Official Ontario Automobile Policy (OAP 1)
For official policy wording, you can review the Ontario Automobile Policy (OAP 1) from FSRA. This document outlines the standard owner’s automobile policy used in Ontario, including terms, conditions, benefits, and limitations.
You can view the current FSRA page here: Ontario Automobile Policy (OAP 1) .
FSRA documents and links can change over time. If the link changes, visit fsrao.ca and search for “OAP 1”.
Mandatory & Optional Auto Insurance Coverage in Ontario (2026 Update)
Auto insurance in Ontario is changing. As of July 1, 2026, drivers will have more control over their coverage — but also more responsibility to choose the right protection.
Third-Party Liability
This coverage protects you if you are responsible for injuring someone or damaging their property in an accident. It can help cover legal fees, settlements, and claims made against you.
✔ Recommendation: Most drivers should carry at least $2,000,000 in liability coverage to better protect against serious claims and lawsuits.
Accident Benefits (Medical, Rehab, Attendant Care)
The standard benefit pays up to $65,000 for medical, rehabilitation and attendant care expenses, typically within a 5-year period. If injuries are deemed catastrophic, the standard benefit increases to up to $1,000,000.
Optional coverage is available to increase these limits, including up to $130,000 for non-catastrophic injuries or up to $1,000,000 for all injuries.
Additional Catastrophic Impairment Coverage
This optional benefit provides an additional $1,000,000 of coverage if you or other insured persons are catastrophically impaired in a collision.
This amount is added on top of the standard or increased medical, rehabilitation and attendant care benefits already selected.
Income Replacement Benefits
This optional benefit may compensate you and other insured persons for lost income, up to the selected limit per week, if you are unable to work due to injuries sustained in an automobile accident. All income replacement benefits are based on 70% of your gross weekly income
Our general recommendation is to consider including this coverage, as workplace disability coverage, group benefits, and other income replacement benefits may change, be reduced, or no longer be available over time.
Caregiver Benefits
Catastrophic Only: This optional benefit compensates you and other persons if you or they suffer an injury deemed catastrophic under the regulation and cannot continue as the main caregiver for a member of the household who is in need of care.
Impairment: This optional benefit compensates you and other persons if you or they suffer an injury and cannot continue as the main caregiver for a member of the household who is in need of care.
We generally recommend maintaining this coverage, and we strongly recommend considering it for insureds who are the primary caregiver for a child, dependant, or other household member who relies on their care.
Housekeeping & Home Maintenance
Catastrophic Only: This optional benefit compensates you and other persons if you or they suffer an injury deemed catastrophic under the regulation and suffer a substantial inability to perform housekeeping and home maintenance services.
Impairment: This optional benefit compensates you and other persons if you or they suffer an injury and suffer a substantial inability to perform housekeeping and home maintenance services.
We generally recommend maintaining this coverage, particularly for insureds who are primarily responsible for household tasks, home upkeep, or maintenance that may be difficult to replace following an injury.
Death Benefit
This optional benefit is paid to the surviving spouse and dependant of a person who is killed.
We generally recommend maintaining this coverage and strongly recommend considering the higher limits available, as this coverage is often relatively inexpensive and may provide valuable additional protection for insureds and their families.
Funeral Benefit
This optional benefit covers the costs of funeral expenses up to the selected limit.
We generally recommend maintaining this coverage and strongly recommend considering the higher limits available, as this coverage is often relatively inexpensive and may help reduce out-of-pocket expenses for insureds and their families.
Non-Earner Benefits
This optional benefit compensates you and other persons, up to the selected limit per week, if you or they are completely unable to carry on a normal life.
We strongly recommend maintaining this coverage for all policyholders, as it may provide important protection where an insured person does not qualify for Income Replacement or Caregiver Benefits.
Dependant Care Benefits
This optional benefit provides weekly dependant care expenses, for employed persons not receiving a weekly caregiver benefit.
We generally recommend maintaining this coverage and strongly recommend considering it for insureds with children, dependants, or other household members who rely on their care now or may rely on their care in the future.
