ICBC Car Insurance in British Columbia

ICBC insurance rules, payment structures, and optional coverages can be complex. A local Western Coast Insurance Autoplan broker can help you:

• Resolve missed payments
• Compare monthly vs annual costs
• Customize optional coverage
• Issue short-term or one-day insurance
• Protect new vehicles with replacement cost solutions

Getting expert advice upfront can prevent costly mistakes later.

Yes. In British Columbia, drivers must carry Basic Autoplan coverage through the Insurance Corporation of British Columbia (ICBC) to legally drive and register most vehicles. Basic Autoplan provides mandatory insurance protection required under BC rules.

Western Coast Insurance can help you purchase or renew Basic Autoplan and review optional coverages to better protect you, your passengers, and your vehicle.

Basic Autoplan is the mandatory ICBC auto insurance required for drivers in British Columbia. It provides foundational protection that meets provincial legal requirements and ensures you’re insured for core risks on the road.

Basic Autoplan includes $200,000 in Third-Party Liability coverage, which can protect you if you’re legally responsible for causing injury, death, or property damage to others. Third-party liability remains important in situations such as non-vehicle property damage, driving outside British Columbia, or accidents where the law allows the other party to pursue legal action.

Basic Autoplan also includes Underinsured Motorist Protection (UMP). If you’re injured in a crash caused by a driver who does not have enough insurance to cover your claim, UMP can step in. Basic coverage provides protection of up to $1 million per insured person for you and eligible members of your household.

While Basic Autoplan delivers essential coverage, it is often only a starting point. If you want greater financial protection in the event you’re responsible for a serious crash, you may want to consider Extended Third-Party Liability, an optional Autoplan coverage that allows you to increase your liability limits beyond the basic minimum.

Western Coast Insurance can help you understand exactly what Basic Autoplan covers, where gaps may exist, and which optional coverages make sense based on your vehicle, driving habits, commute, and budget. Working with a local broker ensures your coverage is tailored to your real-world risks, not just the minimum requirements.

Beyond Basic Autoplan, drivers in British Columbia can add optional coverages to reduce out-of-pocket costs after an accident, theft, vandalism, or weather damage. Optional coverage is especially important if your vehicle is newer, financed, or you rely on your vehicle daily.

• Collision: Helps pay to repair or replace your vehicle if you are responsible for an accident or are involved in a hit-and-run (subject to coverage terms and deductibles).
• Comprehensive: Helps cover non-collision losses such as theft, vandalism, fire, hail, windstorm, and falling objects.
• Extended Third-Party Liability: Increases liability limits above the basic minimum to better protect your finances if you cause serious injury or property damage.
• Loss of Use: Helps pay for a rental vehicle while your insured vehicle is being repaired after a covered claim.
• New Vehicle Protection / Replacement Cost options: Can help protect against depreciation for eligible newer vehicles.

A Western Coast Insurance ICBC Autoplan broker can review your needs and explain how optional coverages change your total premium and protection.

For many BC drivers, the most valuable optional coverages are the ones that protect your vehicle and your savings if something goes wrong. The best mix depends on your vehicle value, driving patterns, and financial comfort level.

• Extended Third-Party Liability: Often considered a must-have because serious accidents can be expensive.
• Collision: Especially important for newer vehicles, financed vehicles, and daily drivers.
• Comprehensive: Ideal if you want protection from theft, vandalism, and weather-related damage.
• Loss of Use: Helpful if you rely on your vehicle for commuting, family schedules, or work.
• Replacement Cost options: Worth discussing for newer vehicles to help reduce depreciation risk after a total loss.

Western Coast Insurance can walk you through trade-offs, deductibles, and cost differences so you can choose coverage that fits your situation.

Do you take your vehicle to work every day? Do you take public transportation? Is your vehicle sitting during certain seasons? There are different types of vehicle use that will affect your annual premium. Here’s some more info on each to ensure you have the proper use selected for your lifestyle.

