Home insurance in Canada is sold by private insurers, and the rules they follow are set by each province and territory. That makes “best” a local question: an insurer has to sell in the province first, and its coverages and discounts can change at the border. This page compares eleven insurers on what they state about provinces served, coverage, optional water and earthquake protection and claims service, and sets out a method for comparing quotes anywhere in the country. Definitions come from the Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC), the Financial Consumer Agency of Canada (FCAC) and Quebec’s Autorité des marchés financiers (AMF). Insurer features come from each insurer’s own pages, checked October 11, 2026. It is general education, not insurance advice, and the policy wording always decides what a claim pays.
Readers in Ontario can go straight to the province-specific guide to home insurance in Ontario, which covers Ontario discounts and the Ontario regulator in more depth.
Which insurers sell home insurance in which provinces?
Only three of the eleven insurers checked list the provinces they serve on their own home insurance pages: Sonnet, belairdirect and Square One. The rest either sell through brokers and agents or ask for a postal code before confirming availability.
| Feature | Provinces (as the insurer states them) | How you buy | Water add-on (from the insurer's page) | Claims service (as stated) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Allstate Canada | Not listed on the home insurance page | an online quote in less than 3 minutes, or local Allstate agents | sewer backup, overland water, flood, surface water and rapid groundwater accumulation, depending on location, claims history and mitigation devices | a claims team available 24/7 |
| Aviva Canada | Not listed; insurance availability, eligibility and pricing vary by province | Through an insurance representative or broker | basic water coverage in every house policy, with optional sewer backup and overland water coverage for homes that meet its requirements | claims by phone with a claims care advisor, or submitted online |
| belairdirect | Alberta, Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland and Labrador, P.E.I. and B.C. (home only in B.C.) | a quick online quote, then purchase online in a few clicks | flood and sewer backup damage is covered only with the Enhanced Water Damage Package | claims help 24/7 |
| Co-operators | Not listed on the home insurance page | A quote request on its website, or a Co-operators financial representative | basic water damage (such as a leaking pipe) in the base policy; sewer backup and flooding through additional comprehensive water protection | claims help 24/7 |
| Desjardins Insurance | Page version changes with the province selected; discounts may vary by province | an online quote, and online purchase for those eligible | optional coverages for different types of water damage | claims online, in the Desjardins Insurance Home-Auto app or by phone 24/7 |
| Intact Insurance | Not listed; cites over 2,000 broker relationships across Canada | a quote online, by phone or through a broker | depending on location, sewer backup, water and sewer lines, overland water and ground water | claims team available 24/7 |
| RBC Insurance | Not listed for home; auto insurance is not available through RBC Insurance in Manitoba, Saskatchewan and British Columbia, because of government-run auto insurance plans | an online quote or an RBC Insurance advisor | sewer backup and overland water may require optional coverage | A claims advisor or adjuster reviews the loss |
| Sonnet | Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, P.E.I., B.C. and Alberta; no service in Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Newfoundland and Labrador or the territories | a home policy can be bought online instantly | sewer backup, overland water and earthquake can be added during the quote, depending on location | 24/7 claims support |
| Square One | British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario and Quebec | quote, purchase and claim submission all online | not all areas are eligible for inland flood protection | a response to emergency claims within 2 hours |
| TD Insurance | Not listed; online purchase is not currently available in all provinces | Online quote and purchase where offered, or a licensed advisor | the Extended Water Damage Coverage add-on combines sewer backup and overland water coverage | a 3-year workmanship warranty on completed repairs when its vendor network is used |
| Wawanesa Insurance | Not listed on the home insurance page | a customized plan through an insurance broker | Water is named as a covered event in its plans; no water add-on is described on the page read | A claim submission page on its website |
Sources: each insurer's own home insurance page, checked October 11, 2026; Sonnet, belairdirect and Square One province lists were first read on their tenant pages and confirmed on their home pages. Alphabetical order, not a ranking. 'Not listed' means the page did not state provinces; a quote by postal code or a call confirms availability.
The table in sentences. Sonnet sells online home insurance in Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, P.E.I., B.C. and Alberta, and states it has no service in Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Newfoundland and Labrador or the territories. belairdirect sells home insurance in Alberta, Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland and Labrador, P.E.I. and B.C. (home only in B.C.). Square One serves British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario and Quebec, which makes it the only one of the three that names Saskatchewan and Manitoba. None of the three lists a territory among the places it serves.
