What is a CLEAR rating?
CLEAR (Canadian Loss Experience Automobile Rating) is a vehicle rating system that insurers use to assess a car's claims and theft history, which affects the insurance premium charged for that specific vehicle.
The Canadian Loss Experience Automobile Rating (CLEAR) system tracks the claims and theft history of individual vehicles, not drivers. Insurers use this data to assign a rating to each vehicle based on how frequently that particular make, model, and year has been involved in collisions, comprehensive claims, or theft incidents across Canada.
When you get a quote for auto insurance, the insurer checks the CLEAR rating for your vehicle and factors this into your premium. A vehicle with a higher loss history gets rated higher (meaning more expensive to insure), while vehicles with lower claims and theft rates get lower ratings. This system means two identical cars can have different insurance costs depending on their claims history.
CLEAR ratings matter because they affect your annual premiums directly. A car model popular with theft rings or prone to expensive repairs will carry a higher CLEAR rating than a reliable, theft-resistant model. This rating stays with the vehicle itself and resets with a new model year. When shopping for coverage, insurers use CLEAR data alongside your driving record and other factors to calculate your final quote. Understanding your vehicle's CLEAR rating helps explain why the premium quote you receive reflects the specific car you drive, not just your personal history as a driver.