Sonnet Car Insurance Review (2026)
Sonnet Insurance: The basics
- Founded: 2016 (10 years in business)
- Parent company: Definity Financial Corporation
- Underwriting companies: Sonnet Insurance Company
- Website: www.sonnet.ca
- Phone number: Agents available by chat or email only
- Availability: Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island
- Car insurance products: Auto insurance
What does Sonnet car insurance cover?
All Sonnet car insurance policies in Ontario include the following coverage required by provincial law:
- Liability insurance: If you’re determined to be fully or partially at fault in an accident, this cover can pay for other parties’ medical expenses or property repairs, or for your own legal costs if you’re sued.
- Accident benefits: Regardless of who’s at fault in an accident, accident benefits offer first-party coverage through your own insurer for medical bills and related costs for yourself and your family. Medical, rehabilitation, and attendant care benefits are required by law; all other benefits will be optional as of July 1, 2026.
- Uninsured motorist coverage: Although Sonnet doesn’t list this coverage on their website, uninsured automobile insurance is required by law in Ontario. This covers your medical costs and some vehicle repairs if you’re struck by an uninsured or unidentified driver.
Family protection, or Endorsement 44R, isn’t technically mandatory in Ontario, but you’re likely to see it included in all Sonnet car insurance policies. This optional endorsement extends your medical coverage for accidents with an underinsured at-fault driver to match your own liability limits.
As of 2024, direct compensation property damage (DCPD) coverage isn’t required in Ontario, but it’s still included in all Sonnet policies by default and can only be removed if you request the change in writing. DCPD coverage pays for damage to your vehicle caused by an identified at-fault driver.
Optional Sonnet car insurance coverages and endorsements
In addition to the core insurance coverage required by provincial law, Sonnet offers the following optional coverage to drivers in Ontario:
- Collision or upset: This coverage pays to repair your vehicle if it’s damaged in an accident (including single-car collision and rollover events), regardless of who’s at fault.
- Comprehensive: This coverage pays for damage or loss to your vehicle caused by something other than a collision, such as severe weather, vandalism, or theft.
- Accident forgiveness: If you’ve maintained a clean driving record for at least six years, you can add this endorsement to prevent your premium from going up as the result of your first at-fault accident.
- Ticket forgiveness: With this endorsement on your policy, your premium won’t increase after your first minor ticket.
- Enhanced protection bundle: This Ontario-exclusion endorsement bundle includes loss of use coverage that can help to pay for a rental car if your vehicle’s damaged by a covered peril, damage to non-owned vehicle coverage, roadside assistance, and a hit-and-run deductible waiver.
Endorsements and optional coverage may look different in other provinces. You can get quotes online or speak with a Sonnet representative to see what coverage options you’re eligible for outside of Ontario.
Sonnet car insurance discounts
Sonnet advertises five discounts for car insurance customers:
- Home and auto bundling discount: Sonnet customers can save 25% or more on home and auto insurance when they purchase both types of policy from Sonnet. You could also save by bundling condo or tenant insurance with an auto insurance policy.
- Group and affinity discounts: Sonnet offers a wide range of discounts for employees of various Canadian companies as well as college and university alumni from approved institutions and Tangerine Bank clients.
- Good driver discounts: If you maintain a clean driving record for at least six years, you may qualify for an unspecified discount on your Sonnet auto insurance policy.
- Winter tire discount: Ontario drivers who install winter tires throughout the whole season could earn a discount.
- Anti-theft device discount: While this is technically a surcharge waiver, not a discount, customers in high-theft areas like Brampton could avoid high rates by installing an approved anti-theft device on their vehicle.
Sonnet may offer other discounts that aren’t explicitly advertised online. Sonnet auto insurance customers also qualify for perks and discounts from non-insurance partners through Sonnet Connect.
Sonnet’s usage-based insurance discount: Sonnet Shift
In Ontario, Sonnet customers can enroll in Sonnet Shift, a usage-based insurance (UBI) discount program with discounted rates for safe drivers.
- How it works: The Sonnet Insurance app uses GPS technology and vehicle data to track driving habits in real time. Your auto premium can be adjusted on the basis of your driving every three months.
