Sonnet Shift is currently available to drivers in Ontario and Quebec. But check back soon – more Canadians will be able to sign up for Sonnet Shift, our usage-based insurance program in the near future. The program is completely voluntary and free to join, too!

Here are the Sonnet Shift eligibility requirements:

All drivers, other than excluded drivers, must meet Sonnet Shift’s underwriting rules;

• It’s required for the Principal Driver and any Young Driver (under 25) to be enrolled in Sonnet Shift, if the Principal Driver signs up for the program. For any Secondary Drivers, it’s optional;
• All enrolled vehicles must be of private passenger type and must have Liability coverage at all times while enrolled;
• To enroll and remain enrolled in Sonnet Shift, all enrolled drivers must:
  • Hold a valid full or probationary driver’s licence. Drivers insured on another policy, excluded drivers, and drivers with a learner’s licence are not eligible to enroll in Sonnet Shift;
  • Have their own iPhone or Android smartphone.

So, what are you waiting for? Sign up today – it only takes a couple of minutes.

No. Right now, Sonnet Shift is only for drivers using their cars for personal use, or acceptable business purposes such as commuting to and from work. Using your car for commercial purposes is NOT covered by your policy. This includes, but is not limited to, drivers participating in ridesharing and food delivery using services like Uber or Lyft, ambulance drivers, bus drivers or heavy truck drivers.

Unsure if the way you use your car is acceptable under your car insurance policy? We can answer your questions! Just contact us – we’re here to help.

The enrollment discount is our way of saying thank you for signing up with Sonnet Shift! And this means more money in your wallet. If this is your first time enrolling in the program, you’ll receive a one-time enrollment discount, which automatically saves you 10% on your premium. Once you’ve taken at least 20 trips and driven 300 kms, the enrollment discount will be replaced by your Driving Result – a discount or surcharge based on your driving behaviour – on your next Shift Adjustment.

If you haven’t taken at least 20 trips and driven 300 km, the enrollment discount will remain for one more quarter (3 months). But the enrollment discount won’t last forever! It’ll be removed on your next quarter. So, take a drive every now and then to make sure you meet the minimum trips requirement.

What is your Mileage Contribution?

Sonnet Shift tracks the kilometers that all enrolled drivers of your vehicle(s) drive throughout your entire policy term. We use this to compare how often each driver enrolled in Sonnet Shift drives. In the app, this is called your Mileage Contribution. Quarterly, your Mileage Contribution is used as one of the factors in calculating your premium.

Did you know? If you’re the Primary Named Insured, you’ll be able to track the Mileage Contribution of all enrolled drivers. This way, you know who’s driving the most. Handy if you’re the one paying for gas!

How is your Mileage Contribution calculated?

When you first enroll in Sonnet Shift, we ask you to tell us who drives each vehicle the most (the Primary Driver). We also ask who drives each one less (the Secondary Drivers and/or Young Drivers). These details help us determine your premium from the moment you sign up.

Then, throughout your policy term, we track your actual mileage. We compare the mileage for each individual driver with the total mileage of all drivers assigned to a vehicle. This gives us a percentage that we call your Mileage Contribution. Every 3 months from the start of your policy, we use this as a factor in adjusting your premium.

The easiest way to look at Mileage Contribution? Think about the breakdown of your hydro bill. The usage may change and could result in a higher or lower premium for each driver on your next Shift Adjustment.

Do unenrolled Secondary Drivers contribute to your Mileage Contribution?

We can’t track the Mileage Contribution of unenrolled Secondary Drivers. That’s why we assign them a combined Default Mileage Contribution of 20%. The total Mileage Contribution for all drivers on the vehicle equals 100%. The 80% left over will be distributed among enrolled drivers based on their tracked Mileage Contribution.

Heads up! Your Mileage Contribution is slightly different than your Mileage Discount.

Discounts or surcharges will be applied to any drivers that are enrolled in Sonnet Shift. If you’re eligible and qualify for the enrollment discount, Driving Result, and the Mileage Discount they will be applied to the following coverages:

• Liability
• Accident Benefits
• All Perils
• Collision
• Comprehensive or Specified Perils
• Uninsured Automobile Coverage

Discounts are not applied to endorsements or Family Protection Coverage.

Have more questions about your Driving Result? Want to know more about the Mileage Discount? Not sure how the Enrollment Discount applies? You can contact us – we’re here to help! Or, read our handy FAQs for instant answers:

• Driving Result
• Mileage Discount
• Enrollment Discount

Yes. You can opt out of Sonnet Shift at any time. Here’s how:

1. Log in to your Sonnet.ca account.
2. Start a policy change.
3. Select Switch out of Sonnet Shift.
4. Remove all enrolled driver(s) from the program.
5. We’ll update your usage-based auto insurance policy to a traditional auto insurance policy and send you a confirmation email.

Keep in mind that any drivers on your policy who were enrolled in Sonnet Shift with you will lose any discounts from the program. Your premium will be adjusted on the date you unenroll. if a driver's score at the time of unenrollment results in a surcharge, the surcharge will be applied to your traditional auto premium moving forward (provided that at the time of your unenrollment you have 20 trips and 300 kms attributed to you in a Collection Period).

