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Understanding home insurance in Canada
Home insurance helps protect your property and belongings in the event of theft, damage, or loss. It can also cover additional living expenses if you're temporarily unable to live in your home. Although home insurance isn’t mandatory in Canada (unless you have a mortgage), it’s strongly recommended. At Surex, our licensed insurance advisors will help you explore your options and find the right coverage at the best possible rate.
Home insurance in Canada – FAQs
There are three main types of home insurance coverage in Canada:
- Basic (Named Perils): Covers your home and belongings against only the specific risks listed in your policy. It’s the most affordable option but offers limited protection.
- Broad: Offers more protection than basic coverage. Your home is covered against all risks (except exclusions), while your contents are protected against specifically named risks.
- Comprehensive: The most complete (and typically most expensive) option, covering both your home and contents against nearly all risks, except for those specifically excluded in the policy
Yes! Many insurance providers offer a wide range of discounts to help lower the cost of your home insurance in Canada. Surex works with multiple providers to help you access the best possible savings.
Some of these discounts include:
- Bundle discount
- Credit discount
- Mortgage-free discount
- Alarm discount
- Loyalty discount
- Renewal discount
- Age discount
- Sewer back-up discount
- Claims-free discount
- New business discount
- Flex discount
- Smoke-free discount
- Occupation discount
- Household discount
- Gated community discount
- Multi-line discount
Start a free quote now to find the best home insurance rates in Canada.
Bundling your home and auto insurance can lead to lower premiums, added convenience, and fewer hassles at renewal time. With Surex, you also get the unique advantage of comparing quotes from Canada’s top insurers for each policy.
Your dedicated advisor can mix and match the best home and auto quotes, even if they come from different providers, to help you maximize savings without compromising coverage.
To get the best price on home insurance in Canada, it helps to be proactive and informed. Here are some smart strategies to help lower your premium:
- Shop around and compare quotes
- Raise your deductible if you’re financially comfortable doing so
- Bundle your home and auto insurance policies
- Keep up with home maintenance to prevent costly claims
- Improve your home security (alarms, cameras, etc.)
- Ask about available discounts
- Maintain a strong credit score
- Stick with the same insurer if they continue offering competitive rates
- Review and update your policy limits regularly
Surex makes it easy to compare 10+ personalized quotes from Canada’s top insurance providers, all in one place. Our licensed insurance advisors are here to guide you through the process every step of the way, helping you make confident, informed decisions about your insurance. Start your free quote today!
Several key factors can affect how much you pay for home insurance in Canada, including:
- The age and condition of your home
- The total square footage
- The number of people living in the home
- The replacement cost of the property
- Exterior materials (e.g., brick, siding)
- Interior features (e.g., plumbing, wiring, heating)
- Your home’s geographic location
- Distance from fire stations or hydrants
Each of these elements helps insurers assess the level of risk and calculate your home insurance premium.
Home insurance costs in Canada vary based on several factors, including your home’s construction, age, recent updates (like plumbing, heating, or roofing), risk of weather damage, and the property's claims history.
On average, Canadians can expect to pay between $600 and $1,500 per year for home insurance, although your rate may be higher or lower depending on your unique situation.
Since each insurer weighs risks differently, working with a licensed insurance advisor allows you to compare multiple quotes and find the best coverage at the most affordable price.
Speaking with a licensed insurance advisor can help ensure you’re properly protected in the event of a claim. Be honest and thorough when sharing details about your home. The more accurate the information, the better your coverage will be. After all, the only thing worse than not having insurance is paying for a policy that won’t cover you when you need to make a claim.
Home insurance rates are rising across Canada due to several nationwide trends:
1. Higher rebuilding costs: The price of building materials and labour has gone up significantly, increasing the cost of repairing or replacing homes after a claim.
2. More frequent and severe weather events: Floods, wildfires, and windstorms are happening more often and causing greater damage, leading to larger and more frequent insurance claims.
3. More complex and higher-value homes: Newer homes often include advanced systems and high-end finishes, which cost more to insure. Many Canadians also own more valuable contents than in the past, increasing overall coverage needs.
Home insurance is not legally required in Canada, but it’s mandatory if your home has a mortgage. Lenders require proof of insurance to protect their financial interest in the property.
If you own your home outright, insurance is optional. However, going without it can be risky. Home insurance protects more than just the structure; it also covers your belongings and provides liability coverage if someone is injured on your property. Without a policy, you would be responsible for these costs out of pocket.
Newer homes can sometimes be less expensive to insure, as they often come with updated plumbing, electrical, and roofing, which lowers the risk of damage or claims. There are also discounts available for newer homes, but that doesn’t always mean the insurance will be cheaper overall. Premiums depend on other factors like location, weather risks, and crime rates in the area.
Insurance premiums are also based on the cost to rebuild the home, including the materials used and where the home is located. For example, a small older home in a low-risk area may be less expensive to insure than a slightly larger new build with high-end finishes near a flood-prone region.
Yes, having a swimming pool can increase the cost of your home insurance. Most insurance providers recommend raising your liability coverage from $100,000 to at least $500,000 to protect against potential injury claims related to pool use. This added protection typically results in an increase to your annual premium, often in the range of $50 to $75.
Yes, swimming pools are generally covered under home insurance in Canada, but they can affect your premium. A pool increases the overall rebuild value of your home, which may raise your dwelling coverage amount. You may also need to increase your liability coverage to protect against legal or medical costs if someone is injured in or around your pool.
There’s no set average when it comes to home insurance costs in Canada, as premiums can vary widely from one homeowner to another. Factors like the location and value of your home, the materials used to build it, and your insurance history all play a role. Because of this, the best way to understand what you can expect to pay is to compare personalized quotes based on your specific needs.
Home insurance coverage in Canada depends on the type of policy you choose and any optional add-ons you include. Most policies cover damage to your home’s structure, personal belongings, and liability for injuries that occur on your property.
The two main types of coverage are broad and comprehensive policies, each offering different levels of protection. A Surex advisor can help you understand your options and choose the right coverage for your needs.
Recent customer reviews
Find out why Canadians trust Surex for their insurance needs.
Ashley Bushfield is a pleasure to work with. She is committed to keeping her word. You can rely on her to get the work done on time and all details covered.
Jason Storey is my broker and he is one of the best I’ve ever had (and I used to be one HA for 9 years). He set up a new policy for me in April. He was quick, effective, and got me the information I needed! He set up the policy within days.
I’ve had an accident and he’s been so helpful and understanding and supportive.
Had to transfer insurance from one vehicle to another and it was quick and easy. A few emails back and forth and done in no time.
My insurance advisor is always there when I need them.
Jessica always has the right advice and really listens to my needs.
Always a positive and supportive experience.
Communication was always there, just an awesome overall experience really. I would highly recommend this company to al my friends.......and have by the way. Cheers
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