A qualifying home security system may lower your insurance bill, but there is no verified average saving for Saskatoon homeowners. Your insurance company decides the amount based on your home insurance policy, eligible equipment, monitoring arrangement, and the premium receiving the discount.
For example, in Canadian dollars, a hypothetical 10% insurance discount on an eligible $1,800 annual premium saves $180 a year, or $15 a month. Your actual saving could be smaller, larger, or zero, so confirm eligibility and savings with your insurer before buying.
How Home Security Insurance Discounts Work
Your home insurance premium is the amount you pay for coverage. A security system discount reduces the eligible premium when your setup meets your insurance provider’s rules.
The Insurance Bureau of Canada says protective equipment, including burglar alarms and sprinkler systems, may help reduce premiums. It recommends contacting your insurer when you update your home’s protective systems. [1]
The reason is risk reduction: detecting a problem may give someone a chance to limit property damage. No system guarantees a lower likelihood of a claim or a reduction in the severity of a claim.
An intrusion alarm detects a possible break-in; it cannot guarantee that theft and vandalism claims will never happen. Fire and water risks also depend on the equipment, its operation, and homeowner action after an alert.
An advertised maximum is not your discount
SecurTek advertises savings of up to 20%, with eligibility and the percentage determined outside SecurTek by the insurer or broker. That is a provider’s advertised maximum, not an average Saskatchewan discount range or an insurer-confirmed offer for your home. [2]
Your home location, home type, claims history, and coverage also matter when comparing quotes. Keep coverage limits and deductibles consistent so a lower bill does not hide reduced protection.
A deductible is the portion of a covered loss you pay yourself. Do not increase it beyond what you can afford merely to offset monthly security fees. [1]
Which Security Systems May Qualify?
Professional installation and professional monitoring describe different services. A self-installed system can have central station monitoring, while a professionally installed system might only send alerts to your phone.
TD Insurance’s Canadian guidance says a professionally monitored or smartphone-connected smart home security system could qualify on a homeowner or tenant policy. It publishes no percentage on that page, and Saskatchewan customers should confirm the applicable features and policy conditions directly. [3]
PC Insurance’s Saskatchewan page gives a more specific example: a centrally monitored fire and burglary alarm system with full perimeter protection may qualify for savings. It does not state a percentage. [4]
| Setup | How alerts are handled | What to confirm with your insurer |
|---|---|---|
| Professionally monitored alarm system | A central monitoring station receives alarm signals | Required intrusion and fire coverage, approved service, and documentation |
| Self-monitored smart system | App notifications reach you or your chosen contacts | Whether smartphone connectivity meets the policy’s criteria |
| Local audible alarm | A local siren sounds at the property | Whether an unmonitored, local-only alarm qualifies |
| Security cameras or video doorbell | Recording or alerts depend on the equipment and subscription | Whether the camera itself qualifies or must form part of an approved system |
Check the monitoring service behind the label
Ask what 24/7 monitoring includes before signing a monitoring agreement. Continuous recording, live video monitoring, and 24/7 professional monitoring are different services.
For a monitored security system, ask your security provider to explain the dispatch path. Who receives the signal, what do trained operators verify, and when do they request emergency dispatch?
Security personnel cannot promise responder arrival times. Faster notification may help someone act, but faster emergency response and lower response times are not guaranteed.
Ask how alarm monitoring works during power outages or Wi-Fi outages. Confirm whether battery backup, cellular backup, or cellular monitoring is included, how faults are reported, and who maintains those connections.
For equipment choices, InsurGuard’s residential security system overview describes common components. Have your insurer approve the proposed monitoring arrangement before system installation.
Which Security Features Should You Ask About?
Give your insurer a device list with the proposed security system features. More devices do not automatically produce a larger home insurance security discount, and individual credits may not add together.
Intrusion detection and access protection
Door and window sensors, motion sensors, motion detectors, and glass-break sensors address different detection needs. Ask whether the required protection covers every relevant entry point or only selected areas. [3]
Choose equipment around your home’s layout and size. Central control panels and keypads manage system functions, but their presence alone does not establish discount eligibility.
Ask separately about physical measures such as deadbolts on all exterior doors, reinforced entry points, and motion-sensor lights. Smart locks, home hubs, and other home automation equipment should earn their place through useful functions, with any smart home credits confirmed separately.
Fire monitoring and smoke alarms
Wawanesa says a monitored security or fire alarm system could qualify for a discount, subject to regional availability. Its page does not establish a Saskatchewan percentage. [5]
Ask whether your smoke detectors or fire alarms must connect to an approved monitoring service. A connected smoke detector that alerts your phone may receive different treatment from monitored fire detection.
