Is Truly a real insurance broker or just a comparison site?

Truly is a full-service insurance brokerage. You get access to our team of licensed insurance brokers who give personalized advice, help you choose the right coverage, and support you through claims. You're never on your own after you buy.

How fast can I get a quote?

Personal quotes typically come back the same day and most commercial coverage is usually bound within a few business days, depending on the coverage and the information you provide. You can also call us at 519.800.4770 and we'll quote over the phone.

What types of insurance do you offer?

We cover auto, home, condo, tenant, business, commercial liability, real estate investor portfolios, and startup insurance — all from top Canadian insurers.

What happens if I need to make a claim?

Call your Truly Insurance broker during business hours and we'll help you report the claim, explain the process, and advocate with the insurer. For after-hours emergencies, our claims page lists 24-hour carrier claim lines so you can report directly, then let us know so we can advocate for you.

Can I switch to Truly if I already have insurance?

Absolutely. You can switch any time, even mid-policy. Any early-termination fee from your current provider is often offset by the savings we find you.

How is Truly transparent about how it's paid?

As a licensed Ontario brokerage, we disclose how we operate, how we're compensated, and any potential conflicts of interest before you buy, in line with RIBO and FSRA requirements.

Why do Kitchener–Waterloo auto insurance rates differ from Toronto?

Ontario insurers rate auto by territory, so traffic density, claim frequency, and theft all factor into your postal code. A Kitchener, Waterloo, or Cambridge postal code is usually rated more favourably than a Toronto or Mississauga one for claim frequency and theft. As a Kitchener-based broker, Truly Insurance knows which carriers rate Waterloo Region competitively and which load it, and routes you to the ones that don't.

What is DCPD and do I need it in Ontario?

Direct Compensation Property Damage covers your vehicle through your own insurer when another driver is at fault, a core part of Ontario's no-fault system. It's standard on Ontario auto policies. Truly Insurance makes sure the deductible and coverage amount make sense for your car's value so you're not under-recovering after someone else's mistake.

What is Ontario's no-fault insurance system?

No-fault means each driver deals with their own insurer for vehicle damage and injury benefits, regardless of who caused the crash. Fault is still determined for at-fault surcharge purposes, but you don't chase the other driver's insurer for repairs — your own carrier pays and then subrogates. Truly Insurance explains exactly how it applies to your specific accident.

What happens to my auto insurance rates after an at-fault accident?

An at-fault accident typically stays on your Ontario driving record for six years and can raise your premium at renewal. The size of the increase depends on your insurer, the percent of fault, and whether you carry accident forgiveness. Truly Insurance re-shops your policy across 17+ insurers after an at-fault to find the carrier that treats it least harshly.

What is accident forgiveness and do I qualify?

Accident forgiveness is an endorsement or loyalty reward that shields your first at-fault accident from a surcharge, usually after six years claim-free with the same insurer. Not every carrier offers it and it doesn't transfer. Truly Insurance tells you honestly whether your policy has it and whether it's worth keeping versus moving to a cheaper carrier.

What are OPCF endorsements and which ones matter?

Ontario Policy Change Forms (OPCF) add or change coverage on an auto policy. The ones that matter most are OPCF 20 (loss of use and rental), OPCF 27 (rental-car liability extension), OPCF 43 (replacement cost for a total loss), and OPCF 44R (family protection against underinsured drivers). Truly Insurance explains each before you buy and adds only the ones that fit your life.

Do winter tires lower my auto insurance in Ontario?

Yes. Ontario insurers are required to offer a winter-tire discount, typically around 5 percent, for four matching winter tires mounted during the required season. Truly Insurance applies it automatically and verifies the discount shows on your policy, because it's often missed when policies are bound remotely.

Am I covered while driving for Uber or DoorDash in Ontario?

Not on a standard personal auto policy — personal use excludes carrying passengers or goods for money. Rideshare and delivery platforms carry some third-party cover while the app is active, but the gap between personal and commercial use is real. Truly Insurance arranges a commercial-use extension or rideshare endorsement so a delivery or rideshare trip doesn't leave a claim denied.

