1.8/5 (30 Reviewers)
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Echelon specializes in specialty insurance, such as for high risk drivers, motorcycles and vintage cars and motorcycles.

Echelon Insurance Company

Founded1997
HeadquartersMississauga, Ontario
Employees400 – 500 (2023)
Insurance Products*Auto, Motorcycle, RV, Collector Vehicle, ATV, Snowmobile, Homeowners, Condo, Tenants, & Commercial insurance.
Provinces LicensedAB, BC, MB, NB, NL, NWT, NS, NU, ON, PEI, QC, SK, YT
*Insurance coverage and availability may vary by province. Speak with your broker for details.

Echelon Insurance Quotes

Get a Quote now

For a quote from Echelon or other high risk insurers in Ontario, speak with one of our special-risk insurance brokers at Mitch: Speak with a broker today: 1-800-731-2228


Company Overview

Echelon offers a full range of insurance products, which, in Ontario, includes personal and commercial auto insurance, business owner’s insurance, commercial property insurance, motorcycle insurance, and more recently have recently expanded to offer standard commercial insurance and Surety.

Echelon Insurance may be a good fit for customers that fall outside the regular market due to driving record, vehicle, or other considerations that make it difficult to acquire or afford insurance, such as if you have:

  • A specialty vehicle, such as an exotic car, a sports car, or a collectible
  • Multiple accidents or claims on your insurance record
  • Lapses in coverage
  • A business in construction, food and hospitality, or other high-risk industry
  • Any other factor that may cause you to face higher premiums

While Echelon has its own specialized products and underwriting process, it saves money by not employing in-house agents; its insurance products are available solely through a limited number of select insurance brokers with whom they partner.


Echelon’s Competitive Advantages

Consumers that are considered by insurance companies to be high risk may face higher premiums and higher deductibles. Echelon Insurance believes that high quality, affordable insurance should be within reach for everyone, even for those who need high risk auto insurance.

Echelon’s strengths include:

  • Unique Underwriting Process ā€“ During the underwriting process, insurers consider how risky someone would be to insure. The more likely that your insurer believes you are to file a claim, the higher your premium will be. Echelon has a unique underwriting process allows them to offer rates and options. To customers That fall outside of the main stream underwriting guidelines of the standard insurance companies.
  • Insurance for many types of vehicles ā€“ Even if you have a good driving record, owning a classic or collectible car, a classic motorcycle, a sports car, or an exotic car may be considered a special risk for other insurance providers. Echelon provides coverage for all types of vehicles, even those that may be more costly to repair or replace.
  • Lower Rates ā€“ If you are a high risk driver, then your insurance options may be limited to the costly coverage that the Facility Association provides. Echelon provides affordable insurance coverage for those who may find it difficult or even impossible to get coverage often at lower rates than what Facility offers.

Echelon’s Key Insurance Products Available in Ontario

Echelon Insurance offers a full range of insurance products for individuals and businesses. If you require non-standard insurance, then Echelon offers several insurance products that you may benefit from.

Non-standard Auto Insurance

In Ontario, Echelonā€™s personal insurance products are limited to auto-related coverage, including:

  • Automobile
  • Motorcycle and trail bike
  • RV
  • Travel trailer
  • Collector vehicle

Commercial Insurance

Insuring your business can be a challenge, but Echelon caters to high-risk commercial customers by offering a variety of products, including:

  • Commercial auto
  • Commercial Pak
  • Business Owner’s Value Pak
  • Commercial liability
  • Boiler and machinery
  • Warranty programs
  • Creditor protection

Echelon Insurance Quotes

Get a Quote now

For a quote from Echelon or other high risk insurers in Ontario, speak with one of our special-risk insurance brokers at Mitch: rnSpeak with a broker today: 1-800-731-2228


Echelon Insurance Reviews

1.8/5 (30 Reviewers)
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Echelon Insurance Company
Head Office:
2680 Matheson Blvd E, Suite 300, Mississauga, ON L4W 0A5, Canada
Phone Number: (905) 214-7880
Website:
Sam Vinog
Rating: .5 .5 /5 stars

Absolute liars and will steal your money , Stay away !!

Echelon Insurance are absolute liars and natural legalized criminals. I have never had a single claim or accident with them.
Have had exellent safety records and in the middle of the term Echelon placed my company into high risk , cancelled part of the policy and tripled the price for the remaining part. As a result I had to shut down my transport company Andre Vachon Inc and fire all of the employees.

Echelon have lied that I am a high risk , and as a result I was refused the insurance by all other insurance companies. We need a class action against them!

Jim Tan
Rating: 2 2 /5 stars

You get what you pay for

I had a long conversation with Echelon and different people at various levels within Echelon Insurance.
Echelon Home Warranty is quick to reply; I give them two stars for that.
In the end, an Echelon representative informed me that system failures are either due to old age or lack of maintenance, and as you know, both of these cases are excluded from the Echelon Home Warranty program. As a result, I had to pay for the system failure myself.
This is what you should expect from Echelon with a one-year free home warranty program.
If you are looking for premium insurance, donā€™t go with Echelon Home Warranty or any other free program.
Echelon Insurance makes money from those who are too lazy to cancel the home warranty program at the end of its free term.