The other eight do not publish a province list on the page read. Intact cites over 2,000 broker relationships across Canada. Aviva says it provides home insurance for over 860,000 homes across Canada, and that insurance availability, eligibility and pricing vary by province. RBC Insurance says auto insurance is not available through RBC Insurance in Manitoba, Saskatchewan and British Columbia, because of government-run auto insurance plans, which matters for anyone hoping to bundle. TD Insurance says online purchase is not currently available in all provinces. Desjardins shows a different version of its page for each province selected and states that discounts may vary by province. Allstate, Co-operators and Wawanesa did not state provinces on the pages read, so an address check with the insurer, an agent or a broker is the way to confirm.
What do home, condo and tenant policies cover in Canada?
Home insurance covers four things: the building, its contents, personal liability to others, and additional living expenses when an insured loss makes the home unlivable. The three policy types differ mainly in who insures the structure.
IBC and FCAC describe the three this way:
- A homeowner’s policy insures the house itself, sheds and detached garages, the belongings inside, liability to other people and the cost of living elsewhere after an insured loss.
- A condo owner’s policy insures belongings, upgrades made to the unit, liability and living-elsewhere costs. It adds loss assessment and contingency cover tied to the condo corporation’s own policy, which insures the building and the common areas.
- A tenant’s policy insures the renter’s belongings and liability, accidental damage to the rented building included, plus living-elsewhere costs up to a limit. The landlord’s policy insures the building.
Each insurer sets its own limits, and a policy’s declarations page lists them. The guide to tenant insurance in Canada covers the renter’s policy in full.
IBC sorts home policies into four levels, and the level printed on a quote decides whether two prices can be compared at all:
- Comprehensive is the widest. Building and contents are insured against every risk the policy does not exclude.
- Broad keeps that all-risk treatment for the building and narrows the contents to the perils the policy names.
- Basic, also called named perils, pays only for the perils on its list.
- No frills is a fallback some insurers offer when a property falls short of normal insurance standards. Repairing the physical problems can move the home up a level.
The province-specific page on Ontario home insurance sets the four levels side by side in a table. Insurers name the levels in their own way. Wawanesa sells Basic, Broad and Comprehensive plans covering buildings, contents and Loss of Use. Allstate sells three Your Choice Home packages (Basic, Comprehensive and VIP) with optional add-ons, with up to $2 million of personal liability coverage named on its packages. Square One sells a comprehensive (all-risk) policy.
Wawanesa goes a step further on its page and states how two of the limits are set. For homeowners, its contents limit is 80% of the amount of insurance on the buildings or home, and its Loss of Use limit, the coverage other insurers call additional living expenses, is 20% of the amount of insurance on the buildings or home. A worked example with a hypothetical building amount of $500,000: contents would be $400,000 and Loss of Use $100,000. Special limits sit inside the contents figure: Wawanesa’s example is $10,000 for theft and mysterious disappearance of jewellery.
How is home insurance regulated in Canada?
Home insurance is regulated by each province and territory. FCAC states that insurance companies, agents and brokers must follow the laws or rules of each province and territory where they do business.
How to read this table: Names as they appear on the Financial Consumer Agency of Canada's list of provincial and territorial insurance regulators. The list read has no separate entry for Nunavut.
