Home and Auto Bundle
Sutherland Insurance is a fifth-generation independent brokerage in Guelph, Ontario that places home and auto insurance together across the province. Most Ontario insurers file a multi-line discount that applies to both policies when they are placed with the same insurer. Sutherland Insurance compares more than 10 personal-lines carriers on every quote request.
Key takeaways
- Auto insurance is required on every vehicle that is registered and operated on public roadways in Ontario under the Compulsory Automobile Insurance Act; home insurance is not required by provincial law.
- A bundle is two separate contracts placed with one insurer, so the multi-line discount changes the premium and not the coverage on either policy.
- Every Ontario insurer files its multi-line discount with the Financial Services Regulatory Authority of Ontario, so the size of the discount is set by the insurer.
- Sutherland Insurance compares more than 10 personal-lines carriers on both the property and the auto side.
- Who it is for
- Ontario households holding both a property policy and an auto policy
- Legally required in Ontario
- Auto yes, under the Compulsory Automobile Insurance Act; property no
- What bundling changes
- The premium on both policies, through the insurer's filed multi-line discount
- What bundling does not change
- The wording, limits, deductibles or coverage on either policy
- Condition for the discount
- Both policies placed with the same insurer or an affiliated company
- Personal-lines markets compared
- 10+ Canadian carriers
What is a home and auto insurance bundle?
A home and auto bundle is two separate insurance contracts (one on the property, one on the vehicle) placed with the same insurer so the insurer's filed multi-line discount applies to both. Each policy keeps its own wording, limits, deductibles and renewal terms. Bundling changes what a household pays, not what either policy covers.
Every Ontario insurer files its rates, including its multi-line discount, with the Financial Services Regulatory Authority of Ontario. The discount is part of that filing rather than something negotiated at the counter. Because each insurer files a different structure, the combination producing the lowest total premium differs from one household to the next.
What can an Ontario home and auto insurance policy cover?
What a policy can cover
- Under the property policy: the dwelling, detached private structures, contents, additional living expenses and personal liability
- Under the Ontario auto policy: third-party liability, statutory accident benefits, direct compensation property damage and uninsured automobile coverage
- Optional auto coverages including collision, comprehensive, specified perils, and accident benefits above the statutory minimum
- Optional property endorsements including sewer backup, overland water, equipment breakdown and scheduled high-value items
- A multi-line discount applied by the insurer to both policies where they are placed together
Commonly excluded under standard Ontario home and auto insurance wordings
- Both policies: intentional or criminal acts, such as arson and deliberate property damage
- Both policies: wear, tear or mechanical breakdown, because insurance is meant to protect against sudden and accidental incidents
- Auto only: undisclosed use of the vehicle, such as business use or ridesharing
- Auto only: unlisted or excluded drivers
- Property only: mould or mildew resulting from ongoing moisture
- Property only: damage caused by pests or vermin, such as rodents, insects and birds
Exclusions vary by insurer and by policy form; the issued policy governs.
How much does home and auto insurance cost in Ontario?
The factors that move the combined cost of an Ontario home and auto placement, and why insurers look at each one.
| Rating factor | Why |
|---|---|
| Both policies placed with one insurer | Most Ontario insurers file a multi-line discount applying to both. |
| Driving record and at-fault claims history | Driving record is the largest single auto rating factor in Ontario. |
| Reconstruction cost of the dwelling | The dwelling limit sets the insurer's exposure on a total property loss. |
| Postal code and rating territory | Ontario auto and property territories are rated separately and can pull in opposite directions. |
| Deductibles selected on each policy | Higher deductibles transfer more of each loss to the policyholder. |
| Vehicle make, model and year | Repair cost, theft frequency and safety data are all filed rating inputs. |
| Age of the roof, wiring, plumbing and heating | Older systems carry higher fire and water claim frequencies. |
| Years of continuous insurance on both policies | Most Ontario insurers file a continuous-coverage factor. |
Should I bundle home and auto insurance?
Bundling home and auto insurance can provide meaningful savings, convenience, and simplified policy management. However, it is not automatically the most economical or appropriate choice for every household.
The best approach is to compare:
- The total cost of bundling with one insurer.
- The total cost of placing home and auto insurance separately.
- The coverage differences and underwriting requirements associated with each option.
At Sutherland Insurance it is our role to review both bundled and separate solutions to determine which arrangement delivers the best overall value, coverage, and long-term fit for your specific situation.
When does it make sense to bundle home and auto insurance with one insurance company?
Bundling home and auto insurance with one insurance company fits some household circumstances more readily than others. The circumstances set out below are the ones in which it most commonly makes sense.
When the same insurer is competitive for both home and auto
The biggest savings typically occur when an insurer offers strong rates for both your property and vehicles at the same time.
- First-time homebuyers who already insure one or more vehicles.
