Cottage Insurance in Ontario

Protect your home away from home.

It’s always a good feeling when you can get away and enjoy some quality time at the cottage. Whether you have a cottage you use over the summer or year-round, we have a variety of insurance products to meet your needs.

Cottages are typically insured on a named perils form, meaning that they are only covered for risks such as fire, lightning, smoke, and impact by aircraft or land vehicle. Comprehensive full replacement policies may be purchased for an additional cost, depending on your unique situation.

Learn more about additional coverage options for your cottage below.

Determining Cottage Insurance Rates in Ontario

The Jeffery & Spence team are true professionals who are dedicated to making sure you have an awesome experience. Working with their team has been great and I would highly recommend them to anyone! 10/10 - keep up the great work Jeffery & Spence.read more
Ryan Vielma
Ryan Vielma
21:03 15 Feb 19
My family and I have been insured through Jeffery and Spence for 14 years, and we will all always be loyal clients to this wonderful brokerage.read more
Ashlean Richardson
Ashlean Richardson
17:50 27 Nov 18
Have been with them for ages and wouldn't hesitate to recommend them to anyone. I have also gladly referred friends to them and they have taken good care of them as well!read more
Jason Shaw
Jason Shaw
20:38 02 Jan 18
شركة تامين لا باس
Ali SIDO
Ali SIDO
03:57 11 Feb 19
unbelievable service, literally saved a client of mine from a major catastrophe, highly recommend. Kyla was amazing
Andra Arnold
Andra Arnold
17:19 18 Apr 19
Excellent Customer service and communications, staff here makes me feel like part of the J&F family, highly recommend!
Rain Zhang
Rain Zhang
14:21 29 May 19
Excellent Customer service and communications, staff here makes me feel like part of the Jeffery&Spence family, highly recommend!read more
Rain Zhang
Rain Zhang
14:39 29 May 19
Awesome service, friendly advice and get what you need fast. Been a customer for over 10 years now.
Brock Parker
Brock Parker
16:03 27 Jun 19
Awesome service, friendly advice and get what you need fast. Been a customer for over 10 years now.
Brock Parker
Brock Parker
16:03 27 Jun 19
Ashlean made shopping for insurance so easy and stress free! From start to finish she was courteous and professional, listened to our needs and communicated with us every step of the way, all while finding us the best ratesread more
Chloe McKnight
Chloe McKnight
22:42 22 Jul 19
The Jeffery & Spence team is wonderful. They have insured my assets for over 4 years. When I switched over from my old provider they made it easy. They were honest and reliable. I started simply with a call out for car insurance. They were able to take a look at 5+ companies and make sure I had the proper coverage and at a great price. (They beat my old provider by $300). Slowly and surely as other asset insurance policies were coming to an end (home, business, additional vehicles) it only made sense to call over and get a quote. Additionally there is customer service like no other. I call in frequently for updates and questions and whether it’s the front desk or managers I have never felt like I was asking a stupid question. Jeffery & Spence is awesome and you owe it to yourself to just give them a call....even if your not from Guelph!read more
Corey Pavao
Corey Pavao
13:59 23 Oct 19