| Province or territory | Insurance regulator |
|---|---|
| Alberta | Superintendent of Insurance |
| British Columbia | BC Financial Services Authority |
| Manitoba | Financial Institutions Regulations Branch |
| New Brunswick | Financial and Consumer Services Commission, Insurance Division |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | Superintendent of Insurance |
| Northwest Territories | Superintendent of Insurance |
| Nova Scotia | Superintendent of Insurance |
| Ontario | Financial Services Regulatory Authority of Ontario (FSRA) |
| Prince Edward Island | Department of Justice and Public Safety |
| Quebec | Autorité des marchés financiers (AMF) |
| Saskatchewan | Insurance Councils of Saskatchewan; Financial and Consumer Affairs Authority |
| Yukon | Yukon government departments |
Source: Federal oversight bodies and regulators — Financial Consumer Agency of Canada (list of provincial and territorial insurance regulators); Federal oversight bodies and regulators — FCAC (Quebec regulator); How to file a complaint with your insurance company — FCAC (provincial and territorial rules); How to file a complaint with your insurance company — FCAC (FCAC's own role); How to file a complaint with your insurance company — FCAC (regulator review); Getting an insurance policy — FCAC (licensing of agents and brokers); Insurance for unexpected events and disasters — FCAC (earthquake deductible); Insurance for unexpected events and disasters — FCAC (flood); Insurance for unexpected events and disasters — FCAC (high-risk flood areas); Insurance for unexpected events and disasters — FCAC (disaster assistance and insurable losses); About OSFI — Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions; Home insurance — Autorité des marchés financiers (sewer backup); Home insurance — Autorité des marchés financiers (flooding); Home insurance — Autorité des marchés financiers (all-risk); Home insurance — Autorité des marchés financiers (shopping around); Dispute resolution — Insurance Bureau of Canada (Superintendent of Insurance step); How to file a home insurance claim — Insurance Bureau of Canada (proof of loss); How to file a home insurance claim — Insurance Bureau of Canada (claims service hours). In effect from October 11, 2026; checked October 11, 2026.
Three bodies work at the national level, and none of them replaces the provincial regulator for a consumer’s home policy.
| Body | Role | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Canadian Council of Insurance Regulators (CCIR) | The council of provincial and territorial insurance regulators; FCAC lists it, with OSFI, as a national insurance regulator. | Financial Consumer Agency of Canada |
| Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions (OSFI) | An independent agency of the Government of Canada that regulates and supervises financial institutions; FCAC lists it as a national insurance regulator. | OSFI; Financial Consumer Agency of Canada |
| Financial Consumer Agency of Canada (FCAC) | Oversees federally incorporated insurance companies' compliance with consumer protection laws. It does not resolve individual complaints. | Financial Consumer Agency of Canada |
Source: Federal oversight bodies and regulators — Financial Consumer Agency of Canada (list of provincial and territorial insurance regulators); Federal oversight bodies and regulators — FCAC (Quebec regulator); How to file a complaint with your insurance company — FCAC (provincial and territorial rules); How to file a complaint with your insurance company — FCAC (FCAC's own role); How to file a complaint with your insurance company — FCAC (regulator review); Getting an insurance policy — FCAC (licensing of agents and brokers); Insurance for unexpected events and disasters — FCAC (earthquake deductible); Insurance for unexpected events and disasters — FCAC (flood); Insurance for unexpected events and disasters — FCAC (high-risk flood areas); Insurance for unexpected events and disasters — FCAC (disaster assistance and insurable losses); About OSFI — Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions; Home insurance — Autorité des marchés financiers (sewer backup); Home insurance — Autorité des marchés financiers (flooding); Home insurance — Autorité des marchés financiers (all-risk); Home insurance — Autorité des marchés financiers (shopping around); Dispute resolution — Insurance Bureau of Canada (Superintendent of Insurance step); How to file a home insurance claim — Insurance Bureau of Canada (proof of loss); How to file a home insurance claim — Insurance Bureau of Canada (claims service hours). In effect from October 11, 2026; checked October 11, 2026.
How to read this table: Each provincial or territorial regulator can confirm whether an insurer, agent or broker is licensed there.
| Topic | What the source says | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Which rules apply | Insurance companies, agents and brokers must follow the laws or rules of each province and territory where they do business. | Financial Consumer Agency of Canada |
| Agents and brokers | Agents and brokers must be licensed in the province or territory in which they do business; FCAC suggests confirming the licence before dealing with them. | Financial Consumer Agency of Canada |
| Why a licensed insurer matters | Dealing with an insurance company that holds a federal, provincial or territorial licence gives access to a complaint-handling process. | Financial Consumer Agency of Canada |
Source: Federal oversight bodies and regulators — Financial Consumer Agency of Canada (list of provincial and territorial insurance regulators); Federal oversight bodies and regulators — FCAC (Quebec regulator); How to file a complaint with your insurance company — FCAC (provincial and territorial rules); How to file a complaint with your insurance company — FCAC (FCAC's own role); How to file a complaint with your insurance company — FCAC (regulator review); Getting an insurance policy — FCAC (licensing of agents and brokers); Insurance for unexpected events and disasters — FCAC (earthquake deductible); Insurance for unexpected events and disasters — FCAC (flood); Insurance for unexpected events and disasters — FCAC (high-risk flood areas); Insurance for unexpected events and disasters — FCAC (disaster assistance and insurable losses); About OSFI — Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions; Home insurance — Autorité des marchés financiers (sewer backup); Home insurance — Autorité des marchés financiers (flooding); Home insurance — Autorité des marchés financiers (all-risk); Home insurance — Autorité des marchés financiers (shopping around); Dispute resolution — Insurance Bureau of Canada (Superintendent of Insurance step); How to file a home insurance claim — Insurance Bureau of Canada (proof of loss); How to file a home insurance claim — Insurance Bureau of Canada (claims service hours). In effect from October 11, 2026; checked October 11, 2026.
