Not all home insurance policies are created equal. So, it’s important to compare what’s offered by different home insurance providers. To help with this comparison, we’ve compiled information on five common providers in BC. Information is included on the degree of personalization, the type of protection, and the range of savings offered by each provider.
While every effort is made to keep this comparison up-to-date, it is subject to change without notice. Please contact your home insurance provider if you have specific questions about your policy. Or, call 1.855.331.6933 to speak with a Square One agent. Our office is open 5:00 AM - 6:00 PM (Monday - Saturday). In addition to answering any questions you may have, we can also provide you with a free comparison quote.
The professionals that started Square One have more than a combined 100 years of experience in the insurance industry. They recognized that traditional home insurance wasn’t meeting the needs of customers. So, they designed a new program from scratch. As a result, you can now:
Industry experts recommend that you get comparison quotes every three years because:
With Square One, you get a knowledgeable team, fast service, excellent protection, great prices and more...
Most home insurance providers offer pre-packaged policies that cover a wide-range of property. For example, you automatically get 10% of the building limit for detached structures (whether you have any or not). Other providers, like Square One, let you choose what property to insure so you only pay for what you need.
Provided below is a comparison of the types of property insured and limits of insurance offered by each major provider in BC. This comparison is based on a house with a $500,000 rebuild value. After reviewing the comparison, decide whether a pre-packaged or a personalized policy is right for you.
Square One | Aviva | BCAA | Intact | RBC | |
Detached structures | Optional | $75,000 | $50,000 | $50,000 | $75,000 |
Personal property | $25,000+ | $400,000 | $350,000 | $400,000 | $400,000 |
Specialty property | |||||
Audio + video media | Personal property | $1,000 | $1,000 | $3,000 | $1,000 |
Bicycles | Optional | $1,000 | $1,000 | $3,000 | $1,000 |
Business property | Optional | $2,000 | $2,000 | $2,000 | $2,000 |
China | Optional | $10,000 | $6,000 | $6,000 | $10,000 |
Collectible cards | Optional | $5,000 | $2,500 | $8,500 | $2,500 |
Coin collections | Optional | $5,000 | $2,500 | $8,500 | $2,500 |
Computers | Personal property | $5,000 | $2,500 | $8,500 | $2,500 |
Fine arts | Optional | Personal property | Personal property | Personal property | $10,000 |
Square One | Aviva | BCAA | Intact | RBC | |
Garden-type tractors | Personal property | $5,000 | $2,500 | $2,500 | $2,500 |
Jewellery + watches | Optional | $6,000 | $10,000 | $7,500 | $6,000 |
Manuscripts + stamp collections | Optional | Personal property | Personal property | $10,000 | Personal property |
Money (including cash cards) | Not covered | Personal property | Personal property | $10,000 | Personal property |
Oriental rugs | Optional | Personal property | Personal property | $10,000 | Personal property |
Silverware | Optional | Personal property | Personal property | $10,000 | Personal property |
Sporting equipment | Optional | Personal property | Personal property | Personal property | Personal property |
Student’s property | Personal property | $10,000 | $3,000 | $1,000 | $1,000 |
Watercraft | Optional | $2,000 | $3,000 | $1,000 | $3,000 |
Additional living expenses | $10,000+ | $125,000 | $150,000 | $100,000 | $125,000 |
Personal and premises liability | $500,000+ | $1,000,000+ | $1,000,000+ | $1,000,000+ | $1,000,000+ |
Square One | Aviva | BCAA | Intact | RBC |
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When buying home insurance, it’s important to determine what type of policy is being offered by the provider. The three types of policies available are:
1. Comprehensive: Protects against all types of loss except for those specifically excluded in the policy.
2. Named perils: Protects against only specific types of loss listed in the policy.
3. Broad form: Protects building on a comprehensive basis and personal property on a named perils basis.
Comprehensive policies offer the best protection and named perils policies offer the worst protection. That said; not all comprehensive policies are the same. In some cases, you are charged extra for critical protection against certain loss types. The chart below compares the policy and loss types offered by each provider.
Square One | Aviva | BCAA | Intact | RBC | |
Policy type | |||||
Comprehensive (Best) | Included | Optional | Optional | Optional | Included |
Broad form | Not offered | Optional | Optional | Optional | Not offered |
Named perils (Worst) | Not offered | Optional | Optional | Optional | Not offered |
Loss type | |||||
Earthquake | Optional | Optional | Optional | Optional | Optional |
Inland (freshwater) flood | Included | Optional | Optional | Optional | Not offered |
Water backup | Included | Optional | Optional | Optional | Optional |
Water from external drains | Included | Included | Optional | Included | Included |
Hail | Included | Included | Included | Optional | Included |
Square One | Aviva | BCAA | Intact | RBC |
ready for an online quote? Your time matters, and so does your stuff. Get a personalized home insurance quote in 5 minutes. That’s less time than it takes to wait in line for coffee.