What happens if my car is a total loss?

The insurer pays actual cash value by default, which can leave you financing a remaining loan on a car you no longer own. With OPCF 43 (replacement cost), the insurer pays for a new equivalent vehicle if the loss happens early in the car's life. Truly Insurance tells you when replacement-cost coverage is worth it for a newer or financed car, and when it isn't.

How do I lower my auto insurance premium in Ontario?

Bundling home and auto, a clean driving record, increased deductibles, telematics, and winter-tire and approved anti-theft discounts all help. The biggest lever is re-shopping at renewal — insurers' rates shift yearly and a loyal customer is often overpaying. Truly Insurance shops 17+ Canadian insurers and re-shops your auto at every renewal automatically.

Will a speeding ticket affect my auto insurance in Ontario?

A minor conviction, like 10 to 29 km/h over, usually raises your premium for three years; a major conviction, like stunt driving or 50+ km/h over, can more than double it and may require the high-risk market. Truly Insurance re-shops after convictions because different insurers treat the same ticket very differently, and a move often saves far more than staying.

Does my Ontario auto policy cover a rental car?

Often yes for liability and damage if you carry collision and comprehensive on your own vehicle, but coverage extends based on your policy and a credit card or rental waiver can leave gaps. Truly Insurance adds OPCF 27 to extend liability and confirms your physical-damage transfer so you're covered in Canada and the U.S. without buying the counter's expensive insurance.

Is sewer backup coverage worth it in Ontario?

Yes. Mature basements and older municipal infrastructure make sewer backup and overland water endorsements genuinely valuable across Ontario, especially in Kitchener, Waterloo, and Cambridge where stone foundations and mature trees drive the most common basement claim. Truly Insurance adds them by default and prices the deductible sensibly so the coverage responds when it matters.

Does home insurance cover flooding in Ontario?

Only with the right endorsements. A standard Ontario home policy excludes overland water and sewer backup unless added separately, and groundwater seepage often needs its own endorsement. Truly Insurance includes the coverages that actually protect Ontario homes and explains each one before you buy.

What's the difference between replacement cost and actual cash value?

Replacement cost pays to rebuild or replace without deducting for depreciation; actual cash value deducts depreciation. Contents are often settled on an actual-cash-value basis unless you upgrade to replacement cost, which Truly Insurance recommends for most households because a depreciated payout rarely funds a full re-stock after a loss.

Does home insurance cover jewelry and valuables?

Only up to a sub-limit, often $2,000 to $6,000 per category for jewelry, art, and collectibles, unless you schedule the item individually with an appraisal. Truly Insurance schedules your valuables at agreed value so a lost ring or stolen watch settles at the appraised amount, not the sub-limit that leaves you short.

What is overland water coverage and do I need it?

Overland water covers freshwater flooding from lakes, rivers, and surface runoff, distinct from sewer backup. Homes near the Grand River, the Speed River, or in low-lying parts of Kitchener–Waterloo carry real exposure. Truly Insurance adds it where your property warrants it and declines it where it doesn't, with the reasoning on the table.

Is my home covered while I'm on vacation?

Most policies impose a vacancy limit, typically 30 consecutive days, after which water-damage and theft cover can suspend unless you notify the insurer or add a vacancy permit. Snowbirds and long-trip travellers need a vacancy endorsement or a check-in plan. Truly Insurance sets the terms before you leave so a burst pipe in February doesn't become a denied claim.

Does home insurance cover a burst pipe in winter?

Sudden and accidental water damage from a burst pipe is covered, but freeze damage while a home is vacant and unheated can be excluded if you didn't maintain heat or drain the pipes. Truly Insurance explains the winter-vacancy rules your insurer expects — drain-down, setback thermostat, and a check-in plan — so the claim pays.

Does my home insurance policy cover a finished basement?

