What are the minimum insurance requirements in Ontario?

Ontario law mandates a minimum of $200,000 in Third-Party Liability for commercial vehicles. However, virtually all carriers require $1,000,000 to $2,000,000 in liability to secure freight contracts. Vehicles transporting dangerous goods legally require $2,000,000 to $5,000,000 in coverage depending on the cargo classification.

Essential Commercial Coverage Limits

• Liability Standards: Most brokers and shippers reject policies under $2,000,000, making higher limits essential for operational viability despite the lower statutory minimum.
• Motor Truck Cargo: While not strictly enforced by the MTO for general freight, industry standard dictates $100,000 to $250,000 coverage per load.
• CVOR Compliance: Maintaining valid insurance is a condition of your CVOR; a lapse results in immediate certificate cancellation and potential vehicle seizure.

Review your CVOR Level 2 abstract with a specialized broker to determine if your operating radius and cargo type require limits above the basic requirements.