What every Ontario auto policy includes
Every car on an Ontario road must carry a set of mandatory coverages. Your price depends on the limits and options you choose on top of them.
- Third-party liability. Pays if you injure someone or damage their property. The legal minimum is $200,000, but a serious accident can cost far more, so many drivers choose $1 million or $2 million.
- Statutory accident benefits. Covers you after a crash no matter who caused it. Since July 1, 2026, medical, rehabilitation and attendant care benefits are mandatory and most other benefits are optional. See what changed.
- Uninsured automobile coverage. Protects you if you are hit by an uninsured or unidentified driver.
- Direct compensation for property damage (DCPD). Pays for damage to your car when someone else is at fault. It became optional on January 1, 2024, and dropping it is rarely worth the small saving.
Optional coverage worth understanding
- Collision. Repairs your car after an accident you caused or a single-vehicle crash.
- Comprehensive. Theft, fire, vandalism, hail, falling objects and hitting an animal.
- OPCF 20, transportation replacement. Pays for a rental or rideshares while your car is being repaired.
- OPCF 27, non-owned vehicles. Covers damage to a car you rent or borrow.
- OPCF 43, waiver of depreciation. For newer cars: pays the full purchase price, not a depreciated value, after a total loss.
- OPCF 44R, family protection. Tops up your protection if an at-fault driver does not carry enough insurance.
What decides your price
These are the main things that move your price. Knowing them shows you where there is room to save.
- Your driving record: tickets usually count for about three years, at-fault accidents for about six.
- How long you have been licensed, including any driving outside Canada you can prove.
- Your vehicle: make, model, year and how often that model is stolen.
- Where the car is parked overnight and how far you drive to work.
- Gaps in your insurance history or past cancellations.
- The coverage and deductibles you choose.
Ways to bring the price down
- Bundle your car with home, condo or tenant insurance.
- Ask for the winter tire discount. Ontario insurers must offer one on personal vehicles.
- Try a usage-based (telematics) program if you drive carefully and not too much.
- Raise your collision and comprehensive deductibles if you can cover them from savings.
- Rethink collision coverage on an older car worth little.
- For frequently stolen models, install an approved anti-theft device or tracker. Some insurers require one.
- Keep your insurance continuous. Even a short gap can raise your rate.
Common questions
How fast can I be insured?
Usually the same day. Once you pick a policy and pay, your agent arranges coverage and sends proof of insurance, often electronically.
Can I switch before my renewal date?
Yes. Your current insurer may charge a cancellation fee mid-term, so ask about it first. We line up the new policy to start the day the old one ends, so you are never uninsured.
What should I have ready for a quote?
Your current policy or renewal letter, each driver’s licence number and history, the vehicle identification numbers (VINs), and dates of any tickets or claims in the last six years.
I have a ticket or an accident on my record. Can you still help?
Yes. A ticket or claim usually raises your price for a few years, but there are still ways to keep it in check. Read our guide on tickets and accidents.