Finished basement improvements are part of the dwelling limit, but their water-damage exposure is only covered if sewer backup and overland water are endorsed. A finished basement without water cover is the single most common under-insured gap Truly Insurance sees in Kitchener–Waterloo. We quote the basement honestly and add the water cover its finish value deserves.

What is guaranteed replacement cost on a home policy?

Guaranteed replacement cost pays whatever it takes to rebuild your home to its pre-loss condition, even if the cost exceeds your dwelling limit, protecting you when materials and labour spike after a widespread event. Truly Insurance places it wherever your insurer offers it, because a rebuild that exceeds your limit is exactly the moment you can't afford to be short.

Does home insurance cover a home business?

A standard policy excludes business property and liability beyond a small allowance unless you add a home-business endorsement. Even a low-foot-traffic business can void liability cover after a client-related claim. Truly Insurance adds an extension sized to your operations so a slip, a stolen laptop, or a client-data claim is covered, not a denial.

How is my Ontario home insurance premium calculated?

Insurers rate on rebuild cost, age and construction of the home, postal-code claim frequency, distance to a fire hydrant and station, heating type, electrical and plumbing age, roof age, claims history, credit where permitted, and your deductible and limits. Because so many factors move, Truly Insurance re-shops at renewal to surface a better rate without changing your coverage.

How does bundling home and auto save money in Ontario?

A multi-line home-and-auto discount typically lowers both premiums 10 to 15 percent, consolidates renewals, and often unlocks additional loyalty or claims-free benefits. Truly Insurance shows the bundled versus unbundled price across 17+ insurers so the saving is real and documented, not assumed.

Is high-risk auto insurance a specialty at Truly Insurance?

Yes. High-risk and non-standard auto is a file we specialize in, not a side line, and our Kitchener team holds appointments with every non-standard carrier that writes in Ontario, Jevco, Pafco, Coachman, and Echelon, plus the Facility Association residual market. We have placed impaired, suspended, and cancelled-driving files for years and we know exactly how each carrier rates the same conviction or cancellation, so your abstract is quoted four times and lands with the carrier that treats your history least harshly.

Which high-risk auto insurance carriers does Truly Insurance write with?

We write with Jevco, Pafco, Coachman, and Echelon, the four Ontario non-standard carriers that specialize in impaired, suspended, and cancelled drivers, plus the Facility Association residual market. Because we hold appointments with all of them, your driving abstract is quoted four times, not once, and placed with the carrier that rates your specific history least harshly rather than being shopped to a single insurer.

Is Facility Association my only option after a DUI in Ontario?

No. Facility is the insurer of last resort, not the first stop, and we quote Jevco, Pafco, Coachman, and Echelon before it is ever considered. All four write drivers with impaired and major-conviction records, often well below Facility, so a DUI does not mean you are stuck in the residual market. Facility is used only if every one of the four declines, which is rare for a single conviction.

What makes a driver high-risk in Ontario?

A major conviction like impaired driving, a licence suspension, multiple at-fault accidents, or a non-payment cancellation moves you into the non-standard tier where standard insurers decline or surcharge heavily. It is a statistical and underwriting decision, not a moral one, and it is the file we place every working day. We know exactly how each of the four non-standard carriers rates that record.

Can I get auto insurance with a suspended licence in Ontario?

Yes. We bind cover before your licence is reinstated so a policy is in place the day it is valid again, and we arrange the proof-of-insurance filing an ordered reinstatement demands. We never bind a policy that lets you drive while suspended; we set it up so you are covered the moment you are legal, and we move you back to a standard carrier as the suspension ages off your abstract.

I was cancelled for non-payment, can I still get insured?

Yes. A non-payment cancellation can lock you out of the standard market, but Jevco, Pafco, Coachman, and Echelon write this history every day and each rates it differently. We quote your record with all four, place you with the carrier that treats the cancellation least harshly, and help you rebuild a clean payment history that qualifies you to move back to a standard insurer at the next renewal.

How long does a DUI stay on my Ontario insurance record?