Explain what the system detects and who receives its signals. Do not assume that heat sensors, heat monitoring, or every environmental hazard alarm qualifies for the same credit.
Water leak detection and automatic shutoff
PC Insurance’s Saskatchewan page lists possible savings for a centrally monitored water alarm or automatic water shut-off equipment. Ask which system features your policy recognizes and whether separate discounts can be combined. [4]
Water leak sensors, sometimes called flood sensors, detect water at their installed location. Automatic water shutoff valves can also stop a connected water supply when the equipment operates as designed.
Flood detection does not mean every source of flooding is detected or covered. Ask how any credit relates to water damage claims, exclusions, and the specific equipment proposed for your home.
Low-temperature alerts and CO monitoring
For Saskatoon winter absences, discuss freeze sensors, low-temperature sensors, and alerts for furnace failures with your installer. A water leak or freeze sensor serves a different purpose from automatic shutoff equipment.
Carbon monoxide detectors and CO monitoring address a separate hazard. Ask about their insurance treatment directly rather than assuming every environmental monitoring feature earns a property discount.
Connected thermostats may help you check indoor temperatures, but alerts do not automatically replace policy duties. Confirm requirements for inspections, heating, and water supplies before leaving a vacant or seasonal property unattended.
How Much Could You Save in Dollars?
Start with the premium your insurer says is eligible, which may differ from your total bill. Ask whether the discount applies to burglary coverage, other selected coverage, or a broader premium amount.
Also check how endorsements, fees, taxes, and existing credits affect the calculation. A percentage shown by quoting tools does not establish which charges receive it.
Home Insurance Savings Calculator
Use these calculations after confirming the premium basis:
- Illustrative annual insurance savings = eligible annual premium × assumed discount rate.
- Monthly equivalent = annual insurance savings ÷ 12.
- Confirmed saving = comparable premium without the discount minus comparable premium with the discount.
The table below assumes an eligible annual premium of CAD $1,800 for a full year. These are mathematical scenarios, not a list of available Saskatchewan offers.
| Hypothetical discount | Annual saving in CAD | Monthly equivalent in CAD |
|---|---|---|
| 0% | $0 | $0 |
| 5% | $90 | $7.50 |
| 10% | $180 | $15 |
| 15% | $270 | $22.50 |
| 20% | $360 | $30 |
The zero-discount scenario belongs in your budget until eligibility is confirmed. The 20% row illustrates arithmetic, not what your insurer will approve.
As another hypothetical example, a $2,500 annual insurance premium would produce $300 per year at a 12% discount if the whole premium were eligible. That equals $25 monthly, with both the rate and premium chosen only for illustration.
If your insurer gives you comparable before-and-after dollar quotes, use that difference. It avoids assuming the advertised percentage applies to the full bill.
Do Insurance Savings Cover Monitoring and Installation?
Compare confirmed annual savings with all costs you would add. A discount can reduce your net annual cost while leaving you with a substantial amount to pay.
This worked example assumes CAD $600 for equipment, $200 for security system installation, and a $35 monthly monitoring fee. It uses the hypothetical $180 annual saving above and assumes both service and discount run for the full year.
| Illustrative cost or saving | First year in CAD | Later year in CAD |
|---|---|---|
| Equipment | $600 | $0 |
| Installation cost | $200 | $0 |
| Monitoring fees at $35 monthly | $420 | $420 |
| Insurance saving | −$180 | −$180 |
| Net cost | $1,040 | $240 |
These are calculation inputs, not InsurGuard prices or Saskatchewan averages. Taxes, maintenance, repairs, replacement batteries, financing, cancellation charges, and future price changes are excluded.
The formulas are:
- First-year net cost = upfront costs of equipment + installation + first-year recurring charges − first-year insurance saving.
- Later annual net cost = recurring charges + maintenance and other applicable annual costs − annual insurance saving.
Here, the insurance saving offsets $15 of the $35 monthly monitoring cost. The remaining $20 monthly covers monitoring alone, before equipment, installation, and the excluded costs.
If you already own a system, compare the net additional cost of making it eligible. An alarm takeover assessment can establish whether existing equipment is reusable and identify any takeover cost, repairs, or new monitoring contract.
Ask for an itemized estimate showing the monitoring tier, equipment ownership, minimum term, and cancellation conditions. Use InsurGuard’s Saskatoon security system cost guide to identify cost categories, then obtain current prices for your proposed setup.
What Saskatoon Homeowners Should Confirm With Their Insurer
Start with your insurance broker or insurer before choosing equipment. Confirm that the offer applies to your province, policy type, and occupancy.
A homeowner policy, tenant policy, condo policy, and seasonal policy cover different interests. A discount on one does not establish eligibility on another.