Once this change is completed, Named Insureds can still access the app. They will no longer have access to the Sonnet Shift section. Additional drivers will no longer have access to the app.

Heads Up! Deleting the app from your smartphone won’t automatically withdraw you from the program. You’ll still need to log into sonnet.ca to completely unenroll. Follow these steps to stop the app from tracking your driving.

With Sonnet Shift, you control your premium and your savings – with a chance to improve every 3 months from your policy start date. But that’s not all. Here are just a few of the benefits to signing up for Sonnet Shift:

• Sign up for free
• Get a 10% one-time enrollment discount just for signing up
• Earn up to a 35% discount on your premium by driving safely
• Save even more by driving less with an annual Mileage Discount of up to 10% at renewal
• Enroll all the drivers in your household to maximize control over your savings
• Improve your driving with personalized tips based on trips you’ve already taken, to help you learn safer habits
• View your projected discount (so you can keep up the good work!) or surcharge (so you can learn safer habits and start saving)
• Have your driving data at your fingertips 24/7

If Sonnet Shift isn’t for you there are still plenty of other ways you can save on your auto insurance.

To calculate your auto insurance premium, Sonnet Shift looks at three key factors to evaluate how you drive, when you drive and how much you drive.

Driving Result

Your Driving Result is the discount or surcharge applied to your premium quarterly (every three months), based on your Driving Score from the previous 90 days. A good score can save you up to 35%, but risky driving could cost you up to 30% more. Keep tabs on your projected result and premium, updated weekly in the app.

Mileage Contribution

The Sonnet Insurance app tracks the kilometres throughout your entire policy term, for each driver enrolled in Sonnet Shift. Each driver’s Mileage Contribution helps calculate the total annual premium at renewal, and it’s used as a factor in calculating the quarterly Shift Adjustment. You can view your mileage in the app to see how much you’re driving.

Mileage Discount

Your Mileage Discount is applied at renewal based on how much you drive. You could be rewarded for driving less, since fewer miles on the road means less chance of an accident (plus, it’s more eco-friendly). Check the app to see your Projected Mileage Discount.

Heads up! Even though Sonnet Shift puts you in control of your car insurance premium, we still look at traditional rating factors like where you live, your driving record, your past claims, and other information about you (like your age).

Remember, every three months we give you the opportunity to earn a better discount! Be sure to keep tabs on your Driving Score and use the tips provided to continually improve your driving.

Your Driving Score is calculated by combining the individual scores from every trip you’ve taken in the last 90 days. The score is updated in real time and ranges from 0 to a perfect score of 100. The Driving Score is what we use to determine your quarterly Driving Result. Based on your Driving Result, you could save up to 35% on your auto insurance premiums just for driving safe. On the other hand, if you’re a riskier driver your premium could increase by up to 30%. It pays to be a safe driver.

Here’s what the app records to determine your Driving Score, listed in order of impact:

• Smooth Driving – This measures how smoothly you accelerate and brake on the road. It can indicate the risk of being involved in a crash or having an insurance claim. Smooth driving and gentle braking result in a better score.
• Mobile Use – This measures how attentive you are while driving. Using your phone while your vehicle is moving (e.g., using GPS, unlocking your phone, selecting music, or taking a hands-free phone call etc.) will negatively impact your score.
• Speed – This measures if you’re maintaining a consistent, safe speed throughout your trip. Cruise control and keeping an eye on the speedometer can help you avoid speeding and earn a better discount.
• Fatigue – This measures the length of your drives. Shorter trips and regular breaks will improve your score, while regularly driving long distances without breaks will reduce your score.
• Time of Day – This measures when you usually drive. Getting on the road when there’s minimal traffic and during the daytime will improve your score. Regularly driving during rush hour and at night will reduce your score.
• Road Risk – This measures the difficulty of the roads you drive and how safe they are (e.g. a high number of intersections or lanes, heavy traffic or pedestrian density, poor street lighting and the frequency of accidents). Avoid these types of roads to help reduce your score.

You can view the breakdown of your overall Driving Score on the Dashboard screen of the Shift section in the app. Want to review the details of a trip you just took? Every trip detail is recorded and can be reviewed in the Trips tab (found in the Shift section in the app). Plus, you’ll get helpful tips on how you can improve your driving habits.

It’s easy! To qualify for a discount or surcharge on your next Shift Adjustment, you just need to drive often enough. To receive an updated Driving Result, you’ll need to take a minimum of 20 trips and drive 300 km during the data collection period (90 days). What if you don’t meet this minimum? Once we’ve applied a Driving Result to your premium, we’ll continue to apply the same Driving Result at your next Shift Adjustment until you receive a new Driving Result.

Sonnet Shift tracks the mileage (or total kilometers) driven by each enrolled driver over the policy term. Your Mileage Discount is a savings calculated based on how much you’ve driven. At renewal, if eligible, each driver is rewarded for driving less, since spending fewer miles on the road means it’s less likely an accident will happen (plus, it’s more eco-friendly). 