In practice this means three things for someone shopping across provinces. An insurer licensed in one province may not sell in the next one. An agent or broker has to hold a licence in the province where the home is. And the regulator to contact about conduct is the one for the province where the policy was sold. None of the official pages read for this guide describes how home insurance prices are set or approved, so this page makes no claim about price regulation; what the sources do say is that prices differ between insurers. The AMF puts it plainly for Quebec: premiums can vary from one insurer to another.
Whether insurance is legally required is also a provincial matter. IBC states that home insurance isn’t mandatory by law, though most lenders require it. TD Insurance says the same from the insurer’s side, it is normal for a mortgage lender to require insurance and to be named in the policy, and adds an exception in its own words: home insurance isn't mandatory in most of Canada the way car insurance is, with exceptions such as Quebec, where condo owners must by law carry at least third party liability insurance.
What Quebec’s regulator tells consumers
The AMF publishes its own consumer explanation of home insurance, and it lines up with the national definitions.
How to read this table: Paraphrased closely from the AMF's home insurance page; the quoted wording is in the source record.
| Topic | What the AMF says |
|---|---|
| Basic or all-risk | Basic home insurance covers the risks listed in the contract; all-risk (comprehensive) insurance covers all risks except those excluded. |
| Sewer backup | A leaky roof or basement and sewer backups are not covered unless additional protection was purchased. |
| Flooding | The consequences of flooding are generally excluded from insurance contracts, though some insurers may offer coverage for situations such as rising water, dam breaks or the overflow of a waterway. |
| Limited items | Coverage is limited for certain items, such as jewellery, collections and fine arts; endorsements or riders add protection. |
| Price | Premiums can vary from one insurer to another; discounts are often available for buying automobile and home insurance from the same insurer. |
Source: Federal oversight bodies and regulators — Financial Consumer Agency of Canada (list of provincial and territorial insurance regulators); Federal oversight bodies and regulators — FCAC (Quebec regulator); How to file a complaint with your insurance company — FCAC (provincial and territorial rules); How to file a complaint with your insurance company — FCAC (FCAC's own role); How to file a complaint with your insurance company — FCAC (regulator review); Getting an insurance policy — FCAC (licensing of agents and brokers); Insurance for unexpected events and disasters — FCAC (earthquake deductible); Insurance for unexpected events and disasters — FCAC (flood); Insurance for unexpected events and disasters — FCAC (high-risk flood areas); Insurance for unexpected events and disasters — FCAC (disaster assistance and insurable losses); About OSFI — Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions; Home insurance — Autorité des marchés financiers (sewer backup); Home insurance — Autorité des marchés financiers (flooding); Home insurance — Autorité des marchés financiers (all-risk); Home insurance — Autorité des marchés financiers (shopping around); Dispute resolution — Insurance Bureau of Canada (Superintendent of Insurance step); How to file a home insurance claim — Insurance Bureau of Canada (proof of loss); How to file a home insurance claim — Insurance Bureau of Canada (claims service hours). In effect from October 11, 2026; checked October 11, 2026.
Does home insurance in Canada cover floods and earthquakes?
Not by default: flood and earthquake cover are add-ons in every province. IBC’s definitions split the losses into one that a home policy includes and three that have to be bought on top.
- Included in most home policies: water that escapes suddenly from indoor plumbing, a heating, sprinkler or air conditioning system, an appliance or a water main.
- Added separately, overland water: flooding from heavy rain, spring melt or a river or lake that overflows. Not every property can buy it.
- Added separately, sewer backup: cleaning and replacing contents after a drain or sewer backs up or a sump pump fails.
