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| What are Statutory Accident Benefits? |
| Statutory Accident Benefits (SABs) can provide financial support if you are injured in an auto accident. These benefits can be available regardless of who caused the accident and can cover things like medical treatment, rehabilitation and income if you can’t work because of your injuries. |
| What’s changing? |
| Starting July 1, 2026, Ontario drivers will have more choice and control over their coverage. While certain essential benefits will remain mandatory, many others will be optional and can be selected or removed when purchasing or renewing your policy.
If you’re an existing customer, your policy will renew with the same coverage and limits, unless you agree with your insurer in writing to decline the benefits or make changes to them. However, who is covered under your policy for newly optional benefits will change on July 1, 2026, regardless of renewal effective date. Before making changes, check if your personal or work benefits already provide similar coverage.
Customers who are purchasing or renewing a policy on or after July 1, 2026, can choose which optional accident benefits they would like to purchase. |
| Essential accident benefits coverage remains. |
| Standard medical, rehabilitation and attendant care benefits will continue to be included in all auto insurance policies. These benefits are available regardless of who caused the accident. They 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. |
| Optional benefits you can now choose to add. |
The following auto insurance accident benefits will become optional. You can choose to remove or add these to your policy, for yourself or other covered persons, depending on your needs.
| Optional benefit |
What it covers |
Coverage limits |
| Income replacement |
Helps replace income you or another covered person may lose because of an auto accident. |
Insurers to populate with coverage limits |
| Non-earner |
If you or another covered person is a student or unemployed and an auto accident keeps you from leading a normal life, this benefit can provide financial support while you recover. |
Insurers to populate with coverage limits |
| Caregiver benefits |
Helps cover caregiving expenses if you or another covered person is injured in an auto accident and can no longer provide care for a household member, such as a child or aging parent, who needs it. |
Insurers to populate with coverage limits |
| Lost educational expenses |
If an auto accident keeps you or another covered person from attending school or an education program, this benefit can help cover the costs you have lost. |
Insurers to populate with coverage limits |
| Expenses of visitors |
Helps cover reasonable and necessary expenses of visitors, such as a sibling or parents, if you or another covered person is injured in an auto accident. |
Insurers to populate with coverage limits |
| 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 an auto accident. |
Insurers to populate with coverage limits |
| Damage to personal items |
Helps cover the cost to repair or replace personal items (e.g., clothing, prescription eyewear, hearing aids, etc.) damaged in an auto accident. |
Insurers to populate with coverage limits |
| Death benefits |
Compensates some family members if you or another covered person die due to an auto accident. |
Insurers to populate with coverage limits |
| Funeral benefits |
Helps cover some funeral costs if you or another covered person die due to an auto accident. |
Insurers to populate with coverage limits |
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| Benefits that will remain optional. |
You can still choose to add the following benefits to your policy:
| Optional benefit |
What it covers |
Coverage limits |
| Supplementary medical, rehabilitation and attendant care benefits |
Helps cover expenses for medical benefits beyond the standard limits. |
Insurers to populate with coverage limits |
| Dependant care benefits |
Helps cover reasonable and necessary additional expenses associated with caring for dependants such as a child, spouse, or aging parent. |
Insurers to populate with coverage limits |
| Indexation benefits |
Helps to ensure certain weekly benefit payments and monetary limits are adjusted annually to reflect changes in the cost of living. |
Insurers to populate with coverage limits |
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| Who is covered? |
| Although existing policies will renew with the same coverage and limits, who is covered under policies for newly optional accident benefits will change on July 1, 2026, regardless of renewal effective date.
Optional accident benefits under your auto policy will only cover the following individuals:
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The named insured.
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The spouse of the named insured.
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Dependants of the named insured and of the named insured’s spouse.
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Persons specified in the policy as drivers of the automobile.
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| What steps should I take? |
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What steps should I take? Review your current coverage to understand what benefits you have today in your auto insurance policy.
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Review coverage you may already have through your workplace, private benefits plan, or life and health insurance providers.
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Think about your needs. Consider which coverage is right for you.
- Speak to your insurer or broker to learn more about your options.
Make informed decisions; choose the benefits that best fit your needs and budget. |
| Need more information or assistance? |
| Call us at 1-800-917-SAVE (7283), or 905-764-7868. |
| Disclaimer |
| The descriptions of the statutory accident benefits in this document is a summary of the statutory accident benefits in Ontario Regulation 34/10 (the “SABS”). Do not rely on this summary alone. For full details, refer to the SABS or speak with your insurer or broker. |
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