Sonnet Insurance Review: Is This Digital Home and Auto Insurer Worth It?

Sonnet Insurance sells home and auto insurance entirely online, underwritten by its own insurance company and backed by the Definity Financial group, which also owns Economical Insurance.

Sonnet at a glance

Products offered

Home insurance

Sonnet sells homeowner, condo, tenant and landlord insurance, and pet insurance (pet policies are underwritten by Petline Insurance Company, another Definity company). Coverage options, sublimits and add-ons such as overland water vary by province and policy, so compare the policy wording, not just the price, when you quote.

Auto insurance

Sonnet sells personal auto insurance in Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and P.E.I.. It does not sell auto insurance in British Columbia or Alberta, where it offers home insurance only, or anywhere in Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Newfoundland and Labrador or the territories. A Sonnet auto policy includes the coverages each province makes mandatory, and collision and comprehensive can be added; what those two cover is explained in collision vs comprehensive insurance.

Pricing: how Sonnet compares

There is no published data comparing Sonnet’s prices with other insurers’, and any single example would not tell you what you would pay. Insurers each weigh age, driving record, vehicle, postal code and claims history differently, so Sonnet can be the lowest quote for one household and not for another. Two practical points:

• Brokers cannot quote Sonnet. Sonnet policies must be bought directly, so a broker’s comparison will not include it. Get a Sonnet quote alongside a broker quote.
• Bundling changes the comparison. Sonnet’s home and auto bundle discount means the combined price can compare differently from either policy on its own.

Our guide to cheap car insurance in Ontario covers other ways to lower an Ontario premium.

Claims

Sonnet claims are started online through your account or by phone. Online-only claims handling suits straightforward claims well. The main trade-off shows up in large or disputed claims: there is no broker to advocate for you, so if you disagree with a settlement you use Sonnet’s complaint process and then the General Insurance OmbudService (Sonnet Insurance Company subscribes to it) or your provincial regulator. The General Insurance OmbudService (GIO) is free to consumers and can review a home, car or business insurance complaint against an insurer that subscribes to it, once the insurer has issued its final position letter; it does not handle the cost of insurance and rates, the availability of insurance, dispute procedures set by law or a regulator, or matters that are or have been before the courts, and its recommendations are not binding. How a total loss settlement is calculated, and how to challenge a low offer from any insurer, is covered in what happens when your car is written off.

Sonnet Shift telematics: is it worth it?

Sonnet Shift is Sonnet’s usage-based program for drivers in Ontario and Québec. The Sonnet app records your trips and gives a Driving Score from 0 to 100 based on the last 90 days, weighing, in order of impact, smooth driving, phone use, speed, fatigue, time of day and road risk.

Because Shift can raise the premium as well as lower it, it suits drivers who are confident their habits score well: smooth braking, little phone use, moderate speeds and mostly daytime driving.

Verdict

Sonnet delivers on its core promise: fast, online home and auto insurance sold directly rather than through brokers, from an insurer that underwrites its own policies within the Definity group. The bundle discount and Sonnet Shift can make it competitive for the right households, but auto insurance is only available in Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and P.E.I..

Sonnet may suit: households in its auto provinces with straightforward coverage needs who are comfortable managing insurance online; safe drivers in Ontario and Quebec willing to use Shift; homeowners and tenants in British Columbia and Alberta looking for home insurance only.

A broker may suit you better if: you have recent claims or convictions, young drivers or high-risk vehicles; you need commercial coverage, high-value property limits or rental income coverage; you want someone to advocate for you in a complex claim; or you live in British Columbia or Alberta and need auto insurance.

Sonnet vs competitors

Frequently asked questions

Is Sonnet Insurance legitimate and financially stable? Yes. Sonnet policies are underwritten by Sonnet Insurance Company, part of Definity Financial Corporation, which is listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange (DFY) and traces its heritage back more than 150 years through Economical Insurance.

Does Sonnet have good claims service? Experiences vary with the size of the claim. Online reporting and 24/7 claims support suit simple claims; for complex or disputed claims, the lack of a broker is the main drawback.

Related pages

• Best car insurance companies in Canada
• Cheap car insurance in Ontario
• Car insurance in Ontario
• Best home insurance in Canada