• Driver Experience: We’ve heard it before, a good driving record is important, especially when determining insurance premium rates. If you have a year of good driving record, it will better your discounts available, up to 40 years.
• Crash History: The more crashes you have, the higher your insurance will cost. It pays to be a safe driver!
• Drivers of Your Vehicle: It also matters who is operating your vehicle. Their experience and crash history will impact the risk of your vehicle overall.
• Location: Your location and where you live also determines how much you pay. British Columbia is broken up into territories, which have a rating associated with their potential risk. Each territory will have risks that can impact the likelihood of a claim. For instance, you’re more likely to have a vandalism claim in a highly populated urban area as opposed to the solitude of northern B.C.
• Use of Vehicle:
  • Commuting: You commute to work or school in addition to using your car for pleasure.
  • Business: Your vehicle is used for your business.
  • Pleasure: There are no restrictions for pleasure use like errands, taking children to school, or vacation use. You can use your vehicle no more than six times a month for going to work. Most people who have this are those who are retired, stay at home parent or on maternity leave, or those who take other forms of transportation to work or school
  • Delivery Use insurance: Food, people, and parcel delivery, such as Uber, DoorDash and Amazon.

Many drivers in British Columbia qualify for ICBC auto insurance discounts without realizing it. Discounts are based on factors like your driving experience, how much you drive, your vehicle’s safety features, and eligibility for specific programs. A licensed Western Coast Insurance Autoplan broker can review your policy and help ensure every eligible discount offered by Insurance Corporation of British Columbia (ICBC) is applied when you buy or renew your coverage.

Below are some of the most common ICBC discounts currently available and how they work.

Discount for Advanced Safety Technology

If your vehicle includes factory-installed Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB), you may qualify for a 10% discount on select ICBC premiums.

AEB systems automatically apply the brakes when a potential collision is detected and have been shown to reduce rear-end crashes. Because these systems lower overall claim risk, ICBC offers a discount for vehicles equipped with this technology.

A Western Coast Insurance Autoplan broker can confirm whether your vehicle qualifies and ensure the discount is correctly applied to your policy.

Experienced Driver Discount

ICBC rewards long-term safe driving through its driver-based pricing model. Drivers can earn increasing discounts based on their years of driving experience, with savings available for up to 40 years of experience.

Your discount is influenced by:

• Years of driving experience
• Your crash history within the scan period
• Whether any claims were chargeable (at-fault)

A single at-fault crash can reduce your discount, while multiple chargeable claims may eliminate it during the applicable scan period. A Western Coast Insurance Autoplan broker can explain how your current driving record affects your premium and what to expect at renewal.

Low-Kilometre (Usage-Based) Discount

If you don’t drive very often, you may qualify for ICBC’s low-kilometre discount. Drivers who travel less than 5,000 km per year can receive a 10% discount on:

• Basic Autoplan
• Extended Third-Party Liability
• Collision coverage

This discount is based on odometer readings taken over the previous 12 months. Bringing a clear photo of your current odometer reading when you renew helps your Western Coast Insurance Autoplan broker apply the discount accurately.

Note: Some rate classes are not eligible, including motorcycles and collector vehicles, as these premiums already reflect limited or seasonal use.

Senior Driver Discount

Drivers aged 65 or older may qualify for ICBC’s Senior Driver Factor, which can reduce the Individual Driver Factor (IDF) used to calculate premiums.

The full discount applies to eligible senior drivers with a clean driving history. If a chargeable claim occurs within the 10-year scan period:

• One chargeable claim reduces the discount by 50%
• Two or more chargeable claims remove the discount entirely

A Western Coast Insurance Autoplan broker can review your driving history and explain how the Senior Driver Factor applies to your policy.

Disability Discount

ICBC offers a Disability Discount for eligible drivers whose vehicles qualify under approved rate classes.

Eligibility aligns with the Fuel Tax Refund Program for Persons with Disabilities. To qualify, the applicant must:

• Be approved for the Fuel Tax Refund Program for Persons with Disabilities
• Have a valid Motor Fuel Tax Refund registration number
• Demonstrate an ownership interest in the vehicle, even if not listed as the registered owner or lessee

When purchasing or renewing insurance, documentation such as the registration confirmation letter issued by the Ministry of Finance may be required. A Western Coast Insurance Autoplan broker can help confirm eligibility and ensure the discount is applied correctly.

Are you getting every ICBC discount you qualify for?

ICBC discounts are not always applied automatically. Changes to your driving habits, vehicle features, or personal circumstances can affect eligibility over time.

Reviewing your policy with a Western Coast Insurance Autoplan broker helps ensure your coverage reflects your current situation and that you’re receiving every ICBC discount you qualify for under today’s rules.

Yes, some drivers who do not drive often may qualify for ICBC’s low-kilometre discount. Eligibility is typically based on your annual distance driven and confirmed using odometer readings over a 12-month period.

