What SABS is
The Statutory Accident Benefits Schedule (SABS) is the Ontario regulation that sets out exactly what benefits an injured person can claim from their own auto insurer after a collision. It is the operating manual for the no-fault system: every benefit type, every cap, every eligibility test, every dispute procedure is defined here.
SABS is found at O. Reg. 34/10, made under the Insurance Act. Carriers and the Financial Services Regulatory Authority (FSRA) treat it as the controlling document — your auto policy effectively incorporates SABS by reference.
What SABS defines
SABS defines every accident benefit available in Ontario: medical and rehabilitation expenses, attendant care, income replacement, non-earner benefit, caregiver benefit, housekeeping and home maintenance, death and funeral benefits, and several smaller categories.
For each benefit it sets the standard limit, the optional buy-up tiers, eligibility tests (who qualifies and under what conditions), waiting periods, application deadlines, and the consequences of missing a deadline.
It also defines the Minor Injury Guideline ($3,500 medical/rehab cap for specified soft-tissue injuries) and the Catastrophic Impairment definitions that unlock the highest benefit limits.
How SABS disputes work
If your insurer denies a benefit you believe you’re entitled to, SABS routes disputes through the Licence Appeal Tribunal (LAT). LAT replaced the older court-based system in 2016 and is meant to be faster and less adversarial.
You file an application, exchange documents with the insurer, attend a case conference, and (if not settled) proceed to a written or oral hearing. LAT decisions are appealable to the Divisional Court on a question of law.
The July 2026 SABS overhaul
The July 2026 reform amends SABS in several material ways. Four benefits that are mandatory today — income replacement, non-earner, caregiver, and housekeeping & home maintenance — become optional. Drivers can keep them, drop them, or buy higher limits.
The Minor Injury Guideline category list expands. The Direct Compensation Property Damage rules expand to cover more parking-lot and single-vehicle road-hazard incidents.
Drafting is still being finalized in subordinate regulation. We track the changes in our 2026 Reform Guide as they’re published.
Where to read SABS yourself
SABS is publicly available on Ontario’s e-Laws website. It’s long and dense, but the section headings are descriptive enough to navigate by topic. The most-cited sections in disputes are usually those covering medical/rehab limits, IRB calculation, and attendant care.