OPCF endorsements are add-ons that change a standard Ontario auto policy to cover one specific gap. OPCF stands for Ontario Policy Change Form. The five people ask about most are OPCF 20 (loss of use), 27 (non-owned vehicles), 43 (waiver of depreciation), 44R (Family Protection) and 5 (rented or leased vehicles). Each costs extra, and each is worth it only in certain situations.
Key takeaways
- An endorsement is an optional add-on. Your basic policy is the starting point, and endorsements fill particular gaps.
- OPCF 20 helps with a rental while your car is repaired. OPCF 27 and OPCF 5 relate to vehicles that are not yours.
- OPCF 43 is mostly for newer cars that lose value quickly. OPCF 44R protects you when another driver has too little insurance.
- Wording and pricing vary by insurer, so always ask your broker to explain the exact form.
What an endorsement is, and how it fits your policy
A car insurance policy has a mandatory layer: third-party liability, statutory accident benefits and uninsured automobile coverage. On top of that you may choose optional coverages for your own car, such as collision, comprehensive or all perils. Our guide to Ontario car insurance coverages explains each layer.
Endorsements sit on top of all that. Each one is a short, separate form attached to your policy. It changes or extends the standard wording, usually for an additional charge. Because each form is its own document, two insurers may price and word the same endorsement a little differently. That is why the advice in this article is a starting point, not a final answer.
Endorsements also depend on what you already have. Some only make sense if you carry collision or comprehensive. Others stand alone. Your broker can tell you which apply to your policy.
OPCF 20: loss of use
Loss of use means you cannot use your own car, for example while a shop repairs it after a claim. OPCF 20 is designed to help pay for a rental while your car is being repaired.
Without it, you may have to pay for a rental yourself, or go without a car. Whether that matters depends on your life.
It may be worth considering if:
- You commute daily and have no easy alternative, such as transit or a second car.
- You drive for family duties, like school runs or caring for a relative.
- You live somewhere in the Toronto area or beyond where getting around without a car is hard.
It may matter less if:
- You have a second vehicle in the household.
- You work from home and can manage for a couple of weeks on transit or rides.
Ask your broker about the daily limit, the maximum number of days, and whether the cover applies only after a claim under collision, comprehensive or all perils. These details vary by insurer.
OPCF 27: non-owned vehicles
OPCF 27 provides legal liability cover for damage to non-owned vehicles that you borrow or rent. In other words, it can matter when you are driving a car that belongs to someone else and you damage it.
Usually the owner's policy responds first when you borrow a car. But that does not always settle everything, and the rules on who pays what can be complicated. Many people never look at this gap until something goes wrong.
It may be worth considering if:
- You regularly borrow a friend's or relative's car.
- You often rent vehicles, for work trips or holidays.
- You use car-sharing services and want to understand how your own policy responds.
It may matter less if:
- You rarely drive anything but your own car.
- Your rentals are always arranged with the rental company's own cover and you have confirmed what that includes.
Before relying on OPCF 27, check your policy and ask your broker how it works with a rental company's insurance and with the owner's policy.
OPCF 43: waiver of depreciation
Cars lose value over time. If a car is written off (a total loss), the settlement is normally based on what the car was worth just before the loss, not what you paid for it. On a newer car that gap can be large.
OPCF 43 is a waiver of depreciation on a newer car. In plain terms, it changes how a total loss is calculated, so that depreciation is treated differently than under the standard wording.
It may be worth considering if:
- Your car is new or only a few years old.
- You financed or leased it and owe a lot relative to its current value.
- You would struggle to replace it if the settlement came up short.
It may matter less if:
- Your car is older and its value has already settled.
- You own it outright and could cover a replacement.
Eligibility often depends on the age of the vehicle and when you buy the endorsement, and it varies by insurer. The best question to ask is: "Can you show me a written example of a total loss with and without OPCF 43?"
OPCF 44R: Family Protection
OPCF 44R, called Family Protection, is the endorsement many brokers highlight. It tops up the payment when an at-fault driver's liability insurance is too low. Typically it can go up to $1 million of the insured's own limit.
