Snow Removal Insurance Ontario

Snow Removal Insurance Ontario

Comprehensive, customized snow removal insurance for snow plow operators and companies across Ontario

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What is snow removal insurance?

Extreme and unpredictable weather is a hallmark of Canadian winters. Snow, ice storms, freezing rain, blizzards, and frigid winds are the norm across most of the country, especially in Ontario.

Ontario may be Canada’s southernmost province, but harsh winter weather is inescapable from November to April. That makes transportation a particular concern, as roads, streets, and highways can quickly become buried in snow or like skating rinks following a nasty storm.

From the Haliburton Highlands to the Ottawa Valley, Northwest Ontario to Southwestern Ontario, and the Niagara Region to Northeastern Ontario, people and communities rely on professional snow removal operators to keep our roads and highways clear and accessible during the winter.

Snow removal businesses and snow plow contractors know their work is high-risk because of the risk of slip-and-fall accidents and collisions, dangerous weather conditions, damages to third-party properties, and third-party lawsuits. That’s why every snow removal contractor or snow plow business needs a comprehensive snow removal insurance policy to safeguard their finances.

Zensurance provides comprehensive snow removal insurance for Ontario snow plow companies and operators that’s crafted to shield them from the significant liability threats they face. A typical snow removal insurance policy in Ontario includes:

  • Commercial General Liability (CGL) Insurance: CGL, or general liability insurance, covers third-party bodily injuries and third-party property damage caused by your operations. For example, if a customer or third party slips on ice and is injured on a property you’re responsible for clearing, you may be liable for their injuries and could be sued. CGL would help cover an injured person’s medical expenses and your legal expenses.
  • Commercial Property Insurance: Commercial property insurance protects your business’s property, office, or warehouse and its contents and inventory if fire, water, a natural disaster, theft, or vandalism damage them. It may also include business interruption insurance to cover your lost income and operational overhead if you’re forced to close temporarily following an insurable loss. You can add business interruption coverage to your policy if it is not automatically included.
  • Commercial Auto Insurance: Commercial auto insurance is vital for snow removal contractors driving snow plows and other business vehicles. It covers damages to your vehicle, other vehicles, stationary objects, or injuries to third parties if you’re involved in a collision.
  • Hired and Non-Owned Vehicle Coverage: This type of coverage is designed to protect vehicles used in connection with your business that you don’t own. If you rent, lease, or borrow vehicles to run your operations, or if employees use their personal vehicles for commercial purposes, hired and non-owned vehicle insurance is vital to add to your policy. For example, an employee attaches a snow plow to the front of their pickup truck but crashes while working at a job site. This type of coverage may cover repairing your employee’s vehicle.
  • Tools and Equipment Insurance: Tools and equipment insurance repairs or replaces your transportable tools and equipment that are vandalized, stolen, lost, or damaged by fire or water.
  • Equipment Breakdown Insurance: Equipment breakdown insurance covers repairing or replacing your equipment and computers that cease to function because of an internal mechanical or electrical malfunction.

The cost of snow removal insurance varies by insurer, and their pricing decisions are based on details about your snow plowing business. Generally, you can expect to pay $1,000 monthly or more for a basic policy with $1 million in coverage. However, our policies are flexible and can be adapted to meet your specific needs. There are options available to increase the amount of coverage your policy needs.

Among the details about your business insurers consider are:

  • Your snow removal business’s location
  • Your years of experience
  • The types of snow removal services you provide
  • The type and value of your snow removal equipment
  • How many employees you have (if applicable)
  • Who your customers are and whether they’re residential or commercial
  • Your annual and projected revenue
  • Your insurance claim history

Snow removal liability claims examples

  • Problem: A person slips on ice that wasn’t cleared on one of your commercial customer’s properties in Hamilton. Their wrist is fractured from the fall, and they threaten legal action.

Outcome: Commercial general liability insurance may cover the injured person’s medical and rehabilitation expenses and your legal fees if you’re sued.

  • Problem: While plowing a shopping mall parking lot in Toronto, a snow plow operator accidentally strikes a parked vehicle, causing significant damage to it. The owner of the vehicle threatens you with legal action.

Outcome: Commercial general liability insurance may cover the expense of repairing the damages to the driver’s vehicle.

  • Problem: While clearing snow from a residential client’s property in Sudbury with a snow blower, a contractor inadvertently pushes snow onto a neighbour’s property and accidentally damages their fence.

Outcome: Commercial general liability insurance may cover the repair of the property owner’s damaged fence.

Getting insured is quick and easy!

Complete our 5-minute online application for a free snow removal insurance Ontario quote.

Frequently asked questions

Does a snow removal business need professional liability insurance?

Professional liability insurance, or errors and omissions (E&O) insurance, covers claims related to mistakes or negligence in your work. It can be added to your policy to cover accusations or lawsuits of not adequately removing snow or ice on a customer’s property that can lead to an accident or injury to others.

How can I keep an annual snow removal insurance premium as low as possible?

There are a few steps business owners and snow removal contractors can take to keep the cost of their policies low, including:

  • Only allow experienced, trained employees to drive snowplow vehicles who have clean driving records and no history of filing an insurance claim.
  • Accurately document and maintain records of your work on customer properties.
  • Have a documented risk management and business continuity plan that includes regular safety and equipment inspections.
  • Have a lawyer draft and review customer contracts and liability waivers detailing your work scope and responsibilities to help prevent legal disputes.

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Ready to Start? Let’s Get a Quote!

Get the customized, comprehensive snow removal insurance your business needs from Zensurance and plow through the worst winter weather with confidence.

Fill out our online application for a free quote in less than five minutes and explore your options.

Zensurance protects thousands of snow removal businesses and professionals across Ontario with the coverage they need every winter, so they can focus on serving their customers and growing their bottom lines.

Our dedicated team of licensed insurance brokers is available to answer your questions and assist you in getting the coverage you need. They can also make changes to your policy as you require and guide and represent you if you must file a claim.

Get a free quote now and be ready for whatever winter weather comes your way.