How To Change Your Address On Your Car Insurance Policy

*This article is updated from its original version published on Dec 1, 2022 

Anyone who has purchased a home knows all too well that moving can be a stressful process. You have to spend countless hours on the phone with real estate agents, moving services and rental car companies before you can start packing up your belongings. 

With an endless list of tasks to take care of, it’s easy for homeowners to overlook smaller (yet equally important) parts of the moving process.

For instance, did you remember to change your address on your car insurance policy before moving to your new home?

Updating personal information, like your address, is relatively straightforward, but many drivers don’t know how to do it.

That’s where we step in; today’s blog post will teach you how to update the address on your car insurance policy. It will also go over why it's important to update it promptly whenever you move.

How to change the address on your car insurance policy in Canada

Updating the address on your car insurance policy is a necessary part of being a car owner in Canada; thankfully, it’s a relatively easy process.

In most cases, the easiest way to change the address is to contact your car insurance provider. A representative will take down the information and make the necessary changes to your policy.

Ashley Bushfield, licensed insurance advisor with Surex says it is a very simple process. “Just have the new address on hand (when contacting your broker) including any applicable unit number and postal code. As well, you will be asked if there is any change in commute or annual kilometres”. 

Depending on your car insurance provider, you may also be able to update your personal information on the web or by using a company-specific app. You may also be able to update your address by contacting your Surex insurance advisor online or over the phone.

Regardless of the method you choose, updating the address on your car insurance policy should only take a few minutes of your time.

Do you need to change the address on your car insurance policy?

Yes, you need to update the address on your car insurance policy if you move to a new living space (even if the property is located in the same town or city).

Bushfield says the consequences of not changing your address on your car insurance can be severe. “You can be cancelled for not informing your insurer about the change in risk.”. 

“If your policy is lapsed, depending on the reason, it could be underwriting or misrepresentation if they deem you willfully did not disclose the change in address for fear of a premium increase if you moved to a bigger city for example,” she explains. 

Failing to update personal information, like your address, can count as a form of insurance fraud. Fraudsters will often provide car insurance companies with fake addresses (or choose not to change their old addresses) in order to obtain more affordable insurance rates. So, if you don’t update your address when you move, this may lead your company to believe you’re committing fraud.

Are my driver’s licence and vehicle registration required to have the same address? 

When moving to a new address, not only do you have to let your insurance provider know, but you also need to update your driver's licence and vehicle registration as well. 

Your licence does not have to match the vehicle registration, especially for people who own more than one property. For example, a policyholder may keep one vehicle at their summer cottage and another vehicle at their primary residence. Not every scenario requires it to match, and this situation would be acceptable to have two different addresses. 

Why does changing the address on your car insurance policy affect your car insurance rates?

The primary reason that updating the address on your car insurance policy affects your car insurance rates is the difference in risk level between the two areas.

Different parts of Canada are prone to different risks; for instance, drivers in one city may be at a greater risk of theft and vandalism, whereas drivers in another city may be more prone to car accidents. 

Car insurance companies use this information (along with a variety of other personal details) to determine your car insurance rates. As a rule of thumb, a driver that lives in a low-risk area will pay less for car insurance than a driver (with similar driving habits, records, levels of coverage, etc.) that lives in a high-risk area. 

“Different addresses are rated differently by the actuaries assessing the risk and they charge accordingly. For example, in Toronto, the data would show there are more accidents, vehicle thefts etc... so they charge more for insurance as opposed to a small town where there are likely fewer accidents with fewer drivers around,” Bushfield explains. 

This is why some people will submit fake addresses to their insurance companies; they hope that lying about their addresses will help them save. In reality, lying about your address is an unnecessary risk that comes with a variety of consequences, including jail time.

How much does a car insurance address change cost?

In most cases, you can update information on your car insurance policy, like your address, for free. Simply go online or contact your car insurance provider during their business hours to make the necessary changes to your policy.

There are certain things you can change/update mid-policy without any penalties. Along with your address, you can also change your vehicle details, coverage limits, deductibles, and the listed drivers. 

As mentioned earlier, updating the information on your policy only takes a few minutes, so there’s no reason not to change the address on your insurance policy.

Do you need to find a new car insurance provider if your new address is in a different province?

If you’re moving to a different province, you might need to drop your current car insurance company and find a new one. 

Certain provinces, like Quebec, require drivers to use a hybrid method of car insurance (drivers need to purchase mandatory auto coverage from a government-run car insurance service which they can supplement with coverage from private companies). So if you’re moving from a province like Ontario, you won’t be able to completely rely on your current car insurance policy.

However, if you are moving to a province that doesn’t have government-run insurance, you may be able to keep your current policy; it will depend on whether the company offers coverage in your new province.

When relocating to a new province, the legal grace period generally ranges from 30 to 90 days. Drivers usually have 30 days to update registration and insurance in provinces like British Columbia or Ontario, while others allow up to 90 days. 

New address, same province 

When moving to a new address (within the same province), the grace period for informing your insurance provider of your new address can differ between provinces. 

This needs to be done within your province’s required legal timeframe to ensure your coverage remains valid, and your documentation is up to date. 

In most provinces you have 14 days to update your address; however, some provinces have their own deadline. Ontario is 6 days; British Columbia is 10 days while Alberta us 14 days. Be mindful of the timeline so you can make the changes before you breach it. Let them know as soon as possible so your Insurance Advisor can update your file, so your policy remains in place.

Why it’s important to change your address 

Misrepresenting your primary address is considered insurance fraud and can result in severe financial and legal consequences, including: 

• Voided Coverage: Your current policy may be immediately invalidated, leaving you completely unprotected in the event of an accident or claim. 
   
• Policy Cancellation: Your insurer may cancel your policy outright, creating a "non-payment or misrepresentation" black mark on your insurance history. 
   
• Higher Future Premiums: A cancelled policy makes you a high-risk driver, significantly raising your future rates or resulting in other providers denying you coverage altogether. 

Bushfield advises policyholders to be transparent. “Any life changes I would encourage the insured to ask themselves whether this would impact their insurance and if not sure, contact your broker.” 

The key takeaway is to always let your insurance advisor know of any changes that may affect your policy and the coverage provided. As confirmed above, if you are unsure, don’t hesitate to ask so you are not in danger of being without coverage.