An impaired conviction typically stays on your Ontario driving abstract and insurance record for three years from the conviction date, and a major conviction can affect your premium for up to six years. We tell you the exact date it falls off, we re-shop the file at every renewal, and we move you back to a standard carrier the moment your abstract allows it.

How much is high-risk auto insurance in Ontario?

It depends on the conviction, the at-fault accidents, the suspension, and which of the four carriers is quoting. A single impaired conviction can more than double a standard premium, but the four non-standard carriers rate the same abstract very differently. We quote your record with all four and show you the full range, not one number, so you see exactly where your file fits.

How do I move back to the standard auto market?

As your convictions age off your abstract and your payment history cleans up, standard insurers become available again. We track your abstract's aging and re-shop you back to the standard market at the first renewal a standard carrier will accept you, often cutting your premium substantially. Moving you back down is the whole point of placing the file, not leaving you in the high-risk tier.

Home/Locations/Waterloo

Waterloo Region

Insurance in Waterloo, Ontario.

Home to two universities and a deep tech sector, Waterloo blends student households with established professionals, and insurers rate the two very differently. We shop Waterloo Region insurers who credit both student and tech-driver profiles fairly.

Get a Waterloo quote Call (519) 800-4770

Waterloo insurance — at a glance

Truly Insurance is a Kitchener-based Ontario insurance brokerage that arranges auto, home, and business insurance for residents and operators in Waterloo, Ontario. Our team of licensed insurance brokers compares 17+ Canadian insurers, rates your property and driving record for the Waterloo Region market, and re-shops your policy at every renewal so your premium tracks the market, not the insurer's loyalty habit.

Coverage we arrange in Waterloo

Waterloo rating differs by neighbourhood, housing era, and how you use your vehicle or business. Each section below explains what we include by default and where most Waterloo clients add coverage.

Auto insurance in Waterloo

Waterloo auto rates reward the city's shorter commutes and strong transit use, but university-district postal codes can push premiums up for young drivers. We place you with insurers that rate the student wards sensibly and bundle auto with tenant or condo cover for real savings.

Home & property insurance in Waterloo

Waterloo's mix of century homes near Uptown and new build to the south-east means rebuild costs vary widely. We calculate replacement cost accurately, add sewer-backup cover for older basements, and re-shop at renewal so your premium tracks the market.

Business & landlord insurance in Waterloo

As the heart of Canada's tech-startup corridor, Waterloo is where we place the most founder and SaaS coverage: general liability, cyber, and professional liability, bound in 2 to 3 days with same-day COIs for the contracts clients sign here.

Claims & service in Waterloo

A licensed broker serving Waterloo and all of Ontario from our Kitchener-Waterloo base.
Claims reporting through your broker during business hours, with 24-hour carrier lines after hours.
We re-shop your policy at every renewal, so loyalty pays.
Same-day Certificates of Insurance for the leases and contracts that require them.

Why Truly Insurance in Waterloo

A Waterloo broker, the full market, no pressure.

A licensed broker who knows your city's rating nuances
Side-by-side quotes from 17+ Canadian insurers
Bundling and affinity discounts applied automatically
We re-shop your policy at every renewal, so loyalty pays

Laurier and University of Waterloo student renters get tenant and auto cover that actually protects them, not the stripped minimum.

A licensed broker for Waterloo

Truly Insurance — serving Waterloo from Kitchener.

Truly Insurance is a Kitchener-based Ontario insurance brokerage serving Waterloo and communities across the region. We're licensed for all of Ontario — from our Kitchener–Waterloo base — for commercial, startup, and professional-liability coverage. Personal quotes the same day, commercial coverage in 2 to 3 days.

Truly Insurance: 22 Water St S Ste 100, Kitchener, Ontario, N2G 4K4, Canada
Phone: (519) 800-4770
Email: hello@trulyinsurance.ca
Hours: Monday to Friday, 9:00 am to 8:00 pm ET; Saturday to Sunday, 11:00 am to 4:00 pm ET

Waterloo insurance FAQ

Questions, answered.

