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Updated
Auto insurance in B.C., also called Autoplan, is calculated roughly the same way as it is in other provinces. The vehicle and driver determine the cost, as does the amount of coverage sought and whether the applicant qualifies for discounts.
In B.C., each policy has a base premium ($1,063 as of 2023), either increasing or decreasing depending on the rating factors listed below.
1) Vehicle information
A licensed Autoplan broker will ask about the following:
2) Driver information
Your driving and insurance histories have the most impact on your premium. Be prepared to answer questions about the following:
3) Discount information
Here are some of the discounts offered to Autoplan policyholders:
The Insurance Corporation of British Columbia (ICBC) provides public auto insurance to drivers in the province. It has a car insurance estimator tool and a payment plan calculator (B.C. drivers can pay premiums annually, quarterly, or monthly).
|
Coverage name |
Designation |
Description |
||
|
Enhanced accident benefits |
Mandatory |
Part of Basic Autoplan. Covers medical costs with no overall limit. Ninety percent of income is replaced, up to $105,500 (higher earners can purchase Top-Up coverage) |
||
|
Basic vehicle damage |
Mandatory |
Covers the cost of repairing or replacing your vehicle if it’s damaged in a collision you’re not at fault for, up to $200,000 |
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|
Third party liability |
Mandatory |
Provides coverage if you damage someone else’s property (that isn't a car) with your car. Also provides coverage if you get into an accident in a province or state that does permit other drivers to sue for damages. |
||
|
Underinsured motorist protect |
Mandatory |
Provides compensation up to $1 million if you make a third-party liability claim against a driver that does not have enough insurance to cover your costs. |
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|
Inverse liability protection |
Mandatory |
Covers you if you get into an accident in a province or state that doesn’t let you claim against the person who caused the crash. Vehicle repair costs are covered up to 100%, but only if you’re 100% not at fault. Compensation is deducted according to your percentage of the blame (for example, if you’re 50% at fault, you will only get 50% of costs covered) |
||
|
Unlisted driver protection |
Optional |
Provides collision forgiveness for the first crash that an unlisted driver gets into with your car. Also ensures that the crash doesn’t go onto your record, but rather the unlisted driver’s. Free to add to your policy. Charges apply if an unlisted driver gets into an accident with your car. |
||
|
Collision |
Optional |
Pays to repair or replace your car when you're at fault for causing an accident. Damage from a hit-and-run driver is also covered by collision insurance. Towing charges are also reimbursed. If you have a track record of being at fault for collisions, you may be charged a higher-than-normal deductible, or you may not qualify for this coverage. |
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|
Comprehensive |
Optional |
Pays to repair or replace your car if it’s damaged by something other than a collision with another car. Covered scenarios include theft, vandalism, fire, flying or falling objects, weather, or collisions with a wild animal. |
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|
Specified perils |
Optional |
Provides coverage for perils insured by comprehensive insurance, but only for ones you name in your policy; if it’s not in your policy, you’re not covered for it. |
||
|
Hit and run |
Optional |
Pays to repair or replace your car if it’s damaged by an unidentified driver who doesn’t stay at the scene. If you have collision insurance, you likely don’t need to buy hit and run coverage. |
||
|
Income top-up |
Optional |
Increases your income replacement amount that’s part of Enhanced Care coverage. |
||
|
Extended third-party liability |
Optional |
Increases your liability coverage beyond the $200,000 mandatory minimum. Policy limits can be increased to up to $5 million. |
||
|
Loss of use |
Optional |
Covers temporary transportation expenses when your car is out of commission due to an event covered by ICBC. |
||
|
Luxury vehicles |
Optional |
Enhanced Basic Vehicle coverage for cars that retail for $150,000 and over. |
||
|
Rental vehicle coverage |
Optional |
Provides liability, accident benefits, underinsured motorist, collision, comprehensive, and loss of use coverages to a rental car. |
||
|
New vehicle protection |
Optional |
Pays to repair or replace your car even if you were at fault for the collision. Covers the full replacement cost (depreciation is not deducted) and is indexed for inflation. |
||
|
Vehicle Travel Protection |
Optional |
Helps cover unexpected expenses due to a claim while travelling. Included in Roadside Plus and Roadstar packages. |
||
|
Emergency Roadside Expense Repayment |
Optional |
For vehicle emergencies like breakdowns, locked-in keys, and flat tires. Included in Roadside Plus. |
||
|
Theft Deductible Waiver |
Optional |
Pay no deductible if your vehicle is stolen or shows obvious signs of attempted theft. Included in Roadside Plus. |
||
| Destination Assistance |
Optional |
Reimburses you up to $100 to help you get where you're going after a collision, theft, or vandalism incident. Included in Roadside Plus.
|
||
|
Lock rekeying |
Optional. |
If your keys are stolen, this will pay to alter your car's lock mechanism so the old key will no longer work. With Roadside Plus, up to $1,000 is covered, and there's no deductible. With Roadstar, expenses up to $500 are covered, and a deductible applies. |
It’s best to talk to an Autoplan broker for advice about the type of insurance policy that's best for you. Insurance professionals are the most qualified to help you gauge your needs and risk tolerance. Regardless, it's good to prepare for that conversation. Here are some tips you can discuss with your broker at your appointment.
The province sets mandatory minimums on how much basic insurance you must carry; however, increasing your policy limit is often a good idea.
Extended third-party liability increases your liability coverage beyond the $200,000 mandatory minimum. You can buy up to $5 million in coverage. It will come in handy if you cause damage to someone else’s property that exceeds $200,000. Without extended coverage, you’ll be on the hook to pay the difference.
Now that B.C. has a pure no-fault insurance system, income top-up insurance is more important than ever. The new system prevents injured people from suing for damages on top of what their policy provides if another driver injures them. Income top-up insurance increases your income replacement amount outlined in the Enhanced Care section of your policy.
Collision insurance is optional coverage that pays to repair or replace your car if it’s damaged in an accident you caused. This coverage is required for people with a car loan or who lease a car. Collision is also recommended for people who have a vehicle that’s less than three years old.
If you don’t fit into any of these categories, paying out of pocket for repairs might be cheaper than filing a claim (as collision insurance carries a deductible). Plus, if you file a claim against your collision coverage, your premium will go up (unless you bought claim forgiveness, which only protects you for your first accident).
Comprehensive insurance pays to repair or replace your car when perils like severe weather, theft, or vandalism damage it. Policyholders aren’t usually penalized with a rate increase for making a comprehensive claim.
Even still, if you’re driving an older car, it might be cheaper to pay out of pocket than to pay for the deductible and to deal with the additional cost of adding comprehensive to your basic car insurance policy.
In B.C., the crash history of any other listed drivers will affect your premium. If a listed driver does get into a crash, it will go on their crash record, not yours. But if they're not listed on your insurance, it will go on yours. Make sure everyone who regularly drives the car is listed on the policy and purchase unlisted driver insurance for those one-off times you lend it out.
We’ll answer any lingering questions you have about B.C. car insurance.
According to the Insurance Corporation of British Columbia (ICBC), the province's average car insurance premium was $1,199 annually, or $99 per month, in the 2021/2022 fiscal year.
Since 2021, B.C premiums have decreased on average by $400 per driver after the province outlawed the ability to sue for damages like pain and suffering and economic loss.
The ICBC bases premiums on many factors, so yours might differ from the average. The best way to determine what you can expect to pay is to get a quote from an Autoplan broker.
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