01 · Income
Income replacement
Helps replace income you or another covered person may lose because of an auto accident.
A self-employed contractor sidelined for three months by a back injury.
Starting July 1, 2026, Ontario is making auto insurance more flexible. Some accident benefits that were always included in your policy become optional — putting you in the driver's seat.
Often called SABs, these are the benefits built into every Ontario auto policy that provide financial support if you're injured in a car accident — no matter who caused it.
SABs are different from liability coverage. Liability handles damage and injury you cause to other people. SABs handle you and the people in your car — your medical treatment, your rehabilitation, your income while you can't work, and other costs that flow from a serious crash.
Until now, every Ontario auto policy carried the same package of SABs at the same minimum levels. Starting July 1, 2026, that package splits into two parts: a smaller set of mandatory benefits everyone keeps, and a longer list of optional benefits you can add, remove, or right-size to your life.
Two columns. Same policy. The left side is what every Ontario driver will still automatically carry. The right side is what becomes a choice.
These benefits stay built into every Ontario auto policy. They cover medical expenses, therapy, and personal-care assistance for injuries from a crash — doctor visits, physiotherapy, help with daily activities like bathing and dressing.
Everything else moves to the optional shelf. Keep what you need. Skip what you're already covered for through work, a private plan, or life insurance. Premiums adjust accordingly.
Each of these used to be included in every policy. Now they're a line-item decision. Here's what each one actually does.
Helps replace income you or another covered person may lose because of an auto accident.
If you or another covered person is a student or unemployed and an auto accident keeps you from leading a normal life, this benefit provides financial support while you recover.
Helps cover caregiving expenses if you or another covered person is injured and can no longer provide care for a household member — such as a child or aging parent — who needs it.
If an auto accident keeps you or another covered person from attending school or an education program, this benefit helps cover costs you've already paid.
Helps cover reasonable and necessary expenses of visitors — a sibling or parents, for example — if you or another covered person is injured in an auto accident.
Helps cover costs if you or another covered person is unable to perform the housekeeping and home-maintenance tasks you normally did before the accident.
Helps cover the cost to repair or replace personal items — clothing, prescription eyewear, hearing aids, and similar — damaged in an auto accident.
Compensates some family members if you or another covered person dies as a result of an auto accident.
Helps cover some funeral costs if you or another covered person dies as a result of an auto accident.
These three have been optional all along. They're still on the menu — and worth a fresh look as you rebuild your coverage.
Increases the standard limits — useful for catastrophic injuries where the basic mandatory amounts may not be enough.
Helps cover reasonable and necessary additional expenses associated with caring for dependants such as a child, spouse or aging parent.
Adjusts certain weekly benefit payments and monetary limits annually to reflect changes in the cost of living.
This is the change most drivers miss. Starting July 1, 2026, the newly optional benefits only apply to a defined group of people on the policy.
Where your policy carries one of the optional benefits, the coverage extends to:
People outside that defined group — including casual passengers, pedestrians and cyclists who may have been covered in the past — will no longer be eligible for the newly optional benefits.
Standard mandatory benefits (medical, rehab, attendant care) still apply to everyone, including uninsured pedestrians and cyclists.
How the reform lands depends on where you are in the renewal cycle. Three short answers for three common situations.
Your policy renews automatically with your current coverage and limits, unless you agree with your insurer in writing to decline benefits or make changes. But who is covered for the newly optional benefits changes on July 1, 2026, regardless of your renewal date.
Buying or renewing a policy on or after July 1, 2026? You can pick which optional accident benefits to include up-front. Ask which benefits are in your quote, and add the ones that match your needs.
The change applies to personal, commercial, motorcycle, snowmobile and ATV policies. If you employ drivers, the optional-benefits decision ripples into your duty-of-care and benefits stack.
Before you decide to remove or add optional benefits, walk through these in order. You'll end up with coverage that fits — not duplicates.
Know what your auto policy already gives you today — limits, named drivers, existing optional add-ons.
You may already have coverage through your employer, a private benefits plan, or life and health insurance. Avoid paying twice.
Self-employed? Caregiver to a parent? Sole earner? The right answer for your neighbour isn't the right answer for you.
Bring your benefits booklet, your current declarations page, and a list of who else drives your cars.
Any add or remove must be agreed with your insurer in writing. Only the coverage in place at the time of an accident applies to that claim.
Real questions Ontario drivers have asked us about the July 1, 2026 reforms — with plain answers.
Starting July 1, 2026, Ontario is making changes to give drivers more choice and flexibility. Medical, rehabilitation and attendant-care benefits remain mandatory so everyone has access to essential recovery support. All other accident benefits — including income replacement — become optional. Who is covered for those optional benefits under your policy also changes.
Standard medical, rehabilitation and attendant care stay mandatory and continue to be included in every policy. The benefits that become optional are:
Supplementary medical/rehab/attendant care, dependant care, and indexation continue to be optional just like before.
Many Ontarians already pay for similar benefits through their employer or a private plan. The reforms end the one-size-fits-all approach — you no longer have to pay for benefits you already have somewhere else. You can also add optional benefits to give yourself and your family extra protection that fits your life.
If you choose to remove benefits that have become optional, it may reduce your premium. The exact impact depends on the benefit, your insurer, and your risk profile. We'll run the comparison with you before you decide.
Yes — the change applies to all Ontario auto insurance policies: personal private-passenger, commercial, motorcycle, snowmobile and all-terrain vehicle policies.
Yes. On renewal, all accident benefits except medical, rehabilitation and attendant care become optional. Your policy renews automatically with the same coverage and limits — unless you agree with your insurer in writing to make changes. But who is covered for the newly optional benefits changes on July 1, 2026 regardless of your renewal date.
Yes. You can agree with your insurer in writing to decline or change those benefits. Before you do, review your policy, audit your work and private benefits, and talk through your situation with a broker who can compare options across carriers.
You can change optional benefits at any time — but only the coverage in place at the time of an accident applies to that claim. If your life changes (new job, new baby, new caregiving role), update your policy promptly so the cover reflects today's reality.
You'll choose which optional accident benefits to include when you buy. Ask which benefits are in your quote, then add the ones that match your needs. We'll walk the menu with you so nothing important slips through.
Speak to Amit — we'll request the change with your insurer in writing and confirm the updated declarations page in your file.
As of July 1, 2026, optional accident benefits apply only to the named insured, their spouse, dependants of the named insured and their spouse, and listed drivers. Passengers outside that group will not be covered for the optional benefits unless they fall into one of those categories under a policy that includes the optional benefit. Standard mandatory accident benefits still apply to all passengers.
Standard mandatory accident benefits still apply to uninsured pedestrians and cyclists. Optional accident benefits will only apply if they fall within the covered group under an auto policy that includes that optional benefit.
You may be covered for certain accident benefits when you're renting. Always review the rental contract and your auto policy together — and ask us if you're not sure.
Nothing changes for an existing claim. The coverage you had at the time of the accident is the coverage that applies to that claim — full stop.
Starting July 1, 2026, auto insurance pays first for medical or rehabilitation benefits (other than medication costs) for any injury sustained in an auto accident. Your auto carrier covers those costs before your workplace or private plan, which helps you preserve those private benefits for other life events.
Send a quote request or book a 15-minute review. We'll compare your current SABs against the new menu, line by line, and remove what you don't need without leaving you exposed.