Before you start, please review our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Provided below are the most common discounts offered by home insurance providers. While some providers list discount amounts on the policy, others simply incorporate them into the final premium. Either way, you’re still receiving the same savings.
Selecting a higher deductible is another way that you can save money. A deductible is the amount that you are responsible for paying before your policy will respond. With some providers, you can save up to 30% by selecting a higher deductible.
Square One | Aviva | BCAA | Intact | RBC | |
Discount | |||||
Age-related | 45 years+ | 26 years+ | 45 years+ | 50 years+ | Included |
Claims free | 3 years+ | 3 years+ | 3 years+ | Variable | Included |
Home age | Included | Variable | Variable | Variable | Included |
Monitored alarm | Included | Variable | Variable | Variable | Variable |
Mortgage free | Included | Variable | Unknown | Variable | Variable |
Deductible | |||||
Standard | $500 to $5,000 | $500 to $2,500 | $500 to $2,500 | $500 to $2,500 | $500 to $5,000 |
Earthquake | 5% to 50% | 5% to 15% | 5% to 15% | 5% to 15% | 5% to 10% |
Square One | Aviva | BCAA | Intact | RBC |
Don’t just take our word for it. Here are some of the reviews that contribute to our average rating of 4.8 stars out of 5. Want to read more? Visit our reviews page.
This was the smoothest online buying experience I have ever had. Before Square One came to my attention, I suffered through a number of long-winded and frustrating review processes with other brand name insurers, only to be informed at the end of the process that they do not provide short-term renters insurance! Square One not only provides very cost-effective coverage, but the process was exceptionally painless. Highly recommended!
These guys are terrific! The entire online experience of purchasing was the easiest ever, and they blow the 'big guys' out of the water! The customer reps are exceptionally friendly, kind, and patient... I can't even begin to tell you. I also dealt with Rachel LaHay... she was outstanding and deserves a raise, recognition, and promotion. Not to mention, Square One is the cheapest quote I saw anywhere in Toronto. Thanks guys!
This entire process was the most painless I've experienced while getting auto insurance. The two folks I spoke with, Eran and Stephanie were delightful and absolutely helpful. 10/10 would do it again.
I was hesitant at first but once I got to the end, I realized that I could play around with deductibles and add or take away things I don’t need right now. I felt much better and my quote went down a couple hundred a year. I also really liked the fact that I didn’t have to talk to anyone or wait for a phone call. Once I was happy with my quote and ready to “sign on the dotted line” I clicked the button, paid the fee, and I’m done! Thanks for making it so easy!! :)
Eran Azan was the most helpful, friendly, and knowledgeable. He provided clear, thorough answers to all of my questions and concerns. Very assuring of all of the features of Square One, and is even going over the top - investigating a unique situation I have. I did not feel rushed or that any of my questions were not worthy. Eran made the whole experience feel incredibly empowering. Square One certainly is a competitor in the market of house insurance and I feel very confident with this coverage. Thank you so much, Eran, for such a pleasant call.
Square One is unique, not only in terms of affordability and customization, but also in the platform they've built - it's easy to use, easy to navigate, all policies are clearly laid out, and if you need customer support, they are very responsive by phone. I specifically spoke with Eric Smith who helped me complete my insurance purchase in no time.
Fantastic price and a totally hassle-free experience! Everything is super user-friendly and runs smoothly. I love how convenient it is — I can do it all online without having to talk to anyone. No surprises, no random fees — just consistent, affordable payments. So transparent and straightforward, it’s a breath of fresh air. I’m not even thinking about going anywhere else. Well done, Square One! You should be seriously proud!
I recently got tenant insurance with Square One, and I’m really impressed! Not only is their coverage comprehensive, but their prices are the cheapest I could find. The sign-up process was quick, and the customer service team was super helpful. I feel confident knowing my belongings are protected without breaking the bank. Highly recommend for anyone looking for affordable tenant insurance!
The website is incredibly user-friendly, making it easy to navigate and customize my policy. Everything was laid out clearly, from the types of coverage to the pricing, so I knew exactly what I was getting. The process was quick, straightforward, and stress-free—something I truly appreciate when dealing with insurance. It’s refreshing to see a company that prioritizes simplicity and transparency. Highly recommended for anyone looking for reliable, easy-to-manage insurance!
An easy and efficient process. The walk-through procedure and additional details on the question helped me understand the coverage. Also, before proceeding, I had the opportunity to make subtle changes and see how it impacted the cost, providing the ability for refinement to suit my needs and budgeting. I recommend trying the process yourself to understand how easy insurance can be.