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Coverage

Exceptions to home and auto insurance coverage in Canada, explained

Understanding insurance exceptions before you need to make a claim.

The lives you lead at home and on the road are rarely simple. So, it’s no wonder the insurance you buy to help protect them can sometimes be confusing. That’s why it’s a good idea to talk with an insurance agent before purchasing either. Both may contain exceptions you weren’t aware of.

You insure for unexpected events versus predictable ones — an important difference.

While there are a lot of reasons why we need home insurance, auto insurance is equally important as well. In short, insurance might pay for repairs or replacement when something unforeseen happens.

For example, say an old roof hasn’t been maintained for years and is missing shingles. If the melt from a heavy snowfall leaks into the attic causing damage to walls and ceilings, it may not be covered for water damage. That’s because the damage was foreseeable. Likewise, if your car tire blows and it seemed to be balding, the insurance may not cover the replacement or repairs, because it was predictable.

Car parked in driveway

Let’s look at the specifics, starting with home insurance.

Home insurance exceptions in Canada

Home insurance generally provides coverage for theft, but valuables may not be covered adequately. If you have expensive jewelry, costly collectibles, or artwork, look closely at your policy. You may need extra coverage or even a different insurance product.

Damage from earthquakes is likely excluded, too. Depending on where you live, it’s an extra you should ask about when shopping for insurance.

Auto insurance exceptions in Canada

Auto insurance exists to provide coverage for responsible drivers against unexpected events. So, it does not cover dangerous driving or criminal behaviour, such as damage sustained from street racing or stunt driving.

The same goes for intentional collisions. (There’s no coverage for road rage.) Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol — aka DUI — is another violation and will likely not be covered.

Depending on what you drive and where you live, you may want to consider comprehensive insurance protection against theft. If you park in a spot not visible from the street, say in a garage, you’ll probably pay less. Any valuables you keep in the car that go missing — say, your stereo, navigation system, wallet, or jacket — are probably not covered. However, they could be covered under your property insurance. As we said, examine the specific details with a PC insurance advisor.

Some of us have a side hustle these days. Ridesharing and deliveries are great ways to pay off loans. But such extra driving also means extra wear and tear on your vehicle. Remember, your insurance doesn’t cover mechanical breakdowns or those 12,000km/12-month routine maintenance visits to your dealer. Plus, you may need different insurance to cover that drive-sharing side hustle. A PC insurance advisor can assist you and inform you of the options available to you.

Bundle PC® Insurance Home & Auto Insurance and you can save up to $890†.

Don’t forget. PC® Insurance rewards you for your business. Pay premiums with your PC Financial® Mastercard®, and you’ll earn 20 PC Optimum™ points for every dollar spent. Learn more here. Plus, when you buy both your home and auto insurance from us, you can save up to $890† on insurance.

Try it out. Get a bundled quote today.

General information not about PC® Insurance home and auto coverage is provided for your reference and interest only. The above content is intended only to provide a summary and general overview on matters of interest and is not a substitute for and should not be construed as the advice of an experienced professional. PC® Insurance does not guarantee the currency, accuracy, applicability or completeness of this content.

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Important Information on Products, Discounts, and Services by PC Financial Insurance Agency Inc.

Not everyone who uses online platforms or calls in will be able to get a quote or buy an insurance policy. This page provides, for information purposes only, a summary of our different insurance products and discounts that may be available to you. If you purchase a product, the terms and conditions of your insurance coverage will be outlined in your insurance policy, which will prevail. Certain conditions, limitations, and exclusions apply. Savings are not guaranteed and vary based on your profile, place of residence, and, where applicable, year, make and model of your vehicles. Rates, discounts, and eligibility rules are subject to change without notice. Please speak to a PC® Insurance advisor to learn more.

*All purchases with the PC Financial® Mastercard® earn a minimum of 10 PC Optimum™ points per dollar and all purchases with the PC Money™ Account earn a minimum of 5 PC Optimum™ points per dollar. When you pay your PC® Insurance home or auto insurance premium with your PC Financial® card, earn double the regular PC Optimum™ points per dollar (20 points per dollar for PC Financial® Mastercard® and 10 points per dollar for PC Money™ Account). PC Optimum™ points are awarded exclusively by President’s Choice Services Inc. This is not an offer provided by any other entity. PC Money™ Account points offer is available only with Aviva General Insurance Company policies entered into after January 20, 2025. Minimum redemption is 10,000 PC Optimum™ points (worth $10 in free rewards) and in increments of 10,000 PC Optimum™ points thereafter, at participating stores. You can redeem the PC Optimum™ points you earn for eligible purchases, or for any other purposes of which we may advise you from time to time. Some redemption restrictions apply; visit pcoptimum.ca for details and full store list.

