How to check an insurance company in Canada

1. Take the legal names from your documents

Write down the underwriting insurer, the broker or agent, and any registration numbers shown. Keep each role on a separate line. A logo or group name may identify several businesses, so use the full company name when you search.

For a renewal, keep the previous and new policy documents together. Ask the business to explain any change of insurer or legal name before treating two records as the same company.

2. Check the province or territory

The Financial Consumer Agency of Canada directs consumers to provincial and territorial regulators to confirm an insurer, agent or broker’s licensing or registration. Follow the official regulator’s instructions for the type of business you are checking.

• FCAC: insurance regulation
• CCIR: provincial and territorial regulators

3. Understand the federal check

OSFI supervises federally registered financial institutions, including insurance companies. Its list is a useful additional identity check for a federally regulated insurer. Use the provincial or territorial check for the business and service you need locally.

• OSFI: financial institutions

4. Confirm contact and policy details

Open the official source yourself. Compare the business name and contact details with your quote before calling or sending documents. If names differ, ask which company will issue the policy and which business will help with changes or claims.

For auto insurance, begin with the province and separate mandatory from optional cover. Public and private arrangements differ across Canada; use the province-specific starting point on our Canada page.

5. Keep a comparison you can use

Save the profiles you want to revisit to your shortlist. Alongside each quote, keep the insurer’s full name, cover limits, exclusions, excess or deductible, and the contact responsible for your policy. Compare the same cover and dates.