one from the Ministry of Transportation.

The process is easier from other Canadian provinces or territories, as well as the U.S., Australia, Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Great Britain, the Isle of Man, Japan, South Korea, New Zealand, Northern Ireland, Republic of Ireland, Switzerland, and Taiwan.

Bring your license to a DriveTest centre and they’ll take you through the steps and get you to do a quick vision test.

If you have less than two years of driving experience, you’ll have to take a road test. That means if you’ve been driving for 14 months, you’ll have to wait another eight months. In that time, you can get to know Ontario’s rules of the road.

What newcomers get with Onlia

New to Ontario and have no prior insurance history in Canada? We give you three claim-free years as a baseline.

We're one of the few insurers who considers out-of-country licensed years, as long as the MTO has your foreign driving record registered. You can contact them, and consult your drivers abstract to confirm your total number of licensed years.

But you need a valid Ontario driver’s licence to apply for Onlia insurance. For claims, we collect information from the CGI AutoPlus insurance history database. 

If you cannot exchange your licence

All the coverage you need, and then some

Our car insurance comes with everything you need to drive in Ontario — plus, you can add extras for more protection. Our policies are clearly worded so you’ll know exactly what you’re covered for when you buy Onlia insurance.

Read about some of our car insurance coverages:

Accident Benefits
Provides medical, rehab and funeral costs to you, your passengers and anyone else injured in a collision.
Direct Compensation
Helps pay to repair your car when you're deemed not at fault in a collision.
Third Party Liability
Covers your legal liability, even if you’re partially at fault for an accident.
Uninsured Driver
Protects you on multiple fronts, like if you collide with an uninsured driver, or are a victim of a hit-and-run.
Collision
Helps repair or replace your car in the event you collide with another car or object.
Comprehensive
Includes coverage for damage or loss due to fire, theft, vandalism, and more.
Accident Forgiveness*
We won’t increase your premium if you get into your first at-fault accident. *Free for eligible drivers.
Ticket Forgiveness
We won’t increase your premium over a minor conviction. *Free for eligible drivers.
Family Protection
Legal protection if you’re sued due to someone else's injury or property damage, even if it happens in another country.
75% Settlement
You can claim a total loss (if you want to) if the damage is more than three-quarters of your cars insured value.
DISCOUNTS

Save more with Onlia Insurance

Our rates are competitive, but who doesn't want cheaper insurance? Onlia's premium discounts are already applied before you check out.