Cheap Whitby Home Insurance Quotes

Jump straight to:

• Home insurance in Whitby
• Types of home insurance in Whitby
• Add-ons to home insurance coverage in Whitby
• How to get Whitby home insurance quotes on RATESDOTCA
• What types of risks do homeowners face in Whitby?
• Factors that determine your Whitby home insurance rates
• How to lower your Whitby home insurance premium
• How much does the average home insurance cost in Whitby?
• Whitby postal codes with the cheapest home insurance rates
• How does home insurance in Whitby compare to other major cities in Ontario
• Frequently asked questions about Whitby home insurance.

Home insurance in Whitby 

Home or condo insurance is optional in Whitby and elsewhere in Ontario. However, most homeowners in Whitby will have home insurance for protection and because many lenders require it as a pre-condition before advancing the mortgage.

Types of home insurance in Whitby 

There are three insurance packages homeowners in Whiby can choose from. Each company may have different categories or names, but the basic coverages are similar and listed here:

• Basic: As its name states, this coverage usually offers the least coverage for Whiby home insurance and protects the home against perils named in the policy, such as fire and wind. Because it is the most minimal coverage, it is generally the cheapest. It is sometimes referred to as a“named perils” policy.
   
• Broad: Broad coverage for Whitby homeowners includes all perils risk coverage. However, the scope of coverage for your personal property is less extensive than what comprehensive insurance offers (see below). Broad coverage is specific to certain types of loss or damage listed in your policy. It may sometimes be called a ‘standard’ policy.
   
• Comprehensive: This provides the most extensive level of contents protection and coverage. With comprehensive home insurance, you’re covered for almost all instances of damage and loss (except for those perils specifically excluded in your policy). It is often referred to as an ‘all perils’ policy.

Home insurance coverage 

• Property and building: Both the structure and the property are covered from specific perils under this coverage, such as fire, theft and water damage. Separate structures not attached to your home may need additional coverage. It is best to consult your insurer if anything needs to be clarified.
• Contents and personal property: Items inside your home, such as furniture, clothing and sports equipment, will be protected against theft and vandalism with contents insurance. More expensive items, like fine art and jewelry, may not be covered under a standard policy. Excluded items can be protected with additional coverage.
• Additional living expenses: Some Whitby homeowners may need temporary housing if displaced by an insurable event. Additional living expenses coverage will help pay for those expenses. Some policies will pay for temporary rent or hotel bills, including food, up to certain limits. You'll also be reimbursed for any food that spoils in your home while you're away.

Liability coverage 

• Personal liability: This type of coverage is about financial protection. The personal liability section within your homeowner's policy allows for payments for claims of bodily injury and property damage sustained by others.
• Voluntary medical payments: Unintentional injury of someone, or if someone accidentally injures themselves on your property, can result in medical expenses. This coverage will pay for medical costs up to one year from the accident date.
• Voluntary property damage: Whitby homeowners will be protected should there be unintentional direct loss or damage you cause to someone's property. It also covers accidental loss or damage to someone else’s property by a minor (12 years or under) in your care.

Add-ons to home insurance coverage in Whitby

Beyond the insurance coverages named above, Whitby home insurance can be purchased with greater protection for your home and its contents.

These are some of the most common home insurance add-ons (or riders) that you can add to your Whitby home insurance policy:

• Overland water: Covers property damage from overflowing water from nearby rivers, streams, lakes and thawing snow. Not all insurance providers have overland water coverage.
• Sewer backup: Protects your home when a main sewer backs up and causes damage.
• Earthquake: Covers losses or damage caused by an earthquake. While rare in places like Whitby, this coverage can benefit Canadians on the West and East Coasts.
• Mass evacuation: There may be rare occasions where a mass flood or wildfire requires a government-issued evacuation order. This add-on pays for some of your expenses.
• Identity theft: Covers the cost of replacing important documents, such as your passport.
• Lock replacement: This add-on provides coverage should you need toreplace the locks on your house.

Factors that determine your Whitby home insurance rates  

Ontario home insurance companies use many factors to calculate your level of risk. As with all insurance premiums, the higher the risk, the more they’ll charge for coverage.

