Car Insurance in Medicine Hat
Get the best Medicine Hat auto insurance at the best price – plus, the support you need during a claim.
How to Get a Car Insurance Quote in Medicine Hat
There are a few ways to get an auto insurance quote in Medicine Hat with A-WIN Insurance:
- Request a quote online
- Give us a call at 403-487-5132
- Email us
- Stop by our office at 2201 Box Springs Blvd NW #109 in Medicine Hat
The more information you give, the more accurate your quote will be. We will ask you things like:
- Your name
- Your contact information
- Your address and postal code
- Your vehicle’s year, make, and model (or you can provide the VIN)
- The market value and MRSP value of your vehicle
- How much you drive each year
- If you commute and if so, how far
- If you use your vehicle for work
- When you got your license
- Your driver’s license number
- Your driving history
- Your birthdate
- Your insurance history
- What insurance coverage you want
What is this information used for? The insurance companies use this information to calculate your rates. While this can seem like a lot, it will allow us to get you accurate Medicine Hat car insurance quotes and we won’t have to ask for the information if you decide to buy a policy.
Do I need car insurance in Medicine Hat?
Yes, you do need car insurance in Medicine Hat. It is required by law that all Albertans have third party liability insurance, direct compensation for property damage and accident benefits coverage.
Other types of car insurance are optional in Medicine Hat. Consider if you could afford to repair or replace your vehicle out of pocket after an accident or if your car is stolen. If not, collision and comprehensive coverage would be a good option.
It’s important to talk to your Medicine Hat car insurance broker about how you use your car. This will help identify the car insurance coverages that you need.
Available Auto Insurance Coverage in Medicine Hat
The following are the 5 most common available car insurance protections in Medicine Hat:
Third Party Liability
In Medicine Hat, accident benefits and third-party liability auto insurance is required. This type of insurance covers medical expenses for others if you’re at fault in an accident. It also covers your legal expenses if you’re sued after an accident.
Collision Coverage
If you’re at fault in a car accident, this coverage will help cover repairing or replacing your damaged vehicle. If you do not have this protection, your own vehicle will not be covered if you’re the driver at fault in an accident. (If you weren’t at fault, the driver who was would have their insurance cover the damage).
Comprehensive Coverage
This protection helps cover repairs or the replacement of your vehicle if its damaged by a covered peril that isn’t accident related. This includes theft, vandalism, fire, and hail.
Emergency Service Expenses
This add-on, optional coverage (known as an endorsement in insurance language), helps cover the cost of emergency services and towing if the vehicle is not drivable.
Family Protection
This endorsement helps cover the costs if someone in your household is injured or killed in an accident with an uninsured or underinsured driver.
As of January 1, 2022, the Government of Alberta has introduced Direct Compensation for Property Damage (DCPD) coverage. This is mandatory for all vehicles insured in Alberta and has automatically been added to your policy. This coverage is for repair costs if you are not at fault in an accident. If you’re partially at fault, DCD will partially cover repairs. If you’re at fault, you will have no coverage under DCPD (you’ll need collision coverage or to pay out of pocket).
There may be additional optional coverages for your vehicle. Talk to one of our Medicine Hat car insurance brokers for more details.
The Cost of Car Insurance in Medicine Hat
The average cost of car insurance in Medicine Hat is $1047/year or $87/month. This is lower than the Alberta average.
However, your rates will depend on your individual situation.
Here are a few factors that can affect your car insurance rates in Medicine Hat:
- Your insurance history
- Your driving record
- Your credit rating
- Your demographics
- Your neighbourhood’s claim and crime rates
- Your vehicle’s year, make and model
- Value of the vehicle
- How you use your vehicle
- Annual kilometres you drive your vehicle
- Discounts
- Your insurance options like deductible and coverages
Every car insurance company in Medicine Hat calculates rates differently. That’s why we get you quotes from different insurers.
How to Get the Cheapest Auto Insurance in Medicine Hat
Here are 9 tips to help you get the cheapest auto insurance rates in Medicine Hat:
- Bundle your insurance.
- Choose a higher deductible.
- Pay your car insurance on time.
- Install a security alarm or other device that helps prevent theft.
- Drive safely and follow the rules of the road.
- Choose an alternate to driving for your commute.
- Use winter tires when it gets to be consistently below 7C.
- Get multiple Medicine Hat auto insurance quotes when purchasing a policy.
- Work with a broker to ensure you have the right coverage for your needs.
Remember that at-fault claims and tickets are some of the biggest contributors to higher car insurance rates in Medicine Hat. Avoiding situations where you have a claim or get a ticket are the best way to keep your premiums low.
Frequently Asked Questions About Car Insurance in Medicine Hat
Car insurance helps reduce the financial burden if your vehicle is damaged, destroyed, or you’re at fault in an accident. You pay an annual or monthly premium and if you have a covered claim, your expenses will be covered as per the agreement in your policy documents. It’s important to note that not everything is covered and there are different types of car insurance coverages or endorsements that you can choose to have or not.
Yes, auto insurance is required by law in Medicine Hat. Third-party liability and accident benefits coverage are mandatory in Alberta. While other coverages are not required, you may still want to have them to protect yourself financially.
What isn’t covered by car insurance in Medicine Hat will depend on what protection you’ve purchased. For example, if you choose to only get the required liability protection, you won’t be covered if your vehicle is stolen or if you’re at fault in an accident. However, if you purchase comprehensive and collision coverage, you would likely be covered in both scenarios.
Common exclusions regardless of your coverage include:
- Wear and tear
- Mechanical breakdown (I.e. your car breaks down at the side of the road)
Your policy documents will outline exactly what is excluded. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to reach out to one of our brokers.
You can get an auto insurance quote in Medicine Hat with only a little information, but that number won’t be very accurate. This information is used to calculate your rates as well as act as contact information for billing or claims.
You are only covered for hail damage if you have comprehensive or specified perils coverage as part of your car insurance in Medicine Hat. Otherwise, you would not have protection.
If you’ve had hail damage previously and opted to not repair it (choosing a cash settlement) you may also be unable to claim hail damage on your policy.
It’s important to only let people you trust borrow your vehicle. It is your insurance and your rates that will be affected if they’re in an accident as car insurance follows the vehicle. If you regularly let a friend or relative borrow your vehicle, you should add them as an occasional driver to your policy.
You’re covered for theft if you have comprehensive coverage as part of your auto insurance policy in Medicine Hat. If you don’t have this protection, you will not be covered if your car is stolen.
If you decide to not insure your vehicle in Medicine Hat, you are breaking the law. All Albertans are required to carry a minimum level of third-party liability and accident benefits coverage.
If you decide to only carry the minimum level of insurance, you will have to pay out of pocket if you’re at fault in an accident or if your vehicle is stolen or damaged.
The best car insurance company in Medicine Hat will depend on your needs. We work with a number of different insurers to ensure you get the best coverage at the best price.
The amount of auto insurance you need in Medicine Hat will depend on your individual situation. We recommend a minimum of $2 million third-party liability and accident benefits coverage due to the rising costs of lawsuits. If your car is newer or you cannot afford to repair or replace it out of pocket, we recommend having collision and comprehensive coverage as well.