If you’ve been eyeing Square One Insurance for home or car coverage in Canada, you’re probably wondering how the company actually works before committing. This guide cuts through the noise with verified details on Square One’s services, contact options, and what customers actually experience.

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Headquarters: 650 West Georgia Street, Suite 1410, Vancouver, BC V6B 4N8 · Home Insurance Provinces: BC, AB, SK, MB, ON, QC · Car Insurance Provinces: ON, QC · Customer Contact: (855) 331-6933 · Review Platform: Trustpilot

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
2What’s unclear
  • Exact founding year — company history not publicly confirmed
  • Specific underwriting criteria beyond general home age and construction factors
  • Detailed quantitative review scores across multiple platforms
3Timeline signal
  • Quebec online buyers get a 10-day full refund window via registered mail (Square One Insurance Home Cancellation Policy)
  • BBB complaints flagged ongoing renewal issues — pattern spans multiple years (Better Business Bureau Complaints Page)
  • Most home claims settle within 60 days (Square One Insurance Home Claims Page)
4What’s next
  • Automatic renewal policies can trigger unannounced debits — watch renewal dates
  • Post-cancellation, some customers report difficulty securing affordable replacement coverage
  • Dedicated Complaints Officer available for escalated disputes

Key operational details for Square One Insurance, sourced from official policy documentation.

Detail Value
Headquarters Address 650 West Georgia Street, Suite 1410, Vancouver, BC V6B 4N8
Phone Number (855) 331-6933
Home Insurance Coverage BC, AB, SK, MB, ON, QC
Car Insurance Coverage ON, QC
Review Site Trustpilot
MRP Amount (car pre-effective) $50
Quebec Cancellation Window 10 days
Claims Payout Rate Over 90%

Who is Square One underwritten by?

Square One Insurance operates as a broker, meaning the company sells and services policies but doesn’t underwrite them itself. Two established carriers back the products.

Underwriting partners

Home insurance policies are underwritten by The Mutual Fire Insurance Company of British Columbia, while car insurance falls under Zurich Insurance Company Ltd.. This distinction matters when you file a claim — each carrier handles its own claims process, though Square One serves as your single point of contact.

The upshot

Your policy contract is with an A-rated insurer, not Square One directly. Zurich and Mutual Fire carry significant scale and regulatory oversight in Canadian insurance markets.

Coverage details

When you buy through Square One, underwriting questions during quoting focus on home age, construction type, and other risk factors that determine insurability and pricing. The company collects this information to present you with options from its underwriting partners, rather than making coverage decisions itself.

The implication: When something goes wrong with your claim, the financial backing comes from Zurich or Mutual Fire—not Square One itself.

Can I cancel Square One insurance anytime?

Both car and home policies can be cancelled, but the process and costs differ depending on policy type and timing.

Cancellation process

  • Car policies: Cancel by emailing info@squareone.ca or calling 1.855.331.6933. All named insureds must consent to the cancellation.
  • Home policies (online): If initiated by the first named insured, cancellation is automatic. Other named insureds require agent review.
  • Home policies (non-online): Require agent review and may take a few business days to process.

Potential fees

For car policies cancelled before the effective date, a $50 Minimum Retained Premium (MRP) applies and is non-refundable — this covers administrative costs regardless of policy duration. Post-effective cancellations provide pro-rated refunds of unearned premiums. Cancellations cannot be backdated.

Why this matters

Quebec residents have additional protections: online home purchases made without an agent qualify for a full refund within 10 days by sending a Schedule 1 Notice of Cancellation via registered mail.

The catch: Quebec buyers get stronger cancellation protections than residents of other provinces—a 10-day cooling-off period that no other region matches.

How long has Square One insurance been around?

Square One Insurance has established itself as a Canadian-born digital insurer focused on home and car coverage. The company operates from a Vancouver head office and has built its reputation around online-first sales and quoting.

Company history

Square One positions itself as a modern alternative to traditional brokers, emphasizing transparent pricing and streamlined digital service. The company sells policies through its website and serves customers across multiple provinces, with home insurance available in six provinces and car insurance in Ontario and Quebec.

Milestones

While an exact founding year isn’t confirmed in public records, Square One’s LinkedIn presence and policy documentation suggest operations dating back at least a decade. The company has expanded its service offerings and provinces coverage over time, though specific milestone dates remain unclear.

The MRP is the smallest amount of money that an underwriter requires when writing a new policy.

— Square One Insurance, Official Car Cancellation Page

What this means: Without a publicly confirmed founding date, prospective customers must rely on other signals—like BBB complaint history and claims payout statistics—to gauge company stability.

What services are offered by Square One Insurance Services?

Square One specializes in two core insurance products, with regional availability varying by policy type.

Home insurance

  • Available in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, and Quebec
  • Underwritten by The Mutual Fire Insurance Company of British Columbia
  • Online quoting considers home age and construction factors
  • Claims settled within 60 days for most cases, with over 90% payout rate in Canada

Car insurance

  • Available in Ontario and Quebec only
  • Underwritten by Zurich Insurance Company Ltd.
  • Telematics-based options may be available
  • Claims handled by Zurich adjusters after initial report to Square One
The catch

If you need both home and car coverage and live outside Ontario or Quebec, you’ll need separate providers for each product. Square One doesn’t bundle across provinces yet.