Ken Andres
Rating: .5 .5 /5 stars

Don’t even think about doing business with Echelon

The worst company ever

Rating: 3.5 3.5 /5 stars

My appraiser was good to me during a difficult time

Micheal was very good with me. Took care of everything.

C Blais
Rating: 2.5 2.5 /5 stars

Could have better service

Got some support from the car detail. But didnā€™t like the piles of paper for the health claim. Everything is on line and it very frustrating to get the proper detail.

Sasha Thompson
Rating: 1 1 /5 stars

Please go elsewhere

I have never been more disturbed by an agency. The treatment of costumers is less than dirt, and yet their employees are treated even worse. Bullying administrators, unfair dismissals, favoritism, and blatant degradation of departments deemed ā€œlower.ā€ I refuse to support a business run by grown adults that have not realized they are not longer in high school. Who treat employees that are instrumental in their success with blatant disrespect and threaten their jobs or ignore staff completely. I have called several times for my claims to only be bounced to other admin who ultimately only end up hanging up on meeting. This is capitalism at its finest.

Amanda
Rating: 1 1 /5 stars

Donā€™t use them

Renewed my dirt bike and less than 14 days sold it for a new one. They not only charged a lot to insure a bike 2x the amount of others they donā€™t refund you full amounts. They took a $100 for 14 days as a charge, huge rip off. My bf goes through intact and was able to get a full refund after 2 months when he bought a new bike. Very disappointed with this company

Zara Fitzgerald
Rating: 1 1 /5 stars

Worst insurance company ever!

I am moving to Manitoba and I am aware that echelon are UNABLE to insure me over there. As THEY are UNABLE to continue insuring me I needed to cancel my policy. They want to charge me 20% premium and a cancellation fee because THEY canā€™t insure me where I am moving. I was also informed if I was to DIE they would still continue to charge me and request a cancel fee and a premium if I was DEAD!!! DO NOT BE FOOLED into going with this company. They do NOT care about their clients they care about MONEY! Not you or your safety!

Graham Neale
Rating: 1 1 /5 stars

Echelon Abused my Credit Card !

My story is rather different (I am NOT insured with Echelon myself). An acquaintance with a very poor driving record begged me to make an initial $400 (one month) deposit with Echelon so they could get insured. I duly gave my credit card details over the phone to a female Echelon representative. It turned out that Echelon needed not $400 but $843.16 to cover the first TWO months of insurance. I foolishly agreed and my VISA was duly debited on May 7th. I SPECIFICALLY stressed that I was making a ONE-TIME payment and the Echelon rep agreed to my instructions. Imagine my disgust when I discovered today (May 24th) that Echelon had used my VISA card AGAIN for another $421.58 without any authorization whatsoever from me! This is fraud in its purest form. I now have to deal with the hassle of contesting this illegal payment with VISA and/or obtaining a new card.

Ken
Rating: 1 1 /5 stars

hard to deal with

I finally got fed up ( 4YEARS) arguing with them each year trying to slip in new charges that I did not want or ask for. Typical INS CO. Lies. Lies. Lies… run around…more Lies
CANCEL! BYE BYE.

T.Roberts
Rating: 1 1 /5 stars

Stay away- worst decision

This operation was the worst- never have I ever experienced this kind of treatment with a claim- I first have to pay for two months of fees, then pay another right away- and if you cancel within the policy time frame u somehow get billed again and hounded for an outstanding last month fee- if u have a claim they pawn it out to a thirst party who only messages u by text and leaves NO contact info- we were 2.5 months before we could resolve a clean cut deer accident- most of that time the truck sat at the tow operators as no one came to assess it for 4 weeks!

Cdn_medic
Rating: 2 2 /5 stars

Still questioning.

My broker suggested echelon. So I said ok. These people say they want 2 payments upfront to start the policy. Then 2 weeks later and additional payment. Thatā€™s 3 payments in one month?? Then I was told, due to the date I switched to them. Payments would have to be raised to over $600 a month for the 1st year due to policy start date? Doesnā€™t make any sense to me. They better get with the program or I will have to get my lawyer involved. 2 star rating for now

Raymond
Rating: 1 1 /5 stars

Stay far away

Way over priced and have no concern for their customers other then their money. I pay more for insurance now then when I started driving. The broker I have is just as bad over at Petley Hare limited. They lie and tell you that’s the best they can do. I’m struggling with everything, especially during these challenging times with no help from these Selfish bastards. Warning stay away from these companies. Their all crooks with castles sucking everyone dry.

Jessika Mizzi
Rating: 1 1 /5 stars

Worst company ever

Donā€™t ever sign with them! They will screw you over!

J
Rating: 1 1 /5 stars

Echelon is The Worst

No communication and no concern for the customer. Go with Any other company before this 1.

Stewart Taylor
Rating: 4 4 /5 stars

Confused by Echelon/CAA

I have been insured with Echelon for two seasons for motorcycles and with CAA for cars/home.
CAA provides motorcycle roadservice in Niagara area and apparently owns Echelon but will not provide motorcycle insurance, seems counterproductive.

