B.C. has the second-highest auto insurance rates in Canada, according to a Fraser Institute study released Monday.

In 2009, Ontario ranked highest with an average vehicle insurance rate of $1,281, ahead of B.C. at $1,113.

Quebec drivers enjoyed the lowest average premium at $642.

The Vancouver-based think-tank said government-run auto insurance monopolies, such as ICBC, were among the most expensive but less efficient than those in regulated markets.

"Drivers in B.C., Saskatchewan and Manitoba should be asking why their governments have eliminated consumer choice and are forcing them to purchase auto insurance at rates higher than necessary," said Neil Mohindra of the Fraser Institute's Centre for Financial Policy Studies.