How do I qualify for the Mileage Discount?

To qualify for the Mileage Discount on your next renewal term and to remain eligible for the discount:

• ALL eligible drivers (including Secondary Drivers) assigned to the enrolled vehicle must be enrolled in Sonnet Shift
• You must enroll in Sonnet Shift during the first eight months of your policy term
• Your annualized mileage must fall within a set kilometer band below:
  
  • 1-5,000 km driven = 10% discount
  • 5001-7,500 km driven = 5% discount
  • 7,501-10,000 km driven = 2.5% discount
  • >10,001 km driven and above = 0% discount

What is my Projected Annual Mileage?

The Projected Annual Mileage Discount (which you can view on your Dashboard in the Sonnet Insurance app) shows how many kilometers the app predicts you’ll drive over the course of the policy term, based on how many you’ve already driven. It’s updated once a week, every Sunday. This isn’t set in stone, though, since it depends on how much you drive.

What is my Projected Mileage Discount?

The Projected Mileage Discount (which you can view on your Dashboard in the Sonnet Insurance app) shows the percentage discount you’re on track to receive on your next renewal term! It’s also updated once a week, every Sunday. Like the actual number of kilometers you drive, this is subject to change based on how much you drive.

It depends. If the Primary Driver or a Young Driver is unenrolled from Sonnet Shift, then all other drivers who were listed on that vehicle will also be unenrolled from the program. You should tell any other drivers on your policy before you make any changes.

If a Secondary Driver decides to opt out of Sonnet Shift, it won’t automatically unenroll the other drivers from the program.

Heads up! If you decide to opt out of Sonnet Shift, follow these easy steps to make sure the app stops tracking your driving.

Don’t worry, your Driving Score isn’t affected when someone else drives your car. After each trip, open the Sonnet Insurance app to view your trip. You’ll have the option to select if you were the driver or just a passenger. We’ll give you 72 hours to confirm before we automatically assume you were driving. So, if you hopped into a taxi or are riding as a passenger on the family road trip, you can let us know so that those trips won’t count towards your overall Driving Score. Once a trip has been confirmed you can’t change it.

If you’re driving a company car or were driving someone else’s vehicle (like a friend’s or a rental car), you should select that you were the driver. Trips made while driving another car will count towards your Driving Score and your mileage for the purposes of determining your Driving Result, Mileage Contribution, and Annual Mileage discount.

Yes! We encourage all drivers living under the same roof to sign up for Sonnet Shift. After all, who doesn’t like saving money?

However, there are a few rules to keep in mind:

• It’s mandatory for all Young Drivers (under 25) to be enrolled in the program, if the Principal Driver is enrolled.
• It’s optional for Secondary Drivers to join – if they do join, they must meet eligibility requirements.
• All drivers must have their own smartphone (with a mobile phone number) as well as an email address so that they can receive a welcome email related to the program. Each driver has to set up the app on their own phone.

Sonnet Shift is our usage-based insurance program that puts drivers in control of their car insurance premiums.

Using an easy-to-download app on your smartphone, we track and collect your driving behaviours for every trip you make. We’ll review the collected data from the last 90 days and use that information to calculate your auto premium for the next three months, at your quarterly Sonnet Shift Adjustment. Based on your review, a discount or surcharge is applied.

What determines whether you get a discount or a surcharge on your premium?

It’s simple – you’re rewarded for safe driving habits with savings on your premium, while riskier driving could result in a surcharge (which means you’ll be paying more). This is why we want to see you drive your best – so you get the most savings possible!

Here’s how we determine the price of your Sonnet Shift premium:

• A one-time Enrollment Discount
• Driving Score and Driving Result
• Mileage Contribution
• Mileage Discount

Heads up! Your Mileage Discount is evaluated annually at renewal.

Click the links above to learn more about each of these, and how they could impact your premium. Have questions about Sonnet Shift? Contact us – we’re happy to help.

Sonnet Shift offers a monthly payment plan only. This is because your premium could change every three months at your quarterly Shift Adjustment. We think it’s more convenient for you to pay monthly – especially if you end up paying less!

Heads up! We consider different factors based on the details provided in your quote when determining which payment plans are available to you. Some customers may not be eligible for a monthly payment plan. This means Sonnet Shift won’t be available to purchase as an insurance option.

Yes, unsafe driving behaviour could increase your premium up to 30%. Plus, poor driving isn’t only dangerous to yourself – it’s dangerous to other people. But there’s always room to grow!

Learn how your driving scores and discount (or surcharge) are calculated and find out how to improve your score with helpful safe driving tips we give you in each section.

Once you’ve taken your first trip, we’ll display your Projected Premium on the following Sunday. Just click on the Details tab at the top of the page to view it, along with your current premium. After that first trip, your Projected Premium will be updated every Sunday.

Heads up! This info is only available to the Primary Named Insured.

