Jamie MacDonald
2026-05-07 14:59:32
★★★★★
Dylan Smith was a fantastic rep! Enjoyed our conversations and he was incredibly helpful and quick to get my policy replaced with a new one. Thank you.
What are accident benefits?
Accident benefits are an important part of Ontario car insurance. No driver wants to get injured in an accident, but accident benefits give you peace of mind that your coverage will help pay for healthcare and other expenses while you recover.
Accident benefits provide compensation if you are hurt or killed in an automobile accident, regardless of who is at fault. They cover the driver, dependents, and passengers for medical and rehabilitation needs, and for lost income if they cannot work because of the collision.
The FSRA describes accident benefits as the part of your auto insurance policy that provides benefits if you are injured in an accident, regardless of who caused it. These can include medical, rehabilitation, and attendant care benefits, with options to increase most coverages.
As of July 1, 2026, some accident benefits will become optional, allowing you to personalize your policy. Learn more about the 2026 Ontario auto insurance reform.
Accident benefits coverage: top takeaways
- Accident benefits provide financial compensation for medical and rehabilitation expenses if you or others are hurt or killed in an automobile accident.
- Accident benefits are included in all insurance policies. As of July 1, 2026, some are optional, so you can personalize your policy.
- Your accident benefits renew with your current coverage unless you choose to change them.
- Mandatory benefits include medical, rehabilitation, and attendant care. You have the option to add benefits and increase limits.
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What is covered by accident benefits?
Accident benefits provide no-fault compensation to drivers and passengers injured in an accident. The Statutory Accident Benefits Schedule (SABS) outlines what is covered, including the mandatory and optional limits for medical care, income replacement, death, funeral expenses, and loss of income.
As of July 1, 2026, here is what is mandatory and what is optional:
Mandatory accident benefits
- Medical coverage
- Rehabilitation
- Attendant care
Optional accident benefits
- Income replacement
- Non-earner benefits
- Caregiver benefits
- Lost education expenses
- Expenses of visitors
- Housekeeping and home maintenance
- Damage to personal items
- Death benefits
- Funeral benefits
Accident benefits limits in Ontario
All accident benefits have limits. Here is a summary of the standard limits and the optional increases you can add:
| Benefit | Type | Standard limit | Optional increase |
|---|---|---|---|
| Medical and rehabilitation (non-catastrophic) | Mandatory | $65,000 | $130,000 |
| Medical and rehabilitation (catastrophic) | Mandatory | $1 million | $2 million |
| Attendant care | Mandatory | $250/week, plus $50/week per dependent | Increase available |
| Income replacement | Optional | 70% of gross income, up to $400/week | Up to $1,000/week |
| Non-earner benefits | Optional | $185/week | Not applicable |
| Caregiver benefits | Optional | Varies by injury | Add coverage for all injuries |
| Death benefit (spouse) | Optional | $25,000 | $50,000 |
| Death benefit (per dependent) | Optional | $10,000 | $20,000 |
| Funeral expenses | Optional | $6,000 | $8,000 |
You can also add these optional benefits:
- Lost educational expenses: up to $15,000 for tuition, books, and related costs.
- Expenses of visitors: reasonable costs for family and friends to visit you during recovery.
- Housekeeping and home maintenance: up to $100 per week.
- Damage to belongings: compensation for clothing, glasses, and personal medical devices.
- Cost of examinations: compensation for examinations related to your treatment.
- Dependent care: up to $75 per week for the first dependent and $25 for each additional dependent.
- Indexation: an annual adjustment for inflation based on the Consumer Price Index of Canada.
Increasing your limits will increase your premium. Contact us to see how much.
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What are the new exclusions for accident benefits coverage?
As of July 1, 2026, certain individuals may no longer be covered for accident benefits. This includes pedestrians, cyclists, and certain passengers.
What are accident benefits for a passenger?
Most passengers involved in an auto accident are eligible for coverage. Regardless of the type of accident or who was at fault, you will almost always be covered. You will need to file a car insurance claim against the other driver.
How do you settle your accident benefits?
There will come a time after an accident when your insurer approaches you to settle your claim. In Ontario, you must wait one year before settling.
Your insurer will propose a fixed amount to settle and close your claim. Once you agree to a settlement, you cannot request additional compensation from your insurer.