- Added separately, earthquake: damage from the quake itself. A fire or explosion set off by earth movement is already covered by the home policy.
Availability and limits depend on the insurer and the address.
FCAC explains how the two catastrophe add-ons behave once bought, including how the earthquake deductible is calculated.
How to read this table: From FCAC's page on insurance for unexpected events and disasters.
| Topic | In a standard policy | How the add-on works | Limits to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| Earthquake | Home policies may not include coverage for most types of earthquake damage. | Sold as an endorsement, rider or extension. The deductible is usually a percentage of the coverage limit and may range from 5% to 20%. Premiums are usually higher than for other coverages. | May not cover a tsunami or tidal waves caused by an earthquake; loss of land value is not covered. |
| Flood (overland water) | Home policies usually don't cover water damage from a source outside the home, such as flooding. | Also called overland flood insurance, inland flood insurance or enhanced water damage coverage. The premium follows the flood risk of the area; the deductible is usually higher and may be a fixed dollar amount or a percentage of the claim. | In a very high-risk area, insurers may not offer the coverage at all. |
| Government disaster assistance | Not insurance: provincial and territorial programs may assist communities after a disaster. | Programs vary by province and territory and have limits, exclusions and eligibility restrictions. | Assistance may be refused if the disaster was insurable, for example where earthquake insurance was available but not bought. |
Source: Federal oversight bodies and regulators — Financial Consumer Agency of Canada (list of provincial and territorial insurance regulators); Federal oversight bodies and regulators — FCAC (Quebec regulator); How to file a complaint with your insurance company — FCAC (provincial and territorial rules); How to file a complaint with your insurance company — FCAC (FCAC's own role); How to file a complaint with your insurance company — FCAC (regulator review); Getting an insurance policy — FCAC (licensing of agents and brokers); Insurance for unexpected events and disasters — FCAC (earthquake deductible); Insurance for unexpected events and disasters — FCAC (flood); Insurance for unexpected events and disasters — FCAC (high-risk flood areas); Insurance for unexpected events and disasters — FCAC (disaster assistance and insurable losses); About OSFI — Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions; Home insurance — Autorité des marchés financiers (sewer backup); Home insurance — Autorité des marchés financiers (flooding); Home insurance — Autorité des marchés financiers (all-risk); Home insurance — Autorité des marchés financiers (shopping around); Dispute resolution — Insurance Bureau of Canada (Superintendent of Insurance step); How to file a home insurance claim — Insurance Bureau of Canada (proof of loss); How to file a home insurance claim — Insurance Bureau of Canada (claims service hours). In effect from October 11, 2026; checked October 11, 2026.
Geography drives both. Sonnet’s page says the coast of British Columbia and the St. Lawrence and Ottawa River valleys are prone to earthquakes, which takes in parts of British Columbia, Ontario and Quebec. Flood risk is set street by street: FCAC says insurers price flood coverage by the level of risk in the area and may decline to offer it in very high-risk areas. The last row of the table matters for anyone weighing whether to skip an add-on: FCAC notes that government disaster assistance may be refused where the loss was insurable.
Each insurer names its water coverage differently:
- TD Insurance: the Extended Water Damage Coverage add-on combines sewer backup and overland water coverage.
- Intact Insurance: an Enhanced Water Damage Package covering, depending on location, sewer backup, water and sewer lines, overland water and ground water.
- belairdirect: flood and sewer backup damage is covered only with the Enhanced Water Damage Package, and earthquake damage is covered only with the Earthquake damage assumption endorsement.
- Allstate Canada: Enhanced Water Damage Coverage for sewer backup, overland water, flood, surface water and rapid groundwater accumulation, depending on location, claims history and mitigation devices.
- Aviva Canada: basic water coverage in every house policy, with optional sewer backup and overland water coverage for homes that meet its requirements.
- Co-operators: basic water damage (such as a leaking pipe) in the base policy; sewer backup and flooding through additional comprehensive water protection.
- Sonnet: sewer backup, overland water and earthquake can be added during the quote, depending on location.
- RBC Insurance: sewer backup and overland water may require optional coverage.
- Desjardins Insurance: optional coverages for different types of water damage.
- Square One: not all areas are eligible for inland flood protection.
Hail is a regional example of the same pattern. Sonnet says hail coverage is automatically included in its home policies, except in Alberta, where it is optional.
