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The Best Home Insurance Quotes in Ottawa

Ottawa homeowners save an average of $473* on home insurance by comparing quotes

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Written by Katie Rook

Home insurance in Ottawa

Before you get home insurance quotes in Ottawa, choose a policy type – whether it’s basic, broad or comprehensive.

Next, decide whether you need to add additional coverage.

  • Basic – As the name suggests, a basic policy offers the minimum amount of coverage, with your home and its contents only protected against specified perils.
  • Broad – Broad coverage is more robust and protects your home against all perils and your contents against specified perils.
  • Comprehensive – This offers the most protection, covering your home and contents against all perils, except those named as exclusions.

Each home insurance policy type offers a different amount of coverage. In general, you’ll pay more for more coverage.

We encourage Ottawa homeowners to consider adding coverage to their policy in particular for protection against flooding and earthquake – which are both common exclusions.

While most policies include protection against water damage, flood protection is a separate add-on. It's worth considering due to the city’s proximity to the Ottawa River.

Similarly, earthquakes are not common in Ottawa, but have taken place, including a 5.0-magnitude earthquake in the region in 2010.

To minimize your home insurance costs, customize your policy so that it provides the coverage you need for your home in Ottawa and nothing more.

Types of home insurance in Ottawa

In addition to deciding on a policy type, it’s helpful to understand the standard components of home insurance policies in Ottawa.

Property coverage

  • Property: Property coverage protects your home from perils, including floods and fires. Cost is largely based on the replacement value of your home, not its market value. Though the exterior of your property is usually included as part of this coverage – e.g. fences, driveways, etc. – you may need additional coverage for detached structures.
  • Contents and personal property: Contents and personal property coverage protects your belongings. Things like your bicycle, personal laptop, appliances and furniture. When you purchase contents coverage, you may be asked to provide your insurance company with a list of your valuable belongings.
  • Additional living expenses: If you and your family have to leave your home due to a covered peril, additional living expenses will cover housing costs such as hotel accommodation.

Liability coverage

  • Personal liability: Most home insurance policies in Ottawa, whether basic, broad or comprehensive, offer personal liability protection. This means you’ll be covered if  someone is injured on your property and successfully brings a lawsuit against you.
  • Voluntary medical payments: If someone is injured on your property and needs medical treatment your insurance provider will pay the covered amount – up to a limit.
  • Voluntary property damage: This protects you in the event that you or your family unintentionally damage someone else’s property.
Shopper from Barrie, ON
Detached 1,991 sq ft March 27, 2023
$ 1,049
Per year
Cheapest Rate
$ 1,519
Per year
Average Rate
$ 470
or
31 %
in savings
Shopper from Brighton, ON
Detached 2,192 sq ft March 27, 2023
$ 1,044
Per year
Cheapest Rate
$ 1,787
Per year
Average Rate
$ 743
or
42 %
in savings

Compare Ottawa’s average home insurance premium

According to RATESDOTCA’s Home Insuramap tool, which identifies the estimated annual home insurance cost for every neighbourhood in Ontario, the average cost of a policy for a home in Ottawa is $1,282. This is $202 cheaper than the provincial average. In 2021, Ontario homeowners in smaller cities paid more for home insurance than those in larger cities. For example, while 156 cities in Ontario had premiums ranging from $950-$1,500, residents in 60 cities are paying $1,500-$2,000.

Ottawa, a mid-sized city, may have lower prices in part because of low crime rates. Though theft is a small percentage of home insurance cost, a high crime rate can drive up the overall cost.

In the years ahead, experts anticipate home insurance rates will increase, particularly in parts of the province that affected by severe weather. The Insurance Bureau of Canada reports that since 2011, severe weather in Canada has resulted in claims costs of more than $2 billion. With insurance companies facing increasing costs, home insurance rates are likely to go up sooner than auto insurance which are tightly regulated and not easily changed.

Which companies provide home insurance quotes in Ottawa?

