Insurance Glossary

Accident Benefits are no-fault coverages on every Ontario auto policy that pay for medical care, rehabilitation, income replacement, and other support if you are injured in a collision — no matter who caused it. They are governed by Ontario’s Statutory Accident Benefits Schedule (SABS).

Actual Cash Value (ACV) is what your property is worth today: its replacement cost minus depreciation for age and wear. An ACV settlement pays that depreciated value, so it is usually less than the cost of a brand-new replacement.

An additional insured is a person or business added to someone else’s policy so they are covered for liability arising from that policyholder’s work — common when a client or landlord requires it in a contract. It is usually confirmed on a certificate of insurance.

An aggregate limit is the most your policy will pay for all covered claims during the policy term, no matter how many claims occur. It works alongside the per-occurrence limit (which caps any single claim) — once the aggregate is used up, the policy pays no more until it renews.

An Agreement to Bond is a surety’s written commitment, provided at bid time, confirming it will issue the required performance and payment bonds if the contractor wins the contract. Owners often require it with a bid as proof that the contractor can be bonded for the job.

A bid bond is a surety bond that guarantees you will honour your bid and enter into the contract if you win. It protects the project owner if a contractor backs out after being awarded the job, and is commonly required to bid on public and larger private construction projects.

A binder is temporary proof of insurance confirming coverage is in place before the full policy documents are issued. It states the key terms — coverage, limits, and dates — and is legally binding until the policy is delivered or the binder expires.

Business interruption coverage replaces lost income and pays ongoing expenses when a covered event, like a fire, forces your business to close or scale back. It helps cover payroll, rent, and lost profits during the time it takes to return to normal operations.

A Certificate of Insurance (COI) is a one-page summary proving you have active coverage — the policy types, limits, and dates. Clients, landlords, and general contractors commonly require one before you start work or sign a lease.

A claim is a formal request to your insurer for payment after a covered loss. Once you report it, an adjuster reviews the damage, applies your coverage and deductible, and determines the settlement.

Claims advocacy means your broker works on your behalf during a claim — helping you report it, pushing for a fair settlement, and explaining your options. As an independent broker, Roughley advocates for you, not the insurer.

Coinsurance is a clause — common on commercial property — that requires you to insure your property to a set percentage of its value (often 80–100%). If you are underinsured below that level, your claim payment is reduced by a penalty, even on a partial loss.

Collision coverage pays to repair or replace your vehicle after it hits another vehicle or object, or rolls over — regardless of fault. It is optional in Ontario but usually required if your vehicle is financed or leased.

Commercial General Liability (CGL) is the foundational business liability policy. It covers third-party bodily injury, property damage, and personal injury (such as libel or slander) arising from your operations, premises, or products, plus legal defence.

Comprehensive coverage pays for damage to your vehicle from non-collision events — theft, vandalism, fire, hail, falling objects, and animal strikes. It is optional in Ontario and is often bought together with collision coverage.

A deductible is the amount you pay out of pocket on a claim before your insurance starts paying. A higher deductible usually lowers your premium; a lower deductible means less out-of-pocket cost when you claim.

Depreciation is the loss in value of property as it ages and wears out. On an actual cash value claim, your insurer subtracts depreciation from the replacement cost, so older items pay out less than the cost of buying new.

Direct Compensation – Property Damage (DCPD) is the Ontario auto coverage that pays for damage to your vehicle and its contents when another driver is at fault. It is called “direct” because you deal with your own insurer, who pays you directly.

An endorsement (also called a rider) is an add-on that changes your policy by adding, removing, or adjusting coverage. In Ontario auto, standardized endorsements are called OPCFs (Ontario Policy Change Forms).

Errors & Omissions (E&O), also called Professional Liability, covers claims that your professional advice, design, or service caused a client financial loss. It is essential for consultants, engineers, brokers, and other advice-based businesses.

An exclusion is something your policy specifically does not cover. Reading the exclusions matters as much as reading what is covered — common examples include normal wear and tear, certain water damage, and intentional acts.