It depends. Your Driving Result will apply to the auto premium on all vehicles that are enrolled in the program, as long as you are also listed as an enrolled driver on the vehicle(s).

Your Driving Result is a discount or surcharge updated quarterly (every 3 months from your policy effective date) to your car insurance premium, as long as you took 20 trips and drove 300km over the last 90 days. If you haven’t driven enough during the last 90 days, your Driving Result will not update. This means you’ll either have no Driving Result (if you never had one) or the same Driving Result that was applied on your last Shift Adjustment.

If you have more than one driver enrolled in Sonnet Shift, each driver will have their own individual Driving Result.

We calculate your Driving Result based on your overall Driving Score. Depending on how safely you drove over the last 90 days, you could get up to a maximum 35% discount on your premium – but if your driving was on the riskier side, you could see a surcharge of up to 30%.

To see how you’ve been doing behind the wheel week over week, you can view your Projected Driving Result for the upcoming Shift Adjustment in the Sonnet Insurance app. It’s based on your current score and updated weekly based on the last 90 days. It will help you see how you’ve been driving so you can keep getting better – and save money in the long run.

Need some tips on how to be a safer driver? Just check your score breakdown for advice that’ll help you improve your driving.

Heads up! The Driving Result discount or surcharge will be applied to all coverages on your policy except for endorsements (like our Vroom Service Bundle) and family protection coverage.

To sign up for Sonnet Shift, you must have a compatible iPhone or Android smartphone with the latest operating system (OS), or at least have the three prior OS versions installed. The Sonnet Insurance app is what we use to record your driving habits so it’s best to keep your smartphone up to date with the most recent versions of the OS available to you.

Older versions of OS may not have access to Sonnet Shift or they may not be able to download updates, which may impact trip tracking.

Remember, never use your smartphone while you’re driving! It’s dangerous, and it counts as smartphone distraction on your Driving Score.

Heads up! Huawei and Xiaomi devices are not supported by the Sonnet app. 

The Sonnet Insurance app collects certain details during every trip you take. This allows Sonnet Shift to do its job. The data we collect lets us measure your driving behaviour so we can get your Driving Result. Your Driving Result is a discount or surcharge applied quarterly (every three months from your policy start date) to your car insurance premium.

The data we collect during each trip may include, but is not limited to:

• Global positioning system (GPS) time and location data
• Accelerometer data, gyroscope data
• Location services on/off data
• Screen on/off data
• Magnetometer data, and other smartphone or instrumentation data
• Mobile device ID
• Phone call start and end time
• Battery level and charging status
• Technical information about your mobile device’s hardware or software. This could include your mobile device’s make and model, operating system version, and software version. It could also include other technical information relating to your mobile device.

We may also use specific personal information such as your name, address, phone number and email address. This info would be used for authentication purposes.

Usage-based insurance is new to a lot of drivers, and we want to support you every way we can if you have questions. The data we collect helps us do this. It also helps you help yourself! You’ve got access to some of your driving data, too, in the form of your Driving Score in the app. You can actually view the precise details of your trips – including things like a map of your routes and how well you drove on your trips (yes, it even shows where and when you might have braked a little too hard!). This means that each trip is a new opportunity to learn how to better your driving habits – and save even more on your car insurance.

Keeping your info safe is important to us. It’s our priority to ensure it’s always kept confidential and secure, and we have strict safeguards in place to protect it. Plus, we’ll always ask for your consent before we collect, use or disclose your personal information.

In accordance with our Sonnet Shift Terms and Conditions, we do need to share your data with our service providers. This is done on a need-to-know basis and only when permitted by law. Don’t worry, we’ll also make sure that protecting your info is as important to them, as it is to us. This includes making sure they have secure networks and take physical security measures to keep your information safe.

Want to learn more about how we protect your information? Check out our Privacy Policy.

If you lost cellular data or Wi-Fi connection or don’t have data usage turned on, it can take a few hours for a trip to appear in the Sonnet Shift app after you’ve reconnected.

If you’re still not seeing your trip, here are a few reasons it may not have recorded:

• Your trip was less than 800m
• Your smartphone was turned off or low on battery life
• Your location permissions are disabled
• The Sonnet Shift app is experiencing technical difficulties

Here are some tips to help ensure Sonnet Shift can always record your trips:

• Bring your phone with you on all trips
• Make sure your smart phone is turned on and the phone’s battery is always above the set battery threshold or adjust the threshold
• Ensure you have a compatible iPhone or Android smartphone with the latest operating system, or at least three prior OS versions installed
• Ensure the app is not installed on an iPad (iOS)
• Regularly log in to the app to prevent it from offloading (iOS) or going into hibernation mode (Android)

Keep in mind that some issues are beyond your control, like loss of GPS or poor mobile connection and could also impact trip recordings.

If you’re having issues with the app, please don’t hesitate to contact us! We’re here to help.

No, you don’t need to turn on or even open the Sonnet Insurance app before each trip. The app runs in the background and automatically records each trip after it is installed and set up. However, all users need to regularly log into the app to tag trips and to help avoid app hibernation (Android) or app offloading (iOS).