Ask these questions:
- Does my existing or proposed monitored alarm system qualify, and do you keep a list of approved devices?
- Must I maintain an active monitored alarm, full perimeter protection, or particular communication backup?
- What eligible premium receives the credit, and what is the confirmed annual dollar saving?
- Do fire monitoring, water alarms, or automatic shutoff change the result?
- What proof of installation or monitoring do you need?
- Can the credit combine with a claims-free credit, multi-policy bundling, or other discounts?
- Must I share device data, and what information do you require?
- What must I report if I switch alarm companies, change the monitoring tier, or disconnect equipment?
IBC also recommends asking about age-related, mortgage-free, and claims-free savings. Request separate figures so you can see which saving comes from the alarm rather than another credit. [1]
Ask about your winter absence conditions in writing. Low-temperature alerts do not establish that burst pipe incidents are covered or that required property checks can stop.
InsurGuard’s Saskatoon service information describes local installation and support options. Local service can help with equipment questions; your insurer determines insurance terms.
How to Apply for a Security System Discount
Confirming first helps you avoid paying for features your insurer does not recognize. Follow the insurer’s process for your discount application.
- Describe your current setup or send the proposed invoice or device list before buying.
- Confirm the required equipment, monitoring, and eligible premium basis.
- Request a written dollar estimate with comparable coverage and deductibles.
- Ask what documentation the insurer needs and who must issue it.
- Submit the documents through the insurer’s approved channel.
- Confirm the effective date, any prorating, and whether a mid-policy change produces a credit or refund.
- Check the revised policy document or renewal statement and report later changes as required.
Get the right installation and monitoring evidence
Ask whether your insurer needs a Certificate of Monitoring, alarm monitoring certificate, Certificate of Installation, installation certificate, or another record. The document’s contents matter more than the label.
Check whether it must identify the property, installed devices, monitoring service, activation date, and current service status. Keep your monitoring agreement and proof of installation together for future questions about the underwriting file.
If an underwriter requests a ULC monitoring certificate, ask for the exact certificate and applicable requirements. UL Solutions explains that a company’s listing does not mean every installed system has an active ULC certificate. [6]
If a proposal describes a ULC-certified central station, ask what listing it holds and whether your installation needs its own certificate. Do not substitute a general monitoring letter when the insurer has requested a specific certificate.
Is the Discount Enough to Justify a New System?
If your only goal is a lower insurance bill, buy or upgrade only after comparing the confirmed saving with the full added cost. In the worked example, you still pay $1,040 in the first year after the insurance saving.
You may separately value remote access, alerts, and help handling alarm signals when you are unavailable. InsurGuard’s guide to whether home security systems are worth it explores the broader purchasing decision.
Do not count avoided insurance claims, smaller claims, or a preserved claims-free credit as certain financial returns. Equipment may support a response to fire damage or theft risk without guaranteeing that losses disappear.
Choose protection that suits the property and your budget. Facial recognition, extra cameras, or other optional functions need a practical purpose beyond an assumed insurance credit.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do security cameras lower home insurance?
A standalone consumer camera or video doorbell does not establish eligibility by itself. Ask whether your insurer accepts that equipment, smartphone connectivity, or only a wider qualifying setup.
Does a DIY alarm qualify for an insurance discount?
It may qualify if it meets your insurer’s equipment and monitoring criteria. DIY describes installation, so tell the insurer whether you self-monitor or use professional monitoring.
What proof of alarm monitoring do insurers require?
Ask your insurer which records it accepts and what they must show. A monitoring contract, installation record, or certificate should match the actual property and service.
Does SGI CANADA offer a security system discount?
Ask your SGI CANADA broker to confirm eligibility and any rate for your specific policy. Do not use another insurer’s offer or SecurTek’s advertised maximum as an SGI CANADA quote.
Can I get the discount before renewal?
Ask your insurer about the effective date, mid-policy adjustments, and any required approval. Do not assume that the credit is renewal-only, automatic, or retroactive.
What happens if I cancel monitoring or remove equipment?
Tell your insurer before cancelling required monitoring or if you remove it during a remodel. Ask how the change affects the credit and any policy conditions.
Can my home insurance rate still rise with a discount?
Yes, a discount can apply while other pricing changes increase the total premium. Wawanesa identifies rising claims costs and construction costs as factors affecting property insurance pricing. [5]
Your Next Step
InsurGuard is based in Saskatoon and offers installation, local support, and professional monitoring through SecurTek. Its team can explain the proposed equipment and monitoring arrangement. [7]
Request a security estimate from InsurGuard, then take the itemized proposal to your insurer to confirm the discount and compare the final costs.
