Maybe you’ve seen their name while shopping around for insurance for your car, heard one of their ads, or already use Desjardins for home insurance or banking. Whatever the reason may be, you might be considering getting Desjardins car insurance.
But are they the right fit? Do they offer the coverage you need at a price that works for your budget?
In this article, you’ll learn more about Desjardins, the potential pros and cons to consider, and how it’s different from an insurance broker like YouSet. That way, you can make the most informed decision and choose a provider that matches your needs and expectations.
How is YouSet different from Desjardins?
YouSet combines the convenience of an online platform with the advantages of a licensed insurance broker, while Desjardins is a direct-to-consumer insurer that underwrites and sells its own policies.
As such, there are key differences between YouSet and Desjardins to consider, which you can see outlined clearly in the table below.
| YouSet | Desjardins | |
| Type of provider | Digital insurance broker | Direct-to-consumer (D2C) insurer |
| Products | Home, tenant, condo, and car | Home, tenant, condo, car, recreational vehicle, travel, pet, and health |
| Number of insurers | 18 insurers (Full list of YouSet insurers) | 1 insurer (themselves) |
| Price comparison | Side-by-side comparison, shows multiple quotes | No comparison, only shows one quote (their own) |
| Underwriting | Does not underwrite policies | Direct writer (underwrites its own policies) |
| Checkout | Online checkout or by phone | Online checkout or by phone |
| Claims | Claims handled by the insurer, additional support from YouSet, as needed | Claims handled directly by Desjardins |
Desjardins car insurance pros and cons
As with any insurance provider, it’s important to understand what Desjardins offers and what it doesn’t. This is key to helping you determine if it aligns with what you’re looking for in a car insurance provider.
Pros
- Second biggest P&C insurance group
- Buy in person
- Online or in-person claims
- Range of financial services and products
Cons
- Online checkout might be limited
- Restricted to Desjardins products and pricing
- Only available in certain regions
- Bundling savings may be limited
Second biggest property/casualty insurance group in Canada
In the past 75 years, Desjardins has become a household name in the Canadian insurance market. Today, it ranks as the second-largest property and casualty insurance group in the country. For many customers, that kind of size and market presence can offer added confidence and a sense of stability when choosing an insurance provider.
Online checkout might be limited
Desjardins allows you to get a quote and, for many, to purchase car insurance online. However, a fully digital checkout isn’t guaranteed. If you don’t meet certain criteria, you may be prompted to call and speak with a sales representative to complete your purchase.
Buy in person
It is becoming increasingly rare to find in-person service, and yet Desjardins continues to offer face-to-face services through a network of local agents. Bear in mind, though, that the agents at these locations only sell Desjardins products, so it will be entirely up to you to do your due diligence and ensure you’re getting the best value.
Restricted to Desjardins products and pricing
For car insurance purchased through a Desjardins agent, coverage is underwritten by Certas Home and Auto Insurance Company. If purchased directly from Desjardins, it is underwritten by Certas Direct Insurance Company.
Since both underwriters are part of the Desjardins Group, your choices are limited to their products, pricing, and discounts. This restriction means you won’t have the flexibility to shop multiple carriers, which can sometimes limit your ability to find the best rate.
Online or in-person claims
Desjardins allows policyholders to file and manage car insurance claims online, via a mobile app, by phone, or in person when repairs are made at an approved repair shop. This flexibility lets customers choose the method that best suits their needs for reporting and tracking a claim.
Only available in certain regions
Desjardins car insurance is available in Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, and Alberta. It is not, however, listed as one of the available insurance products in Manitoba, Saskatchewan, British Columbia, Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nunavut, the Northwest Territories, or Yukon.
Range of financial services and products
In addition to home and car insurance, Desjardins offers a variety of personal financial services, including wealth management and retirement planning. While this might seem convenient, it doesn’t always outweigh the potential cost savings and flexibility you could find by exploring alternative car insurance providers.
Bundling savings may be limited
Bundling home and car insurance with Desjardins can save you money, as advertised. However, bundling with a single carrier doesn’t always offer the most savings possible. Rather, a mix-and-match approach to bundling, where products and pricing from multiple carriers are considered and combined, can help you maximize your savings and find the most cost-effective solution.
Desjardins vs. YouSet car insurance
After getting a quote from Desjardins and doing your own research, it’s always wise to compare the quoted price to a policy from an alternative provider, such as YouSet, to see if that’s truly the best price you can get or if there’s a better deal available.
Since 2017, YouSet has been making it easier for Canadians to buy home and car insurance online. Why spend hours manually comparing quotes when our proprietary technology can do it all for you in less than 4 minutes? Not only that, but we’ll also have Canada’s top insurance providers competing for your business, ensuring you get the best price year after year. With over 300,000 users and an average online review rating of 4.9 stars, YouSet is a broker well worth considering.
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.
Transparent renewals
Anytime a YouSet insurance policy comes up for renewal, our team will make sure you’re paying the best price possible for your policy. If that’s no longer working, we’ll help you re-shop another carrier for a better deal.
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.
Buy, manage, and renew your policy online
How much easier would it be if you could purchase a policy, personalize it to fit your needs, make modifications to it, and renew it, all without having to make any phone calls or wait on hold? With YouSet, you can do all that and more with our self-serve features.
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 insurance and buy it online at the best price year after year.
