Car Insurance On the Road and Beyond
Cheap Car Insurance for Medicine Hat Drivers
Whatever your reason to travel by car in Medicine Hat, car insurance in this Southeastern Alberta city is essential. You may commute for work via Crowsnest Highway to Dunmore or head to the Town of Redcliff to see your parents. But what options and prices are available?
Why should I choose Sharp Insurance for my Medicine Hat car insurance?
Our Medicine Hat brokers act as your advisors. We find you competitive rates and act on your behalf to get you the optimal insurance coverage options for your needs. A few other benefits:
You can pick and choose
Our partnerships with five Canadian insures allows us to pass the benefits of stellar rates and a variety of options to you.
A variety of options at your fingertips
A wide range of insurance alternatives is open to you. You choose your price and tell us what you need. We decide together on a rate and plan.
We advise you every day
We want to pass on our broker’s expertise and years of experience to our valued customers – that’s you! We can guide you through your policy or answer your most pressing questions.
Our digital options keep growing
The MySharp app is unique to the industry. You can access your pink card on your computer or your phone. You can read through your insurance policy and more.
We’re here to help you in many ways.
Is auto insurance required in Medicine Hat?
Drivers in the sixth-largest city in Alberta must drive with valid car insurance, like all cities in the province. It’s essential to have third-party liability and accident benefits in your insurance package. We highly recommend you carry at least $2 million to $3 million in third-party liability due to rising car repair costs and medical expenses. If you get into an accident without this level of coverage, your out-of-pocket expenses could be beyond what you can afford.
Mandatory Coverage
- Third Party Liability Coverage: Injuries, damage to others and legal fees are covered under this coverage type.
- Accident Benefits Coverage: Regardless of who is at-fault, any person involved in the accident who is hurt will receive income replacement, rehabilitation and medical benefits.
Did you know?
The average number of claims in Medicine Hat is 1.04 per person, the highest in the province. This rate compares to Alberta’s 0.7 claims per person.
Our Brokers Help You with Your Car Needs.
Having the right car insurance coverage for you in Medicine Hat is an ideal mix of protection and cost.
What are your coverage options for auto insurance in Medicine Hat?
What are the additional coverage types for Medicine Hat Drivers?
Collision
If you’re in a car accident and you’re at-fault, you’ll likely need repairs completed. Or you may need to replace your car. Collision coverage helps pay for these expenses.
Comprehensive
Hail damage, fire, or flood occurrences all require this type of insurance to cover the cost of repairs or replacement.
Emergency Service Expense
If you need your car towed, you can’t get insurance to cover the costs after the fact. Take care of unexpected situations and get the necessary insurance coverage.
Roadside Assistance
Check with your insurance company to see if they have roadside assistance offered in their auto insurance policy.
Family Protection
Costs add-up if you get into an accident with a driver who is underinsured. This type of insurance protects you and your family if you’re hurt in an accident.
Glass
Glass repairs are fairly common, especially in hail season in Alberta. Adequate glass protection saves you money when you need to replace or repair your windshield or side car windows.
Loss of Use
Don’t be left without a mode of transport after an accident. Loss of use coverage gives you money to rent a car or get public transit funds for your daily commute.
Rental Vehicles
Rental car insurance lengthens your car insurance coverage to cars in the U.S. and Canada.
Ride-Sharing
You need a ride-sharing endorsement to ensure you’re covered as a employee of a ride-sharing company. Ask our brokers for their tips to get you the correct coverage based on your particular situation.
Every insurer offers different options for Medicine Hat drivers. Talk to a Medicine Hat auto insurance broker to figure out what coverage you need and how you can make it work with your budget.
Did you know?
It’s a myth that men pay more for car insurance than women. On average, the cost for a male to insure a car is $953 in Medicine Hat, almost identical to the cost for a female driver.
How much does car insurance cost in Medicine Hat?
Car insurance rates in Medicine Hat are on the low-end in Alberta, at $1,047 a year, or $86 a month. This rate compares to the provincial annual average rate of $1,235, or $103 per month.
Car Insurance Prices:
$1044 – 2010 Dodge Caravan SE
$1727 – 2014 Dodge Ram 1500 Sport Crew Cab 4WD
$1452.50 – 2017 Ford Escame SE 4DR 4WD
$1668 – 2018 Ford F150 XLT Supercrew 4WD
$1173.50 – 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe 2.0T 4DR AWD
What affects the cost of auto insurance in Medicine Hat?
You may think you’re stuck with your existing car insurance rates and hope they go down as you get older. Rates do decrease with age, but you don’t have to wait 10 to 15 years to get a better premium. Follow our tips below, as there are many variables that can affect your insurance rates.
10 Factors that impact your Auto Insurance Rates:
- Insurance and claims history
- Discounts
- claim and crime rates in your area
- Credit rating
- Drivers report (traffic violations, etc.)
- Where you live, marital status, age
- Car type and age
- How often you drive your car
- If you drive your car every day and how far
- Status of the driver: new or experienced
Did you know?
The average number of claims in Medicine Hat is 1.04 per person, the highest in the province, compared to Alberta’s 0.7 claims.
