Compare the best home insurance quotes in Vancouver for free.

While property insurance in Vancouver doesn’t differ greatly from property insurance in other cities, there are some specific risks to be aware of.

• Earthquakes. In Vancouver, earthquakes are probably the biggest concern as far as natural disasters go. The city is typically pretty temperate weather-wise, but for decades experts have been warning that an earthquake could hit the West Coast — one that could reach a staggering magnitude of 9.0 on the Richter scale.
• Tsunamis. While a major earthquake is guaranteed to cause major damage on its own, it is also likely to trigger another kind of natural disaster given Vancouver’s proximity to the ocean: tsunamis. In Japan, which is also bound by the Pacific Ocean, a 9.0 magnitude earthquake in 2011 created tsunami waves that were 40 metres high. These waves helped trigger the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster.

Generally speaking, house insurance in Vancouver will cover your:

• Personal belongings (e.g., appliances, furniture, some electronics).
• Additional living expenses (should you need to relocate for a period of time).
• Personal liability, should you be sued for an injury sustained on your property.

Most home insurance coverage in Vancouver offer coverage for the following things:

• The building itself.
• Your belongings.
• Any upgrades you make to your home.
• Your personal liability (i.e., damages incurred should someone injure themselves on your property).
• Living expenses if you are forced to leave your home due to damage caused by certain perils, like wildfires.
• Depending on your circumstances, this may be enough home insurance for you to feel protected. But in the case it’s not enough, insurers typically offer endorsements, add-ons or extra coverage, so you can tailor your policy to fit your needs.

Of course, exactly which risks your insurer is willing to cover also depends on which home insurance company you ultimately decide to go with.

Generally speaking, your home insurance coverage in Vancouver will include the following risks:

• Fire.
• Lightning.
• Smoke damage (excluding fireplaces).
• Theft.
• Wind and hail.
• Electrical current.
• Explosion.
• Vandalism.
• Water damage.
• Broken windows.
• Falling objects (unless propelled by a landslide, avalanche, or earthquake).

As mentioned before, earthquakes are a significant risk in Vancouver. And with earthquakes come a host of other concerns, including tsunamis.

Despite tsunami risk, you’ll be hard-pressed to find a home insurance policy in Vancouver — and all of B.C. in fact — that will cover damage from saltwater flooding. It’s much easier, on the other hand, to find coverage for freshwater damage. There are also a number of other things home insurance might not cover.

Unfortunately, home insurance doesn’t protect against everything. Most home insurance providers in Vancouver won’t cover:

• Flooding.
• Sewer Backup.
• Earthquakes.
• Landslides.
• Damage from freezing outside the home.
• Pollution.
• Damage from insects and rodents.
• Water damage caused by frozen or burst pipes in the winter.
• Damage to property acquired illegally.

While flooding and sewer backup are not usually included in your home insurance coverage, our internal experts advise that you don’t purchase a home insurance policy without these endorsements.

When it comes to personal condo insurance, here’s what’s usually not covered:

• Water damage caused by flood or underground water.
• Earthquakes and mudslides.
• Damage caused by settling, deterioration, or contamination.
• Damage caused by birds, rodents, insects, or domestic animals.
• Bodily injury or property damage that is expected or intended by the insured.
• Business activities.

There are four different types of homeowners insurance in Vancouver:

Comprehensive: This type of home insurance policy offers the most coverage of all the options. It covers damage to your property and belongings against all standard perils except the ones that are only covered by additional endorsements (like earthquakes), or ones that are specifically excluded from most policies (events that can be attributed to the homeowner’s lack of due diligence).

Basic or named perils: The name says it all. This type of home insurance policy is basic. It offers coverage for common perils, which include fire, lightning, theft, explosions, falling objects — but only if they’re named in the policy.

Broad: Put simply, this type of policy falls somewhere between comprehensive and basic home insurance. It offers comprehensive coverage in the event the structure of your home is damaged, but will only offer basic coverage for the contents of your home.

No-frills: This type of insurance is the most bare-bones type of coverage you can get. These policies typically only cover your home in the case of fire and a handful of other perils. People typically get no frills insurance when their homes have structural issues that make them ineligible for a basic policy. No frills insurance can protect what you have while you are making repairs; you can switch over to another type of policy once your home is up to your insurer’s standards.

Again, the type of home insurance you’ll want depends on your specific needs and your risk tolerance.

In Vancouver, getting an add-on for earthquake damage is recommended. But add-ons for flood damage, replacement cost coverage (i.e., coverage to help you rebuild your home after a total loss), or coverage for other structures on your property might also be good to consider. Ask your insurance agent or broker what they offer. It’s important to note that purchasing extra coverage will likely increase home insurance premiums for Vancouver residents.

The cost of living in Vancouver is among the highest in Canada. Every dollar counts, especially when it comes to a large annual expense like home insurance. There are several ways to save on home insurance:

• Bundle your home and auto policies with the same insurer.
• Raise your credit score.
• Avoid making small claims.
• Don’t smoke.
• Purchase a ‘claims protector,’ an optional product that will stop your premium from going up if you make a claim.
• Install a home sprinkler system.
• Install a home alarm system.
• And of course, we’re advocates for always shopping around and comparing quotes — never settle for the first quote you get.

Finding affordable home insurance in Vancouver doesn’t have to be a struggle. Fill out a form on LowestRates.ca to view the best rates from the top providers across Canada.

There’s no one insurance provider that provides the best home insurance rates to all Vancouver customers. What qualifies as the ‘best’ home insurance will differ for everyone: Vancouverites have different needs, risk profiles, and budgets. Always look for a plan that gives you the coverage you want at the lowest price.

That being said, there are some insurance companies that are popular and operate within Vancouver. It definitely wouldn’t hurt to take a look at what they offer. These include:

• Canadian Direct
• BCAA
• Aviva
• Intact Insurance

You’re in luck. ! LowestRates.ca can help you find coverage. offers policies to renters and condo owners. If you’re in the market for either of these policies, you can actually fill out the property insurance form above and select the condo Condo Insurance or rentersRenters iInsurance option on the first page. If you’re looking for more information about either of these products, feel free to visit either our dedicated Condo Insurance or Renters Insurance pages.