†Details on Potential Savings

Save up to $890 on PC® Home and Auto Insurance
PC Optimum™ members could have a combined savings of up to $890 on their homeowner’s and car insurance policies if they are eligible for the following discounts: Combined Policy Discounts by purchasing home and auto insurance together, Claims Free Discount for homeowners, Conviction Free Discount, and Affinity Discount for PC Optimum™ members. Customers may be eligible for other discounts on their car or home insurance such as the Electric Vehicle Discount, Hybrid Vehicle Discount, Winter Tire Discount, Mortgage Free Discount and Multi Product Discount. Savings are based on rates in force as of July 2025. Savings are calculated by determining the average base premium PC® Insurance customers with one car insurance policy and one homeowner insurance policy would have paid if they were not eligible for the discounts. Discounts may not apply to all coverages and endorsements. PC Optimum™ members must be in good standing to be eligible for the Affinity Discount. Certain conditions, limitations, and exclusions apply. Condominium and tenant insurance policies are excluded from this savings calculation. For detailed information about how savings could apply to you, including saving opportunities for condominium owners and tenants, speak with a PC® Insurance advisor.

Save up to $1,000 on PC® Home and Auto Insurance in Toronto
PC Optimum™ members in Toronto could have a combined savings of up to $1,000 on their homeowner’s and car insurance policies if they are eligible for the following discounts: Combined Policy Discounts by purchasing home and auto insurance together, Claims Free Discount for homeowners, Conviction Free Discount, and Affinity Discount for PC Optimum™ members. Customers may be eligible for other discounts on their car or home insurance such as the Electric Vehicle Discount, Hybrid Vehicle Discount, Winter Tire Discount, Mortgage Free Discount and Multi Product Discount. Savings are based on rates in force as of July 2025. Savings are calculated by determining the average base premium PC® Insurance customers with one car insurance policy and one homeowner insurance policy would have paid if they were not eligible for the discounts. Discounts may not apply to all coverages and endorsements. PC Optimum™ members must be in good standing to be eligible for the Affinity Discount. Certain conditions, limitations, and exclusions apply. Condominium and tenant insurance policies are excluded from this savings calculation. For detailed information about how savings could apply to you, including saving opportunities for condominium owners and tenants, speak with a PC® Insurance advisor.

Save up to $150 on PC® Homeowner’s Insurance in British Columbia, Saskatchewan and Manitoba
PC Optimum™ members could save up to $150 on their primary homeowner’s insurance policy if they are eligible for the following discounts: Claims Free Discount for homeowners and Affinity Discount for PC Optimum™ members. In British Columbia, savings for being claims-free have already been factored into the premium rating calculations for homeowner’s policies. Customers may be eligible for other discounts on their homeowner’s insurance such as the Mortgage Free Discount and Multi Product Discount. Savings are based on rates in force as of July 2025. Savings are calculated by determining the average base premium PC® Insurance customers with a homeowner insurance policy would have paid if they were not eligible for the discounts. Discounts may not apply to all coverages and endorsements. PC Optimum™ members must be in good standing to be eligible for the Affinity Discount. Certain conditions, limitations, and exclusions apply. Condominium and tenant insurance policies are excluded from this savings calculation. For detailed information about how savings could apply to you, including saving opportunities for condominium owners and tenants, speak with a PC® Insurance advisor.

Save up to 35% on PC® Home and Auto Insurance
PC Optimum™ members could save up to 35% on their homeowner’s, condominium, or tenant insurance policy if they are eligible for the following discounts: Claims Free Discount, Combined Policy Discount by purchasing home and auto insurance together, and Affinity Discount for PC Optimum™ members. PC Optimum™ members may also save up to 35% on their car insurance policies if they are eligible for the following discounts: Conviction Free Discount, Combined Policy Discount by purchasing auto and home insurance together, and Affinity Discount for PC Optimum™ members. Customers may be eligible for other discounts on their car or home insurance such as the Electric Vehicle Discount, Hybrid Vehicle Discount, Winter Tire Discount, Mortgage Free Discount and Multi Product Discount. Total available discounts are in comparison to the base premium PC® Insurance customers would have paid if they were not eligible for the discounts. Discounts may not apply to all coverages and endorsements. PC Optimum™ members must be in good standing to be eligible for the Affinity Discount. Certain conditions, limitations, and exclusions apply. For further information, see More Information Section below.

