If you drive in Ontario, the accident benefits you count on after a crash are changing. As of July 1, 2026, most of the benefits that used to come automatically with every auto policy are now optional. That means some coverage you once had by default is only there if you buy it.

This guide explains what changed under Ontario Regulation 383/24, which benefits stay mandatory, which are now optional, and why the shift matters if you are injured. It is general information to help you understand the reform and ask your broker the right questions.

This reform affects new and renewing policies from July 1, 2026 onward. If you walk, cycle, or ride as a passenger, your access to certain benefits may have narrowed — see “Who can access the optional benefits” below.

Key takeaways

  • As of July 1, 2026, most statutory accident benefits in Ontario become optional under O. Reg. 383/24.
  • Medical, rehabilitation, and attendant care benefits remain mandatory and are always included.
  • Income replacement, caregiver, housekeeping, and several other benefits must now be purchased.
  • The change is opt-in, not opt-out: renewing policies keep the old coverage until you agree in writing to reduce it.
  • With fewer benefits automatic, more losses may need to be pursued through a tort claim against the at-fault driver.

What changed on July 1, 2026

Ontario’s standard auto insurance policy has long bundled a set of statutory accident benefits, known as SABS. These are the no-fault benefits you can claim after a collision regardless of who caused it. The amending regulation, O. Reg. 383/24, restructures that package so that most of those benefits are no longer automatic. Instead, they are offered as optional coverage you can choose to buy.

The reform took effect July 1, 2026. From that date, optionality is available to all consumers regardless of when their policy renews. The core idea is that a smaller mandatory set stays in place, and the rest becomes a menu of add-ons.

Benefits that stay mandatory

Three benefits remain part of every Ontario auto policy and are always included:

  • Medical benefits — coverage for reasonable and necessary medical treatment related to the accident.
  • Rehabilitation benefits — coverage for care aimed at restoring function and easing the effects of injury.
  • Attendant care benefits — coverage for an aide to help with personal care when injuries require it.

If you are seriously hurt, these three are the backbone of your no-fault coverage, and you do not have to buy them separately.

Benefits that are now optional

The following benefits are no longer automatic. To have them, you generally have to purchase them, or opt into them in writing:

  • Income replacement
  • Non-earner benefit
  • Caregiver
  • Housekeeping and home maintenance
  • Lost educational expenses
  • Visitor expenses
  • Damage to personal items (such as clothing and eyewear)
  • Death and funeral benefits
  • Dependant care

Many of these matter most when someone cannot work, cannot care for their family, or dies as a result of a crash. Because they are now optional, a driver who does not buy them may find those cushions missing at the worst possible time.

Mandatory versus optional at a glance

Benefit Status as of July 1, 2026
Medical Mandatory (always included)
Rehabilitation Mandatory (always included)
Attendant care Mandatory (always included)
Income replacement Optional (must be purchased)
Non-earner Optional (must be purchased)
Caregiver Optional (must be purchased)
Housekeeping and home maintenance Optional (must be purchased)
Lost educational expenses Optional (must be purchased)
Visitor expenses Optional (must be purchased)
Damage to personal items Optional (must be purchased)
Death and funeral benefits Optional (must be purchased)
Dependant care Optional (must be purchased)

Opt-in, not opt-out: why your renewal matters

One of the most important features of the reform is how the choice is structured. This is an opt-in system, not an opt-out one. If your policy renews after July 1, 2026, you generally keep your pre-July-2026 coverage until you agree in writing to reduce it. In other words, no insurer should be quietly stripping benefits from your policy without your written agreement.

Read your renewal paperwork closely. If you sign a form to reduce coverage in exchange for a lower premium, you may be giving up protection you would want after a serious injury. Ask your broker to explain, in plain terms, exactly what you would keep and what you would give up.

Who can access the optional benefits

Eligibility for the optional benefits is also narrower than before. Generally, the optional benefits are available to the named insured, their spouse, their dependants, and listed drivers. As a result, pedestrians, cyclists, and some passengers who previously had access to certain benefits may no longer qualify. If you often walk or cycle, this is an important gap to understand, because you may not be covered under someone else’s optional benefits the way you might expect.

The shift toward tort claims

Ontario’s injury system has two tracks: no-fault accident benefits from your own insurer, and a tort claim against the driver who caused the crash. When benefits like income replacement are no longer automatic, more of those losses may have to be recovered through the tort side instead.

In practice, that can mean more injured people needing to sue the at-fault driver to be made whole for lost income and similar losses. Commentators expect more lawsuits as a result. Keep in mind that tort awards for pain and suffering are also reduced by a statutory deductible that is indexed each year, so the tort track has its own rules and limits. If you want the current deductible figure, you can confirm it with FSRA.

Frequently asked questions

Do I still have medical coverage after a crash in 2026?

Yes. Medical, rehabilitation, and attendant care benefits remain mandatory and are always included in an Ontario auto policy, so this core coverage is not something you have to buy separately.

Will my benefits automatically be cut at renewal?

Generally no. The reform is opt-in, not opt-out. A renewing policy keeps its pre-July-2026 coverage until you agree in writing to reduce it. Read any renewal forms closely before signing anything that lowers your coverage.

I was hurt as a pedestrian. Am I still covered?

It depends. Optional benefits are generally limited to the named insured, spouse, dependants, and listed drivers, so some pedestrians and cyclists may no longer qualify for benefits they once could access. This is a good situation to get individual advice about.

Should I buy the optional benefits?

That is a personal decision based on your income, your family, and your budget, and this article cannot tell you what to choose. Speaking with your broker about your own situation is generally the best starting point.

Have these figures been finalized?

The July 1, 2026 changes come from O. Reg. 383/24, but benefit amounts and thresholds are indexed and can change. Always confirm current details with the official source, FSRA, before relying on a specific number.

If you have been injured in a crash and are unsure which benefits apply to you, or you are trying to make sense of your coverage after the 2026 changes, Azimi Law would be glad to talk through your situation. Reach out for general guidance about your options — there is no pressure and no promises, just a plain-language conversation about where you stand.