Do home insurance discounts change from province to province?
Yes. The same insurer can sell a different package one province over. These are the provincial differences the insurers state on their own pages.
| Insurer | What changes by province (as stated) |
|---|---|
| Aviva Canada | insurance availability, eligibility and pricing vary by province |
| Desjardins Insurance | discounts may vary by province; the page shows a different version for each province selected |
| RBC Insurance | Home and auto bundle: home insurance savings that may range from 10% to 17% when home and auto are combined, varying by province or territory |
| RBC Insurance | the centrally monitored water alarm discount is not available in New Brunswick, Nova Scotia or Prince Edward Island |
| RBC Insurance | the home security system discount is not available in Ontario, Alberta or British Columbia |
| Sonnet | hail coverage is automatically included in its home policies, except in Alberta, where it is optional |
| TD Insurance | 10% off the first policy term when the home, condo or tenant purchase is completed online (outside Quebec); online purchase is not currently available in all provinces |
In sentences: RBC Insurance advertises home insurance savings that may range from 10% to 17% when home and auto are combined, varying by province or territory, but auto insurance is not available through RBC Insurance in Manitoba, Saskatchewan and British Columbia, because of government-run auto insurance plans, so the bundle cannot apply there. Its the centrally monitored water alarm discount is not available in New Brunswick, Nova Scotia or Prince Edward Island, and the home security system discount is not available in Ontario, Alberta or British Columbia. TD Insurance takes 10% off the first policy term when the home, condo or tenant purchase is completed online (outside Quebec). A discount seen in an advertisement or on a relative’s policy in another province may not exist for a home somewhere else, so the discount list on the actual quote is the one that counts.
Eleven insurers, one by one
Allstate Canada offers an online quote in less than 3 minutes or a meeting with local Allstate agents. It sells three Your Choice Home packages (Basic, Comprehensive and VIP) with optional add-ons, includes a disappearing deductible that gets lower each claim-free year, and has a claims team available 24/7.
Aviva Canada says it provides home insurance for over 860,000 homes across Canada. Its page lists an option that reduces the deductible every consecutive claims-free year, an option that keeps the claims-free discount after a first claim, a discount for combining home and auto insurance policies, and home-based business coverage that can be added to a homeowner's policy if it meets its requirements. It takes claims by phone with a claims care advisor, or submitted online.
belairdirect offers a quick online quote, then purchase online in a few clicks and says claims help 24/7. It lists home claim forgiveness: the price does not rise because of a first home claim.
Co-operators names a discount for holding multiple insurance products or bundling home and auto. Its page puts the deductible feature in dollars: any deductible over $1,000 drops by $100 for each claims-free year. It offers claims help 24/7.
Desjardins Insurance offers an online quote, and online purchase for those eligible, and takes claims online, in the Desjardins Insurance Home-Auto app or by phone 24/7. Its site opens on a default province, and the discounts shown change with the province selected.
Intact Insurance gives a quote online, by phone or through a broker. It says standard home insurance typically does not cover overland water flooding, and its claims team available 24/7.
RBC Insurance home policies are distributed by RBC Insurance Agency Ltd. and underwritten by Aviva General Insurance Company. It offers an online quote or an RBC Insurance advisor.
Sonnet says a home policy can be bought online instantly, and the quoted price is saved for 45 days if personal details, coverages and the start date stay the same. It offers 24/7 claims support, and says it has no cover for short-term rentals through home-sharing services such as Airbnb and Vrbo.
Square One offers quote, purchase and claim submission all online. It promises a response to emergency claims within 2 hours, and its home policies are underwritten by The Mutual Fire Insurance Company of British Columbia.
TD Insurance offers preferred rates for members of certain alumni and professional associations and employer groups, optional Claim Forgiveness coverage: the premium is not affected by a first claim, and a 3-year workmanship warranty on completed repairs when its vendor network is used.
Wawanesa Insurance describes itself as a Canadian mutual company, owned by its policyholders. It offers a customized plan through an insurance broker, and savings for covering home and vehicle with Wawanesa.
How do you compare home insurance quotes in Canada?
Compare quotes in two passes: first confirm the insurer sells in the province and make every quote identical on limits, deductible and add-ons; then compare what still differs. FCAC’s advice is to shop around, ask for quotes and compare prices before choosing an insurer.
