The Co-operators review
A Canadian multi-line co-operative with advisors and the broadest product range in this set.
Our rating · #3 of 10 for car insurance
Customer sentiment
402 real reviews
At a glance
The bottom line
The Co-operators is the pick for Canadians who want one trusted local advisor and the widest single-carrier product shelf in this set — it’s the only insurer here that genuinely spans car, home, life, health, travel and business under one co-operative roof, backed by an AM Best A (Excellent) rating and a rare J.D. Power distinction (top for auto satisfaction in Ontario, Atlantic Canada and Alberta, though that dates to 2019 and reads as pedigree, not a current promise). That breadth is also its trade-off: clients praise the human touch and compassionate handling of major losses, yet the loudest complaints — slow claims callbacks, long call-centre holds and renewal hikes even on clean records — cluster where a relationship insurer should shine. Choose it for bundling, strong water and guaranteed-replacement-cost home protection and a real person to call; look elsewhere if you’re a pure price-shopper or want fast, app-first self-serve claims.
- Customer satisfaction & face-to-face advice
- Strong local advisors
- Compassionate major-loss claims
- Slow claims and call centre
- Renewal increases on clean records
- Advisor model is less self-serve than digital-first rivals
The expert assessment
How our analysts score The Co-operators’s car insurance — 80.9/100 across six weighted pillars.
AM Best A (Excellent). Strongest historical satisfaction record in this set (2019 J.D. Power).
Source: AM Best (ref 31578), Dec 2021
What experts like
- Top-ranked for customer satisfaction in the last J.D. Power Canada study (2019: #1 Ontario & Atlantic, tied #1 Alberta)
- Canadian co-operative with dedicated local advisors
- AM Best A (Excellent)
- Available in every province
Watch-outs
- Advisor model is less self-serve than digital-first rivals
- The satisfaction ranking is 2019-vintage — no current equivalent exists
What the regulators' filings say about The Co-operators
Not ratings or reviews: the numbers The Co-operators's underwriting companies file with OSFI and the provincial rate regulators, read straight from the public record.
Co-operators General kept 18.6% of premiums after claims and expenses in 2025. Its MCT ratio is above OSFI's 150% supervisory target, though lower than a year earlier. All p&c insurers →
Approved car insurance rate changes
| Province | Latest approved change | Renewals from | Last 12 months | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| OntarioFSRA · Co-operators General, CUMIS General, Sovereign General, COSECO | 0.00% | Sep 11, 2026 | +0.64% | 5 / 55 |
| AlbertaAIRB · Co-operators General, Cumis General, Sovereign General | +12.50% | Jul 10, 2026 | +6.25% | 2 / 16 |
| New BrunswickNBIB · Co-operators General, Sovereign General, CUMIS General | 0.00% | Jun 11, 2026 | -0.07% | 4 / 4 |
| Newfoundland and LabradorPUB · Co-operators General, CUMIS General, Sovereign General | +3.00% | Sep 11, 2026 | +3.00% | 2 / 13 |
Approved change is the insurer's overall average for the province; your renewal can differ. Each tracker has a renewal calculator and every filing since the regulator's records begin.
What customers actually say
We aggregated 402 real reviews and ratings of The Co-operators from independent sites to see what its customers report — this is our Customer Satisfaction signal, drawn from real user experiences rather than a marketing claim.
Two-sided. The advisor model earns genuine praise — patient agents, compassionate handling of major losses — but the loudest complaints (slow claims callbacks, long holds, renewal hikes) cluster where a relationship insurer should shine. Its low open-review scores are industry-typical, and it holds a rare J.D. Power distinction (top in Ontario, Atlantic & Alberta, 2019).
What people praise
- Strong local advisors. Repeated praise for individual agents being patient, thorough and “going above and beyond” during onboarding and renewal.
- Compassionate major-loss claims. Home reviewers describe being “taken good care of” during a traumatic loss, with professional, empathetic adjusters.
- Broad product and bundling flexibility. Customers value one advisor across auto, home, life and farm, plus multi-policy discounts.
What people complain about
- Slow claims and call centre. The dominant complaint — multi-hour holds and unreturned adjuster calls, “zero help when you finally need them.”
- Renewal increases on clean records. Home clients report 25–35% jumps over three claims-free years, with loyalty unrewarded versus cheaper competitors.
- Billing and cancellation friction. High cancellation fees, charges after cancellation, and charges for short coverage windows.
- Claims denials and coverage surprises. Reports of denials and exclusions that contradicted the initial coverage impression.
