Where Can You Buy Car Insurance?

Shopping for car insurance can be confusing. There are
many companies that sell car insurance in Ontario. There
are also many ways to buy car insurance. For example, you
can buy car insurance in person, over the phone or through
the Internet from:

■ a broker;
■ an agent; or
■ directly from an insurance company.
The difference between insurance agents and brokers is that
an agent represents an insurance company, while a broker
represents consumers to assist them in obtaining coverage
from one of the companies with which that broker deals.
If you choose to buy car insurance through a broker, you
may ask him or her for a list of all the companies for whom
he or she sells insurance. You can also ask your broker for
the names of the companies and the quotes. If you want
this information in writing, your broker is required by law
to provide it to you.
You should never buy insurance from a company that accepts
barter payment. People who barter perform a service for
another member of the barter company and obtain barter
dollars for the work they do. They can trade barter dollars
for other products or services offered through the barter
company. Companies that accept barter payments are not
licensed to sell insurance in Ontario, and if you buy car
insurance through barter companies, you do not have valid
insurance and may have to pay substantial fines.