Ontario’s auto insurance system is shifting in a major way. Starting July 1, 2026, several Statutory Accident Benefits (SABS) that are currently mandatory will become optional.
Every broker will need to guide clients through these choices, especially at renewal.
This webpage provides an overview of:
These reforms give clients more choice, but they also create more complexity. Brokers will play a critical role in helping Ontarians understand the new landscape and select coverage that fits their needs.
RIBO, industry partners, and the Financial Services Regulatory Authority of Ontario (FSRA) will continue to provide tools and training to support you through the transition.
Beginning July 1, 2026:
These changes apply to all auto contracts, including personal and commercial.
For customers with pre-July 1 contracts, insurers must renew with the same benefits unless the client chooses to make changes.
These reforms shift the risk-advisory role onto brokers.
Brokers will need to:
Renewal conversations will likely become longer, especially in the first year, and you may need to update your internal scripts, workflows, and processes to reflect the new structure.
You should also be prepared to support digital transactions where optional benefits must be clearly itemized.
Your guidance will shape how clients navigate these decisions and help prevent gaps in their coverage.
Brokers are still required to provide auto insurance quotes in accordance with the Take-All-Comers Rule. Read the RIBO Licensee Requirements and the Take-All-Comers Rule guidance.
RIBO and FSRA expect brokers and insurers to take an active role in building early customer awareness. This is not a “wait until renewal” change. Policyholders should start hearing about the reforms well before July 1, 2026.
Key expectations include:
These actions will help clients make informed decisions and reduce last-minute confusion at renewal while ensuring brokers are equipped to navigate the new coverage environment confidently.
When speaking with clients, keep the messages simple and clear so they can easily understand what is changing. Explain that more accident benefits will become optional, giving them greater control over their coverage.
Medical and rehabilitation benefits will remain mandatory, but benefits like income replacement and housekeeping will no longer be automatically included.
Encourage clients to review their workplace or private disability plans, since those coverages will matter more when deciding what to opt out of, if any.
Suggest they start early conversations with their A&S advisor and workplace benefits provider to understand what protection they already have.
Reassure clients that they can keep the same level of coverage they have today if it still meets their needs. These messages work well across emails, renewal calls, and brokerage newsletters.
Clients will face more decisions at renewal.
These are the most common challenges you can expect:
Many clients will need help comparing their current coverage to the new options. The shift to optionality means more personalized advice and a greater need for brokers to translate the choices into plain language.
RIBO has created readiness roadmap PDFs for industry partners, which outline each phase, so you can prepare accordingly:
RIBO has prepared a comprehensive Q&A (English and French) that covers mandatory benefits, optional benefits, renewals, documentation, and digital quoting requirements. It is designed to be your day-to-day reference as you prepare for the reforms.
A standardized 2026 Ontario Auto Reform: Introduction to Accident Benefit Changes course, developed collaboratively by the Ontario Mutual Insurance Association (OMIA), the Insurance Institute of Canada (IIC), and the Insurance Brokers Association of Ontario (IBAO), launched in January 2026.
This is free for the first six months. Training course fees may be set by education providers in the future. The sector-wide course gives brokers, agents, and frontline staff a consistent foundation to understand the new SABS structure ahead of the July 2026 changes.
While not mandatory, it is strongly encouraged for anyone advising clients, and brokerages and insurers are expected to support staff in completing it.
The course provides a clear overview of the reforms, including:
To set appropriate expectations, the course does not cover:
These areas remain the responsibility of individual insurers and brokerages to address through their own training and resources.
This training is a highly recommended first step for anyone preparing for the reforms. It supports industry-wide consistency and reduces misinformation.
Brokers are encouraged to complete the course early so they are prepared for renewal conversations throughout 2026 and are able to confidently guide clients through the new accident benefits landscape.
RIBO is not delivering or administering this course. All questions about the course should be directed to the education provider offering it.
FSRA has developed a dedicated online hub containing everything related to the auto reform. This centralized page includes consumer-focused materials such as fact sheets, key messages, sample letters, plain-language explanations, and scenario-based examples that brokers can share directly with clients. It also houses industry guidance, insurer materials, and all updated forms impacted by the changes.
This webpage is the primary source of information for the industry especially around technical updates, helping ensure consistent and accurate messaging across the entire distribution channel. Brokers are encouraged to reference it regularly as they prepare for renewal conversations and client outreach.
IBAO has created a ready-to-use brochure that highlights key updates and makes client conversations more informed:
RIBO exams will begin incorporating auto reform content as early as January 2026.
Because accident benefits fall under core broker knowledge, every candidate (whether they are entering the profession for the first time or completing an equivalency exam with experience from another jurisdiction) will need to demonstrate an understanding of the updated framework.
This includes:
Reform SABS content will appear across all relevant RIBO examinations, where appropriate. The intention is to ensure all candidates are prepared to advise clients accurately and consistently under the new accident benefits structure.