Approach 

No. AU0138APP

Download a copy in PDF format

Purpose, scope and legislative requirements

This Guidance communicates FSRA’s principles and approval processes for an insurer to obtain approval of non-standard:

  • certificates of Insurance required to be approved pursuant to Section 232(5) of Insurance Act (Act),
  • documents required to be approved pursuant to Section 227 of the Act, and the approval of rates or underwriting rules, requiring approval, relating to the documents. 

The Act gives FSRA discretion over the approval process. Section 227 of the Act applies to automobile insurance in Ontario. It prohibits insurers from using any of the following documents in automobile insurance unless they are in a form approved by FSRA1 or prescribed by regulation.

  1. an application for insurance
  2. a policy, endorsement or renewal
  3. a claims form
  4. a continuation certificate

Some policy forms or endorsements may involve Certificates of Insurance, pricing, rates or underwriting rules that also requires FSRA’s approval. 

Rates and underwriting rules for standard endorsement forms (OPCFs) may also be submitted under this Guidance. 

In this Guidance, “non-standard” refers to a document that is approved for use by one insurer (or multiple insurers within an insurer group), instead of one that is approved or prescribed for the general use by all insurers.2

Principles

This Guidance is in keeping with FSRA rate regulation principles forming the basis for its approach to automobile insurance rate regulation. The Guidance is part of a broader plan aimed at promoting market health through more efficient regulation. 

Related and superseded FSRA Guidance 

Related Guidance to consider when using this guidance:

  • AU0130APP IAIP-S Innovative Auto Insurance Products Subscriptions-IAIP-S for insurers seeking approval for subscription-based auto programs.

This Guidance replaces the following Filing Guidelines inherited from FSCO:

Once this Guidance is effective, these inherited FSCO Guidelines have no further effect or application.

Processes and service standards approach 

To file for approval, an insurer can submit the following documents via ARCTICS:

  1. All completed final document(s) that are the subject of the approval 
  2. A completed Filing Summary (Appendix) that outlines information explaining:
    1. The type of document(s) e.g., form, endorsement, application for insurance, certificate of insurance, claim form
    2. If it is newly created document, or one that is a revision of an approved form, or a non-standard document in use by another insurer 
    3. It’s business purpose and intent
    4. The kind(s) or line(s) of business, or the Automobile Insurance Policies to which it will be applicable
    5. If the document amends or changes coverage, a description of the change e.g. what coverage has added, increased, or restricted, limited
    6. If the proposal includes underwriting rules or rates that also require FSRA’s approval, you can file them within the same filing by completing the Filing Summary (Appendix) with the details that includes the price impact, eligible risks and other metrics. 

Refer to ARCTICS for further details about the specific information required. 

Service standard: 

Within 25 business days of submission, FSRA will notify the insurer in writing of its decision to either reject or approve the filing.

Though a failure to meet this service standard does not constitute deemed approval, decisions outside the service standard should be exceptional. In advance of submitting a filing, FSRA encourages insurers to contact a FSRA analyst to discuss plans to develop a non-standard form or endorsement. FSRA will work with the insurer to establish a longer timeline and workplan when it is agreed that more time is required.   

FSRA retains full discretion over the approval process. It may reject a filing outright, require supplementary or new information, or require the insurer to submit the proposal as part of a Standard or Major filing. FSRA may approve a document or rate filing subject to conditions, limitations, undertakings, or attestations.

If you are having difficulty submitting to ARCTICS, please contact your rate analyst.

Additional considerations    

  1. FSRA may refuse to honour its service standard for an insurer that provides incomplete or inaccurate filings. 
  2. Subsection 227(7) of the Insurance Act provides FSRA with the authority to revoke an approval under this section. 
  3. FSRA may publish or require the insurer to publish an approved non-standard document, or its decision. FSRA may also approve the document as a standard form or endorsement for general use by all insurers, pursuant to subsection 227(5) of the Insurance Act

Effective date and future review

This Guidance is effective on April 1, 2022. 

FSRA will collect metrics associated with this Guidance once it is in effect. This data and input from stakeholders will inform FSRA’s review of the effectiveness of the Guidance and its internal processes. FSRA will review the Guidance within four (4) years of the effective date (i.e. by April 1, 2026).

About this Guidance 

This Guidance is an Approach. Approach Guidance describes FSRA’s internal principles, processes and practices for supervisory action and application of Chief Executive Officer discretion. Approach Guidance may refer to compliance obligations but does not in and of itself create a compliance obligation. Visit FSRA’s Guidance Framework to learn more.

Appendices and reference 

Appendices

References

Effective date: April 1, 2022


1 Pursuant to the Act, all insurers that are licensed to write auto insurance in Ontario are required to obtain certain approvals, described in this guidance and in the Insurance Act, from the Chief Executive Officer. However, for the purposes of this Approach Guidance, all statutory references to the Chief Executive Officer will instead be to FSRA.
2 See FSRA’s website for standard documents approved or prescribed in regulation for general use by all insurers, including the standard Certificate of Insurance insurers are permitted to issue in the place of standard policies pursuant to Section 232(5) of the Act