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What is voluntary property damage coverage?

Voluntary property damage is a type of home insurance coverage that’s available on most standard policies – as part of your liability coverage, alongside personal liability and voluntary medical payments coverage.

Voluntary property damage covers unintentional loss or damage caused either by you or a person in your household (e.g., spouse or child) to someone else’s property (e.g., your neighbour). In addition, it covers both intentional and unintentional damage caused by a minor in your care under the age of 12. The coverage helps avert unnecessary legal expenses and avoid lawsuits.

The insurer will pay for repairs or replacement of the damaged or destroyed property with depreciation factored in. There is also no deductible on voluntary property damage, so you don’t need to pay for anything out of pocket.

When will I need voluntary property damage coverage?

You may require voluntary property damage coverage if you or a person under your care unintentionally damages or destroys a property belonging to someone you’re not legally responsible for (like an acquaintance or a neighbour).

Here are some scenarios where the coverage is applicable:

• Scenario #1: You’re helping your friend move in, and while carrying a heavy and/or bulky item, you accidentally hit and break their window.
• Scenario #2: While helping someone hang their TV on a wall, you accidentally drop it and crack the screen.

The policy also covers intentional damage, but only if it’s caused by a minor in your care under the age of 12. Here are some scenarios:

• Scenario #1: Your child intentionally flushes several heavy items down your friend’s toilet and floods the bathroom.
• Scenario #2: Your child intentionally throws a baseball into a stranger’s window, shattering it in the process.

How much does one typically receive for voluntary property damage coverage?

Voluntary property damage coverage limits are very modest compared to something like personal liability, for instance, which has limits ranging in millions of dollars. A typical voluntary damage coverage limit in Ontario is $1,000 per occurrence.

The good news is that you don’t have to be legally liable to use the coverage (since it’s ‘voluntary’), and there is also no deductible – meaning that you don’t have to pay for anything out of pocket. Your insurer will pay for repairing or replacing the damaged items, factoring in their depreciation.

Note that every insurer has their own coverage limits, so don’t assume that just because you live in Ontario, that you’ll automatically be covered for $1,000. Check your policy, and if anything is unclear, speak to your provider.

How do I know voluntary property damage home insurance is suitable for me?

If you often visit other people’s properties, either by yourself or with your spouse or children, then voluntary property damage coverage is for you. It is especially useful if you have children under 12, since they are far more likely to cause damage than anyone else – both intentionally and unintentionally.

Finally, if you have home insurance, then you probably already have voluntary damage coverage, as it’s available on most standard home insurance policies. It’s not an add-on or something that’s available strictly on more expensive policies, such as comprehensive policies, for instance.

That said, if you’re unhappy with the coverage limit of your current insurance provider, or with your premiums in general, you can compare home insurance rates for free here on LowestRates.ca and get a better deal.