As the trusted name behind one of Canada’s oldest roadside assistance programs and a popular provider of car insurance, many homeowners turn to CAA for their home insurance needs. However, with so many other home insurance providers in Canada to choose from, it’s important to carefully evaluate your options before making a final decision.
In fact, if your goal is to find the provider that strikes the right balance of coverage, pricing, and features, your best course of action is to start by weighing the benefits and drawbacks of CAA home insurance, and then comparing it to alternative providers, such as YouSet. Doing so will ensure you’re getting the most value for your coverage and making the best decision for your unique needs as a homeowner in Canada.
| Pros | Cons |
| Discount for CAA members | Restricted to CAA products |
| Includes travel medical insurance | Cannot checkout online |
| Access to phone assistance helplines | Limited online reviews |
| Optional coverage for electronics and appliances | Combined coverages may limit flexibility |
✅ Discount for CAA members
If you’re already one of the approximately 7 million Canadians who are CAA members, you will automatically receive a 10% discount on homeowners insurance. However, if you’re not, the discount might not hold much value, as you’d need to pay for a membership to access the savings.
❌ Restricted to CAA products and pricing
Since CAA home insurance policies are underwritten by the company’s own insurer, you are limited to their products, prices, and discounts. In contrast, when you shop with a broker like YouSet, multiple carriers are considered, ensuring a broader selection and increasing your chances of finding the best possible price.
✅ Includes emergency travel medical insurance
CAA home insurance includes emergency travel medical insurance, covering unexpected accidents, illnesses, or injuries while travelling, with up to $5 million in expenses. Depending on how much you travel or your needs, this might be an added bonus. However, for those who already have or prefer more comprehensive travel insurance, it may not provide much additional value.
❌ Cannot checkout online, phone call required
Although you can get a home insurance quote through your regional CAA Club’s website, the option to purchase a policy online may not be available in all regions. In many cases, you’ll need to contact a CAA sales representative by phone to complete your purchase.
✅ Optional coverage for electronics and appliances
CAA gives homeowners the option to add coverage for electronics and appliances in the event of unexpected mechanical, electrical, or pressure system failures. Since your home’s systems, like kitchen appliances, washing machines, dryers, air conditioning units, and media equipment, can all be costly to repair or replace, this coverage can provide peace of mind by helping with the associated costs.
❌ Limited online reviews
Since CAA operates through a network of regional clubs, online reviews can vary widely. For example, CAA South Central Ontario has a rating of 1.9 out of 5 stars on TrustPilot, which might inform your decision if you’re buying from that specific club, but not necessarily if you’re located in another part of the country. This decentralized structure can also make it challenging to find reviews for CAA insurance as a whole and get a sense of their reputation from a broader perspective.
✅ Access to phone assistance helplines
CAA home insurance includes free access to five specialized assistance helplines on legal matters, identity theft, home maintenance, personal life issues, pet health, and general health concerns.
❌ Combined coverages may limit flexibility
CAA’s “comprehensive water coverage” combines both overland water and sewer backup coverage into a single package, which could be a good option for some homeowners. However, it may limit flexibility for those who only need one of these coverages or want the option to choose specific water-related protections based on their unique circumstances.
CAA vs. YouSet home insurance
While getting a home insurance quote from CAA is a good starting point, the only way to know for sure if it’s the best possible price out there is to compare it with quotes from other providers.
Fortunately, YouSet makes it easy to compare multiple carriers, not just one, in minutes. By having insurance providers compete for your business, we help you secure the best possible price year after year. But that’s not all. Here are some of the additional benefits of buying with YouSet.
Best price year-after-year
YouSet’s algorithms are designed to do one thing – find you the best price. Not just the first time you buy either. If your price increases at renewal, we’ll alert you and even help you re-shop with another carrier.
Highly reviewed by Canadians
With an overall rating of 4.8 out of 5 stars on Google, the general consensus among YouSet users is that YouSet is making it easier to find affordable home insurance and buy it online at the best price year after year.
Transparent renewals
When your policy comes up for renewal, the YouSet team will make sure you’re paying the best price possible for it. If that’s no longer working, we’ll help you re-shop another carrier for a better deal.
Buy, manage, and renew your policy online
Whether you’re purchasing a policy, making modifications to it, or renewing it, with YouSet’s self-serve features, you can do it all online without ever having to make a phone call.
Mix-and-match approach to bundling
YouSet is the only digital broker in Canada that automatically compares the cost of bundling home and car insurance from a single carrier against the cost of mix-and-matching home and car carriers. Whichever option offers the maximum savings is the one we present to you.