• Who it helps: Drivers who work from home, have short commutes, or use transit for most trips.
• What you may need: Odometer readings or a clear odometer photo at renewal.
• Where it may apply: Discounts may apply to Basic Autoplan and/or certain optional coverages depending on eligibility.

Western Coast Insurance can confirm your eligibility, explain how ICBC calculates low-kilometre savings, and help ensure your odometer reading is recorded correctly.

ICBC may offer savings opportunities for eligible drivers through the Senior Driver Factor and a Disability Discount, depending on your circumstances, driving history, and vehicle rate class.

Senior Driver Factor: Eligible drivers aged 65 or older may receive savings through the Individual Driver Factor (IDF). Chargeable claims within the scan period can reduce or remove these savings.

Disability Discount: Eligibility is aligned with approved program requirements (including the Fuel Tax Refund Program for Persons with Disabilities). Documentation is typically required to confirm eligibility and apply the discount.

Western Coast Insurance can review eligibility requirements with you and confirm what documents ICBC needs to apply these savings correctly.

Claims can affect your ICBC premium depending on whether the claim is chargeable (at-fault), how recent it is within the scan period, and how it impacts your driver factor. A chargeable claim can reduce discounts related to safe driving and experience, while multiple chargeable claims can have a larger impact.

• At-fault matters most: Chargeable claims generally have a bigger effect than non-chargeable incidents.
• Scan period impact: Recent history is used to calculate your driver factor.
• Discount changes: Some savings may be reduced after a chargeable claim.

If you are unsure how a past claim is impacting your renewal price, Western Coast Insurance can help you review your policy and understand what to expect.

ICBC allows drivers in British Columbia to pay for their auto insurance through monthly instalments, rather than one annual lump sum.

Current interest structure:

• ICBC applies a financing charge (interest) to monthly payment plans
• The interest rate is set by ICBC and can change over time
• Rates are typically lower than credit cards, but higher than paying annually

Things to know:

• Interest applies to both Basic Autoplan and optional coverages
• The exact rate depends on current ICBC policies at the time of purchase
• You’ll see the total financing cost clearly outlined before confirming your policy

How to reduce interest costs:

• Pay annually if possible
• Choose a shorter payment plan
• Avoid missed payments, which can trigger additional charges

An Autoplan broker can help you compare monthly vs annual payment costs so you can choose what works best for your budget.

You can pay with a major credit card (Visa, Mastercard, AMEX).

Please consider the ICBC Autoplan payment plan: It’s an easy way for customers to spread the cost of their insurance with monthly or quarterly payments. It has very low finance rates divided over equal monthly or quarterly payments. You can choose the date when the payments come out of your account.

Eligibility

ICBC's payment plan is available to the registered owner (or named lessee) of the insured vehicle as long as they have a Canadian chequing or savings account that allows pre-authorized withdrawal.

For youth under 19, a parent or guardian needs to co-sign the payment plan.

What happens if I miss a payment?

• You can come into a Western office and see us and we will help you.

• An $18.00 service charge will be added to the amount owing to ICBC (on first unsuccessful attempt to withdraw the monthly payment)
• Within three to five business days, ICBC will try to withdraw the missed payment again, plus the service charge.
• If that's unsuccessful, ICBC will contact you to organize payment.

You will still have insurance, but not the payment plan.

If you miss a payment on your Insurance Corporation of British Columbia (ICBC) auto insurance, it’s important to act quickly to avoid policy cancellation or a lapse in coverage.

Immediate steps to take:

1. Contact ICBC or your Autoplan broker right away

   ICBC offers short grace periods in some situations. Speaking with a broker as soon as possible improves your chances of resolving the issue without penalties.

2. Make the missed payment as soon as you can

   Paying promptly may prevent additional fees or coverage disruption.

3. Confirm your payment method

   If your payment was missed due to an expired credit card, insufficient funds, or a banking error, update your details immediately to prevent repeat issues.

4. Ask about reinstatement options

   If your policy has already been cancelled, an Autoplan broker can help you understand reinstatement requirements or set up a new policy if needed.

Why timing matters

Even a short lapse in insurance can:

• Leave you legally uninsured
• Result in vehicle impoundment
• Affect your driving record or future premiums

A local ICBC broker can often help resolve payment issues faster than dealing directly with call centres.

Missing an ICBC payment can have serious legal, financial, and coverage consequences, depending on how long the payment remains unpaid.

