With national reach and strong name recognition, Co-operators car insurance has become a familiar choice for many Canadians.
But as premiums continue to rise across the board due to record-high repair costs, pricier materials, historic car theft rates, and increasingly complex vehicle technology, familiarity alone might not be enough to secure the best value — or the best fit — for your needs.
If you’re after a policy that truly balances cost and coverage, Co-operators might be the answer — but there’s only one way to find out. It starts with doing your homework (as you’re doing right now), comparing a range of providers — including alternatives to traditional providers — and weighing the pros and cons of each.
Only then will you know whether Co-operators checks all the boxes, or if an alternative provider like YouSet can do the same (or possibly more!).
| Pros | Cons |
| One of the largest insurance companies in Canada | Restricted to Co-operators products and pricing |
| Co-operative model | Limited online reviews |
| Range of financial services and products | Sales model may not suit everyone |
| Available in most provinces | Bundling savings may fall short |
✅ One of the largest insurance companies in Canada
While it may not be one of the oldest, Co-Operators is one of the largest insurance companies in Canada. For 15 consecutive years, it has also been recognized in Corporate Knights’ annual Best 50 Corporate Citizens list — ranking first among global insurers, second in the global financial sector, and third overall in Canada.
❌ Restricted to Co-operators products and pricing
If you buy car insurance from Co-operators, your policy will be underwritten by Co-operators General Insurance Company — meaning you’re limited to their coverage options, pricing, and discount structure. Unlike a digital broker like YouSet, which compares quotes across multiple insurers to help you find the best deal, Co-operators can only offer what’s in their own lineup.
✅ Co-operative model
Unlike publicly traded insurers or investor-owned companies (like Intact or Allstate), Co-operators operates as a co-operative. Simply put, this means it’s owned by its policyholders, not external shareholders. While this structure might align with your values, keep in mind that it doesn’t necessarily translate to lower premiums.
❌ Limited online reviews
With so many car insurance companies and brokers to choose from, many Canadians turn to online reviews from past and current customers to help make their decision. However, because Co-operators often operates through local agents, you may find reviews for specific agents or offices, but it can be much harder to find reviews for the company as a whole, besides on sites like TrustPilot.
✅ Range of financial services and products
In addition to home and car insurance, Co-operators offers a variety of personal financial services, including wealth management and retirement planning. While this might seem convenient, it doesn’t always outweigh the potential cost savings and flexibility you could find by exploring alternative car insurance providers.
❌ Sales model may not suit everyone
Depending on your location or needs, you may be directed to a local Co-operators financial representative. These representatives operate under the Co-operators brand and typically sell only Co-operators products, meaning they don’t compare options from other insurers, as independent brokers might. So, it will be up to you to confirm this and compare options from multiple other providers on your own, if needed.
✅ Available in most provinces
Co-operators car insurance is available in most provinces, but not all. While drivers in Ontario, Quebec, and eastern Canada, as well as the territories, are likely to have access, those in British Columbia and Manitoba will likely not be able to purchase car insurance from Co-operators due to the provinces’ public car insurance plans.
❌ Bundling savings may fall short
Although Co-operators advertises savings of up to 40% when you bundle home and car insurance, bundling with a single insurer isn’t always the best way to maximize your savings. Sometimes, a mix-and-match approach to bundling, where products and pricing from multiple carriers are considered, proves to be a better approach.
Co-operators vs. YouSet Car Insurance
Depending on the quote you receive for Co-operators 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 home and 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 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.
Transparent renewals
Anytime a YouSet 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.
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.
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.
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 insurance and buy it online at the best price year after year.