How much you settle for can affect litigation for tort claims against an at-fault driver if you are pursuing legal action. Always assess your situation before settling. Speak with a lawyer or your insurance broker about your options. You need to understand your options and how much you are entitled to before making any settlement decision.
What does first payor mean for accident benefits?
Your car insurance provider is now the first to pay for medical and rehabilitation expenses resulting from an accident (medication is not included). This allows individuals to save their workplace benefit plans for other life events.
Accident benefits regulations in other provinces
Accident benefits are included in the minimum requirements in all provinces except Newfoundland and Labrador. The limits for medical payments, income replacement, death benefits, funeral costs, and the ability to sue vary from province to province.
Why choose ThinkInsure for your auto coverage?
We've served the Ontario insurance market for over 50 years.
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Accident benefits FAQs
The License Appeal Tribunal (LAT) is an independent agency that oversees statutory accident benefits disputes under SABS. If you have a dispute over a settlement with your insurer, it will be resolved by LAT.
Income replacement is included in basic policies as an option. It can be added to all accident benefits plans, and you can increase your limits to qualify for up to $1,000 per week. Learn more about endorsements.
Yes. They are part of mandatory automobile coverage. However, as of July 1, 2026, you have the option to remove certain benefits from your policy to reduce your premium. Speak with your insurer before making any changes.
Yes. Most of these claims eventually get settled. You must wait one year before you can settle.
Yes. You will need to fill out a form (OCF-1) as part of the application. You must submit this paperwork as part of the process with your insurer.
5 star auto insurance reviews
KCAP KCAP
2026-05-07 14:46:38
★★★★★
Big shout out to Darryl for helping me out and turning a sour experience to a splendid one Shubham left me in the wind for a couple days even after I had a his team member reach out to him and left a voicemail . Called back the next day and Darrly handle everything on the spot so thank you Darryl
Zhiqing Xu
2026-04-30 20:06:56
★★★★★
Had a great experience with Sohel Rahman. The whole process is easy and clear without any unnecessary back and forth. Got the insurance exactly as I wanted in 1 day. Highly recommended!
Chris Arsenault
2026-04-21 20:09:51
★★★★★
Great experience with Todd Allen at ThinkInsure. Very professional and helpful. Thanks Todd!
Russell Turner
2026-04-21 14:26:53
★★★★★
Gabe was great and looked after my issue
Sandy Kerr
2026-04-19 13:47:28
★★★★★
I would like to recognize our Broker, Jeff Plesman to thank him for always providing us with outstanding and professional customer service. Thank you so much Jeff, we appreciate you. ;-)
Tony Sturino
2026-04-17 20:37:33
★★★★★
Gabe, as usual takes care of my demanding insurance issues, very professional, I like the way he calls to update me on any new features Thanks again
Anna Kacina
2026-04-16 15:29:05
★★★★★
Excellent service, great price
Talk to an advisor about accident benefits
With some accident benefits becoming optional in 2026, choosing the right coverage matters more than ever. Our RIBO licensed advisors can help you decide what to keep, what to add, and what limits make sense, and find you the best rate.
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Call us if you have questions about which benefits to keep, your limits, or the 2026 changes. We often can get you insured the same day.
Get expert savings advice
Accident benefits are mostly mandatory, but as of July 1, 2026 you can adjust some. The standard medical limit of $65,000 can run out fast after a serious injury, so increasing it to $130,000 and raising income replacement is worth considering. Do not remove benefits to save money without understanding what you give up.
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Sources
The information on this page is for general guidance about accident benefits coverage in Ontario. Accident benefits are governed by the Statutory Accident Benefits Schedule (SABS), and the limits, mandatory benefits, and optional benefits are changing as of July 1, 2026. The figures here are provided as a reference and vary by policy. For regulatory details on Ontario auto insurance, see the Financial Services Regulatory Authority of Ontario (FSRA). Speak with a ThinkInsure RIBO licensed advisor to confirm what applies to your policy.
Nolan Wilson
Content Marketing Manager
Nolan is a content marketing manager and writer at ThinkInsure. He has 15+ years of experience in the insurance industry, working with brokerages and direct insurers to create compelling insurance content, specializing in auto, home, and commercial.
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