Companies Company Type Phone Address

Aviva Insurance

Direct Writer

1 (800) 387-4518

112 Kent St Suite 2100, Tower B, Ottawa, ON K1P 5P2

Craig Hamilton

Insurance Brokers

(613) 722-6549

1673 Carling Ave, Ottawa, ON K2A 1C4

Economical Insurance

Direct Writer

1 800-267-8318

343 Preston St #500, Ottawa, ON K1S 1N4

Insurance Hotline

Quotes Comparison

1 (855) 821-7312

360 Adelaide St. W. Suite 100, Toronto, ON M5V 1R7

Intact Insurance

Direct Writer

1 (800) 267-1836

1200 St. Laurent Blvd., 004A Ottawa ON K1K 3B8

LowestRates.ca

Quotes Comparison

1 (855) 487-6911

1910 Yonge St. Suite 401, Toronto, ON M4S 3B2

RATESDOTCA

Quotes Comparison

1 (844) 726-0907

360 Adelaide St.. W Suite 100, Toronto, ON M5V 1R7

Scoop Insurance

Insurance Brokers

(416) 955-6286

300 Lincoln St. Unit 22, Welland, ON L3B 4N4

Tanner Insurance

Insurance Broker

1-877-447-8844

2435 Holly Lane Suite 200, Ottawa Ontario. K1V 7P2

Travelers Canada

Direct Writer

(613) 233-1363

155 Queen St, Ottawa, ON K1P 6L1

How to get the cheapest  home insurance coverage  in Ottawa, Canada

When looking for the best home insurance coverage at the lowest cost in Ottawa, it’s all about mitigating risk for the provider. Consider some of the following tactics:

  • Bundling – Give your business to a single company and enjoy rewards. When your home and auto insurance policies are held by one provider, you’re more likely to receive a discount.
  • Comparison shopping – To get the best coverage at the lowest rate, we recommend that you compare rates offered by dozens of providers. The RATESDOTCA online tool is free and easy to use. Within minutes, providers from across the country will reflect the best quotes for home insurance in Ottawa.
  • Keep up with maintenance – Insurance providers are inclined to offer discounts when a home is well cared for and therefore safe. Keep up with general maintenance and consider installing smoke and carbon monoxide detectors as well as security alarms. It’s also a good idea to install a backwater valve to prevent flood damage from sewer back-up, particularly as incidents of severe weather are becoming more common across Canada.
  • Increase your deductible – If you opt to pay a higher deductible, your monthly costs may be lower. Keep in mind that a higher deductible will require you to have the cash available in the event of a claim.
  • Memberships – You may be able to secure home insurance discounts through membership to certain groups such as alumni associations. It doesn’t hurt to ask and find out.
  • Pay the annual premium – When you pay the full annual cost of your home insurance policy, you may receive a discount from the provider.

How to get your Ontario home insurance quotes on RATESDOTCA

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What risks do homeowners face in Ottawa?

When considering what sort of insurance coverage to get, Ottawa homeowners should be aware of the potential for extreme weather in the National Capital Region.

Some of the insurance risks that homeowners in Ottawa face, include:

  • Burst pipes – During the winter, the temperature in Ottawa can drop lower than -30C. This can increase the likelihood of water damage from burst pipes. While water damage is covered in most basic home insurance policies, be sure you’re comfortable with the amount of coverage provided and its limit.
  • Earthquakes – The most recent earthquake in Ottawa was in June 2010. The 30-second tremor, which had a magnitude of 5 on the Richter Scale, was the most powerful the region had experienced in 65 years. Its epicenter was in Buckingham, Quebec, about 65 kms north of Ottawa. While earthquakes are not necessarily common in the area, we recommend that Ottawa homeowners consider adding earthquake coverage to their policies. Most insurance providers do not include it in standard policies, so protection requires an additional cost.
  • Overland water – Ottawa is vulnerable to flash floods and overwhelming thaws due to its close proximity to the Ottawa River. We recommend that homeowners purchase flood protection, including overland flood coverage, which will compensate homeowners for damage caused by overflow from a nearby waterway. Flood protection is not included in most basic policies.
  • Severe thunderstorms – The Ottawa area is prone to severe thunderstorms, including torrential rainfall, hail, and lightning. These weather events can lead to significant damage to the exterior of a home. While this sort of damage is often considered an insured peril, review your policy to make sure you have an adequate coverage amount.
  • Strong winds – Like other cities in Ontario, Ottawa homes face the risk of property damage from winds of more than 100km/h. Strong winds can damage your roof, windows and other structural parts of your home. Damage from wind is included in most home insurance policies, but make sure you’re comfortable with the coverage amount.

Frequently asked questions about Ottawa home insurance

Here’s everything you may be wondering about home insurance coverage in Ottawa.

How much does house insurance cost in Ottawa?

The average lowest home insurance quote a RATESDOTCA user in Ottawa received in 2021 is $1,080. This is $202 cheaper than the provincial average of $1,282.**

While these averages offer a glimpse at typical home insurance quotes in Ottawa, keep in mind that the cost of a policy depends significantly on the home and person being insured, not just city in which the property is located. Factors like the age of the building, the materials used for its construction and the homeowner’s claims history are also very important factors that go into determining the cost of a policy.

Which company offers the cheapest Ottawa home insurance?

