More choice, more control: Ontario’s auto insurance reforms put you in the driver’s seat
Starting July 1, 2026, Ontario is making auto insurance more flexible.
As your trusted partner, Zurich wants to ensure you are well-informed about important changes to auto insurance in Ontario. Starting July 1, 2026, the province is introducing reforms to give you more options and control over your coverage – helping you choose insurance that best meets your needs and budget.
Some accident benefits will become optional
Some accident benefits that were mandatory will now be optional. This change will give you the opportunity to adjust your coverage depending on your needs.
Medical, rehabilitation, and attendant care benefits remain mandatory
Medical, rehabilitation and attendant care benefits will continue to be mandatory. These benefits cover medical expenses, therapy, and personal care assistance for injuries from an accident including doctor visits, physiotherapy, and help with daily activities like bathing and dressing.
The following auto insurance accident benefits will become optional:
- Income replacement: Helps replace income you lose because of an accident.
- Non-earner: If you're a student or unemployed and an accident keeps you from leading a normal life, this provides financial support while you recover.
- Caregiver benefits: Covers caregiving expenses if you or another covered person is injured and can no longer provide care for a household member such as a child or aging parent who needs it.
- Lost educational expenses: If a car accident keeps you from attending school or an education program, this benefit helps cover the costs you’ve lost.
- Expenses of visitors: Covers reasonable and necessary expenses of visitors if you or another covered person is injured in an accident.
- Housekeeping and home maintenance: Helps cover costs if you or another covered person is unable to perform the housekeeping and home maintenance tasks normally done before the accident.
- Damage to personal items: Covers the cost to repair or replace personal items (e.g., clothing, prescription eyewear, hearing aids, etc.) that were damaged in an accident.
- Death benefits: Compensates some family members if you or another covered person dies due to an accident.
- Funeral benefits: Helps cover some funeral costs.
Who is covered?
Although your current policy will renew with the same coverage and limits if you choose to make no changes, who is covered under your policy for these nine newly optional accident benefits will change on July 1, 2026, regardless of renewal effective date.
Optional accident benefits will only apply to:
- The named insured
- The spouse of the named insured
- Dependants of the named insured and of the named insured’s spouse
- Persons specified in the policy as drivers of the automobile
Review your optional accident benefits and contact your broker if you need to change your current coverages.
At Zurich, we are committed to helping you understand these options and make the most informed choices for your unique situation. If you have any questions or wish to discuss your benefits in detail, please do not hesitate to contact your broker.