Dealing with ICBC: BC / Vancouver Car Insurance
BC / Vancouver car insurance is provided by the provincial Crown Corporation, ICBC (the Insurance Corporation of British Columbia). ICBC also handles driver licensing and BC vehicle registration.
If you’re involved in a motor-vehicle accident, regardless of whether you are walking, driving, or a passenger, you may be eligible to make an ICBC claim. Read more info on how to make an ICBC Claim.
BC Vehicle Registration
Before you can get BC / Vancouver car insurance, you have to go through the BC vehicle registration process. You can register and insure your car at any Autoplan dealer in BC.
Autoplan is the name of the insurance program for vehicles, and by law you’re required to have your car covered by the basic Autoplan policy. Many private insurance brokers are also Autoplan brokers. This means some private insurers for things like home and life insurance also act as ICBC agents, allowing you to purchase your BC / Vancouver insurance through these brokers. Look for the Autoplan sign. There are 900 Autoplan brokers in BC.
If you’re bringing your car into the province you must have your car safety-checked before you can go through BC vehicle registration. The steps are different depending on where you’re coming from.
Moving to BC from Elsewhere in Canada
You’ll be required to get a car inspection to make sure your car passes BC’s safety requirements. If your car fails to pass, you’ll be told what you need to fix. Once your car has passed the test, go to an Autoplan broker with the following documents:
› Your car’s current registration.
› The “passed” inspection report
› Government-issued photo identification, and a secondary ID, (like credit card, healthcare card, ID with your name on it, etc.)
Moving to BC from Outside Canada
Bringing your car from outside of Canada means you’ll have to pass both a federal safety inspection as well as a provincial safety inspection to make sure it meets both Canadian and provincial safety standards. If it fails either test, you’ll be told what repairs or modifications are needed to pass the test.
Once your car has been inspected and has passed both tests, go to an Autoplan broker to go through BC vehicle registration and get Vancouver/BC car insurance. When you go, bring the following documents:
› Your car’s current registration
› The “passed” car inspection reports
› Government issued photo identification, and a secondary ID, (like credit card, healthcare card, ID with your name on it, etc).
BC / Vancouver car insurance rates vary widely based on the type of vehicle, the specific neighborhood you’re living in, and the number of years driving experience you have.
You may be eligible for a discount on your premiums if you were claim-free with your previous insurance company. Get a copy of your claim history from your previous insurance provider printed on their company letterhead as proof. If it’s in a different language, you’ll have to get it translated by a certified translator. Talk to an Autoplan broker for more information.