So over the moon happy with these guys. Specifically Dave. I was a first timer today, extremely nervous about taking another step toward “audulting” by getting my own auto insurance. And when I say nervous, I mean NERVOUS. Dave was MORE than helpful. His personality put me at ease, and the way he explained things made me go from feeling anxious to comfortable. Dave did more than help me get my own insurance. Dave made me feel like it was just a normal conversation between people. Where as other conversations have gone with other companies, I felt like a stupid kid in their 20s that didn’t know what they were doing. It’s comforting to know that now, in the future, when I need home insurance, etc. I know who to call. Thanks a million Dave.read more
Jaymee Indoe
Jaymee Indoe
18:55 21 Nov 19
Ashlean is so great to work with and she makes insurance easily accessible. I love all of the work they do in the community too. Check them out!!!read more
Heather Smart
Heather Smart
16:41 01 Dec 19
Awesome service! Jeffrey helped me find a solution for my insurance ASAP after I had such a poor experience with my previous insurer.read more
Jennifer A-M
Jennifer A-M
04:25 04 Dec 19
Expedient, professional and tailored to my needs. Highly recommend.
Annie Wong
Annie Wong
15:38 10 Dec 19
Met with Dave Jutzi and he was an absolute pleasure to work with! He created a plan to MY needs and MY budget! No pressure on me whatsoever and he really looked out for my best interest. If you're looking for extremely affordable auto and home insurance, DEFINITELY go see Dave!read more
Simon McGhee
Simon McGhee
16:38 21 Jan 20
My only regret was not calling them sooner. Ashlean Richardson went above and beyond for my company. I felt like they took me and my time very seriously and I appreciated that. Would highly recommend to my friends and family.read more
Kevin Wilkins
Kevin Wilkins
13:40 14 Apr 20
Ashlean was great to work with she was very helpful and prompt with all her responses; she was able to make a stressful situation go by very smoothlyread more
Haily Rice
Haily Rice
16:09 29 May 20
Been with Jeffery & Spence nearly 50 years and they have looked after all my insurance needs in a very professional manner. Hope to be with them another 50 years but at 83 y.o. that's not likely to happen.read more
Mario Bonifacio
Mario Bonifacio
13:18 19 Jul 21
Excellent company to work with! Geoff is professional, patient, and responded immediately to my needs.
Debbie Bianchi
Debbie Bianchi
12:26 21 Aug 21
Great service, quick response and best rates. Excellent job Jason DiReto 👏.
Asaad Yousiph
Asaad Yousiph
13:23 06 Jul 21
I wish I had found this broker earlier than I did. They make dealing with insurance such an easy and seamless experience. We are fortunate to work with Geoff; after every interaction with him, we always talk about how lucky we are to have him take care of our insurance needs. 5 stars all the way!read more
Luis Ribeiro
Luis Ribeiro
20:43 08 Oct 20
Great company to work with! We had just moved to the country and had no insurance history in Canada. Jason helped us figure out the system and find the insurance we needed at a reasonable price. Everyone at the brokerage was kind, responsive, and great to talk to.read more
Alana Lund
Alana Lund
12:37 22 Aug 22
Steve has been absolutely awesome to deal with! His communication skills are top notch and made getting insurance super easy. So glad I went with J&S!read more
Noah Olfert
Noah Olfert
20:01 30 Aug 22
If you need an insurance company , I highly recommend Jeffrey and Spence! Great service and prices
Valerie Schuett
Valerie Schuett
20:14 11 Aug 22
Dawn is my hero, she has gone above and beyond any of my expectations, and made every insurance renewal a piece of cake! Highly recommend!!!read more
Ty S
Ty S
12:58 18 Aug 22
I had a very good experience taking out and cancelling policies with them. Jason came up with the best rates I could find in a no-nonsense manner, and Dina promptly helped me with the processing including the early cancellations & refund when I left the country earlier than expected.read more
K. Kevin Wang
K. Kevin Wang
11:17 10 Feb 22

