When shopping for car insurance in Canada, you might be surprised to see how many familiar names from the banking industry, like RBC, are also key players in insurance. Given that hundreds of thousands of Canadians trust these institutions for their everyday banking, it’s no wonder many default to or at least consider them first when looking for car insurance.
But does that make them the right choice for you, your needs, and your budget? To help you decide, this article provides a list of the potential pros and cons of RBC car insurance.
Since insurance is highly personal and customer experiences can vary greatly, what one person sees as a minor drawback, someone else might consider a dealbreaker. That’s why it’s essential to conduct your own research, weigh the pros and cons of alternative providers, and make a final decision based on the conclusions you come to and your unique priorities.
The Pros and Cons of RBC Car Insurance
As the name suggests, RBC Insurance is part of The Royal Bank of Canada (RBC). When it comes to the car insurance policies they sell though, their policies are underwritten by Aviva, meaning that the terms, pricing, and claims process are determined by Aviva. While shopping around and comparing providers is always a good idea, it’s especially important when considering RBC car insurance, as they don’t compare quotes from multiple carriers like a broker does.
| Pros | Cons |
| Well-known provider | Restricted to Aviva products/pricing |
| Available in most provinces and territories | Poor online reviews |
| Extensive product offering | Inconsistent customer service |
| 24/7 emergency claim hotline | Long wait times |
✅ Well-known provider
The Royal Bank of Canada is not only a household name but also the largest bank in Canada. As part of this well-established institution, RBC Insurance may offer a sense of familiarity and stability that drivers find reassuring.
❌ Restricted to Aviva products and pricing
When you buy car insurance from RBC Insurance, Aviva will underwrite your policy. Unlike brokers such as YouSet, which scans a network of multiple carriers to find you the best price, with RBC you’re limited to the products, prices, and discounts offered by this one carrier.
✅ Available in most provinces and territories
RBC car insurance is currently available in most provinces and territories, with the exception of Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and British Columbia, where government-run car insurance plans are offered to drivers.
❌ Poor online reviews
As of January 2025, RBC’s customer review rating on TrustPilot was just 2.1 out of 5 stars and 1.4 out of 5 stars on InsurEye. This rating reflects a general customer sentiment, which you may want to factor into the decision-making process.
✅ Offers a range of personal insurance products
In addition to car insurance, RBC offers a range of other personal insurance products, including home, tenant, condo, cottage, life, and travel insurance. They also advertise a discount for customers who purchase both home and car insurance, however, bundling with a single carrier isn’t always the best way to maximize savings.
❌ Inconsistent customer service
Some RBC insurance customers voice frustration regarding both the procedural inefficiencies of RBC’s customer service team and the shortcomings of their online self-service portal.
✅ 24/7 emergency claim hotline
RBC Insurance offers customers a 24/7 hotline for emergency claims, indicating that they are making an effort to create a more positive customer experience.
❌ Long wait times
Some of RBC’s insurance customers voice dissatisfaction with the extended wait times for assistance in their online reviews. These delays can not only worsen already stressful situations but can make it difficult to get quick answers about urgent insurance matters.
RBC vs. YouSet Car Insurance
Depending on the quote you receive for RBC car insurance and the conclusions you come to after doing your own research, you might be prepared to consider an alternative provider, such as YouSet.
Since 2017, YouSet has been making it easier for Canadians to buy car insurance online. Why spend hours manually comparing quotes when our proprietary technology can do it all for you in less than 4 minutes? Not only that, but we’ll also have Canada’s top insurance providers competing for your business, ensuring you get the best price year after year. With over 300,000 users and an average online review rating of 4.9 stars, YouSet is a car insurance broker well worth considering.
Best price year-after-year
YouSet’s algorithms are designed to do one thing – find you the best price. Not just the first time you buy either. If your price increases at renewal, we’ll alert you and even help you re-shop with another carrier.
Highly reviewed by Canadians
With an overall rating of 4.8 out of 5 stars on Google, the general consensus among YouSet users is that YouSet is making it easier to find affordable car insurance and buy it online at the best price year after year.
Transparent renewals
Anytime a YouSet car insurance policy comes up for renewal, our team will make sure you’re paying the best price possible for your policy. If that’s no longer working, we’ll help you re-shop another carrier for a better deal.
Buy, manage, and renew your policy online
How much easier would it be if you could purchase a policy, personalize it to fit your needs, make modifications to it, and renew it, all without having to make any phone calls or wait on hold? With YouSet, you can do all that and more with our self-serve features.
Mix-and-match approach to bundling
YouSet is the only digital broker in Canada that automatically compares the cost of bundling home and car insurance from a single carrier against the cost of mix-and-matching home and car carriers. Whichever option offers the maximum savings is the one we present to you.
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