- What it tracks: Braking, acceleration, mobile phone use, speed, trip length/duration, time of day, and road risk
- Activation discount: 10%
- Maximum discount: 35%
- Maximum potential penalty: 30%
- Optional mileage discount: Up to 10%
How much does Sonnet car insurance cost?
Sonnet doesn’t issue car insurance quotes online without a valid driver’s license number, so we weren’t able to view sample quotes or analyze how Sonnet’s rates change based on coverage selections or the drivers listed on the policy.
Sonnet states that the median annual premium for its customers is $2,006, or about $167/month. In Ontario, Sonnet’s self-reported average rate is $280/month.
However, these figures don’t take into account the most common coverage levels selected by Sonnet customers or the discounts they qualify for. While user reports online indicate that Sonnet’s average premiums are fairly low, be aware that your rates from Sonnet will depend on:
- Your age and driving experience: Drivers under age 25 and anyone with only a few years of driving experience can expect to pay higher rates based on the risk of accidents associated with inexperienced drivers.
- Your location: Car insurance typically costs more in urban areas that see heavy traffic and high rates of auto theft. Customers in the Greater Toronto Area, for instance, may pay higher premiums.
- Your driving record: A clean driving record will qualify you for the lowest possible premiums from Sonnet, while a single ticket or at-fault accident could raise your rates.
- Your vehicle: The cheapest vehicles to insure are typically compact or mid-sized SUVs, minivans, and other vehicles with excellent safety ratings. Small cars, luxury vehicles, and any car or truck with a large engine or high performance specs is likely to carry higher rates.
The Sonnet car insurance claims process
If you need to file a car insurance claim with Sonnet, here’s what you can expect the process to look like.
- Look up your policy information: You’ll need your policy number to file a claim with Sonnet. This is also a good time to check your coverage details and make sure you understand your plan’s coverage and limits.
- Submit your claim: Whether you file online or by phone, provide as much information as possible, including a description of the incident, a police report (if applicable), and any photo or video documentation of damage to your vehicle.
- Pick your repair shop: Sonnet’s claim adjuster may direct you to a shop in their preferred repair network. While working with a preferred shop could help to streamline your claim, you can always opt to work with a trusted shop outside Sonnet’s network if you prefer.
- Work with the claims adjuster and repairer to reach a settlement: Stay in contact with your repair shop and adjuster until they determine what it will cost to repair your vehicle and how much insurance will cover. You’ll need to authorize repairs on your vehicle before work can begin.
- Receive payment: Sonnet may mail a cheque to you or directly to your repair shop in order to cover the damage.
If you file a claim with Sonnet, you can typically expect your insurance premium to go up at your next policy renewal. The size of the increase may depend on the size and circumstances of the claim.
You can submit a car insurance claim to Sonnet online by logging into your Sonnet account or by phone by calling 1-844-766-6384.
Is Sonnet good for claims?
To determine whether Sonnet does a good job of meeting customer expectations in the claims process, we scoured Reddit for discussions of Sonnet’s claim service. We found mixed but overall positive reviews.
Sonnet car insurance vs. other providers
Here’s how Sonnet compares to two other major car insurance companies in Canada.
* Average monthly premium for an all perils policy for two drivers and two vehicles.
Is Sonnet car insurance right for you?
Sonnet car insurance may be a great option for customers in the provinces where they offer auto insurance who qualify for affinity discounts or prefer a self-service insurance experience.
As a direct-to-consumer digital insurance carrier, Sonnet may be a particularly good fit for younger drivers. Few insurers do such a good job of explaining coverage options for customers getting quotes for the first time, which could help first-time car owners avoid underinsuring their vehicles (or paying too much for coverage they don’t need). That said, because Sonnet is a newer insurer, its reputation for claims service isn’t well established.
FAQ: Sonnet car insurance
This article is for general information only and is not insurance or legal advice. Examples and any sample quotes or rate ranges are illustrative and do not constitute an offer or guarantee of coverage, price, or eligibility. Actual coverage, discounts, and premiums depend on your individual circumstances and the insurer provider; if there is any discrepancy, your policy and insurer documentation govern. For advice about your situation, speak with one of our licensed insurance professionals.