The pattern: Square One’s product gap in car insurance for provinces beyond Ontario and Quebec forces customers seeking bundled coverage to look elsewhere.

What is Square One Insurance customer service phone number?

Reaching Square One is straightforward for most inquiries, though service speed varies by customer report.

Contact hours

The primary customer service line is 1.855.331.6933, available for cancellations, policy questions, and claims. Square One also maintains a 24/7 claim reporting line at the same number. Claims feedback can be emailed separately to claims.feedback@squareone.ca.

Office locations

The head office is located at 650 West Georgia Street, Suite 1410, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6B 4N8. For escalated disputes, the company employs a dedicated Complaints Officer who handles issues that frontline staff cannot resolve.

What to watch

BBB complaints highlight cancellation issues where customers felt they received inadequate contact or notice before policies renewed. Keep renewal dates on your calendar and confirm any auto-renewal preferences in writing.

The implication: Customers who experience auto-renewal surprises have recourse through the Complaints Officer—but proactive calendar management prevents most disputes.

Upsides

  • Home and car claims backed by established A-rated insurers
  • Over 90% home claims payout rate
  • Online cancellation is automatic for first named insured on home policies
  • Dedicated Complaints Officer for dispute resolution
  • Quebec residents get 10-day cooling-off period for online home purchases

Downsides

  • Car policies cancelled before start date incur $50 MRP
  • BBB complaints flag inadequate notice before renewals
  • Some customers report slower post-purchase communication
  • Post-cancellation, securing replacement coverage may lead to higher premiums

What customers say

Customer reviews paint a mixed picture. On Trustpilot, Square One attracts both satisfied buyers who appreciated the digital simplicity and critics who struggled with communication after purchase. BBB complaints reference cancellation issues and inadequate contact before renewal. InsurEye reviews note that some customers faced higher “special” insurance costs after switching providers post-cancellation.

Square One pays out on over 90% of all claims submitted in Canada, and most are settled within 60 days.

— Square One Insurance, Official Claims Page

The third-party analysis from Inflation Calculator suggests that buying the policy feels smooth, but service quality can vary significantly per customer. Some report stressful experiences during the claims or cancellation phases.

TL;DR: Customers who value digital simplicity and strong claims payout rates may find Square One suitable, but those expecting consistent post-purchase communication or needing bundled coverage across provinces should look elsewhere or prepare for potential service gaps.

Making the call

Square One Insurance works well if you value buying coverage digitally, want clear underwriter backing (Zurich for cars, Mutual Fire for homes), and prioritize the over-90% payout record. For Canadian buyers who expect white-glove service or need both home and car coverage while living in Alberta or BC, the product gaps hurt. The real test comes when you need to cancel or file a claim — where the $50 car MRP, Quebec’s 10-day window, and the complaints officer process all reveal whether Square One’s service model fits your expectations.

For Canadian homeowners and car owners comparing digital insurers, the calculus is straightforward: check the quote, verify the underwriter, and mark your renewal date. Square One’s pricing and claims record hold up against industry standards, but theBroker-only model means your actual insurer handles the financial risk, not Square One itself.

Buyers who verify their underwriter before purchasing avoid surprises when claims arise—and those who mark renewal dates on their calendar sidestep the BBB complaint patterns that continue to surface.

Related reading: House for Sale Carignan QC · Maison à Vendre Repentigny

Additional sources

squareone.ca, squareone.ca, squareone.ca, squareone.ca, squareone.ca, emma-app.com

Square One’s home insurance for Canadian provinces compares interestingly to Qantas home insurance reviews, particularly in coverage options and customer feedback.

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Frequently asked questions

What are Square One hours?

Square One’s customer service line at 1.855.331.6933 operates around the clock for claims reporting. General policy inquiries may have specific hours — check the website or call to confirm current availability.

Where is Square One Insurance office?

The head office is at 650 West Georgia Street, Suite 1410, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6B 4N8.

Is there a fee to cancel a Square account?

For car policies cancelled before the effective date, a $50 Minimum Retained Premium applies. Home policy cancellations have no explicit fee, though Quebec’s 10-day window for online purchases without agent offers the clearest cancellation pathway.

How does BoxyMo work?

BoxyMo appears to be a reference found in some online queries but isn’t confirmed in Square One’s official documentation. For accurate product details, contact Square One directly at 1.855.331.6933.

What are the big 3 insurance companies?

In Canada, major insurers include Intact, Desjardins, and Aviva — but Square One’s underwriters (Zurich and Mutual Fire) are established players with significant market presence in their respective lines.

Which insurance company denies the most claims?

Claim denial rates vary by insurer, product, and individual claim circumstances. Square One’s home claims payout rate exceeds 90%, which compares favorably to industry averages — but denial patterns depend on specific coverage terms and underwriting decisions.

What is the AIG scandal?

The 2008 AIG financial crisis involved risk management failures at the global insurer, not AIG’s Canadian operations or Square One’s underwriters. Square One uses Zurich and Mutual Fire, which have distinct corporate structures and regulatory oversight.