Since its launch in 2016, Sonnet has been associated with some of the most prominent names in the Canadian insurance industry. Originally a division of Economical Insurance, it is now part of the parent company, Definity Financial Corporation.

Despite these connections, Sonnet car insurance policies are underwritten by Sonnet itself and can only be purchased directly through their website. But are they the right choice for your car insurance needs? That’s a decision only you can make.

In this article, you’ll learn more about Sonnet car insurance, 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 Sonnet?

YouSet combines the convenience of an online platform with the advantages of a licensed insurance broker, while Sonnet is a direct-to-consumer insurer that underwrites and sells its own policies.

As such, there are key differences between YouSet and Sonnet to consider, which you can see outlined clearly in the table below.

	YouSet	Sonnet
Type of provider	Digital insurance broker	Direct-to-consumer (D2C) insurer
Products	Home, tenant, condo, and car	Home, tenant, condo, car, pet, and landlord
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 Sonnet

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Sonnet car insurance pros and cons

As with any insurance provider, it’s important to understand what Sonnet 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.

Part of a broader insurance network

Sonnet Insurance was launched by Economical Insurance in 2016. In 2021, following Economical’s transition from a mutual to a publicly traded company, it became part of Definity Financial Corporation. This structure aligns Sonnet with other established companies, creating a sense of stability as part of a broader insurance group.  

Restricted to Sonnet products and pricing

Sonnet refers to themselves as a “direct writer,” which simply means that they (Sonnet Insurance Company) are the underwriters of all their own policies. Unlike brokers such as YouSet, which scans a network of multiple carriers to find you the best price, with Sonnet you’re limited to the products, prices, and discounts they offer.  

Select offering of personal insurance products

Sonnet offers a select range of insurance products, including car, home (homeowners, condo, and tenant), and pet insurance, designed to cover the basic needs of most Canadians.   

Only available in certain regions

Sonnet car insurance is available in Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island. While it previously operated in Alberta, the company stopped issuing new policies and renewing existing ones as of December 2024, citing “limited opportunities to grow profitably in the current auto insurance operating environment in Alberta.”  

24/7 emergency claim hotline

Sonnet offers customers a 24/7 hotline for emergency claims, which indicates that it is making an effort to create a more positive customer experience.   

Limited after-hours support

Besides a 24/7 emergency claims phone line and chatbot, support from a live Sonnet employee is only available “Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET”. If you need help from a human outside of these hours or live outside the Eastern Time Zone, you’ll likely have to wait until at least the next business day.   

Perks for Tangerine customers

If you’re a Tangerine client, you could be eligible for a discount on your car insurance premium and earn cash back when you pay your monthly bill with your Tangerine credit card. However, if you’re not already a Tangerine client, you’d need to switch your banking or open a new credit card, which might not be worth the effort for the savings you’d gain.  

Bundling savings may be limited

Bundling home and car insurance with Sonnet 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.  

Sonnet vs. YouSet car insurance

After getting a quote from Sonnet 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.