- Who sells where. Insurers that list their provinces narrow the field quickly. For the rest, a postal code on the quote form or a call settles it.
- The buying channel. Direct online insurers quote one company. An agent quotes the company the agent represents. A broker can quote several insurers at once; Intact, Aviva and Wawanesa all point customers to brokers.
- Same rebuild value on every quote. IBC says the building amount should match the cost to rebuild, which can differ from the market value and the municipal tax assessment. Land is not insured.
- Same coverage level. Comprehensive against comprehensive, not comprehensive against named perils.
- Same deductible. A higher deductible lowers the premium and raises the cost of every claim.
- Water add-ons listed line by line. Sewer backup and overland water, with the limit on each.
- Earthquake, where the location makes it relevant, with its separate percentage deductible.
- Settlement basis and special limits. Replacement cost or actual cash value on contents, and the caps on jewellery, art and collections.
- Discounts that exist in the province. Bundling, group membership, claims-free history, a mortgage-free home and monitored alarms all appear on these insurers’ pages, but not in every province.
- How long the quote holds. Sonnet, for example, says the quoted price is saved for 45 days if personal details, coverages and the start date stay the same.
- Lender details and timing. The mortgage lender has to be named on the policy, and IBC suggests switching insurers at renewal to avoid a possible mid-term cancellation penalty.
Ontario’s regulator, FSRA, publishes a list of questions to put to an insurer before buying property insurance. It is written for Ontario and works as a checklist in any province; the full list sits in the guide to home insurance in Ontario.
A lower price is not always the same product. A worked example with hypothetical numbers: Quote A is $1,800 a year with a $1,000 deductible and no water add-ons. Quote B is $2,100 a year with the same deductible plus sewer backup and overland water coverage. The gap is $300 a year, and it buys coverage for the two water losses a standard policy leaves out.
Price gaps that survive a like-for-like comparison come from how each insurer weighs the same inputs. FCAC and IBC name them: the kind of dwelling (detached, semi-detached or condo); its construction, age, size, location and cost to replace; how much building and contents value is insured; how far the property sits from a hydrant or fire hall; crime and claims in the neighbourhood; the owner’s own claims record; the coverage level and add-ons chosen; the deductible; and the state of the wiring, plumbing, roof and any wood-burning appliance.
For buyers, the policy has to be in place for closing day. It sits alongside the other closing costs covered by the land transfer tax calculator and the mortgage affordability calculator. Home insurance is also a different product from mortgage default insurance, which protects the lender when the down payment is small; the CMHC insurance calculator covers that premium. A deductible is paid from savings, and the emergency fund calculator shows how many months of costs a cushion covers.
Claims and complaints: the route is the same in every province
IBC describes a home insurance claim in three steps.
How to read this table: From the Insurance Bureau of Canada's guide to filing a home insurance claim. The policy sets the actual deadlines.
| Step | What it involves |
|---|---|
| 1. Document everything | List all damaged, destroyed or stolen items, with photos, receipts and proofs of purchase; keep damaged items unless they are a hazard, and keep cleanup receipts. |
| 2. Contact the insurance representative | Report the loss with complete, accurate details as soon as possible. Most insurance companies have a 24-hour claims service. Ask about additional living expenses if the home is unfit to live in. |
| 3. File a proof of loss if requested | A signed and sworn form listing the damaged or lost property and its value; typically returned to the insurer within 30 days. |
Source: Federal oversight bodies and regulators — Financial Consumer Agency of Canada (list of provincial and territorial insurance regulators); Federal oversight bodies and regulators — FCAC (Quebec regulator); How to file a complaint with your insurance company — FCAC (provincial and territorial rules); How to file a complaint with your insurance company — FCAC (FCAC's own role); How to file a complaint with your insurance company — FCAC (regulator review); Getting an insurance policy — FCAC (licensing of agents and brokers); Insurance for unexpected events and disasters — FCAC (earthquake deductible); Insurance for unexpected events and disasters — FCAC (flood); Insurance for unexpected events and disasters — FCAC (high-risk flood areas); Insurance for unexpected events and disasters — FCAC (disaster assistance and insurable losses); About OSFI — Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions; Home insurance — Autorité des marchés financiers (sewer backup); Home insurance — Autorité des marchés financiers (flooding); Home insurance — Autorité des marchés financiers (all-risk); Home insurance — Autorité des marchés financiers (shopping around); Dispute resolution — Insurance Bureau of Canada (Superintendent of Insurance step); How to file a home insurance claim — Insurance Bureau of Canada (proof of loss); How to file a home insurance claim — Insurance Bureau of Canada (claims service hours). In effect from October 11, 2026; checked October 11, 2026.
