Between its catchy jingle and memorable mascot, over the years, belairdirect has become one of the most recognizable car insurance companies in Canada. On top of that, it’s owned by Intact Financial Corporation, one of the largest players in the country’s insurance industry. Despite all this, you may still be trying to decide if belairdirect car insurance is the right choice, or if another provider might suit your needs better.
In this article, you’ll find a breakdown of the advantages of belairdirect, along with some potential drawbacks. Weigh these against your own needs, and be sure to do further research of your own as needed. By doing so, and comparing prices and options from alternative providers, you’ll be in a better position to make an informed decision with confidence.
| Pros | Cons |
| Strong financial backing | Restricted to Belair products |
| Network of service centers for claims | Poor online reviews |
| Available in many provinces but not all | Regional restrictions on usage-based discount |
| Customer referral program | Bundling savings potentially limited |
✅ Strong financial backing
Belairdirect benefits from the stability and financial strength of its parent company, Intact Financial Corporation, the largest provider of property and casualty insurance in Canada. This relationship may make drivers feel more confident in Belairdirect’s ability to meet its obligations to policyholders.
❌ Restricted to Belair products and pricing
Because Belair Insurance Company Inc. underwrites all the car insurance policies for belairdirect, you’re limited to their products, pricing, and discounts. This is a key difference between buying directly from a provider like belairdirect and working with a broker. A broker compares the prices and offerings of multiple carriers to find the best price for you, while belairdirect only offers options underwritten by Belair Insurance Company.
✅ Network of service centers for claims
Depending on the nature of the car insurance claim, drivers may be directed to one of belairdirect’s “one-stop service centres,” where a drivable and repairable car can be dropped off, a rental vehicle picked up, and the repaired car collected later. The convenience this offers is something some drivers may find appealing.
❌ Poor online reviews
As of January 2025, belairdirect’s customer review rating on TrustPilot was just 1.5 out of 5 stars and 1.8 out of 5 stars on InsurEye. While these customer reviews may highlight some concerns, unhappy customers are generally more likely to leave reviews on platforms like this than satisfied ones.
✅ Available in many provinces but not all
Drivers in Ontario, Quebec, Alberta, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland and Labrador can buy car insurance online with belairdirect. However, the company does not operate in provinces with government-run insurance plans, including Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and British Columbia. It is also notably absent in Canada’s territories.
❌ Regional restrictions on usage-based discount
As usage-based insurance programs and discounts become more popular in Canada, belairdirect has created its own – automerit. Unfortunately, it is not currently available to drivers in Eastern Canada, including New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland and Labrador.
✅ Customer referral program
Belairdirect offers a referral program for existing customers who bring in new policyholders. While these types of programs are common in the industry, it may be a nice perk for those who have a network they could see themselves recommending belairdirect to.
❌ Bundling savings potentially limited
Bundling home and car insurance with belairdirect can save you money, as advertised. However, bundling with a single carrier doesn’t always offer the most savings possible. Rather, a mix-and-match approach to bundling, where products and pricing from multiple carriers are considered and combined, can help you maximize your savings and find the most cost-effective solution.
belairdirect vs. YouSet car insurance
After getting a car insurance quote from belairdirect, it’s wise to compare it to those from alternative providers, such as YouSet, to see if that’s truly the best price you can get or if there’s a better deal available.
Fortunately, YouSet makes it easy to compare multiple carriers, not just one, in minutes. By having insurance providers compete for your business, we help you secure the best possible price year after year. But that’s not all. Here are some of the additional benefits of buying car insurance with YouSet.
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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