As Canadians gear up for March Break and spring travel, brokers are fielding a familiar wave of questions from clients worried about what happens to their homes, cars and belongings while they are away.
Industry representatives said many misunderstandings persist about when coverage applies, particularly around extended absences, frozen pipes, rental cars and short-term rentals.
For most policyholders, a week or two away does not change how their home, tenant or condo insurance responds. Problems are more likely when a trip stretches beyond about 30 days.
Many Canadian home policies treat a dwelling as “unoccupied” or subject to special conditions once it is left empty for a longer period. In practice, that often means the insured is expected to notify their broker or insurer in advance and, in winter, arrange for a trusted person to check the property at set intervals to ensure the heat is working and pipes are not at risk of freezing.
Claims arising from burst pipes or other preventable damage can be denied if those conditions are not met. Brokers are urging clients planning extended trips to contact them beforehand so any requirements can be clarified in writing.
Standard home policies generally continue to cover fire, theft, vandalism and personal liability while the insured is on vacation, and coverage typically extends to personal belongings taken on the trip. However, limits and sublimits apply, particularly for jewelry, electronics, cameras and sporting equipment.
Brokers said pre‑trip conversations are a good opportunity to review whether high‑value items should be specifically scheduled or insured under separate coverage, especially if they will be left in vehicles or hotel rooms.
Short‑term rentals remain a key risk. Many homeowners are still unaware that listing a house or cottage on a platform during a school break can trigger exclusions under a standard policy, because rental income turns the property into a commercial exposure. In most cases, insurers require dedicated short‑term rental or home‑sharing coverage; relying on an ordinary homeowners policy can leave both the building and liability exposure under‑insured if something goes wrong.
On the auto side, brokers reported continued confusion about how coverage responds when clients rent a vehicle, lend their own car to others, or leave it parked at the airport.
Damage to a rental car is only covered if the policy includes an endorsement such as “liability for damage to non‑owned automobiles,” and even then, the protection is usually limited to vehicles rented in Canada and the US. Rentals in Europe or other overseas locations typically require separate coverage.
When policyholders lend their vehicle to a friend or family member, the auto policy normally follows the car – but only if the driver is properly licensed and not otherwise excluded. Losses involving unlicensed or explicitly excluded drivers can invalidate coverage and may be treated as a breach of the insurance contract.
Theft or vandalism affecting a car left in an airport lot is generally a matter for the auto policy’s comprehensive coverage, if purchased. By contrast, theft of personal items from inside the vehicle – whether at home or away – is normally handled under the home, tenant or condo policy, not the auto policy.
While none of these issues are new, brokers said the combination of more extreme weather, growing use of short‑term rentals and renewed appetite for international travel has increased the potential for coverage gaps.
Their message to clients is straightforward: if they plan to be away for more than a month, to rent out their property, or to leave a vehicle unused for an extended period, they should speak to their broker before they go rather than after a loss occurs.
