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? That’s a decision only you can make.
In this article, you’ll learn more about RBC 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 RBC?
YouSet combines the convenience of an online platform with the services of a licensed insurance broker. In contrast, RBC home, condo, and tenant insurance policies are underwritten by Aviva General Insurance Company—meaning RBC markets and sells the policies under its brand, but doesn’t itself underwrite them.
As such, there are key differences between YouSet and RBC to consider, which you can see outlined clearly in the table below.
| YouSet | RBC | |
| Type of provider | Digital insurance broker | Insurance provider |
| Products | Home, tenant, condo, and car | Home, tenant, condo, car, recreational vehicle, life, and travel |
| Number of insurers | 18 insurers (Full list of YouSet insurers) | 1 insurer (Aviva) |
| Price comparison | Side-by-side comparison, shows multiple quotes | No comparison, only shows one quote (Aviva) |
| Underwriting | Does not underwrite policies | Does not underwrite policies, Aviva does |
| Checkout | Online checkout or by phone | Call to purchase |
| Claims | Claims handled by the insurer, additional support from YouSet, as needed | Claims handled by Aviva via RBC |
RBC car insurance pros and cons
As with any insurance provider, it’s important to understand what RBC 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
- Well-known provider
- Anonymous claims advice
- Offers a range of personal insurance products
- 24/7 emergency claim hotline
Cons
- Restricted to Aviva products and pricing
- Call to buy an online quote
- Only available in certain regions
- Bundling savings may be limited
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.
Anonymous claims advice
RBC has an anonymous phone line (handled by Aviva) that customers can call and get advice on a potential car insurance claim. Unfortunately, this is not currently available to residents of Quebec.
Call to buy an online quote
Although RBC offers online home, condo, and tenant insurance quotes, you’ll likely be prompted to call and speak with a sales representative to complete your purchase.
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.
Only available in certain regions
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.
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.
Bundling savings may be limited
Bundling home and car insurance with RBC 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.
RBC vs. YouSet car insurance
After getting a quote from RBC 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
