The Financial Services Regulatory Authority of Ontario (FSRA) has confirmed changes to how Statutory Accident Benefits work on new and renewing personal auto policies. Some benefits stay mandatory, others move to the optional menu. Here is what it means for Ontario drivers in plain language.
Statutory Accident Benefits, often shortened to SABS, are the part of your Ontario auto policy that pays for medical care, rehabilitation, income replacement and other support if you are injured in a collision. These benefits apply no matter who caused the accident.
Today, every Ontario auto policy includes a standard package of these benefits, with the option to buy higher limits if you want broader protection for your family.
The exact menu depends on the wording approved by FSRA closer to the change. If you remove a benefit and never need it, you may save a small amount on premium. If you remove it and later need it after a serious collision, you and your family pay the difference.
Accident benefit decisions are easier when they happen in the language you are most comfortable in. Our RIBO-licensed brokers explain the July 2026 options in Turkish, Arabic, Mandarin Chinese and Farsi as well as English.
A RIBO-licensed broker at The Insurance Lab can walk through your policy line by line and explain the 2026 options in plain language. No pressure, no jargon.
The changes apply to new and renewing personal auto policies issued on or after July 1, 2026. Your current policy continues under the existing rules until it renews.
No. The change makes some benefits optional, not unavailable. You can still buy the same protection you have today, and in many cases you can buy higher limits.
It may, but the savings are often smaller than people expect. A RIBO-licensed broker can show you the cost of each option so you can weigh the savings against the loss of protection.
No. The 2026 update focuses on Statutory Accident Benefits. Third-party liability, direct compensation property damage, collision and comprehensive coverage are not part of this change.
Yes. The Insurance Lab's RIBO-licensed brokers walk you through the accident benefit options in Turkish, Arabic, Mandarin Chinese and Farsi as well as English.
This article is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for personal advice from a licensed insurance professional. Coverage, eligibility and pricing vary by carrier and policy. Always refer to your policy wording for exact terms.