Melanie
Rating: 1 1 /5 stars

Horrible avoid at all costs this company take advantage of the less fortunate

My son has insurance through Echelon. He got a ticket so was considered high risk. His engine blew in his vehicle so he tried to change his policy to fire and theft only to keep his insurance open until he purchased a new vehicle. They refused to give him fire and theft because they apparently do not offer this. They said he would have to either pay his full insurance payments until he buys a new vehicle or cancel. If he cancels they charge an $800 cancellation fee plus keep his last months deposit then once he buys a new car he can open a new policy and pay 1st and last all over again. And get this…. even if he keeps paying his payments and transfers the insurance to a new vehicle this cancellation rule stands as well. So just to transfer to a new vehicle he has to pay $800 plus lose his original last months deposit plus have to pay 1st and last again. This is robbery!! Totally taking advantage of someone because this is their only option. SHAME ON YOU ECHELON

Gbran
Rating: 1 1 /5 stars

Peel

Itā€™s so expensive and no responsible for them clients ….. I applied with this company from month ago and they give me a bad price it was so expensive and they took first and last payment and for the next month to without sending the pink paper after when the temporary paper is done and when I asked for cancellation they took too payment for just one month

avoid atallcosts
Rating: 1 1 /5 stars

To even get insurance you have to pay a down deposit ,
Then it doesnt end there,

it takes FOREVER,
nobody answers the phone, the company they have working for them in nova scotia is ridiculous,
Crawford and company , no one answers the phone there either,

asking for information on a childs FULL NAME and birthdate to replace a car seat seems very invasive to me considering children are NOT on the car insurance.

Ashley
Rating: 1 1 /5 stars

Worst company to deal with

We were with Echelon for years. We were renewed and they wanted too much for our policy. We cancelled in November. Sent our broker signed letters November 24th and received a response it was received. Now in January we are being told we are being cancelled for non payment and we are waiting for a collection call. Meanwhile we cancelled months ago? Itā€™s also impossible to contact anyone regarding this. Just stay away. I know when you are all risk you feel as if you should go with anyone who will take you but put the extra work in now finding another company so when the time comes you arenā€™t dealing with them

Ashley
Rating: 1 1 /5 stars

Unless you want to be sent to collections months after cancelling policy don’t sign with them!!!

They double billed me twice in a row and wouldn’t resolve it. I cancelled my policy in april and sent the form electronically as they requested over the phone. They then double billed me after the fact and it’s now November and I’m recieving calls from a collection agency saying i owe them money which is impossible because my account was up to date! They don’t care about their customers, they only care about the money!!!

Another unhappy customer
Rating: 1 1 /5 stars

Stay away from echelon

Incompetent and dishonest

Bob
Rating: 1 1 /5 stars

Horrendous

Very difficult to reach anyone. I finally gave up trying a connection by phone and wrote a letter asking to cancel my policy–two weeks later, still waiting for a reply.Simply awful.

Shaun
Rating: 1 1 /5 stars

Stay away if you can. If you have to report and accident or get ahold of this company good luck .

Impossible to get information threw and an endless waiting game . I pay far to much for this level of professionalism .

Cassandra
Rating: 5 5 /5 stars

Great company

Iā€™ve been with echelon for over a year now and I have to say my experience has been great with them! I highly recommend

Lucas
Rating: 1 1 /5 stars

Totally unproffesional.

Was away for work received mail saying my payment had bounced and was required to pay a late fee as to be expected. Attempted to pay before the date that they had provided me as the cut off and was informed they had changed the date an now my policy was void. They take payments out on any day of the month absolutely no consistency as well as never even sending me my cards regardless of the fact I contacted them twice, have been driving around with email proof from my broker instead. Terrible company

Sid
Rating: 1 1 /5 stars

Miss treated

This company is fraud . Especially people working in M&W who dealt with my case . Yes I have a few tickets thatā€™s why I took this company. #highriskdriver

I had a claim . No response from the adjuster. Been over a month.

They treat me like , I did a terrible mistake. I actually did choosing M&W & Echelon

luann watts
Rating: 0.5 0.5 /5 stars

was a bad choice

Overdraft charges because of idiocy on their part – not accountable – they seem to forget that we are the consumer. Disrespectful corporate bullies.

LORNE JAMIESON
Rating: 1 1 /5 stars

NO RESPONSE

Company personnel do not respond.One letter -two emails and no answer.

Nick D
Rating: 5 5 /5 stars

Paul

LOVE this company. MAJOR savings!! Thank you!

Jason
Rating: 5 5 /5 stars

So far so good reasonable rates

Andrew
Rating: 5 5 /5 stars

Statefarm jacked my motorcycle insurance rate way up, Chris got me a great rate with Echelon motorcycle insurance that was less than what I was paying with Statefarm! šŸ˜€ Seems like a great company but it took a while for me to get my paperwork from them in the mail. šŸ™ apparently they were backlogged this summer with all kinds of people loving the sweet rates!