Lost Education Expenses
This benefit may provide compensation if you or other insured persons are enrolled in and unable to continue a program of elementary, secondary, post-secondary or continuing education as a result of an accident.
We generally recommend maintaining this coverage and strongly recommend considering it for insureds who are currently enrolled in an educational program or who may pursue elementary, secondary, post-secondary, or continuing education in the future.
Visitor Expenses
This benefit may provide compensation for reasonable and necessary expenses incurred by visitors if you and other insured persons sustain an impairment as a result of an accident.
We generally recommend maintaining this coverage.
Damage to Personal Items
This benefit may provide compensation if you and other insured persons sustain damage to clothing, prescription eyewear, dentures, hearing aids, prostheses and other medical or dental devices that were lost or damaged as a result of the accident.
We generally recommend maintaining this coverage, as it is often relatively inexpensive and may provide useful additional protection for damaged personal items.
Indexation Benefit
This optional coverage will ensure that certain weekly benefit payments and monetary limits will be adjusted on an annual basis to reflect changes in the cost of living.
Tort Deductible Buydown (OPCF 48)
This endorsement will provide a buy down on the deductible currently imposed by the Insurance Act on any settlements you should be awarded for pain and suffering following an automobile accident.
Direct Compensation (DCPD)
This required coverage may provide compensation for damage to your vehicle and certain related losses if another driver is at fault and the accident occurs in circumstances where Direct Compensation Property Damage applies.
Collision Coverage
This optional coverage may provide compensation for damage to your vehicle if it is involved in a collision with another vehicle or object, subject to the terms, conditions, limits, and deductible under the policy.
Comprehensive Coverage
This optional coverage may provide compensation for damage to your vehicle caused by certain events other than collision, such as theft, vandalism, fire, or certain weather-related losses, subject to the terms, conditions, limits, and deductible under the policy.
***Disclaimer: Information provided is for general educational purposes only and does not constitute insurance advice. Coverage, limits, and availability may vary by insurer and policy, and the coverages listed here are not exhaustive and may not reflect all available options. Always review your policy documents and consult a licensed insurance professional for advice specific to your situation.
Be Careful Before Reducing Your Auto Insurance Coverage
With the new Ontario auto insurance changes, some important coverages are no longer automatically included in your policy. While lowering coverage may reduce your premium, it can also leave you financially exposed when you need protection the most.
Reduced Coverage = Increased Risk
Benefits like income replacement, caregiver support, and medical coverage may now be optional. Without them, a serious accident could leave you paying out-of-pocket for lost income or care.
Policies May Look Cheaper — But Offer Less
Some quotes may exclude key protections to lower the price. It’s important to understand exactly what is included and what has been removed before making a decision.
Not All Drivers Have the Same Needs
Your coverage should reflect your lifestyle, income, and risk level. What works for one driver may leave another underinsured.
Before choosing a policy, make sure you clearly understand what coverages are included, what’s optional, and what you may be giving up.
***Disclaimer: Information provided is for general educational purposes only and does not constitute insurance advice. Coverage, limits, and availability may vary by insurer and policy, and the coverages listed here are not exhaustive and may not reflect all available options. Always review your policy documents and consult a licensed insurance professional for advice specific to your situation.
Continue Learning About Auto Insurance
Optional accident benefits are only one part of an Ontario auto insurance policy. You can continue learning through our Auto Insurance Learning Hub to better understand liability limits, physical damage coverage, deductibles, OPCFs, and other important policy choices.
Auto Insurance Learning Hub
Start here for our full auto insurance education section, including coverage guides, OPCF explanations, physical damage coverage, and policy basics.
Liability & One-Way Coverage
Learn what liability coverage does, what one-way coverage means, and why many customers review higher liability limits before choosing a policy.
Collision vs. Comprehensive
Compare the difference between collision and comprehensive coverage, including hit-and-run claims, theft, fire, hail, glass, and vehicle damage examples.