Learn more about what happens to your trips when your phone is powered off.

You’ll need to allow access to a few things on your phone so the Sonnet Insurance app can track your trips. But don’t worry, it’s easy to set up these permissions when you’re setting up your account. We’ll prompt you the whole way through the setup process!

If you’re an iOS user:

• Location Services must be set to Always Allow with Precise Location turned on. You must also Always Allow the app to use your location in the background, even when you are not using the app. To check your settings, go to Phone Settings > Privacy & Security > Location Services.
• Motion & Fitness must be set to ON. To check your settings, go to Phone Settings > Privacy & Security > Motion & Fitness
• Background app refresh must be turned ON for the Sonnet App. If this setting is off, it may cause trips not to be uploaded to your device. To check your settings, go to Phone Settings > Sonnet App and ensure Background App Refresh is toggled ON.
• Background app refresh should also be turned ON for your whole device. To check your settings, go to Settings -> General -> Background App Refresh and ensure it's turned ON and set to WiFi & Cellular Data.
• Offload unused apps should be turned OFF. If this setting is on, it causes unused apps to become inactive to free up storage space. To check your settings, go to Phone Settings > App Store and ensure Offload Unused Apps is turned OFF.

If you’re an Android user:

• Location Services must be set to Allow all the time with Use precise location turned on. To check your settings, go to Phone Settings > Apps & notifications > Sonnet Insurance > Permissions > Location.
• Physical Activity must be set to ON. To check your settings, go to Settings > Apps & notifications > Sonnet Insurance > Permissions > Physical Activity.
• App Power Management or Battery Optimization must be set to Allow the app to run in the background. To check your settings, go to Phone Settings > Apps > Sonnet Insurance > Battery > Select ‘Unrestricted’.

• The Sonnet app can enter “hibernation mode” on Android devices. This causes all necessary settings to be turned off and prevents the app from tracking trips. The setting that causes this mode may be named differently based on your device. To ensure this setting is OFF, go to Phone Settings > Apps > Sonnet App > turn OFF the setting called either Pause app activity if unused, Remove permissions if app isn't used or Remove permissions and free up space.

After updating any of these settings, it’s important to log into the Sonnet App with the correct username and password. Then if requested, follow the prompts in the app to continue setting up the proper permissions.

These permissions always need to be set properly for the Sonnet App to collect trip data. If we can’t track your trips because permissions were not set properly, you could be removed from the Sonnet Shift program.

Need help downloading and setting up the Sonnet Insurance app? We’ve got you covered.

If you use an Android device, your phone settings must be set to allow the app to always run in the background for the Sonnet Shift app to work. Don’t worry, this will have minimal impact on your battery while you’re not in motion. If you see a prompt to optimize battery for better battery life, depending on your device you’ll want to make sure you select ‘Don’t optimize/stop optimizing battery usage/ensure Battery optimization is off’. 

After downloading the Sonnet Insurance app, there will be a step during the activation process to set your battery optimization. Select Allow to run in background to enable this. If your settings weren’t set correctly during the onboarding process, depending on your device, follow these steps: 

For Samsung owners:
The App Power Management or Battery Optimization must be set to Allow app to run in the background. To check your settings, go to Phone Settings > Apps > Sonnet Insurance > Battery > Select ‘Unrestricted’.

For Google Pixel owners:
The App Power Management or Battery Optimization must be set to Allow app to run in the background. To check your settings, go to Phone Settings > Apps > Sonnet Insurance > Battery > Battery Usage > Select ‘Unrestricted’.

Heads up! There’s no need to set anything for battery optimization if you’re using an iOS device. If you don’t see the steps for your specific Android device, you can contact us. 

If you get a new smartphone, you’ll need to re-download the app onto your new device, log in with your credentials, and go through the activation process again.

To remain enrolled in Sonnet Shift, we have to be able to track your trips! If your smartphone is damaged or unusable, it’s important to get it fixed or get a new one as soon as possible if you need to.

If you have any questions about the Sonnet Shift program, or any technical questions about the app, we can help.

You might be able to find the answer to your question in our Sonnet Shift FAQs. If you prefer, you can talk to us during our business hours. Or, use our chatbot or send us an email if it’s after hours. Just contact us – we’re here for you!

What is a trip?

With Sonnet Shift, every time you drive over 800m from point A to point B you take what we call a “trip”! Once you’ve downloaded and set up the Sonnet Insurance app, it will start tracking and collecting data during each trip you take – whether you’re driving your own car or not.

When a trip is over, we’ll use that trip’s data to calculate a Driving Score based on how safely (or not-so-safely) you drove. Every three months, we’ll review the collected data from all your trips from that quarter and use the information to calculate your Driving Result. We re-evaluate your premium based on your Driving Result and you’ll either earn a discount or see a surcharge applied for the next three months.

