Compare the best home insurance quotes in London, Ontario, for free.

There’s no one-size-fits-all answer to that question. But there is a simple way to get an accurate estimate of how much home insurance in London costs: apply for a quote.

There are many variables that are used to determine the cost of your home insurance (we cover the major ones in the sections that follow). Homeowners also have many different coverage options open to them. On top of that, each insurance company underwrites risk differently, leading to even more price variation.

That’s why it’s possible for two households living on the same street to pay very different rates for insurance.

In short, the only way to be sure how much home insurance will cost you is to start the quote process.

LowestRates.ca lets you compare quotes from dozens of home insurance companies so you can rest assured you’ve done your due diligence and are getting the lowest rate available.

• Cold temperatures. London winters can bring about frigid temperatures, which can cause pipes to freeze and later rupture. Burst pipes are a common cause of flooding.
• Flooding. London may be on the perimeter of southwestern Ontario’s snow belt, but it still gets hit with heavy snowfall. The ensuing spring thaw has the potential to trigger flooding as well. The city is also no stranger to powerful thunderstorms. These are sometimes accompanied by downpours, which in turn can cause flooding.
• Earthquakes. Powerful, destructive earthquakes are rare in southwestern Ontario, but London does indeed experience seismic activity. However, any activity often scores low on the Richter scale.

Generally speaking, home insurance guarantees the following things: financial assistance to repair or replace the structure of your home and your personal belongings; any additional living expenses you may incur if you're forced out of your home (for example, home insurance covers hotel stays should you ever need to evacuate your home); and protection of your personal liability. The latter covers some of your legal expenses should someone decide to sue you after injuring themselves on your property.

Home insurance typically covers the following risks:

• Fire.
• Theft.
• Explosions.
• Vandalism.
• Water damage.
• Smoke damage (excluding damage caused by fireplaces).
• Electrical current.
• Broken windows.
• Lightning.
• Wind and hail.
• Falling objects (objects that land on your home as a result of an avalanche, earthquake or landslide are excluded).

Unfortunately, home insurance doesn’t cover everything. Here’s what’s usually not included in a standard home insurance policy:

• Sewer backup.
• Flooding caused by overland water.
• Damage from insects and rodents.
• Water damage that happens as a result of your home’s pipes freezing or bursting during the winter months.
• Earthquakes.
• Landslides.
• Damage to property acquired illegally.
• Damage from freezing outside the home.
• Pollution.

To protect your home against these kinds of risks, you’ll need to top up your policy by purchasing extra coverage. These are called “endorsements".

The answer to this question depends on the details of your situation as well as your personal risk tolerance. But to help you get you started, here are the four basic types of home insurance:

Comprehensive - This is the most extensive of all the policy types. Comprehensive insurance covers the structure of your home and its contents against all risks. It doesn’t, however, cover uninsurable perils like overland flooding and earthquakes.

Basic or Named Perils - This type of coverage only protects against perils that are specifically named in your policy.

Broad - A mid-priced policy that combines some of the benefits of a comprehensive and a basic policy. Your home’s structure is covered against all perils. Your contents, however, are only protected against named perils.

No-Frills - This type of coverage is intended for properties that don’t meet normal insurance standards. Homes with major structural issues, for instance.

Beyond the policies listed above, you may want to look at purchasing insurance endorsements for things like overland flooding and sewer backup.

• Select a higher deductible.
• Buy auto insurance from the same insurer (bundling can often result in discounts).
• Shop around online for the best rate.
• Provide your insurer with a lump sum payment for the entire year instead of monthly premiums.
• Equip your home with smoke detectors and monitored intruder alarms.
• Purchase a brand new home (sometimes this can result in receiving a discount on your premiums).
• Tell your insurer that you belong to a union, or are an alumnus of a particular university or college.
• Be “claims free” (i.e., you’ve never made an insurance claim before).
• Senior citizens can usually qualify for discounts.

There’s no one insurance company that’s the best for everyone. The important thing is finding the right amount of coverage for your home at an affordable price. That’s why shopping around before locking into a policy is a good idea.

Beyond that, ask your broker or agent lots of questions and make sure they get answered to your satisfaction.

Some of the major home insurance companies operating serving London include:

• Allstate Insurance
• Desjardins Insurance
• The Co-operators
• Intact Insurance