Ontario's Statutory Accident Benefits Schedule just got smaller, and here's what stays mandatory versus optional
Ontario’s Statutory Accident Benefits Schedule (SABS) just changed the rules of the road, literally. As of July 1, 2026, some of the coverage drivers used to get automatically now must be bought separately. Miss that fine print at renewal, and you might find out the hard way that your safety net has a few new holes in it. Here’s what actually changed, who it affects most, and why it matters for anyone handling a claim.
What the Statutory Accident Benefits Schedule reform changed
Ontario Regulation 383/24 amended the Statutory Accident Benefits Schedule (O. Reg. 34/10), and the changes took effect July 1, 2026. Before this date, every auto policy came with a standard set of no-fault benefits. That package has now been split in two:
- a small mandatory core, and
- a longer list of coverages drivers must actively choose and pay for
According to the Financial Services Regulatory Authority of Ontario (FSRA), the goal is to give drivers more flexibility to match coverage to their budget and needs. Insurers were required to file updated forms with FSRA ahead of the deadline, including new endorsements (OPCF 47R and OEF 47R) that spell out what’s optional and in what order it pays out.
Which benefits stay mandatory, and which now require opting in
Only three benefits remain automatic in every policy:
- medical benefits
- rehabilitation benefits
- attendant care benefits
The dollar limits for these did not change:
- $3,500 under the Minor Injury Guideline (MIR)
- $65,000 combined for non-catastrophic impairments
- $1 million for catastrophic impairments
Everything else now needs an opt-in, including:
- Income replacement
- Non-earner benefits
- Caregiver benefits
- Housekeeping and home maintenance
- Death and funeral benefits
- Visitor expenses
- Lost educational expenses
- Damage to personal items
There’s one practical upside to all of these: auto insurers must now pay first for medical and rehabilitation treatment, ahead of workplace or private health plans, which should speed up access to care.
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Who risks losing coverage under the new eligibility rules
Even drivers who keep their optional benefits should check who else is covered. Under the reform, optional benefits now apply only to:
- the named insured
- their spouse
- their dependants
- drivers listed on the policy
This means that pedestrians, cyclists, and passengers who fall outside these categories can lose access to optional benefits entirely, even if the at-fault driver bought full coverage. They still qualify for the mandatory benefits, just not the rest.
In other words, fewer people overall are covered than before, and family members who assumed they were protected may not be.
What this means for personal injury lawyers and claimants
For personal injury lawyers, coverage review is no longer a formality, it is the starting point of every file. It is now recommended pulling every applicable policy early to confirm what was actually elected at renewal, since silence does not always mean the same coverage carried over.
Self-employed clients face the sharpest exposure, having no employer disability backstop if income replacement was never purchased. Expect more of these losses to show up in tort claims instead of benefit claims, and expect renewal paperwork to become a bigger part of the intake conversation with every new client.
Bookmark Canadian Lawyer’s Personal Injury page for more news, articles, and updates for Canadian legal professionals, including the updates on the Statutory Accident Benefits Schedule.
