What Is OPCF 27 Rental Car Coverage?
OPCF 27 is an Ontario auto insurance endorsement that may extend certain coverage to vehicles you do not own, such as eligible rental or borrowed vehicles, when an insured person drives, rents, or leases another automobile.
This page is educational only. OPCF 27 coverage depends on your policy wording, insured perils, deductibles, limits, territory, who is driving, vehicle type, rental terms, insurer rules, and claim facts.
What OPCF 27 is used for
OPCF 27 may provide coverage for damage to a non-owned automobile, such as an eligible rental or borrowed vehicle, when that vehicle is in the care, custody, or control of an insured person.
Rental vehicles
OPCF 27 is commonly reviewed before renting a vehicle because it may provide coverage for damage to a vehicle you do not own, subject to the endorsement wording, territory, deductible, limits, and insured perils.
Borrowed vehicles
OPCF 27 may also matter when you borrow a vehicle you do not own. The exact answer depends on who owns the vehicle, who is driving, how often it is used, and whether the endorsement conditions are met.
Legal liability for damage
The endorsement is about liability for loss or damage to a non-owned automobile and its equipment while it is in the care, custody, or control of an insured person.
OPCF 27 is not automatic on every Ontario auto policy. You need to check whether it is listed on your Certificate of Automobile Insurance and whether a premium, deductible, and limit are shown.
Who is covered under OPCF 27?
Do not assume every driver is covered. The operator must qualify as an insured person under the OPCF 27 endorsement.
Personal auto policies
If the auto policy is in the name of an individual or individuals, OPCF 27 generally defines an insured person as you, your spouse, and all drivers listed in the policy.
Business or entity policies
If the policy is in the name of a corporation, partnership, sole proprietorship, unincorporated association, or other entity, the insured persons may be the people named on the OPCF 27 form and their spouses.
Listed driver matters
On a personal policy, being a listed driver can matter. On a business or entity policy, being specifically named on the endorsement may matter.
Safer wording: the operator must be an insured person under OPCF 27. Do not simply say “any driver” or “any named insured” without checking the policy.
How OPCF 27 works
OPCF 27 does not create unlimited rental car coverage. It extends coverage based on the insured perils, deductible, premium, and limit shown on the policy or endorsement.
Insured perils
OPCF 27 responds to loss or damage that results from a peril for which you are insured and for which a premium is shown. This means your physical damage coverage choices matter.
Deductible
A deductible may apply to each OPCF 27 claim, except as stated in your policy. The deductible should be reviewed before you rely on the endorsement.
Per-occurrence limit
OPCF 27 has a maximum amount payable for any one occurrence. The exact amount should be shown on the endorsement or certificate.
Owner or lessee consent
The non-owned automobile must be used with the owner’s or lessee’s consent. Do not assume coverage applies if the vehicle is used without permission.
Broker wording: OPCF 27 follows the policy and endorsement conditions. It is not a blanket promise that every rental or borrowed vehicle claim will be covered.
Where OPCF 27 may apply
Territory, vehicle type, vehicle weight, rental period, and vehicle use matter. Before renting a vehicle, confirm whether OPCF 27 applies.
Canada and the United States
OPCF 27 is generally reviewed for eligible non-owned vehicles in Canada and the United States. If you are renting outside Canada or the U.S., you should arrange separate coverage.
Personal passenger vehicles
OPCF 27 is generally intended for eligible non-owned automobiles, such as ordinary personal passenger rental vehicles. It is not “rent anything, anywhere, for any purpose” coverage.
Limits and restrictions
Vehicle weight, commercial use, rental period, deductible, insured perils, and who is driving can all affect whether the endorsement responds.
Before renting a moving truck, U-Haul-style vehicle, cargo van, cube van, commercial vehicle, luxury vehicle, long-term rental, or vehicle outside Canada or the United States, ask first.
Hot Tip: OPCF 27 Is Not for Every Rental Vehicle
OPCF 27 can be useful for many personal rental car situations, but customers should not assume it covers every rental vehicle, every vehicle type, every use, or every country.
U-Haul-style and moving rentals
Do not assume OPCF 27 covers a U-Haul, moving truck, cube van, cargo van, trailer, or commercial-style rental. Many of these vehicles may fall outside the coverage because of vehicle type, weight, use, rental agreement terms, or other policy limitations.
Personal passenger vehicles only
The safest way to think about OPCF 27 is that it is generally reviewed for eligible personal passenger rental vehicles in Canada or the United States. It is not coverage for commercial rentals, moving rentals, business use, deliveries, or carrying paying passengers.
Not worldwide coverage
OPCF 27 does not cover you everywhere in the world. If you rent a vehicle outside Canada or the United States, you should arrange separate coverage before you drive.