Viewing your trips in the Sonnet Insurance app

We’re not the only ones who have access to your trip data – you do, too! The Sonnet Insurance app lets you view the precise details of individual trips, including a map of your route and a breakdown of how safely you drove on your trips. This means that each trip is a new opportunity to learn how you can improve your driving habits – and save even more on your car insurance.

Here's how to see your trips:

1. Click on the Sonnet Shift section in the app.
2. Select the Trips tab.
3. Once the Trips tab is open, all the trips you’ve taken within the last 90 days will appear, along with the Driving Score for each trip where you were the driver.
4. Click any trip’s score to display the map of your trip as well as the Driving Score breakdown for things like Smooth Driving and Speed.

Here’s what each colour means in your breakdown:

Green score: You’re doing great! We’ll let you know what you’re doing right, and how you can go the extra mile to keep up the good work.
Yellow score: You could be doing better, and we want to help. Read our suggestions to improve your driving so you can earn a discount.
Red score: If you’re in the red, improvement is needed (and you could see a surcharge on your premium!). Follow the tips to get back up to green.

Heads up! Trips taken where you weren’t the driver will appear “greyed out”. You can see when the other driver took the trip and how long it was, but you can’t view their maps or score breakdowns. You’re only able to expand and view the details and score breakdown for your own trips.

As an extra layer of security, we use two-step verification every time you log into the Sonnet Insurance app on your smartphone. Here’s how it works (yes, in just two steps!):

1. After you enter your email and password to log in to the Sonnet Insurance app, we’ll send a one-time six-digit security key via text or phone call (depending on the preference you selected) to the phone number associated with your Sonnet account.
2. Once you have the key, enter it in the field provided. That’s it! You’re logged in and ready to use the app.

Troubleshooting tips:

• If you didn’t receive a text message, make sure the phone number you use for your Sonnet account is the one associated with your smartphone.
• Entered the wrong security key? Just click Resend to request a new security key.
• If you’ve entered the incorrect security too many times, the app will lock you out – but don’t worry, it’s only temporary! Wait 10 minutes and try again.

Still need help with two-step verification? Contact us! We’re happy to help.

No! The data we collect will not be used to cancel your policy, or to refuse to renew your policy.

No. The great thing about the Sonnet Insurance app is that it tracks your trips automatically!

But, you do need to confirm whether it was you driving, or if it was someone else.

Here’s how to do it:

After each trip, open the Sonnet Insurance app. You should see a notification that you have trips to review. Tap this notification, or go to the Trips tab. For each trip, it will prompt you to select if you were the driver or passenger. We’ll give you 72 hours to confirm if you were the driver or a passenger before we automatically assume it was you. So, if you hopped into a taxi or are riding as a passenger on the family road trip, you can let us know so that those trips won’t count towards your overall Driving Score. Once a trip has been confirmed you can’t change it.

You can only be logged into your Sonnet Insurance app using your account on one device at a time. The phone that was used for your most recent login will become your active device for the Sonnet Shift program.

For the Sonnet Insurance app to work and for Sonnet Shift to be able to track and record your trips, your smartphone needs to be turned on. The battery percentage also needs to be above the threshold you’ve set in the app (here’s how to set it).

If someone else is using your phone while you’re driving, it will count towards your “Mobile Use” score.

Don’t worry, your app is working properly! You have to actually start driving before it can establish the starting point of your trip. The app has to track around 300 to 500 metres of driving to detect movement and your location!

If you have your smartphone with you, your trips will be tracked globally, as long as it’s turned on and your permissions are still set. But, we don’t require you to have your cellular data turned on to record your trips while travelling outside Canada or the United States.

Plan to keep your cellular data turned on while you’re away? If so, you’re responsible for assuming all roaming fees, cellular data fees (including overages), plan fees and any other fees your mobile service provider may charge you as a result.

Find out more about how much data the Sonnet Insurance app uses. And, learn about the info we need to collect so Sonnet Shift can track your trips properly.

Don’t panic! If you accidentally deleted the Sonnet Insurance app, you can re-download it right from the app store available on your phone. Your data won’t change and you won’t have to start all over again, or even call us.

Here’s what to do:

1. Open the app store on your smartphone. The app store you use will depend on if you use iOS or Android).
2. Search ‘Sonnet Insurance’ and it should appear.
3. Download the app.
4. Log in using the email address associated with the account, and the same password you created when you set up Sonnet Shift.
   
   Heads up! Be sure to allow the necessary permissions – otherwise, the app won’t be able to track your trips.
   
   
5. That’s it – the app will pick up right where you left off!

If you’ve changed your email address or phone number, you can update them by logging in to your Sonnet account on our website. Just click on the Settings tab at the top of the page, and then click Edit beside the detail you’d like to update. Make sure you double check to ensure everything is correct.

We need to have your correct information on file to make sure your app is tracking properly, so please make any updates as soon as possible.

No. Trips and Driving Scores are private for each driver enrolled. However, as a Primary Named Insured, you can see the Driving Results, Mileage Contribution and Mileage Discount of all drivers who are enrolled in Sonnet Shift.

