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 home insurance for homeowners, condo 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? Not necessarily. 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. Also, since Desjardins doesn’t compare quotes from multiple carriers as a broker like YouSet would, it’s crucial to explore other options to ensure you’re getting the best possible price.
| Pros | Cons |
| In-person service | Cannot checkout online |
| Range of financial products | Restricted to Desjardins products |
| Trusted name in the finance industry | Only available in a few provinces |
| Bundle and pay one deductible | Combined coverages may limit flexibility |
✅ 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.
❌ Cannot checkout online, phone call required
Although Desjardins provides online quotes, you’ll typically be prompted to call them directly and speak with a sales representative to complete your purchase, which may be off-putting for some.
✅ 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.
❌ 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.
✅ 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.
❌ Only available in a few provinces
Desjardins home insurance is available in some provinces but not all. As of January 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.
✅ 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. While this can be appealing, it’s important to note that you must purchase both policies from Desjardins for it to apply. Also, while they advertise a bundling discount, a mix-and-match approach could potentially offer more savings and flexibility.
❌ Combined coverages may limit flexibility
With Desjardins home insurance, overland water and sewer backup coverage are combined 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.
Desjardins vs. YouSet home insurance
While getting a home insurance quote from Desjardins 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, like YouSet.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