There is no single home insurance company that offers the cheapest insurance quotes for homes in Ottawa. Each provider assesses risks differently, which means that the company that gave your neighbour a low rate might not give you the same rate nor a lower one. The best way to find which company offers the cheapest insurance for your home is to comparison shop before settling on a policy.

What is not covered by most Ottawa home insurance policies?

Home insurance providers in Ottawa will not cover every peril under a standard policy. In fact, perils such as flood and earthquake will require extra coverage. Additional liability coverage is also commonly added on. To be sure you understand what your policy excludes, consult a representative from your insurance provider.

How do I save on Ottawa home insurance?

On average in 2021, the RATESDOTCA Home Insuramap tool reflects that Ottawa homeowners paid about $200 less per year than residents of other Ontario cities: $1,080 in Ontario vs the provincial average of $1,282.

Some things you can do to help further reduce the cost of a house insurance policy in Ottawa, include:

  • Bundle – Bundling your policies so that each is held by a single provider could result in a discount of 5-15%.
  • Flood prevention – Install a backwater valve that will move water away from the home in the event of a sewer back-up. Many municipalities over rebates for homeowners who install them.
  • Keep your home updated – Make sure your home is well cared for and outfitted with sufficient safety measures. If you replace the roof and/or upgrade the electrical system, let your insurance provider know. You could receive a discount for making the home more safe. Similarly, consider installing a security system as well as carbon monoxide and fire alarms.
  • Pay more upfront – If you pay the full cost of your annual policy up front, you may get a discount. You can also opt for a higher deductible to help bring down the overall cost. You can usually choose from a deductible of either $500, $1,000 or $2,000. If you increase the deductible, be sure you’ll have cash available if you need to make a claim.

How much insurance coverage do I need for my home in Ottawa?

Once you figure out what type of policy you’d like for your Ottawa home, you have some room to amend the coverage amounts allocated to specific perils. In general, the more coverage you have, the more you’re likely to pay.

To save on your overall insurance costs, we recommend that you customize your policy, carefully assessing what perils make sense for your home and your risk tolerance.

Due to increasing incidents of severe weather, it’s wise for homeowners in every part of Canada to make sure they have protection against flooding. Many home insurance policies exclude it, so, if you don’t add it, you could be entirely without protection in the event of a flood – whether it be from a sewer back-up or overland flooding from a nearby waterway.

When you’re deciding how much coverage to get, consider how you’re likely to respond if you end up having to make a claim and don’t have protection.

What is a loss settlement option?

Loss settlement refers to the amount of money the policyholder is compensated for damage from a covered peril. That amount will be determined by the type of loss settlement option you selected when you purchased your policy.

When deciding on a home insurance policy, you’ll choose one of the three following options: Actual cost value, replacement cost value and agreed value.

  • Actual cost value – Means that in the event of damage from a covered peril, you’ll receive compensation for the current value of an item. For example, if your five-year-old laptop is damaged, you’ll be compensated for the value of a five-year-old laptop.
  • Replacement cost value – Means that you’ll be compensated for the full cost of replacing an item at the time of the damage. So, if your five-year-laptop is damaged, you’ll receive enough money to purchase a new laptop provided it’s a similar make and model to the original.
  • Agreed value – Refers to the value of an item that has been agreed upon by a third party such as an appraiser as well as the policyholder and insurance provider.

Is fire covered under my Ottawa home insurance policy?

Though at one time standalone fire policies were sold, they rarely are today. Instead, fire is among many commonly named perils in most home insurance policies.

When reviewing your policy, make sure you’re clear on any exclusions associated with the fire protection aspect of it. For example, policies will often exclude coverage for damage to an electrical device or appliance caused by a lightning strike. Similarly, there are often exclusions for coverage of items damaged from a civil war, riot or nuclear incident – even if it was fire that caused the damage.

Find the cheapest Ottawa home insurance quote at RATESDOTCA

Because home insurance is more expensive in Ottawa than most cities in Ontario, it’s important to find savings wherever you can. While it helps to looks for discounts with your insurance provider, the surest way to get the cheapest policy is to compare quotes from as many home insurance companies possible. RATESDOTCA aggregates the best offers from more 30 Ottawa home insurance providers, so you can see the entire market at a glance. It takes just a few minutes to save big on your house insurance coverage.

*Shoppers in Ontario who obtained a quote on RATESDOTCA from January to December 2021 saved an average amount of $473. The average savings amount represents the difference between the shoppers’ average lowest quoted premium and the average of the second and third lowest quoted premiums generated by RATESDOTCA. Excludes tenant and condo insurance.

** Based on 2021 RATESDOTCA Insuramap data.

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