Here is the idea. Suppose you are seriously hurt by another driver in Toronto, and that driver is at fault but carries only the legal minimum of $200,000. Your injuries and losses could exceed that. OPCF 44R is designed to help fill the difference, up to the endorsement's limit, using your own policy.
You cannot control what other drivers carry. That is the main reason many people consider this endorsement, especially households with children, a single main income, or a long commute on busy highways.
It may be worth considering if:
- Other people depend on you financially.
- You or your passengers are often on the road.
- You want protection that does not depend on someone else's choices.
Ask your broker how the limit is set, who is covered (for example, your family members), and how it relates to your own liability limit. Our guide on how much liability coverage you need can help you think about that number.
OPCF 5: rented or leased vehicles
OPCF 5 covers rented or leased vehicles. It is related to OPCF 27, but the situations differ. Think of a car you rent for a trip, or one you hold under a lease, and the extra questions about damage and responsibility that come with a vehicle you do not fully own.
It may be worth considering if:
- You lease a vehicle and want to understand what your own policy covers.
- You rent often and want your own policy to respond in a predictable way.
A lease agreement or rental contract often sets its own insurance requirements. Read it, then ask your broker to match your policy to it. Our article on leased or financed car insurance goes deeper on that situation.
Comparing the five at a glance
| Endorsement | What it does | Often worth a look if |
|---|---|---|
| OPCF 20 | Loss of use: helps with a rental while your car is repaired | You rely on your car every day |
| OPCF 27 | Legal liability for damage to non-owned vehicles you borrow or rent | You often drive other people's cars |
| OPCF 43 | Waiver of depreciation on a newer car | Your car is new and you owe a lot on it |
| OPCF 44R | Family Protection: tops up when an at-fault driver's liability insurance is too low | Others depend on you financially |
| OPCF 5 | Rented or leased vehicles | You lease or rent regularly |
A simple example
Imagine you drive a 2021 compact SUV in Toronto and use it to commute. A driver runs a red light and your car is badly damaged. Depending on your policy, the following could happen:
- Your collision or all perils coverage may pay for the repair, after your deductible. If you are unsure how that works, read about deductibles in Ontario car insurance.
- If you have OPCF 20, a rental may be covered while the SUV is in the shop.
- If the SUV is written off and you have OPCF 43, the settlement may be calculated differently from the standard wording.
- If you were seriously injured and the other driver carries too little liability insurance, OPCF 44R may top up the difference.
This is an illustration of how layers can work together, not a promise of what any insurer will pay. Every claim is different.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Buying every endorsement by default. Each one adds to the premium. Match them to your real risks.
- Skipping them to save a small amount, then regretting it. Think about which problem would hurt most: no car for two weeks, a total loss on a newer car, or an under-insured at-fault driver.
- Assuming a rental company or the owner's policy covers everything. Ask for the details in writing.
- Forgetting to review at renewal. Your situation changes. A new car, a lease ending or a growing family can all change which endorsements make sense.
To understand how these add-ons affect your price, see how Ontario car insurance rates are calculated.
What to ask your broker
- Which endorsements do I already have, and which have I never been offered?
- What are the limits and conditions of OPCF 20 on my policy, including daily amount and number of days?
- How does OPCF 27 work if I borrow a car or rent one?
- Am I eligible for OPCF 43 on my vehicle, and can you show me a written example?
- What does OPCF 44R cost for my household, and how is its limit set?
- If I lease or rent, do I need OPCF 5, and how does it relate to my contract?
- Does adding or dropping an endorsement change my premium, and by roughly how much?
Ontario brokers are licensed by RIBO, and consumer information is available from the Financial Services Regulatory Authority of Ontario (FSRA) and the Insurance Bureau of Canada.
Before you act
Take out your current policy and look at the list of endorsements attached to it. Write down the situations in your life that match the "worth considering" lists above, then take that list to your broker. When you are ready to compare options, you can request an auto insurance quote and compare the coverage, not only the price.
Reviewed October 2026. This article is general information and not insurance or legal advice. Rules change, so confirm the details with a broker and the official sources listed below.