How do tickets impact Medicine Hat auto insurance?
An improper turn or being impatient at a stop sign won’t result in a major traffic offence, but you could end up with demerit points. With demerit points racking up on your policy, your insurance rates will increase beyond your control. Driving habits matter; think about enrolling in a driver’s training course, if you keep getting tickets.
A traffic offence can fall under two different categories for drivers: minor and serious. Below are a few examples of what you could get charged with, which in turn in many cases will negatively affect your rates.
Minor Traffic Tickets
- Driving 1 – 49km/h + over the speed limit
- Following too close
- Improper turn
- Improper passing
- Failure to share the roadway
A serious traffic violation can seriously raise your car insurance rates in Medicine Hat. They can also result in you being denied optional coverage and having fewer choices when it comes to payment. These include:
Major to Serious Traffic Tickets
- Driving 50km/h + over speed limit
- Careless driving
- Stunting
- Racing
- Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol
How to Get the Cheapest Car Insurance in Medicine Hat
Deciding on what you need in your car insurance policy doesn’t have to be a daunting task. At Sharp, we’re here to help you decide whether you need collision if you have an older car or if theft is a high priority for you. Do you use your own vehicle for work? Do you need a special add-on for that? We help you answer all your questions and find a price price that matches your life and budget.
10 tips to lower your rates as a new driver:
- Avoid making a claim – pay out-of-pocket
- Be a safe driver
- Take a defensive driving course
- Use winter tires during the winter
- Install a safety device to prevent thefts/vandalism
- Review your driving report every year
- Drive less often: take transit or walk to work
- Drive an older car on the road – omit collision insurance
- Choose a higher deductible
- Pay your insurance bills on time
Did you know?
Conviction rates in Medicine Hat are relatively high, at 0.25 per person, compared to 19 convictions per person in Alberta overall.
How to Get a Medicine Hat Car Insurance Quote
There are a few ways to get a car insurance quote in Medicine Hat:
Usually, the easiest way to get a car insurance quote is by going online. Remember, the more information you give the more accurate your quote will be.
What do you need to get an auto insurance quote in Medicine Hat?
Make sure to have your personal information at your fingertips before you contact your insurer to get an auto insurance quote in Medicine Hat:
- Name
- Contact information
- Address
- Make, model and year of your vehicle (or VIN)
- Purchase price of the car
- Registration
- Driver’s license number
- Birthdate
- Current insurance company, policy number and coverages
If your car is financed, you’ll also need to provide information about the loan and lender. You’ll need the above information for each car and
insured driver.
You’ll also likely be asked the following questions when getting a Medicine Hat auto insurance quote:
- Do you commute with your car? If so, how far?
- Do you use your car for work (other than commuting)?
- Are you a ride-sharing driver?
- Was your vehicle bought new or used?
- Is your car financed?
- Does your vehicle have any existing damage?
- Have you been in any accidents in the last 6 years?
- Have you have had any claims?
- Have you gotten any tickets in the last 3 years?
Finally, you’ll need to make some decisions about your insurance coverage, including:
- What protection you want/need.
- Your policy limits (the maximum amount that you’ll get if you have a claim.)
- Your deductible, i.e. the amount you pay out of pocket if you have a claim.
Did you know?
Parking tickets are not a moving traffic offence, so they don’t impact your insurance rates. But if you don’t pay for you ticket, you won’t be able to renew your license.
Why do I need to provide so much information for a car insurance quote in Medicine Hat?
The more information you provide for an auto insurance quote, the more accurate your quote will be. Insurance companies calculate your rate based on risk –or how likely it is that you’ll make a claim or get into an accident.
Did you know?
Traffic convictions have a major impact on your car insurance rate in Medicine Hat. Your first counted ticket can raise your rates 25% or more!
How do car insurance claims work in Medicine Hat?
Whether you’re involved in an accident or your auto is damaged or stolen, you’ll need to do the following for a car insurance claim in Medicine Hat:
- Make sure everyone is okay. Call 911 if there are any injuries, damage, or you’re blocking a roadway.
- Make sure you’re somewhere safe (the shoulder of the road or a parking lot).
- Get the following information about all other drivers and vehicles involved:
- License plate
- Make, model, and year of the vehicle (the VIN works, too)
- Insurance information like insurance company and policy number.
- Driver’s license number
- Name
- Phone number
- If there are witnesses, get their contact information.
- Document the damage, if possible.
Take pictures and video.
You should also write down:- What happened/how the damage occurred
- Time of day
- Date
- Weather conditions
- Anything else related to the damage.
- Get a copy of the police report.
- Contact your insurance company or broker (phone number is on your pink card).
Your insurance company or broker will collect information and help you through the next steps. for example, if you have loss of use coverage, they’ll explain how arranging a rental car or getting repayment for public transit works if your car is undrivable or needs to go in for repairs.
You’ll be assigned a claims adjuster who investigates and manages the claim. The adjuster will contact you to discuss what happened and keep you updated. The adjuster also negotiates for a settlement, whether your car is being repaired or if it’s a write-off.
A claim is closed when the repairs are complete or payment has been settled.
Frequently Asked Questions About Car Insurance in Medicine Hat
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