Claims contact is one of the few service details insurers publish. Sonnet offers 24/7 claims support, Desjardins takes claims online, in the Desjardins Insurance Home-Auto app or by phone 24/7, Square One promises a response to emergency claims within 2 hours, and Allstate has a claims team available 24/7.
When a claim or a renewal goes wrong, FCAC sets out where to take a complaint.
How to read this table: FCAC does not resolve individual complaints; it explains the process.
| Step | What it is | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 1. The insurer's own complaint process | All insurance companies have an internal complaint-handling process, published on their websites. Ask for a letter stating the insurer's final decision. | Financial Consumer Agency of Canada |
| 2. General Insurance OmbudService (GIO) | The external organization for home, auto and business insurance complaints; the review is independent, free and impartial. FCAC directs Quebec residents to the Autorité des marchés financiers (AMF) instead. | Financial Consumer Agency of Canada |
| 3. The provincial or territorial insurance regulator | A complaint can be filed with the province or territory's insurance regulator for impartial review, at any point in the process. | Financial Consumer Agency of Canada; Insurance Bureau of Canada |
Source: Federal oversight bodies and regulators — Financial Consumer Agency of Canada (list of provincial and territorial insurance regulators); Federal oversight bodies and regulators — FCAC (Quebec regulator); How to file a complaint with your insurance company — FCAC (provincial and territorial rules); How to file a complaint with your insurance company — FCAC (FCAC's own role); How to file a complaint with your insurance company — FCAC (regulator review); Getting an insurance policy — FCAC (licensing of agents and brokers); Insurance for unexpected events and disasters — FCAC (earthquake deductible); Insurance for unexpected events and disasters — FCAC (flood); Insurance for unexpected events and disasters — FCAC (high-risk flood areas); Insurance for unexpected events and disasters — FCAC (disaster assistance and insurable losses); About OSFI — Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions; Home insurance — Autorité des marchés financiers (sewer backup); Home insurance — Autorité des marchés financiers (flooding); Home insurance — Autorité des marchés financiers (all-risk); Home insurance — Autorité des marchés financiers (shopping around); Dispute resolution — Insurance Bureau of Canada (Superintendent of Insurance step); How to file a home insurance claim — Insurance Bureau of Canada (proof of loss); How to file a home insurance claim — Insurance Bureau of Canada (claims service hours). In effect from October 11, 2026; checked October 11, 2026.
Common mistakes when shopping for home insurance across Canada
- Assuming a national brand sells everywhere. Sonnet, belairdirect and Square One each list a different set of provinces, and none lists all ten.
- Expecting a discount from another province. RBC Insurance’s own footnotes show discounts that stop at provincial borders.
- Planning a bundle where the insurer does not sell auto insurance. In provinces with government-run auto insurance, some insurers sell home insurance only.
- Assuming a flooded basement is covered. Overland water and sewer backup are optional add-ons, and insurers treat them as separate causes of loss.
- Counting on disaster assistance instead of an add-on. FCAC says assistance may be refused where the loss was insurable.
- Insuring the purchase price instead of the rebuild cost. IBC says not to include the market price of the underlying land.
- Comparing premiums only. Two quotes at different coverage levels or with different add-ons are different products.
How this list was put together
YieldMaple read each insurer’s own home insurance page on October 11, 2026 and recorded only the provinces, coverages, discounts and claims details stated there, with the exact wording saved for each fact. No insurer supplied information or paid to be listed, and there are no affiliate links on this page. The eleven insurers appear in alphabetical order. The list is not exhaustive: regional insurers, mutuals and many brokers also sell home insurance, and leaving one out is not a judgment about it. Where a page did not state provinces, this guide says so instead of guessing. Desjardins’ site opens on a default province, so only statements that describe the insurer generally were used from it. Discounts and coverages change, and a quote for a specific address is the only price that applies to that home. First-time buyers can also check the first-time home buyer rebates available on closing.