You can access your recorded trip details for the last 90 days through the Trips tab in the Sonnet Insurance app.

Here’s how:

1. Log into your account in the app.
2. From the Shift screen, click on the Trips tab at the top of the page.
3. View your trip history. If you see a “Heads up!” asking you to confirm that it was you who took the trip, please do so.
4. Click on a trip to see your Score Breakdown and to review your route – you can even see where you might have made a move that affected your score!

For Sonnet Shift to do its job, we do share some of your data with our service providers. But don’t worry, we’ll only use and disclose your information according to our Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy. And we take care to follow all privacy laws. Your info is always protected.

We share your driving behaviour and trip details with Definity Insurance Company. Sonnet Insurance and Definity Insurance Company are both owned by Definity Financial Corporation.

We also share this info with our service providers when required. This way, we can provide you with the very best technology, systems, and services necessary to run the Sonnet Shift program.

Keeping your info safe is important to us. And we know it’s important to you. Want to know more about the data we collect? We’ve got you covered. You can also learn more about how we protect your data.

The app uses roughly 2.4 MB per hour of driving to track your data for the Sonnet Shift program. This isn’t a set number, though – it can vary based on app usage.

Worried about data usage? You have the option to turn data usage off in your app settings.

1. Click on the More tab in the bottom right-hand corner of the app.
2. Under Settings, tap the toggle for Cellular Data on or off.

No. You don't need a mobile data plan, but you do need to at least have regular access to Wi-Fi! Your driving data will still be tracked if you don’t have a data plan, since it’s collected using your phone's sensors and GPS. Your trip information will be uploaded once you connect to a Wi-Fi network, whether it’s at home, work, in your vehicle, or another place with Wi-Fi.

If you do have a data plan, the app will use about the same amount of data as other apps that use GPS. Still worried about data usage? You have the option to turn data usage off in your app settings.

1. Click on the More tab in the bottom right-hand corner of the app.
2. Under Settings, tap the toggle for Cellular Data on or off.

Heads up! The Sonnet Insurance app is free to download. However, standard wireless carrier data rates may apply.

Yes, trips will stop recording when your phone battery goes below a set threshold. To help manage your battery life, you can choose your preferred battery threshold.

Here’s how to set your threshold in two easy steps:

1. Click on the More tab in the bottom right-hand corner of the app.
2. Click on Battery, and then select a threshold of 10%, 15%, or 20% (10% will be selected by default). If your battery goes lower than the set threshold, your trips won’t be recorded until your battery charges above the threshold.

Heads up! To remain enrolled in the Sonnet Shift program, you must track your trips. Charge your battery as soon as you can if you’ve hit the low battery threshold. We’ll notify you in your Trips tab if a trip hasn’t been recorded due to low battery.

If you’re worried about the app using up all your battery power to track your trips for Sonnet Shift, you don’t have to! While a trip is in progress, the Sonnet Insurance app will use about as much battery power as other navigational apps – like those mapping apps you use to get from point A to point B. And when you’re not in motion or taking a trip, the app’s battery usage is negligible.

Heads up! Are you an Android user? If so, your settings must be set to Allow the app to always run in the background for the Sonnet Shift app to work. Don’t worry, this will have minimal impact to your battery while you’re not in motion.

No, each driver enrolled in the program has to install the app on their own smartphone. We assign a unique login and identification number to each driver. This allows the app to track each driver’s behaviour and mileage. If you share an app or a login, we won’t know who’s driving.

The app is currently offered in English and French only. The primary language of the app depends on your phone’s language settings.

If you want to remain enrolled in Sonnet Shift, the short answer is no. To participate in and be eligible for the Sonnet Shift program, the app must be installed, with the correct permissions set, at all times on your phone. If you delete the app, we’ll notify you to let you know that if you don’t reinstall it, you’ll be removed from the Sonnet Shift program.

If you’re removed from the program, you’ll lose any Sonnet Shift discounts you’ve worked so hard for! And if you’re driving well, you probably don’t want that to happen since you’re likely saving money. Need to clear up space on your phone? Consider deleting another app that you don’t use very much.

No, much like other apps your phone needs to be on for the Sonnet Insurance app to function.

If you’re an iOS user, the Sonnet Shift program needs access to your smartphone’s Motion and Fitness data. If you’re an Android user, it needs access to your Physical Activity data. Both of these give Sonnet Shift access to your accelerometer and gyroscope sensors so Sonnet Shift can do its job! As you can probably guess, the accelerometer measures your acceleration. This helps us track how fast your phone is moving so we can measure your speed while you’re driving. And, the gyroscope detects which direction it’s pointing in so we can track your trip.

If you’re not sure how to allow access, don’t worry – we’ll walk you through every step of the way when you set up the Sonnet Insurance app.

Heads up! Make sure you set up the app within the timeframe provided in your welcome email. We want to see you start saving as soon as possible!

Sharing your location on your smartphone allows Sonnet Shift to do its job. It automatically detects where and when you’re driving and collects information that helps score your driving behaviour – things like your speed and where you started and ended your trip. Your location settings must be set to Always Allow with Precise Location turned on for the app to work. Don’t worry, your information is never shared.

