Changes to Ontario Auto Accident Benefits
What You Need to Know
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Starting July 1, 2026, Ontario is making changes to auto insurance to give drivers more choice and flexibility. Drivers will be able to choose benefits to fit their needs. Medical, rehabilitation and attendant care benefits will remain mandatory to ensure everyone has access to essential recovery support. All other accident benefit coverages, such as income replacement, will become optional. Who is covered for these optional benefits under your policy will also change.
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What's Changing
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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.
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Already have Insurance with NBMI?
If you’re an existing customer of NBMI, 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.
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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.
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 Staying the Same?
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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.
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What's Becoming Optional?
Income replacement: Helps replace income you or another covered person may lose because of an auto accident.
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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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Death benefits: Compensates some family members if you or another covered person die due to an auto accident.
Funeral benefits: Helps cover some funeral costs if you or another covered person die due to an auto accident.
Supplementary medical, rehabilitation and attendant care benefits, dependant care benefits, and indexation will continue to be optional.
Who is Covered?
Starting July 1, 2026, newly optional benefits under your auto policy will only apply to:
• The named insured
• The spouse of the named insured
• Dependants of the named insured and of the named insured’s spouse
• Persons specified in the policy as drivers of the automobile
What Steps Should I Take?
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Before deciding to remove or add optional benefits, you should take the following steps:
• Review your current coverage (if you are an existing customer)
• Know what benefits you already have today through your auto insurance policy.
• Review your workplace or private benefits plan. You may already have coverage through your employer, private benefits plan, or life and health insurance providers.
• Think about your needs.
• Consider which coverage is right for you and whether opting out is practical.
• Speak to your insurer, agent or broker. They can help explain your options in relation to your auto insurance coverage.
Make informed decisions; choose the benefits that best fit your needs.
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Additional Resources
For more information about the Ontario auto insurance changes, please review the resources below. Printed copies are available upon request.
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Fact Sheet: A summary of the new Accident Benefits options available to drivers, including an overview of the coverage limits, optional benefit selections, and key considerations when choosing the protection that best fits your needs.
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Self-Assessment Checklist: Before making any decisions regarding optional Accident Benefits, complete this checklist to help evaluate your personal circumstances, existing coverage, and potential benefit needs.
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Helpful Links
To learn more about Ontario's automobile insurance framework and Accident Benefits coverage, visit:
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Statutory Accident Benefits Schedule (SABS): Review the legislation governing Accident Benefits coverage available under Ontario automobile insurance policies.
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Ontario Automobile Policy (OAP 1): Access the standard Ontario Automobile Policy document, which outlines coverages, limits, conditions, exclusions, and available optional benefits.
​Dislcaimer
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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, agent, or broker.