Does photo radar affect insurance in Ontario?
7 minute read Published on Apr 16, 2024 by BrokerLink Communications
Many people wonder if photo radar tickets affect insurance in Ontario. For those who don’t know, photo radar tickets are a type of speeding ticket in Ontario, and there are many types of speeding tickets that affect insurance. Primarily, a speeding ticket can cause your rates to go up. Below, we explain what photo radars are and if a photo radar ticket will impact your insurance premium in Ontario.
What are photo radars?
Photo radars are cameras that are installed on traffic lights. They are often found in school zones and in locations with lots of pedestrian traffic or reduced speed limits. You might also know photo radars as speed cameras, another name they use. The purpose of a photo radar or speed camera is to deter people from driving over the speed limit. How do they do this? These cameras snap photos of cars that are travelling over the speed limit. The photos are then reviewed by a law enforcement agency where you live, and then a speeding ticket is mailed to the address that matches the licence plate captured in the photo.
If you receive a photo radar ticket in the mail, be sure to carefully check the ticket, as it should list the licence plate number, the make and model of the car, and the date and time of the incident. The good news is that photo radar tickets do not impact your insurance rates. While you will need to pay for the ticket sent to you, receiving a ticket will not affect how much you pay for car insurance.
What are the benefits of photo radar cameras in Ontario?
As mentioned, the Government of Ontario first decided to introduce photo radar cameras to deter drivers from speeding and encourage safe driving habits instead. According to the Ministry of Transportation in Ontario, these cameras have greatly benefitted traffic. Namely, they resulted in a reduction in speed violations and kept roads safer overall. In Ontario, these cameras have only been around since 2020 after being introduced and discontinued back in the 1990s. Ontario is not the only province where drivers will encounter photo radar cameras. They are found in other provinces in Canada, such as Quebec, and in other countries, like the United States. Given that photo radar cameras are mainly found in community safety zones, such as school zones, it’s hard to argue with their importance and benefits. Keeping children and pedestrians safe is of the utmost importance.
Photo radar ticket fines Ontario
When you receive a photo radar ticket in the mail, you might be wondering how much the ticket will cost you. Ultimately, this depends on how fast you were travelling over the speed limit at the time of the infraction, as well as whether the infraction took place in a Community Safety Zone or not. If the infraction occurs in a regular zone, the applicable fines are as follows:
- 1-19 km/h over the speed limit = $5.00 per kilometre
- 20-29 km/h over the speed limit = $7.50 per kilometre
- 30-39 km/h over the speed limit = $12.00 per kilometre
- 50km/h or more over the speed limit = Settled in court
If the infraction occurs in a Community Safety Zone, the applicable fines are:
- 1-19 km/h over the speed limit = $5.00 per kilometre
- 20-29 km/h over the speed limit = $7.50 per kilometre
- 30-39 km/h over the speed limit = $12.00 per kilometre
- 50km/h or more over the speed limit = Settled in court
Please note that getting a photo radar ticket will not affect your insurance rates, no matter how much it’s for. That said, a regular speeding ticket will impact insurance. The faster you were travelling and the more you were fined for speeding, the more significant the impact on your insurance premium may be. In addition, racking up multiple speeding tickets will also impact your insurance more than if you only have one speeding ticket.
Other fees associated with speed camera tickets in Ontario
There are a couple of other fees associated with speed camera tickets in Ontario beyond the fine incurred. These two fees are the victim surcharge or victim fine surcharge and the court fee.
Victim surcharge fees are based on the fine that you receive, so they vary between drivers. Victim fines are charged at the following rates in Ontario:
- $0-$50 speeding ticket fine = $10 victim surcharge fine
- $51-$75 speeding ticket fine = $15 victim surcharge fine
- $76-$100 speeding ticket fine = $20 victim surcharge fine
- $101-$150 speeding ticket fine = $25 victim surcharge fine
- $151-$200 speeding ticket fine = $35 victim surcharge fine
- $201-$250 speeding ticket fine = $50 victim surcharge fine
- $251-$300 speeding ticket fine = $60 victim surcharge fine
- $301-$350 speeding ticket fine = $75 victim surcharge fine
- $351-$400 speeding ticket fine = $85 victim surcharge fine
- $401-$450 speeding ticket fine = $95 victim surcharge fine
- $451-$500 speeding ticket fine = $110 victim surcharge fine
- $501-$1000 speeding ticket fine = $125 victim surcharge fine
- Over $1000 speeding ticket fine = 25% of speeding ticket fine
Meanwhile, court fees are charged at a set rate. In Ontario, all drivers who receive a speed camera ticket must pay a court fee of $5.00.