How do I get an insurance quote in Waterloo?+

You can start online in minutes or call 519.800.4770. A licensed Waterloo broker compares quotes from 17+ Canadian insurers and explains your options before you buy.

Is Truly Insurance a licensed broker in Waterloo?+

Yes. Our team of licensed insurance brokers is authorized to arrange insurance in Waterloo and across Kitchener–Waterloo & Southwestern Ontario, and we're licensed throughout the rest of Ontario for commercial, startup, and professional-liability coverage.

Can I switch to Truly Insurance if I already have Waterloo insurance?+

Absolutely. You can switch any time, even mid-policy. We co-ordinate the cancellation of your current coverage so there is never a gap, and any early-termination fee is disclosed before you switch.

What does Waterloo insurance cost?+

Rates depend on your driving record, property, and coverage limits, and they vary by Waterloo neighbourhood. We compare the market and show you side-by-side prices so you choose with full transparency.

What insurance can a Waterloo broker help me compare?+

A licensed Waterloo insurance broker compares auto, home, condo, tenant, landlord, business, commercial auto, and professional liability across 17+ Canadian insurers. We explain each option in plain English and bind the policy that fits your property, vehicle, and operation.

How quickly can Truly Insurance bind coverage in Waterloo?+

Most personal auto and home policies for Waterloo residents bind the same day once you accept the quote. Commercial coverage, including general liability, property, and cyber, typically binds in 2 to 3 business days, and we deliver same-day Certificates of Insurance for the leases and contracts that require them.

Do you write student-rental landlord insurance near University of Waterloo and Laurier?+

Yes. University-district student rentals carry higher tenant and vacancy risk. We declare the tenant type honestly with the insurer, set vacancy and inspection terms that match the academic calendar, and include loss of rental income for investor owners in Waterloo's student wards.

From the Journal

Truly Insurance guides for Waterloo.

Student Rental Properties for Landlords in Ontario: A Kitchener-Corridor Guide

Real Estate

Aug 29, 202610 min read

Student Rental Properties for Landlords in Ontario: A Kitchener-Corridor Guide

Renting to students in the Waterloo, Guelph, Cambridge, and London corridor rewards homework and punishes shortcuts. Here is how corridor rental licensing actually works, why a homeowner policy fails the moment paying tenants move in, and the endorsements a student landlord needs to keep a covered claim standing when school starts.

Read article

When a Student Moves Away for School: How It Changes Auto and Home Insurance in Ontario

Guides

Sep 1, 20268 min read

When a Student Moves Away for School: How It Changes Auto and Home Insurance in Ontario

Every September thousands of Ontario students head to university or college, and most families never think to call their insurance broker. Here is how a student moving away for school can change your auto policy, the away-at-school discount that can cut a listed driver's rate, what happens when the car goes to campus, and the home-insurance belongings gap most parents miss.

Read article

Ontario Absentee Landlord Insurance: What It Covers and Who It Applies To

Real Estate

Aug 25, 20268 min read

Ontario Absentee Landlord Insurance: What It Covers and Who It Applies To

A homeowner policy does not cover a rental, and it definitely does not cover one you manage from another city, province, or country. Here is what Ontario absentee landlord insurance covers, who needs it, what it excludes, and how to get it right from a distance.

Read article

Get insured in Waterloo today.

A licensed broker compares 17+ insurers and explains it before you buy. Personal quotes the same day, commercial in 2 to 3 days.

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Insurance in Waterloo, Ontario.

Coverage we arrange in Waterloo

Auto insurance in Waterloo

Home & property insurance in Waterloo

Business & landlord insurance in Waterloo

Claims & service in Waterloo

A Waterloo broker, the full market, no pressure.

Truly Insurance — serving Waterloo from Kitchener.

Questions, answered.

Truly Insurance guides for Waterloo.

Student Rental Properties for Landlords in Ontario: A Kitchener-Corridor Guide

When a Student Moves Away for School: How It Changes Auto and Home Insurance in Ontario

Ontario Absentee Landlord Insurance: What It Covers and Who It Applies To

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