Affinity Discount for PC Optimum™ Members
PC Optimum™ members in good standing could benefit from an Affinity Discount on their homeowner’s, condominium, and tenant insurance in all provinces and territories, except Quebec where PC® Insurance is not available. Additionally, an Affinity Discount could apply on car insurance for PC Optimum™ members in the following provinces and territories: Alberta, Ontario, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, Yukon, Northwest Territories, and Nunavut.

Save up to 25% on PC® Motorcycle Insurance
You could save up to 25% on your motorcycle insurance when combining the following discounts: Loyalty, Conviction Free, Motorcycle and Car, Motorcycle and Property, and Multi-Motorcycle. Discounts may not apply to all coverages and endorsements. Due to provincial legislation, PC® Insurance motorcycle products are not offered in British Columbia, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan. Savings are not guaranteed and vary based on your profile and place of residence. Rates, discounts, and eligibility rules are subject to change without notice. If you purchase a product, the terms and conditions of your insurance coverage will be outlined in your insurance policy, which will prevail. Certain conditions, limitations, and exclusions apply.

More Information Section

British Columbia
You can save up to 5% on your homeowner’s, condominium, or tenant insurance policy if you are eligible for the Affinity Discount for PC Optimum™ members. In British Columbia, savings for being claims-free have already been factored into the premium rating calculations for homeowner’s, condominium, and tenant insurance policies.

Alberta
You can save up to 30% on car insurance if you are eligible for the following discounts: Conviction Free Discount, Combined Policy Discount, and Affinity Discount for PC Optimum™ members. You could also save up to 20% on your homeowner’s, condominium, or tenant insurance policy if you are eligible for the following discounts: Claims Free Discount, Combined Policy Discount, and Affinity Discount for PC Optimum™ members.

Saskatchewan
You can save up to 20% on your homeowner’s, condominium, or tenant insurance policy if you are eligible for the Claims Free Discount and Affinity Discount for PC Optimum™ members.

Manitoba
You can save up to 20% on your homeowner’s, condominium, or tenant insurance policy if you are eligible for the Claims Free Discount and Affinity Discount for PC Optimum™ members.

Ontario
You can save up to 30% on car insurance if you are eligible for the following discounts: Conviction Free Discount, Combined Policy Discount, and Affinity Discount for PC Optimum™ members. You could also save up to 25% on your homeowner’s, condominium, or tenant insurance policy if you are eligible for the following discounts: Claims Free Discount, Combined Policy Discount, and Affinity Discount for PC Optimum™ members.

New Brunswick
You can save up to 35% on car insurance if you are eligible for the following discounts: Conviction Free Discount and Combined Policy Discount. You could also save up to 40% on your homeowner’s, condominium, or tenant insurance policy if you are eligible for the following discounts: Claims Free Discount, Combined Policy Discount, and Affinity Discount for PC Optimum™ members.

Nova Scotia
You can save up to 40% on car insurance if you are eligible for the following discounts: Conviction Free Discount, Combined Policy Discount, and Affinity Discount for PC Optimum™ members. You could also save up to 40% on your homeowner’s, condominium, or tenant insurance policy if you are eligible for the following discounts: Claims Free Discount, Combined Policy Discount, and Affinity Discount for PC Optimum™ members.

Prince Edward Island
You can save up to 35% on car insurance if you are eligible for the following discounts: Conviction Free Discount, Combined Policy Discount, and Affinity Discount for PC Optimum™ members. You could also save up to 40% on your homeowner’s, condominium, or tenant insurance policy if you are eligible for the following discounts: Claims Free Discount, Combined Policy Discount, and Affinity Discount for PC Optimum™ members.

Newfoundland and Labrador
You can save up to 30% on car insurance if you are eligible for the following discounts: Conviction Free Discount and Combined Policy Discount. You could also save up to 35% on your homeowner’s, condominium, or tenant insurance policy if you are eligible for the following discounts: Claims Free Discount, Combined Policy Discount, and Affinity Discount for PC Optimum™ members.

Northwest Territories, Yukon, and Nunavut
You can save up to 15% on car insurance if you are eligible for the Combined Policy Discount and Affinity Discount for PC Optimum™ members. You could also save up to 35% on your homeowner’s, condominium, or tenant insurance policy if you are eligible for the following discounts: Claims Free Discount, Combined Policy Discount, and Affinity Discount for PC Optimum™ members.