Let's explore the variables that have the biggest impact on the cost of a Whitby home insurance policy:

Flood risk:  Most Whitby homeowners' insurance policies do not include coverage for flood damage resulting from rain or snowmelt, otherwise known as overland flooding. Homes located near water can result in higher Whitby home insurance quotes.

Also, insurers have proprietary flood maps (even if floods have not occurred recently) to determine risk and rates. To be fully protected against flood risk, you may need to add different types of flood protection to your Whitby home insurance policy. Some insurance providers combine flood coverage into a water protection policy; others distinguish between overland flood protection and sewer backup protection. Talk to your insurance provider to understand what flood coverage is part of your policy.

Disrepair: Keeping your home in good repair will help maintain your home and help protect you from unintentional injury. However, the opposite is true if general maintenance is lacking. For example, a broken step that caused someone to trip and injure themselves could have been avoided with proper care. Because this could have been avoided and is “expected,” a home insurance provider may deny your claims.

Replacement cost: Much like auto insurance, the more expensive your home is to repair or rebuild after an accident, the higher your Whitby home insurance premiums will be.

Property location: Location is a key consideration in all aspects of real estate. Insurance providers will charge more for coverage if your home is in a high crime area, for example, or in a high-risk flood zone.

Basement: Basements come with risks. They are prone to flooding and water damage. Most homes with a basement will likely have higher Whitby home insurance premiums.

Electrical wiring: Many older homes have a “knob-and-tube" electrical wiring system considered outdated and dangerous. Also, older homes use a 60-amp service, which is more likely to cause a fire than the wiring used in newer homes. Riskier (i.e., older) wiring will mean higher premiums.

House age: Some things get better with age, but that's only sometimes the case with houses. Outdated systems that do not meet current building codes, old wiring and plumbing, and obsolete heating systems, can lead to fire and floods that cause damage.

High-risk household appliances: Wood-burning stoves and oil-based heaters can reduce energy costs but increase fire risk.

Roof: New roofs are expensive to replace or repair. Therefore, the materials used to construct or replace your roof after a storm affect your insurance rates.

Pets: Pets are often considered liabilities by Whitby home insurance providers. Certain dog breeds, such as pit bulls and rottweilers, may even cause some insurance providers to decline your application for coverage.

Smoking: Some Whitby home insurance providers will provide a discount to non-smokers. There is less risk of fire damage or damage from unattended cigarettes.

How to lower your Whitby home insurance premium

When it comes to reducing the cost of home insurance in Whitby, Ontario, it’s all about mitigating risk for the provider. Consider some of the following tactics:

• Bundle your policies: Insurance companies often provide discounts to customers that bundle more than one service. Buying Whitby car insurance and home insurance from the same provider could save you as much as 15% in total.
   
• Compare rates: One of the best ways to lower your Whitby home insurance quotes is by comparison shopping. Sites like RATESDOTCA can give you current rates from some of Whitby's top home insurance providers and highlight the best coverage at the lowest rate.
   
• Consent to a credit check: Some insurance companies may do a soft credit check when you inquire about rates, but only with your permission. Consenting to a credit check if your credit score is high can lead to a discount on your Whitby home insurance.
   
• Keep your home in good repair: Insurers don’t cover damage due to neglect or disrepair. Keeping your home in good shape will guard you against covered perils. Consider installing smoke and carbon monoxide detectors as well.
   
• Increase your deductible: Higher deductibles will keep your initial costs down. Insurers see this as a lower risk to them and will reward you with lower premiums. Make sure you have enough cash flow should you ever need to make a claim.
   
• Install a backwater valve: Prevent flood damage from sewer back-up with a backwater valve will automatically close if sewage backs up from the main sewer. Again, this reduces the risk of damage and can save you money on your Whitby home insurance rates.
   
• Install a security system: Another way to lower risks in your home is by installing a security system. This indicates to insurance providers that damage to the property from an intruder will be reduced.
   
• Memberships: Memberships through certain associations or alumni groups may make you eligible for discounts with your insurance provider.
   
• Pay upfront: Some Whitby home insurance providers prefer upfront payment and may reward you with a discount.

Whitby postal codes with the cheapest home insurance rates

Home insurance rates in Whitby are relatively uniform and are only separated by about $100 from the most expensive postal code to the cheapest. Residents in the L1N postal code pay the most at $1,148 per year, while people in the L1R area pay $1,050.