Auto Insurance
Sutherland Insurance is a fifth-generation independent brokerage in Guelph, Ontario that has placed Ontario auto insurance since 1870. Sutherland Insurance compares quotes across more than 10 personal-lines carriers and makes an in-house claims representative available to every client who has a claim.
Key takeaways
- Ontario law requires every registered vehicle to carry at least $200,000 in third-party liability coverage under the Compulsory Automobile Insurance Act; higher limits, including $1 million and $2 million, are available.
- Since July 1st, 2026, nine accident-benefit categories are optional in Ontario; medical, rehabilitation and attendant care remain mandatory at $65,000 non-catastrophic and $1,000,000 catastrophic.
- Collision and comprehensive are optional coverages on an Ontario auto policy.
- Sutherland Insurance compares more than 10 personal-lines carriers on every quote request.
- Who it is for
- Ontario drivers who own or lease a vehicle
- Legally required in Ontario
- Yes, Compulsory Automobile Insurance Act
- Statutory minimum third-party liability
- $200,000; higher limits available
- Optional coverages available
- Collision, comprehensive, and accident benefits above the statutory minimum
- Personal-lines markets compared
- 10+ Canadian carriers
- Claims support
- In-house claims representative available to every client on a claim
What is auto insurance?
Auto insurance is a contract between a vehicle owner and a licensed insurer that pays for specified losses arising from owning and driving that vehicle. In Ontario, an auto policy is issued on a standard form regulated by the Financial Services Regulatory Authority of Ontario, and it combines mandatory coverages set by provincial law with optional coverages the owner can select.
The mandatory coverages on an Ontario auto policy are set by the Financial Services Regulatory Authority of Ontario and the Compulsory Automobile Insurance Act. Every Ontario auto policy is issued on the same standard form, which is why the coverages carry the same names from one insurer to the next even though the pricing differs.
What can an Ontario auto insurance policy cover?
What a policy can cover
- Third-party liability for injury or property damage caused to others
- Statutory accident benefits for medical, rehabilitation and attendant care costs after an accident, regardless of fault
- Direct compensation property damage for damage to the insured vehicle when another Ontario driver is at fault
- Uninsured automobile coverage for injury or damage caused by an uninsured or unidentified driver
- Collision coverage for damage to the insured vehicle from an impact with another vehicle or object, optional in Ontario
- Comprehensive coverage for theft, fire, vandalism, falling objects and collision with an animal, optional in Ontario
- Optional endorsements can be added, such as accident protection, rental coverage and minor conviction protection
Commonly excluded under standard Ontario auto insurance wordings
- Wear, tear and mechanical breakdown of the vehicle
- Damage sustained while the vehicle is used to carry passengers for compensation, unless the policy is endorsed for it
- Loss occurring while the vehicle is driven by a person excluded by name on the policy
- Damage arising from a criminal act by the insured, including driving while impaired
- Contents left in the vehicle, which are normally addressed under a home, condo or tenant policy
- Racing or any speed contest on a track or public road
Exclusions vary by insurer and by policy form; the issued policy governs.
How much does auto insurance cost in Ontario?
The factors that move an Ontario auto insurance premium, in approximate order of influence, and why insurers look at each one.
| Rating factor | Why |
|---|---|
| Driving record: at-fault accidents and convictions | At-fault claims and convictions are the strongest predictor insurers use for future claims cost. |
| Years licensed | Ontario insurers rate on continuous licensing history; a longer record lowers assessed risk. |
| Postal code / rating territory | Territories carry different claim frequencies for collision, theft and injury claims. |
| Vehicle make, model and year | Repair cost, theft rate and injury-claim history are measured per vehicle model in Canadian loss data. |
| Annual kilometres and commute distance | Exposure to the road correlates directly with claim frequency. |
| Coverage limits selected | The coverage limits selected may impact your premium, as they may increase the insurer’s maximum exposure. |
| Deductible selected | A higher deductible transfers more of each loss to the policyholder. |
| Bundling home and auto with one insurer | Most Ontario insurers file a multi-line discount. |
| Telematics / usage-based programs | Participating insurers file a discount tied to measured driving behaviour. |
Do I need auto insurance in Ontario?
Ontario law requires auto insurance on every registered vehicle. Under the Compulsory Automobile Insurance Act, a vehicle driven on an Ontario road must carry third-party liability, statutory accident benefits, direct compensation property damage and uninsured automobile coverage. Driving without valid insurance in Ontario carries fines and licence suspension.
Which optional coverages apply to a given policy depends on circumstances that vary by driver:
- Whether the vehicle is financed or leased, as lenders and lessors set their own coverage requirements.
- Whether the vehicle is used for business, ridesharing or delivery, which standard policies address differently.
- Whether other drivers in the household will operate the vehicle.
- The vehicle's replacement cost relative to the deductible under consideration.
- Whether the driver already carries liability limits elsewhere, such as an umbrella policy.
- Which accident benefits the driver elects following the July 1st, 2026 Ontario reform.
