Desjardins Insurance, part of the Desjardins Group, is the second-largest general insurer in Canada. Underwritten in Quebec by Desjardins General Insurance Inc. and in Ontario, Alberta, and New Brunswick by Certas Home & Auto, Desjardins offers insurance for homeowners, condo unit owners, and tenants, along with car insurance and a wide array of financial services and products.
But is popularity and size enough when choosing the company that will protect what, for many, is the largest investment of their life? That’s a decision only you can make.
That’s why it’s essential to do your research (as you’re already doing by reading this article!) and weigh both the advantages and potential drawbacks before choosing a home insurance provider.
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 home insurance pros and cons
Whether you’re a homeowner, renter, or condo owner, if you’re considering Desjardins for home insurance, then it’s important to understand what it offers and what it doesn’t. This is key to helping you determine if it aligns with what you’re looking for in a home insurance provider.
Pros
- Trusted name in the finance industry
- Bundle and pay one deductible
- In-person service
- Range of financial services and products
Cons
- Online checkout might be limited
- Restricted to Desjardins products and pricing
- Only available in a few provinces
- Bundling savings may be limited
Trusted name in the finance industry
As part of the largest cooperative financial group in Canada, Desjardins Insurance benefits from the financial stability and resources of a large and established financial institution, ensuring they can fulfill their obligations to policyholders.
Online checkout might be limited
Desjardins allows you to get a quote and, for many, to purchase home 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.
Bundle and pay one deductible
If you insure both your car and home with Desjardins, you’ll only pay one deductible (the higher one) if both are damaged in the same event.
Restricted to Desjardins products and pricing
Desjardins home insurance is underwritten by Certas Home and Auto in Ontario, Alberta, and New Brunswick, and Desjardins General Insurance Inc. in Quebec. Given that both underwriters are part of the Desjardins Group, you are confined to their products, pricing, and discounts. On the other hand, when you shop with a broker like YouSet, multiple carriers are considered, maximizing your chances of finding the best possible price.
In-person service
It is becoming increasingly rare to find in-person service, and yet Desjardins continues to offer face-to-face services for those who prefer a traditional approach. 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.
Only available in a few provinces
Desjardins home insurance is available in some provinces but not all. As of December 2025, coverage is available to residents in Alberta, New Brunswick, Ontario, and Quebec, but not in British Columbia, Prince Edward Island, Manitoba, Nova Scotia, Nunavut, Saskatchewan, Newfoundland and Labrador, Northwest Territories, or Yukon.
Range of financial services and products
In addition to home and car insurance, Desjardins offers a range of other personal financial services, including credit cards, mortgages, loans and credit, wealth management, and group retirement savings. While the convenience of having everything with one provider can be appealing, it might not always outweigh the potential cost savings and flexibility you could find by exploring other options.
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 home insurance
After getting a home insurance quote from Desjardins, it’s wise to compare quotes 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.
We do the searching, you get the savings
