This guide summarizes—not replaces—the contract. Your application, certificate, policy wording and endorsements work together, and only the actual issued documents determine coverage.
What OAP 4 is designed to do
A garage operation creates automobile exposures that do not fit neatly into an ordinary owner’s automobile policy or a commercial general liability policy. Employees may move and road test customer vehicles, the shop may own service or courtesy vehicles, and multiple automobiles may accumulate at one location. OAP 4 creates one garage-policy framework for those automobile exposures, subject to the operation described on the certificate and application.
The contract is more than the policy booklet
The standard wording is only one part of the contract. The application describes the business and information supplied to the insurer. The certificate identifies the named insured, policy period, locations, business classification, limits, deductibles and premiums. Endorsements can add, remove or alter terms. A coverage answer should therefore begin with the issued certificate and endorsements—not a generic explanation found online.
- Ontario Application for Automobile Insurance Garage Form
- Garage Certificate of Automobile Insurance
- OAP 4 standard policy wording
- Endorsements and other issued documents
Sections 1 through 4: core automobile protections
The July 2026 OAP 4 wording is organized into numbered sections. Section 1 addresses third-party liability. Section 2 addresses accident benefits. Section 3 addresses uninsured automobile coverage. Section 4 addresses direct compensation–property damage. Each section contains its own insuring agreements, definitions and exclusions, and the certificate determines the limits or deductibles that apply.
- Section 1 — Third Party Liability
- Section 2 — Accident Benefits
- Section 3 — Uninsured Automobile Coverage
- Section 4 — Direct Compensation–Property Damage
Section 5: loss or damage to owned automobiles
Section 5 concerns loss of or damage to automobiles owned by the insured, when the relevant coverage is shown. The wording addresses collision or upset, comprehensive and specified perils, along with valuation, deductibles and other conditions. Inventory, service vehicles, courtesy vehicles and vehicles held for sale can create different reporting and valuation questions; the business description and certificate must be read carefully.
Section 6: customer automobiles in your care
Section 6 is central for repair and service businesses. It addresses liability for damage to a customer’s automobile while that automobile is in the care, custody or control of the insured, subject to the selected coverage. The wording contains separate provisions for collision or upset and specified perils, as well as deductibles, limits and exclusions. It is not a blanket promise that every event involving a customer vehicle is covered.
Owned, customer and non-owned automobiles are different
The policy defines categories rather than treating every automobile the same. An owned automobile is tied to the insured and the stated business. A customer’s automobile is generally an automobile owned by another while being towed, pushed or in the insured’s care, custody or control in the stated business, subject to the definition’s exclusions. A non-owned automobile is another defined category used in connection with the business or for certain personal use. Correct classification affects which section responds.
How to read the garage certificate
Start by confirming the exact legal name, all business locations and the policy period. Then compare the stated business and rating information with actual operations. Review liability limits, customer-automobile limits, physical-damage selections and deductibles. Check endorsements and any special conditions. If a coverage line is blank, unclear or different from the operation, ask the broker to explain it in writing before relying on an assumption.
- Named insured and legal entity
- Every building and lot used by the business
- Business description and classifications
- Limits and deductibles by section
- Drivers, plates, owned vehicles and vehicle concentration
- Endorsements, exclusions and special conditions
Why daily operating details matter
A one-bay mechanical shop, a collision centre storing dozens of vehicles and a mobile mechanic do not present the same risk. Insurers can ask about annual revenue and payroll, driver records, road tests, pickup and delivery, maximum customer-vehicle values, overnight storage, open lots, security and the exact work performed. Accurate disclosure helps the insurer decide whether it will accept the risk and what terms it will offer.
A hypothetical customer-vehicle loss
Suppose a technician road tests a customer’s SUV after a repair and collides with another vehicle. The resulting questions can involve third-party liability, damage to the customer’s automobile, the driver’s status, permission, deductibles and the certificate’s limits. A different set of questions arises if the SUV is stolen overnight or damaged by a fire. The point is not that every scenario is covered; it is that the facts must be matched to the correct policy section and issued terms.
Changes to tell your broker about
The statutory conditions require prompt notice of a material change in risk. Practical examples can include a new location, a major change in services, new plates or vehicles, different storage practices, higher vehicle concentrations or a change in driver activity. The wording also defines a newly acquired location and includes notice requirements. Contact the broker before a significant operational change whenever possible.
The July 2026 version matters
FSRAO identifies the current OAP 4 form as last updated July 1, 2026. Ontario’s 2026 automobile reforms also affected related forms, including a new OEF 47R used for optional accident benefits coverage and priority of payment in the garage context. Older online articles may describe prior documents. Always confirm the effective form and endorsements for the policy period being reviewed.
Common questions
Does every Ontario repair shop need OAP 4?
Eligibility and requirements depend on the operation. A business that regularly repairs, services, stores, parks, sells or handles automobiles should have its garage automobile exposure reviewed by a licensed broker rather than assuming another policy is sufficient.
Is OAP 4 the same as garagekeepers insurance?
“Garagekeepers” is commonly used to describe protection for customer vehicles in a garage’s care. OAP 4 is Ontario’s approved garage automobile policy form. The issued certificate and Section 6 wording determine the actual customer-automobile coverage.
Does OAP 4 cover the shop building and tools?
OAP 4 is an automobile policy. Building, tools, equipment, stock, general liability and income exposures ordinarily require a broader commercial insurance review.
Where do I find my limits and deductibles?
Begin with the Garage Certificate of Automobile Insurance and the endorsements. The certificate summarizes selected limits, deductibles and premiums, while the policy wording explains how the sections operate.
Are road tests included automatically?
Road-test activity is a material operating detail. Whether and how coverage responds depends on the driver, permission, business use, issued terms and circumstances. Disclose who drives customer vehicles and why.
What if customer vehicles are stored outside?
Open-lot and overnight storage can affect insurer acceptance, theft exposure, conditions and limits. Disclose the maximum vehicle count and value, fencing, lighting, key controls, cameras and other security.
Can one OAP 4 cover several locations?
A policy can list multiple locations, subject to insurer acceptance and the certificate. Confirm that every building and lot used by the business appears correctly and that values and concentrations are accurate for each.
What should I provide for an OAP 4 quote?
Useful information includes the current policy and certificate, application, loss history, business description, locations, revenue/payroll, drivers, owned vehicles and plates, maximum customer-vehicle values, road-test activity and security.
Can I rely on this page instead of the policy?
No. This is general educational information. The application, issued certificate, OAP 4 wording and endorsements form the contract, and a licensed broker should explain how they apply to your operation.
How often should the policy be reviewed?
Review it at renewal and before material operational changes. New services, locations, storage, vehicles, drivers, plates or major equipment can change the risk before the next scheduled renewal.
Primary sources
Use the current official wording and your own certificate when making a coverage decision.