Are you wondering how insurance rates are determined for your cottage? For insurance providers, a variety of factors determine the pricing of your cottage/seasonal home including:

  • Whether it is on an island or boat access only.
  • Whether it is hydrant-protected or near a responding firehouse.
  • The maximum time your property is left unoccupied during the year.
  • The construction type, wiring, plumbing, and heating source.

There are a wide variety of insurance plans available for cottages and seasonal homes in Ontario and the team at Jeffery & Spence will help you find the best fit for your cottage.

Your Cottage Insurance Options

There are a variety of additional coverage options available for your cottage. These options can include protection from earthquakes, overland water damages, sewer backup, and much more.

Cottage Rental Insurance

If you own a cottage in a desirable location, you may decide to rent it out to visitors. While renting out your cottage is not typically covered by a standard cottage insurance policy, these coverages can be arranged through the team at Jeffery & Spence.

Cottage rentals are very popular in Ontario, and they can be a great way to supplement your primary income. If you do decide to rent your cottage, we recommend talking with our cottage insurance experts beforehand, in order to ensure that you will be properly protected.

Outbuildings Coverage

Did you know that outbuildings (e.g. a bunkie or a boat house) may not be automatically covered under your cottage insurance policy? These separate buildings on your property are not typically included in cottage insurance and will usually require separate coverage. Talk to our insurance team today to learn more about coverage for outbuildings.

Personal Watercraft Insurance

Do you have a boat for fishing, transportation, or leisure at your cottage? Make sure that your personal watercraft is protected both on and off the water. If your watercraft is stored or used at the cottage, then separate liability and property damage policies need to be purchased.

Talk to the experienced team at Jeffery & Spence to navigate your watercraft insurance requirements. We can provide insurance for a range of watercraft, including powerboats, sailboats, jet skis, bass boats, pontoon boats, and more.

Seasonal Cottage Insurance

If you own a cottage in Ontario, there is a good chance that you will only use it on a seasonal basis. Many cottages in Ontario are not winterized and can only be used between Victoria Day weekend in May and Thanksgiving in October.

Seasonal dwellings come with their own risks, as they may be left unattended for long periods during the winter, which can lead to snow or ice damage, burst pipes, and more. If you’re looking for year-round coverage for a seasonal cottage, you should discuss your requirements with the team at Jeffery & Spence.

Secondary Home Insurance

Do you use your cottage as a secondary home? Many people who have cottages with winter access will use them as a second home all year long. If you store some of your belongings at your cottage year-round, you should ensure that you have adequate content coverage.

Remember that if there are contents that are taken back and forth from your primary home to your cottage, they will need to be insured under your primary home insurance policy.

Our Cottage Insurance FAQs

At Jeffery & Spence Insurance, we understand you may have some questions about cottage insurance. Here are answers to some of our most frequently asked questions:

Does how often I use my cottage impact my insurance?

The main difference between your second home and your year-round home is the amount of time you spend there. As cottage owners typically only spend a small amount of time using their cottage throughout the year, this can impact the type of insurance required.

When choosing the right coverage for your cottage, there are a few key factors to keep in mind, including:

  • How much time you spend at your second home throughout the year
  • Whether your cottage is used year-round or just seasonally
  • Whether you rent out your cottage to others

Your insurance company will need to know the answers to these questions in order to draft an insurance policy that’s right for you. Contact the team at Jeffery & Spence to learn more.

What is a named perils policy?

If you have home insurance, you likely have a comprehensive or all risk policy. However, the part-time occupation of your cottage may require a named perils policy. This kind of policy gives you coverage for specific risks, like fire, explosion, smoke damage, or water damage (excluding sewer backup or flood). Other risks like sewer backup, overland water, and vandalism may require additional, more expensive coverage as the damage may take time to be discovered.

What isn’t covered under my cottage insurance?

It’s important for cottage owners to be aware that there are limitations to what your cottage insurance covers.

Cottage insurance typically does not include coverage for septic backup, flooding, fuel oil release, or earth movement — however, these coverages may be arranged at an additional cost. Any damage associated with vehicles, campers, trailers, or other buildings that are located on the property are not covered under a cottage policy. Separate coverages need to be arranged for these types of risks.

You may also need to purchase third-party liability coverage to protect you if someone is hurt on your property, or if you damage a neighbour’s property.

What additional coverages should I consider in my cottage insurance policy?

Cottage insurance may not be comprehensive which means that there are a few coverages you should consider adding to your insurance policy, depending on your specific needs.

Contents

Pay attention to the content coverage limit in your insurance policy. Any contents you permanently keep at your second home are covered by your cottage policy, while items you take back and forth are covered by your home insurance policy. Make sure you have adequate coverage for the items in your cottage.

Detached private structures

If you have a boathouse, detached garage, shed, or any other detached buildings on your cottage property, make sure your policy covers them adequately, and purchase additional coverage if necessary.

Watercraft

Many cottage owners also own boats, canoes, or other watercraft that are kept permanently at the cottage. Be sure to ask your insurance representative if these items are covered, or whether you need to purchase additional coverage for them.

Do I need to have home insurance in order to purchase cottage insurance?

Many insurance companies require you to have home insurance before purchasing a cottage insurance policy, and typically your insurance has to be with the same company as your cottage insurance. This differs from insurance company to insurance company and is something we will review for you.

Have a question that isn’t listed?