Reading these fairly: The Co-operators’ low open-review scores (Trustpilot 1.5, InsurEye auto 1.6) sit in the same band as most Canadian insurers — angry-review platforms over-represent claim disputes. Its representative signal is stronger: it ranked highest for auto satisfaction in Ontario, Atlantic Canada and Alberta in J.D. Power’s 2019 study (read as pedigree, not a current title), and its broader InsurEye book averages about 3.8/5.
Customer-sentiment analysis based on public reviews · July 2026
The Co-operators by product: what it's good for — and what it's not
The Co-operators sells several lines of insurance. Here's a candid overview of each — what it does well and where to look elsewhere. Car insurance is the line we fully rate with The Expert Score.
The Co-operators car insurance
80.9/100 · #3Modular coverage on top of provincial mandatory (liability, accident benefits, uninsured auto) — optional collision, comprehensive, accident forgiveness and new-vehicle depreciation waiver, with loss-of-use/rental. Discounts for bundling, winter tires, multi-vehicle, clean record and group/affinity membership. Sold through local advisors, not an app.
New-vehicle owners (depreciation protection), bundlers, and affinity-group members eligible for preferred rates who want a local advisor rather than an app.
Drivers who prioritise fast, self-serve digital claims — reviews repeatedly cite slow claims — and pure price-shoppers, who often find cheaper renewals elsewhere.
What customers say InsurEye auto 1.6/5 (169 reviews) — its lowest line; complaints concentrate on claims responsiveness and cancellation billing.
Read the full car insurance review ↓The Co-operators home insurance
OverviewHomeowner, condo, tenant and seasonal coverage. Standout is Comprehensive Water (sewer/septic backup, storm surge, overland flood, surface water) with up to $15,000 for water/sewer-line repair, plus Guaranteed Replacement Cost auto-included on the Prestige tier and up to $5,000 loss-prevention reimbursement ahead of a flood warning.
Owners in flood/water-risk areas wanting genuinely broad water protection, and higher-value homes on the Prestige tier seeking guaranteed replacement cost.
Long-tenured, claims-free clients sensitive to renewal increases (25–35% over three years reported), and buyers wanting the rock-bottom premium.
What customers say InsurEye home 2.1/5 (137 reviews) — praise for compassionate major-loss handling coexists with premium-increase and denial complaints.
The Co-operators life insurance
OverviewA full suite via Co-operators Life — term (1-year renewable through 10–30 year), participating whole life (Protector, Ascend, with guaranteed cash value after 3 years and dividends), universal life with tax-deferred investment accounts, and Infinity Term permanent. Smoker rates are noted as competitive.
Buyers who want an advisor-guided permanent/participating policy and one-stop bundling with auto and home; smokers benefit from competitive rates.
Price-first term buyers comfortable applying online — there is no online application, and term pricing is often beaten by competitors.
What customers say No dedicated life-line satisfaction score isolated; third-party analysts rate the product breadth well.
The Co-operators health insurance
OverviewIndividual health & dental plus group benefits — extended health (drugs, paramedical, vision), dental, critical illness, disability and wellness programs covering services outside provincial plans, delivered largely through the advisor and CUMIS channels.
Employers/associations wanting a bundled group benefits plan with an advisor, and individuals topping up provincial gaps via an existing Co-operators relationship.
Individuals seeking the cheapest standalone digital health plan or instant online-only comparison.
What customers say No isolated third-party satisfaction score located for the health line.
The Co-operators travel insurance
OverviewEmergency medical, trip cancellation/interruption and all-inclusive options for Canadians and visitors to Canada, with repatriation and 24/7 assistance. Usually added through an advisor alongside other policies.
Existing Co-operators clients adding travel through their advisor, and travellers wanting bundled trip-cancellation plus emergency medical.
Buyers wanting the absolute cheapest single-trip medical via an online aggregator, or fully self-serve digital purchase.
What customers say No standalone travel-line satisfaction score verified.
The Co-operators business insurance
OverviewA customisable commercial suite — business property, general/product and D&O liability, commercial auto, cyber, business interruption, equipment breakdown and crime coverage — sold advisor-led with industry-specific packages.
Small-to-mid businesses wanting a local advisor and a one-carrier package spanning property, liability, auto, cyber and interruption.
Businesses wanting instant online quote-and-bind, or highly specialised/large-commercial risks better served by a broker market.
What customers say No isolated business-line satisfaction score verified.
Where you can buy The Co-operators car insurance
The Co-operators sells car insurance in 7 of the 7 private-market provinces. In British Columbia, Manitoba and Saskatchewan, mandatory auto insurance is government-run (ICBC, MPI, SGI), so no private insurer sells it there.