Reliable broker recommendation: if you are renting a U-Haul-style vehicle, moving truck, commercial vehicle, cargo van, cube van, trailer, or renting outside Canada or the United States, we generally recommend buying the rental company’s protection or arranging separate coverage instead of relying on OPCF 27.
OPCF 27 vs. rental company collision damage waiver
When renting a vehicle, customers often ask whether they should buy the rental company’s collision damage waiver or rely on OPCF 27.
Rental company waiver
A collision damage waiver or loss damage waiver is purchased from the rental company. It may transfer responsibility for certain damage costs from you to the rental company, but it can include exclusions and conditions.
OPCF 27
OPCF 27 is part of your Ontario auto insurance policy. It may cover damage to eligible non-owned vehicles, subject to the endorsement wording, limits, deductible, territory, insured perils, and who is driving.
Credit card coverage
Some credit cards may provide rental vehicle damage coverage, but conditions vary. You may need to pay for the full rental with that card and decline the rental company’s waiver.
There is no universal answer. The best option depends on your policy, credit card terms, rental agreement, destination, vehicle type, deductible, and comfort with risk.
Can you add OPCF 27 with one-way coverage?
This is one of the most important OPCF 27 questions. The endorsement depends on insured perils, which means liability-only coverage can create a problem.
If you have physical damage coverage
If your policy includes eligible physical damage coverage such as collision, comprehensive, specified perils, or all perils, OPCF 27 may be available depending on the insurer and policy.
If you have liability-only coverage
If you choose true one-way or liability-only coverage and do not insure physical damage perils, OPCF 27 may be unavailable or may not respond the way customers expect.
Ask before removing coverage
Before switching to one-way coverage, ask whether OPCF 27 will be removed, unavailable, or limited under your insurer’s rules.
Broker wording: if you remove the physical damage coverage that OPCF 27 relies on, do not assume rental or borrowed vehicle damage coverage can stay on the policy.
OPCF 27 vs. OPCF 20: do not confuse them
OPCF 20 and OPCF 27 both involve temporary vehicles in some way, but they solve different problems.
OPCF 27
OPCF 27 may help with liability for damage to eligible vehicles you do not own, such as certain rental or borrowed vehicles, when an insured person drives, rents, or leases another automobile.
OPCF 20
OPCF 20 is transportation replacement or loss of use coverage. It may help pay for replacement transportation after your insured vehicle is damaged by a covered loss.
Simple difference
OPCF 27 is about damage to a vehicle you do not own. OPCF 20 is about how you get around while your own insured vehicle is being repaired or replaced after a covered claim.
Many customers benefit from reviewing both endorsements, but they are not interchangeable.
Examples where OPCF 27 may matter
You rent a personal passenger car for a weekend trip
If your policy includes OPCF 27, the endorsement may help with eligible damage to the rental vehicle, subject to the endorsement wording, limits, deductible, insured perils, and territory.
You borrow a vehicle
If you borrow a vehicle you do not own, OPCF 27 may be relevant. However, ownership, regular use, permission, vehicle type, and who is driving can all affect coverage.
You decline the rental company waiver
OPCF 27 may be one alternative to buying a rental company’s daily damage waiver, but you should confirm the endorsement applies before declining any offered protection.
What OPCF 27 may not cover
OPCF 27 has conditions and limitations. These are some situations that should be reviewed before relying on the endorsement.
Moving trucks, U-Haul-style rentals, and commercial rentals
Do not rely on OPCF 27 for moving trucks, U-Haul-style rentals, cube vans, cargo vans, trailers, or commercial-style rentals without checking first. These rentals may fall outside the coverage.
Vehicles owned or regularly used by your household
OPCF 27 is intended for non-owned automobiles. Vehicles owned by or frequently used by insured persons or people living in the same dwelling can create coverage issues.
Employer-owned or employer-leased vehicles
Vehicles owned or leased by an employer may be excluded or require different coverage. Business use should always be reviewed before relying on OPCF 27.
Commercial deliveries or paying passengers
Using a non-owned vehicle to carry paying passengers or make commercial deliveries can create coverage issues and should be discussed before the vehicle is used.
Rentals outside Canada or the United States
OPCF 27 does not follow you worldwide. If you are renting in Mexico, Europe, the Caribbean, or anywhere else outside Canada or the United States, arrange coverage separately.
Long-term or unusual rentals
Long-term rentals, specialty vehicles, luxury vehicles, off-road vehicles, trailers, and unusual rental agreements should be reviewed before you rely on your policy.
