Essential Guide To Driving Around Toronto

Are you thinking about visiting or moving to the city of Toronto? If so, you’re in for quite a treat!

The city of Toronto is one of the most exhilarating cities in Canada thanks to its wide array of internationally-inspired restaurants, collection of professional sports teams and an endless list of site-seeing opportunities. There’s always something to do or see in Toronto.

Although Toronto has a fantastic public transportation system, there’s a good chance that you’ll need to get behind the wheel of a car at some point in time (especially if you want to take a roadtrip to the outskirts of the GTA).

Before getting behind the wheel, you should take a moment to check out our list of tips for driving around Toronto and the GTA.

Continue reading to learn more.

5 tips for driving around Toronto and the GTA

Be sure to keep the following tips in mind the next time you get behind the wheel in Toronto:

Tip #1 — Be comfortable with highway driving

The city of Toronto is packed with busy expressways, including the Don Valley Parkway, the Gardiner Expressway and Allen Road.

Toronto is also surrounded by a number of expansive highways referred to as the 400-series. The 400-series is made up of several lengthy highways, including the infamously long 401.

If you plan on driving around Toronto, you need to know how to confidently operate a vehicle on highways. You also need to be comfortable operating a vehicle at high speeds, merging lanes and checking your blind spots.

If you don’t have these essential skills, we suggest opting for public transit until you’re comfortable driving on highways.

Tip #2 — Keep an eye out for one-way streets while driving in Toronto

There’s no denying that driving through the city of Toronto can be complicated and even confusing at times. One of the things that many drivers find confusing about Toronto is the presence of one-way streets.

Toronto is full of one-way streets, which can make it challenging to get around without a reliable GPS or personal guide. If you’re not paying attention to the street signs, you might accidentally go in the wrong direction on a one-way street, which can lead to a severe car accident or collision.

However, with a little bit of foresight and planning, you can easily prepare yourself for Toronto’s collection of one-way streets.

Before you hit the road, take a moment to plan your trip and note any one-way streets you may need to take. If you’re comfortable driving on one-way streets, taking note of their locations helps you avoid making a “wrong turn” while driving in Toronto. 

If you’re not comfortable driving on one-way streets, you can plan out an alternative route that doesn’t rely on one-way streets.

Tip#3 — Watch out for cyclists

The next time you drive around Toronto, you’ll likely spot a lot of cyclists travelling around the city.

Cycling has been growing in popularity in major Canadian cities, like Toronto, due to the fact that it’s an environmentally friendly, healthy and cost-effective way to get around.

Due to the recent influx of cyclists in Toronto, drivers have to be more and more careful while operating their vehicles. If you want to do your part in keeping your local cyclists safe, we suggest trying out the following tips:

• Pay attention to bikes lanes while driving around Toronto
• Check your blind spots on streets with a bike lane
• Check your rearview mirror before opening your door to avoid colliding with an on-coming cyclist
• Give cyclists ample room while on a roadway without a bike lane

Bonus tip — Click here if you’d like to learn how hitting a cyclist with your vehicle affects your car insurance rates in Canada.

Tip #4 — Plan for traffic (and know how to avoid it)

When it comes to Toronto driving, you need to expect some traffic. Toronto is one of the biggest cities in the world, so it’s only reasonable that there’s some traffic.

That being said, if you’re new to the area, you may not know how to deal with the heavy traffic that comes with living in Toronto.

If you get stuck in traffic, the best thing that you can do is stay calm and patient. Chances are, the traffic will start moving sooner or later, so waiting it out is the best thing that you can do.

On the other hand, if you hear that you’re about to approach a traffic jam, there are a few things that you can do. If you’re already on the road, you can use a traffic tracking app to generate an alternate route. If you’re still at home, we suggest using a different mode of transportation, like a train. Doing this allows you to bypass traffic altogether.

Tip #5 — Never drive without valid auto insurance

Whether you’re driving in downtown Toronto or any other part of Canada, you need to have valid auto insurance. 

Operating a vehicle without valid auto insurance is a serious issue that can lead to hefty fines and other consequences. Not to mention, getting caught driving a vehicle without insurance will make it extremely difficult to find coverage when you compare quotes.

If you’re looking for car insurance in Toronto, the first thing that you should do is reach out to an online insurance brokerage like Surex.

Save up to 25% when you bundle multiple policies with Surex

Car insurance in Toronto is notoriously expensive, especially for drivers under the age of 25. However, car insurance doesn’t have to be expensive. The easiest way to save is by teaming up with a Surex insurance advisor.

Teaming up with a Surex insurance advisor allows you to compare competitive car insurance quotes from the top-rated insurance providers in the province. Instead of spending time getting quotes from individual companies, you can save time and energy by teaming up with Surex.

Not to mention, when you bundle multiple insurance policies with one of our trusted carriers, you can get access to generous discounts (sometimes as high as 25%).

Want to start saving on car insurance? Contact one of our advisors today to receive your quotes in ten minutes or less.