Potential consequences include:

• Late payment fees or interest charges
• Policy cancellation for non-payment
• Loss of collision, comprehensive, and optional coverage
• Driving uninsured, which is illegal in British Columbia
• Vehicle impoundment or fines if stopped by police
• Difficulty reinstating coverage, especially if multiple payments are missed

Long-term impact

While ICBC does not use traditional credit scores to price premiums, repeated cancellations or lapses can complicate future insurance renewals and may limit payment plan options.

Best practice: If you anticipate trouble making a payment, contact your Autoplan broker before the due date to discuss solutions.

If your ICBC insurance expires, you may be left without legal coverage to drive in British Columbia. Driving uninsured can lead to serious consequences, including fines and vehicle impoundment.

• You cannot legally drive without valid Basic Autoplan coverage.
• Registration issues: Your vehicle registration may be affected if insurance is not active.
• Out-of-pocket risk: Accidents while uninsured can result in significant personal financial responsibility.

If your policy is near expiry or has already expired, Western Coast Insurance can help you renew or set up new coverage as quickly as possible.

Many ICBC renewals can be started online, but the ability to complete everything online depends on your policy, eligibility, and whether changes are needed. If you need to adjust coverage, update usage, apply discounts, or handle special circumstances, working with a broker is often the fastest way to ensure accuracy.

A Western Coast Insurance ICBC Autoplan broker can help you renew your ICBC policy, confirm your options, and make sure your coverage is correct before you finalize your renewal.

Yes. You can choose Western Coast Insurance as your ICBC Autoplan broker for renewals and service. Switching brokers is common, especially if you want more support reviewing coverage, payments, or discounts.

• Keep your ICBC coverage while choosing Western Coast Insurance as your broker.
• Get help with renewals and changes including optional coverages and documentation.
• Review discounts and eligibility to ensure nothing is missed.

Contact Western Coast Insurance and we will help you understand the simplest path to switch and renew.

Document requirements can vary depending on whether you are renewing, registering a new vehicle, transferring ownership, or changing drivers on a policy. In general, you may be asked for identification and vehicle-related documents.

• Valid driver’s licence
• Vehicle information such as registration details or transfer documents
• Odometer reading if needed for low-kilometre eligibility
• Supporting documentation for specific discounts or program eligibility (if applicable)

Western Coast Insurance can tell you exactly what you need based on your situation so you can renew or purchase insurance without delays.

ICBC policies are typically set up per vehicle, but households often manage multiple vehicles with coordinated renewals, shared drivers, and consistent coverage choices. The best setup depends on who drives each vehicle, how each vehicle is used, and whether there are business or commuting considerations.

Western Coast Insurance can help you organize multi-vehicle renewals, confirm listed drivers, and ensure each vehicle has the right optional coverages.

ICBC determines fault using available evidence and applicable rules, which may include statements from drivers, police reports (when available), witness information, and damage assessment. Fault decisions can affect claims outcomes and may impact premiums depending on whether a claim is considered chargeable.

If you have questions after an accident, Western Coast Insurance can help you understand your coverage, what information is helpful to gather, and what to expect next.

Rental vehicle coverage depends on your policy and whether you have optional protections such as Loss of Use or certain extensions. Some coverages may help pay for a rental while your vehicle is being repaired after a covered claim, or provide limited coverage for temporary substitute vehicles.

Western Coast Insurance can confirm what your current policy includes and whether adding Loss of Use or other options makes sense for your driving needs.

Many BC drivers travel outside the province for road trips or work. Coverage for driving outside British Columbia depends on your policy type and the coverages you carry, especially liability limits and optional protections.

• Higher liability limits are often recommended for out-of-province travel.
• Optional coverages may affect protection for your vehicle if damage occurs away from home.
• Trip type matters for business use, long stays, or frequent cross-border travel.

Before you travel, Western Coast Insurance can review your policy and confirm whether your coverage is appropriate for where you are driving.

Yes. After an accident or loss, it helps to have someone explain your coverage and next steps in plain language. Western Coast Insurance can help you understand your policy, clarify optional coverage impacts, and guide you on what information to gather to support your claim process.

• Coverage clarity: Understand what your policy may cover and what deductibles apply.
• Next steps: Know what to document and what timelines may matter.
• Future planning: Review whether coverage adjustments could help reduce risk going forward.

If you have questions after a claim, contact Western Coast Insurance and we will help you navigate the process with confidence.