What situations does Ontario auto insurance commonly address?
Ontario auto policies are arranged for a wide range of circumstances, and the coverage selected differs in each. The situations below are common among Sutherland Insurance clients across Ontario, and each one changes which options are available on the policy.
- A Guelph household adding a newly licensed G2 driver to an existing policy.
- A commuter driving the Highway 6 and Highway 401 corridor to Kitchener or the GTA each weekday.
- An owner of a financed vehicle whose lender requires collision and comprehensive coverage.
- A driver insuring a classic or restored vehicle, where agreed-value rather than actual-cash-value settlement applies.
- A household bundling home and auto insurance with a single insurer.
- A driver considering a telematics program that rates on measured driving behaviour.
How do I get auto insurance from Sutherland Insurance?
A quote is requested online or by calling 519-822-0160. A licensed Sutherland Insurance broker reviews the request, and compares the available Ontario markets. Coverage is bound once the client confirms, and Sutherland Insurance issues proof of insurance directly.
- Request a quote online, or call Sutherland Insurance at 519-822-0160.
- A licensed broker confirms the vehicle, drivers, licensing history and coverage options under consideration.
- Sutherland Insurance compares the more than 10 personal-lines carriers it holds contracts with.
- The broker presents the available options, and the client selects the policy and limits.
- The broker binds coverage and issues the pink slip and policy documents.
What changed for Ontario drivers on July 1st, 2026?
Ontario's auto insurance reform took effect on July 1st, 2026. Nine accident-benefit categories became optional, including income replacement, caregiver, housekeeping, and death and funeral benefits. Medical, rehabilitation and attendant care remain mandatory at $65,000 non-catastrophic and $1,000,000 catastrophic. The change applies at each policy's renewal, not immediately.
Because the reform takes effect at renewal rather than on a single date for every driver, each Ontario auto policy reaches the decision point at a different time. Sutherland Insurance reviews the renewal package for each client before that decision falls due.
How long has Sutherland Insurance insured drivers in Guelph?
Sutherland Insurance has brokered insurance in Guelph, Ontario since 1870. It is a member of the Canadian Broker Network and holds a RIBO licence. The brokerage has 59 employees and remains owned by the same Guelph family.
What makes Sutherland Insurance different from a direct insurer?
When a claim happens, Sutherland Insurance acts for the client with the insurer, and an in-house claims representative is available on any claim. Sutherland Insurance is an independent brokerage and compares 10+ Canadian insurers rather than selling one company’s product. A person answers the phone at Sutherland Insurance, 519-822-0160, Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Frequently asked questions
Does auto insurance cover hitting a deer in Ontario?
Yes, where the policy includes comprehensive coverage. In Ontario, hitting a deer or other wildlife falls under comprehensive rather than collision, so the claim is not rated as an at-fault accident. Comprehensive is an optional coverage on an Ontario auto policy; whether a given policy carries it varies, and the issued policy governs.
Am I covered if someone else drives my car in Ontario?
In Ontario, auto insurance follows the vehicle, so a licensed driver with the owner's permission is generally covered under the owner's policy. A driver who lives in the household and drives the vehicle regularly is normally listed on the policy. Coverage terms vary by insurer, and the issued policy governs.
Do I have to add my G1 driver to my insurance in Ontario?
An Ontario G1 driver must be accompanied by a fully licensed driver, and insurers differ on whether a G1 holder is listed on the policy at that stage. Most Ontario insurers require the driver to be added once they reach G2. Sutherland Insurance confirms each insurer's rule before the licence changes.
Will an at-fault accident increase my premium in Ontario?
An at-fault accident in Ontario is recorded on the driving record and is a rating factor at renewal for most insurers. The size of the effect varies by insurer, by the driver's history and by whether the policy carries accident forgiveness. Sutherland Insurance reviews the available markets at renewal after a claim.
What is direct compensation property damage in Ontario?
Direct compensation property damage, or DCPD, is the mandatory Ontario coverage that pays for damage to an insured vehicle when another driver is at fault. The claim is settled by the vehicle owner's own insurer rather than the at-fault driver's. DCPD applies where the accident occurs in Ontario and both vehicles are insured.
How many insurers does Sutherland Insurance compare for auto insurance?
Sutherland Insurance compares more than 10 personal-lines carriers for Ontario auto insurance. It is an independent brokerage licensed by the Registered Insurance Brokers of Ontario and is not tied to any single insurer. A licensed broker reviews the available markets.
What happens to my accident benefits at renewal after the 2026 reform?
At each Ontario policy's first renewal after July 1st, 2026, the optional accident-benefit categories are presented as elections. Medical, rehabilitation and attendant care continue automatically at the statutory levels. The election applies from that renewal date forward, and Sutherland Insurance reviews the package with each client beforehand.
Get your auto insurance quote
A licensed Sutherland Insurance broker compares the available markets on every quote request.
Get your auto insurance quote Call 519-822-0160
A real person answers, Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.