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, it’s worth considering whether Co-operators—or even an alternative provider—offers the value and coverage that best match your situation.
In this article, you’ll learn more about Co-operators’ car insurance, the potential pros and cons to consider, and how it’s different from an insurance broker like YouSet. That way, you can make the most informed decision and choose a provider that matches your needs and expectations.
How is YouSet different from Co-operators?
YouSet combines the convenience of an online platform with the advantages of a licensed insurance broker, while Co-operators is a direct-to-consumer insurer that underwrites and sells its own policies.
As such, there are key differences between YouSet and Co-operators to consider, which you can see outlined clearly in the table below.
| YouSet | Co-operators | |
| Type of provider | Digital insurance broker | Direct-to-consumer (D2C) insurer |
| Products | Home, tenant, condo, and car | Home, tenant, condo, car, travel, and life |
| Number of insurers | 18 insurers (Full list of YouSet insurers) | 1 insurer (themselves) |
| Price comparison | Side-by-side comparison, shows multiple quotes | No comparison, only shows one quote (their own) |
| Underwriting | Does not underwrite policies | Direct writer (underwrites its own policies) |
| Checkout | Online checkout or by phone | Online checkout or by phone |
| Claims | Claims handled by the insurer, additional support from YouSet, as needed | Claims handled directly by Co-operators |
Co-operators car insurance pros and cons
As with any insurance provider, it’s important to understand what Co-operators offers and what it doesn’t. This is key to helping you determine if it aligns with what you’re looking for in a car insurance provider.
Pros
- One of the largest insurance companies in Canada
- Co-operative model
- Financial support for anti-theft protection
- Available in most provinces
Cons
- Restricted to Co-operators products and pricing
- Limited in-person claims
- Availability of local representatives
- Bundling savings may be limited
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 in-person claims
Co-operators advertises claims offices across Canada where you can go in person for assistance and support. However, there is only one office in Quebec, six concentrated in major cities in Ontario, two in Alberta, and one in New Brunswick, listed on their website.
Financial support for anti-theft protection
Given the increase in auto theft nationwide, Co-operators has partnered with Tag, a vehicle security system that provides anti-theft and recovery features. As part of this partnership, Co-operators will “pay a portion of your installation fee” for drivers in Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia.
Availability of local representatives
On the Co-operators website, you are directed to contact a local Co-operators representative if you “have questions about our coverage or your policy.” Depending on the office and location, representative availability may be limited to standard weekday business hours.
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 be limited
Bundling home and car insurance with Co-operators 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.
Co-operators vs. YouSet car insurance
After getting a quote from Co-operators and doing your own research, it’s always wise to compare the quoted price to a policy from an alternative provider, such as YouSet, to see if that’s truly the best price you can get or if there’s a better deal available.
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.
We do the searching, you get the savings