- Homeowners renewing both policies around the same time.
- Couples combining households and consolidating insurance coverage.
When convenience is important
Many clients appreciate having:
- One insurance company
- One renewal date
- One billing arrangement
- One claims contact
Bundling often works well for clients with
- Standard homes
- Good driving records
- Limited claims history
- Common property characteristics that most insurers are willing to insure
When life changes trigger a full insurance review
Major life events are an excellent time to evaluate bundling opportunities:
- Purchasing a first home
- Buying an additional vehicle
- Marriage or moving in together
- Adding a newly licensed driver
- Renewing a mortgage
- Switching employers and increasing commuting distance
How do I bundle home and auto insurance with Sutherland Insurance?
A quote is requested online or by calling 519-822-0160. A licensed Sutherland Insurance broker gathers the property details, the vehicles and the driving records, and then prices the household as a bundle and as two separate placements across the available Ontario markets.
- Request a quote online, or call Sutherland Insurance at 519-822-0160.
- A licensed broker confirms the property details and the vehicle, driver and claims information for the household.
- Sutherland Insurance prices the household across the more than 10 personal-lines carriers it holds contracts with.
- The broker presents the bundled total alongside the strongest separate placements, with limits and deductibles set out.
- Sutherland Insurance binds both policies, aligns the renewal dates, and issues proof of insurance for lenders and the Ministry of Transportation.
What situations make it difficult to bundle home and auto insurance?
While bundling works well in many circumstances, there are situations where placing home and auto insurance with separate insurers may provide better coverage options, pricing, or underwriting flexibility.
When the home has unique underwriting challenges
Some homes have characteristics that limit insurer availability.
- Knob-and-tube wiring
- Aluminum wiring without updates
- Oil-heated homes
- Older plumbing systems
- Vacant or seasonal properties
- Century homes
- High-value or custom-built homes
When auto and property risk profiles differ significantly
- Excellent property history but poor driving history
- Multiple auto claims but no home claims
- Property losses but clean driving records
When a specialty auto market is needed
Certain vehicle situations may require a specialized insurer:
- High-performance vehicles
- Collector vehicles
- Convictions or licence suspensions
- Multiple at-fault accidents
- Commercial-use vehicles
- High-value luxury vehicles
When a specialty home market is needed
Similarly, some properties require niche home insurance solutions:
- Rural properties
- Hobby farms
- Rental properties
- Seasonal cottages
- High-value homes
- Homes with prior significant claims
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
How much do you save bundling home and auto insurance in Ontario?
Most Ontario insurers file a multi-line discount that applies to both the property and the auto policy when they are placed together. The size of that discount is set in each insurer's rate filing with the Financial Services Regulatory Authority of Ontario, so it differs by insurer and by profile. Sutherland Insurance compares more than 10 personal-lines carriers on both policies.
Does bundling always lower the total premium in Ontario?
No. Bundling applies one insurer's filed multi-line discount to both policies, and that same insurer's base rates for the property and the vehicle still apply. Where a different insurer prices one of the two policies well below the bundling insurer, two separate placements can produce a lower total. Sutherland Insurance prices both structures.
Do both policies have to be with the same insurer to bundle?
Yes. An Ontario multi-line discount is applied by a single insurer across the policies it holds for one household, so both the property policy and the auto policy sit with that insurer or an affiliated company in the same group. Placing them with unrelated insurers means neither policy receives the discount.
Can I bundle a tenant or condo policy with auto insurance in Ontario?
Yes. Ontario insurers apply the multi-line discount to tenant and condominium policies as well as homeowner policies, provided the property policy and the auto policy sit with the same insurer. The discount structure filed for each property type differs. Sutherland Insurance places tenant, condo and homeowner policies alongside auto across more than 10 personal-lines carriers.
Does bundling change what my home or auto policy covers?
No. A bundle is two separate contracts placed with one insurer, and each keeps its own wording, limits, deductibles and renewal date. The multi-line discount changes the premium on both. Coverage changes only when a coverage or endorsement is added or removed, and the issued policy governs in each case.
What happens to the discount if one policy is cancelled?
The multi-line discount applies on the condition that both policies remain with the insurer. Cancelling or moving one of them removes the discount from the other once the insurer processes the change, and the remaining policy is re-rated without it. The timing of that re-rating varies by insurer and by wording.
How many insurers does Sutherland Insurance compare for a bundle?
Sutherland Insurance compares more than 10 personal-lines carriers on both the property and the auto side. It is an independent brokerage licensed by the Registered Insurance Brokers of Ontario and is not tied to any single insurer. Sutherland Insurance has brokered insurance in Guelph, Ontario since 1870.
Get your home and auto insurance quote
A licensed Sutherland Insurance broker compares the available markets on every quote request.
Get your home and auto insurance quote Call 519-822-0160
A real person answers, Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.