Hazard insurance is the part of a property policy that covers physical damage to your home or building from perils like fire, wind, and hail. The term is used mostly by U.S. mortgage lenders; in Ontario it is simply the property-damage portion of a standard home or commercial policy.

An independent broker represents you, not a single insurance company. Because they work with many carriers, they can shop the market for the right coverage and price, give unbiased advice, and advocate for you at claim time — unlike a captive agent or a direct insurer that only sells its own policies.

A labour and material payment bond guarantees that a contractor will pay its subcontractors, workers, and suppliers on a project. It protects those parties from non-payment and helps keep the project free of liens, and is usually issued alongside a performance bond.

Liability coverage pays for bodily injury or property damage you are legally responsible for, plus the cost of defending you. It is a core part of home, auto, and business policies and protects your assets if you are sued.

Loss of use coverage, also called Additional Living Expenses (ALE), pays the extra costs of living elsewhere — such as a hotel and meals — when a covered loss makes your home temporarily uninhabitable. It covers the gap between your normal expenses and the higher costs you face while displaced.

A multi-line discount, or bundling, is a reduced rate for insuring more than one policy with the same insurer — most often home and auto together. Bundling can lower your overall premium and simplify billing and claims.

The named insured is the person or business listed on the policy as the policyholder. They hold the rights and responsibilities under the contract; others may be covered as additional insureds or household members, but the named insured controls the policy.

Named perils and all-risk describe how broadly a policy covers causes of loss. A named-perils policy covers only the perils it lists; an all-risk policy covers all causes except those it explicitly excludes — broader protection, usually at a higher premium.

An occurrence is an event — or repeated exposure to the same harmful conditions — that causes covered injury or damage during the policy period. Most liability policies are written on an occurrence basis, so they respond to incidents that happen while the policy is in force, even if the claim is reported later.

Overland water coverage protects your home when water enters from the surface — heavy rain, spring melt, or an overflowing lake or river. It is an optional add-on in Ontario; standard home policies generally exclude this kind of flooding.

A performance bond guarantees that a contractor will complete a project according to the contract. If the contractor defaults, the surety steps in to see the work finished or compensates the owner, up to the bond amount (often a large percentage of the contract value).

A peril is a specific cause of loss a policy may cover — for example fire, theft, windstorm, or water damage. Policies are written either as named perils (only listed causes are covered) or all-risk (everything is covered except stated exclusions).

Your policy limit is the most your insurer will pay for a covered loss. Limits can apply per claim, per coverage, or as an aggregate over the policy term, so choosing adequate limits is key to avoiding out-of-pocket gaps.

Your premium is the amount you pay your insurer for coverage, usually monthly or annually. It is priced on your risk, the coverages and limits you choose, your deductible, and any discounts you qualify for.

Renewal is when your policy term ends and continues for another term, usually a year. Your insurer re-rates the policy at renewal, so premiums and terms can change — a good moment to review your coverage with your broker and shop the market.

Replacement cost coverage pays to repair or replace damaged property with new materials of similar kind and quality, without deducting depreciation. It usually costs a bit more than actual cash value coverage but pays more at claim time.

Sewer backup coverage pays for damage when water or sewage backs up into your home through drains, sewers, or a failed sump pump. It is an optional endorsement on most Ontario home policies and is separate from overland water coverage.

Subrogation is the process where your insurer, after paying your claim, pursues the at-fault party (or their insurer) to recover the money. It is why your insurer may ask for details about who caused the loss.

An umbrella policy adds extra liability limits on top of your home, auto, or business policies. It kicks in when a large claim exceeds the underlying policy’s limit, protecting your assets against major lawsuits.

Underwriting is how an insurer evaluates your risk to decide whether to offer coverage, on what terms, and at what price. Underwriters weigh factors like your claims history, the property or vehicle details, and the kind of business you run.

A waiver of subrogation is a clause where your insurer gives up its right to recover a claim payment from a specific third party — often required in commercial contracts so the parties do not sue each other after a loss. It is commonly requested alongside being named an additional insured.