OPCF 27 is not “drive anything, anywhere, for any purpose” coverage. When in doubt, buy the rental company’s protection or arrange separate coverage.
Questions to ask before relying on OPCF 27
OPCF 27 should be reviewed before you rent or borrow a vehicle, not after a claim.
Do I actually have OPCF 27?
Look for OPCF 27 on your Certificate of Automobile Insurance or ask your broker. Do not assume it is automatically included.
Who is covered to drive?
Ask whether the person renting or borrowing the vehicle is an insured person under the endorsement.
What limit and deductible apply?
OPCF 27 has a maximum amount payable and may have a deductible. These should be confirmed before relying on the endorsement.
What type of vehicle am I renting?
Ask whether the vehicle is an ordinary personal passenger vehicle or whether it is a moving truck, U-Haul-style vehicle, cube van, cargo van, trailer, commercial vehicle, luxury vehicle, or specialty rental.
Where am I driving?
OPCF 27 is generally discussed for Canada and the United States. If you are driving outside those territories, arrange separate coverage.
Should I buy the rental company’s waiver?
The answer depends on your OPCF 27, credit card benefits, rental contract, destination, vehicle type, deductible, and comfort with risk. For moving trucks, commercial rentals, U-Haul-style rentals, or rentals outside Canada and the U.S., we generally recommend buying the rental company’s protection.
If the rental company asks for proof of coverage, your policy documents or confirmation showing OPCF 27 may be required. Ask your broker before the rental date.
Rental car accidents can still affect your record
OPCF 27 may help with damage to a non-owned vehicle, but it does not automatically protect your driving record from the effect of an at-fault accident.
Coverage and fault are separate
One question is whether damage is covered. A separate question is whether the accident is treated as at fault for insurance purposes.
Damage payment does not erase the accident
Even if damage to the rental vehicle is handled by a waiver, credit card, or OPCF 27, an at-fault accident may still affect your insurance record.
Ask before you rent
Before declining rental company coverage, ask how your own policy, OPCF 27, credit card coverage, and driving record may be affected.
The cheapest choice at the rental counter is not always the clearest choice. Confirm your coverage before you sign.
Continue learning about Ontario auto insurance
OPCF 20: Loss of Use
Learn how transportation replacement coverage may help pay for a rental vehicle, taxi, or public transportation after a covered claim involving your own vehicle.
Collision vs. Comprehensive
Compare the difference between collision and comprehensive coverage for damage to your own vehicle.
Liability & One-Way Coverage
Learn how liability-only or one-way coverage may affect physical damage coverage and OPCF options.
OPCF 27 FAQs
What is OPCF 27?
OPCF 27 is an Ontario auto insurance endorsement for liability for damage to non-owned automobiles and other coverages when insured persons drive, rent, or lease other automobiles.
Is OPCF 27 the same as rental car insurance?
It is often called the rental vehicle insurance endorsement, but it is part of your Ontario auto policy. It may be an alternative to rental company damage waiver coverage, subject to policy wording, deductible, limits, territory, vehicle type, and who is driving.
Who is covered under OPCF 27?
The operator must be an insured person under the endorsement. On a personal policy, this generally means you, your spouse, and all listed drivers. On a business or entity policy, the people may need to be named on the form.
Does OPCF 27 cover U-Haul trucks, moving vans, or commercial rentals?
Do not assume it does. OPCF 27 has vehicle weight, use, territory, and policy limitations. It is generally reviewed for eligible personal passenger rental vehicles in Canada or the United States, not for every U-Haul-style rental, moving truck, cube van, cargo van, trailer, commercial vehicle, or rental outside Canada and the U.S. For those situations, we generally recommend buying the rental company’s protection or arranging separate coverage.
Does OPCF 27 work outside Canada and the United States?
No. OPCF 27 is only valid for non-owned vehicles in Canada and the United States. If you are driving elsewhere, arrange separate coverage before you drive.
Does OPCF 27 have a deductible?
Yes, a deductible may apply. The deductible and insured perils should be reviewed on your Certificate of Automobile Insurance or endorsement.
Can I keep OPCF 27 with one-way coverage?
You should ask your broker before switching to one-way coverage. OPCF 27 depends on insured perils and premiums shown on the policy. If eligible physical damage coverage is removed, OPCF 27 may be unavailable or limited.
Does OPCF 27 cover every vehicle I borrow?
No. Ownership, regular use, employer-owned vehicles, business use, vehicle weight, territory, consent, and other conditions can affect whether the endorsement applies.
Is OPCF 27 the same as OPCF 20?
No. OPCF 27 is about damage to eligible vehicles you do not own. OPCF 20 is transportation replacement coverage after covered loss or damage to your own insured vehicle.