Need help downloading and setting up the Sonnet Insurance app? We’ve got you covered.

We know life gets busy! If you haven’t downloaded the Sonnet Shift app within five days of the enrollment effective date, we’ll send you a reminder email.

If after 15 days you haven’t activated the app, we’ll start the process to unenroll you from Sonnet Shift. Your premium will be adjusted, and we’ll send you updated documents. This means you’ll miss out on the enrollment discount (if applied) and possible future savings!

TIP! If you can’t find the welcome email in your inbox, be sure to check your junk or spam folder. Still can’t find it? The primary named insured can resend the welcome email to additional drivers. Simply log into your account, select the policy from your Dashboard and click View Policy. Then click on the Vehicles and Drivers tab, select a driver from the list and click Resend Invite.

If the Principal Driver or a Young Driver on an enrolled vehicle doesn’t activate the Sonnet Insurance app within 15 days, then the vehicle and all drivers assigned to that vehicle will also be unenrolled.

If a Secondary Driver is unenrolled from Sonnet Shift because they didn’t download the app, it won’t result in the automatic unenrollment of the vehicle and all other enrolled drivers. But, if not all secondary drivers complete enrollment, it means the policy is no longer eligible for the annual Mileage Discount.

The bottom line is, it’s important to get the app up and running right away. Downloading the app and logging in to your account only takes a few minutes. Need help? We’ve got you covered.

After signing up for Sonnet Shift, you’ll have 15 days from the enrollment effective date to download the app and register with your activation instructions.

Need help downloading and setting up the Sonnet Insurance app? We’ve got you covered.

Once you’ve signed up for Sonnet Shift on sonnet.ca, you’ll receive a welcome email with instructions on how to download and activate the app. Any additional drivers who have enrolled will also receive a welcome email and instructions, along with a link to create their own account.

Each driver enrolled in the Sonnet Shift program must complete the following:

1. Make sure you’re opening the welcome email on your smartphone.
2. Use the link provided in the email to open the app store (either iOS or Android) and download the app.
3. Agree to the Sonnet Shift Terms and Conditions.
4. Enable all permissions required for tracking purposes.

If you don’t complete the set up within 15 days of the enrollment effective date, we’ll have to start the process to unenroll you from the program . So make sure you set up your app as soon as possible so you can get driving – and start saving!

If you can’t find the welcome message email, check your junk mail (spam). If you still can’t find it, please contact us and we’d be happy to help!

After you’ve taken your first trip, we’ll display your current Driving Results on your Dashboard in the app. If you’re new to Sonnet Shift, you may also see the 10% Enrollment Discount applied. Once you’ve taken 20 trips and driven 300kms, the Projected Discount you’re on track to receive will be updated every Sunday. These weekly updates really work in your favour! How? Well, if you’ve had a less-than-stellar week behind the wheel and you see that your Projected Discount has dropped, just take a look at your trips to see what might’ve gone wrong. We’ll give you tips to improve your driving behaviour and help you get that Projected Discount back up to where you want it.

You can also view your Projected Mileage and Project Mileage Discount (if eligible) on the Dashboard. These are also updated once a week on Sunday. It’s a good idea to check in on how you’re doing fairly often so you’re up to speed on how much you’re driving. This way, you’ll stay on track to earn that discount at renewal!

Once you opt out of the program, we’ll send you an email with instructions on how to stop tracking. Please follow the steps provided to stop tracking your trips.

Sonnet customers who opt out of Sonnet Shift but remain a customer can keep the app, but you’ll lose access to your trip data. Just re-open the app after the effective date of the un-enrollment so that the app updates to stop tracking.

If you are no longer a Sonnet customer, you should uninstall the app to stop tracking.

If you’re unsure of how to opt out of Sonnet Shift, you can always speak to an expert. Just reach out to us via email or chat. We’re happy to help.

The police can’t access your info without proper legal authorization or your consent. We will never disclose your personal information to law enforcement agencies, unless permitted or required by law.

Have more questions about Sonnet Shift and how it works? Visit our Sonnet Shift page. Or, check out our FAQs. You can also contact us. We’re happy to help.

The app can only detect if the driver is using the phone while driving and will track the start and end time of phone calls (hands-free or not). This is shown as an “event” on the trip map and would count as mobile use on your driving score. We will never record phone calls through the app.

You shouldn’t be using your smartphone while driving – period. Any use of your smartphone while driving qualifies as a distracted driving incident, and it reduces your Mobile Use score if you’re enrolled in Sonnet Shift.

Examples of smartphone distraction:

• Taking a phone call (with or without using hands-free mode) while driving
• Selecting music on your smartphone while driving
• Texting while driving
  Taking photos while driving

Examples that don’t count as smartphone distraction:

• Ordering or paying with your smartphone at a drive-through when stopped
• Stopping on the side of the road to make a call or text someone

Tip: Put your phone on silent so you’re not tempted to use it while you’re on the road.