How The Co-operators compares to other Canadian insurers
The Co-operators scores 80.9/100 on The Expert Score. Here's how it stacks up against the insurers people most often cross-shop it with — what each is good for, and where each falls short.
| Insurer | Expert Score | Financial strength | Good for | Not ideal for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Co-operators This review Agents | 80.9/100 · #3 | A (Excellent) | Customer satisfaction & face-to-face advice | Advisor model is less self-serve than digital-first rivals |
| Intact Insurance Broker | 86.2/100 · #1 | A+ (Superior) | Overall strength & claims reliability | Broker pricing isn’t always the cheapest |
| Belairdirect Direct / online | 83.9/100 · #2 | AA (FSR) | Digital-first direct buyers | Not available in MB, SK or the territories |
| Sonnet Insurance Direct / online | 80/100 · #5 | A (Excellent) | A fully online experience | Online-only — no agent or broker support |
| Desjardins Insurance Direct / online | 80.8/100 · #4 | AA (group) | Bundling & telematics (Ajusto) | Auto availability concentrated in ON/QC/AB |
All scored on coverage & terms, financial strength, value, digital experience and availability. See all 10 insurers ranked →
The Co-operators car insurance in detail
The line we score with the full Expert Score methodology.
At a glance
- Telematics
- Telematics & multi-line bundling — multi-policy discounts
- How to buy
- ~485+ exclusive financial advisors (agents), Canada-wide
- Availability
- All provinces
- Parent company
- The Co-operators Group Limited (co-operative)
- Founded
- 1945
- Head office
- Guelph, ON
The Co-operators home insurance in detail
Scored on our home insurance Expert Score — see the full home insurance ranking.
Ranked #3 of 10 home insurance providers we rate
4.2Good for broad water coverage with an advisor
The Co-operators is the pick for homeowners who want genuinely broad water protection and a real advisor to structure it — its Comprehensive Water package spans sewer backup, overland flood and ground water with up to $15,000 for service-line repair, and its Prestige tier auto-includes Guaranteed Replacement Cost. Home reviewers give it the highest satisfaction score in this group, praising compassionate handling of major losses; the trade-off is advisor-led service that isn’t the fastest or the cheapest.
- Comprehensive Water package plus guaranteed replacement cost on Prestige
- Highest home-customer satisfaction in this group, especially on major-loss claims
- A local advisor and availability in every province
- Advisor model is slower and pricier than app-first insurers
- Renewal premium increases on long-tenure, claims-free clients
The Co-operators: frequently asked questions
How do I get car insurance from The Co-operators?
The Co-operators sells through its own network of ~485 local financial advisors, so you get face-to-face advice rather than an online-only or broker model. It’s available in every province.
Can I bundle home and car insurance with The Co-operators?
Yes — The Co-operators sells home insurance as well as car, so you can put both on one account and take the multi-policy discount. Bundling home and auto is usually one of the biggest savings a Canadian insurer offers, so it’s worth asking for a combined quote.
Is The Co-operators’s Telematics & multi-line bundling usage-based program worth it?
The Co-operators offers Telematics & multi-line bundling (multi-policy discounts). It uses an app or device to measure how you actually drive. If you’re a calm, mostly-daytime driver it can meaningfully cut your premium; if you brake hard, drive late at night or rack up long distances, the savings shrink. Turn it on if your driving genuinely reflects low risk.
Can The Co-operators be trusted to pay out a claim?
On the evidence, yes: The Co-operators holds an A (Excellent), ICR a financial-strength rating from AM Best (Dec 2021) — an independent agency’s verdict on its ability to pay claims. AM Best A (Excellent). Strongest historical satisfaction record in this set (2019 J.D. Power).
Who is The Co-operators car insurance a good fit for?
The Co-operators stands out for customer satisfaction & face-to-face advice. Top-ranked for customer satisfaction in the last J.D. Power Canada study (2019: #1 Ontario & Atlantic, tied #1 Alberta), and canadian co-operative with dedicated local advisors. If those things matter most to you, it’s worth a close look; if your priority is something else, compare it against the insurers that rate highest on that pillar.
What are the downsides of The Co-operators car insurance?
The watch-outs we found: advisor model is less self-serve than digital-first rivals; the satisfaction ranking is 2019-vintage — no current equivalent exists. We spell these out so you can weigh them before buying — every insurer has trade-offs, and knowing them upfront is the point of a real review.
How does The Co-operators compare to other car insurers in Canada?
The Co-operators ranks #3 of the 10 insurers we scored, at 80.9/100. It’s strongest on availability and has the most room to improve on customer satisfaction. The highest-scoring insurer in our ratings is Intact Insurance (86.2/100).