Do photo radar tickets result in an insurance raise in Ontario?
No. Since photo radar cameras only capture the car and not the driver, they do not impact car insurance premiums in Ontario.
Will I get demerit points for a speed camera ticket?
No. Again, since photo radars cannot confirm who the driver was at the time of the infraction, no demerit points are issued for speed camera tickets.
Will a speed camera ticket affect my driving record?
No. Speed camera tickets will not appear on your driving record and will not impact your insurance rates. That said, a regular speeding ticket issued by a law enforcement officer in person will impact your rates.
Photo radar tickets vs. regular speeding tickets
Photo radar tickets and regular speeding tickets are not the same. Although they are similar - namely, they both penalize drivers for speeding - there are a few key differences, especially regarding insurance. Namely, speed camera tickets will not impact your insurance premium, but regular speeding tickets will. In this vein, photo radar tickets do not appear on anyone’s driving record, unlike regular speeding tickets. Further, photo radar tickets are issued in the mail, but regular speeding tickets are issued in person by a law enforcement officer.
How to reduce your insurance premium after a speeding ticket
In the event that you receive a regular speeding ticket rather than a photo radar ticket, your insurance rates may go up the next time your policy is renewed. Thankfully, BrokerLink is here to help you reduce your premium and keep rates as low as possible. Keep reading for a list of tips to help you save money on car insurance after a premium hike:
Speak with a licensed BrokerLink insurance advisor
First, we recommend speaking with an expert at BrokerLink. BrokerLink insurance advisors have helped drivers with all kinds of driving records. We know what to suggest if your rates were recently raised due to a speeding ticket. If you decide that you want to buy coverage from a different provider, we can also shop around for you to ensure you find the most competitive rate.
Sign up for a defensive driving program
The next tip is to sign up for a defensive driving program. If you complete this type of program and can show proof to your insurance company, they might give you a discount, which could offset the amount that your rates were raised due to the speeding ticket.
Increase your deductible
If you want to lower your premium after a hike due to a speeding ticket, consider increasing your deductible. Higher deductibles often lead to lower premiums, even if you only increase your deductibles by $500 or $1,000.
Buy multiple car insurance policies or bundle multiple policies
Bundling insurance policies is another way to minimize your premium. If you have more than one policy to buy, whether it’s two car insurance plans or one car insurance plan and one home insurance plan, bundling them together could result in major savings. Contact BrokerLink to learn more about insurance packages and how cost-effective they can be.
Install winter tires on your car
Installing winter tires on your car if you do not already have them is another way to lower your rates. Insurance companies across Ontario now offer discounts to drivers who install winter tires on their cars during the cold months. Find out exactly how much of a discount you can qualify for by contacting BrokerLink.
Buy a car with a high safety rating or an eco-friendly car
If you want to lower your car insurance rates, choose the car that you drive wisely. Cars with high safety and reliability ratings often result in lower insurance rates. This is because these cars are less likely to be involved in accidents. In addition, many insurers offer discounts to customers who drive eco-friendly cars, like hybrid and electric vehicles. This is on top of the provincial, municipal, and federal government rebates and incentives you might receive for driving a car with a hybrid or electric engine. To find out more about what kinds of cars may qualify for lower rates, speak with a BrokerLink insurance advisor today.
Contact BrokerLink to find out more about photo radar tickets in Ontario
If you want to learn more about photo radar tickets, including how they work, how to pay this type of ticket, and whether they influence your insurance rates or driving record, contact BrokerLink now. We can answer any of your car insurance-related questions and even help you find the best possible policy for your needs. A few of the types of auto insurance that we can help you find include:
- Liability car insurance
- Accident forgiveness coverage
- Comprehensive car coverage
- Uninsured automobile insurance
- Accident benefits coverage
A BrokerLink insurance broker will also make sure that your policy complies with local laws where you live. For example, if you live in Ontario, we will ensure that your policy contains no less than $200,000 in third-party liability car insurance. To learn more about minimum coverage requirements, speak with a broker today.
You can also begin your car insurance journey by requesting a free quote. Free quotes can be obtained on our website, in person, or over the phone. They take just five minutes and will give you a realistic idea of how much you can expect to spend on your policy.