Car insurance in BC

[wyho007]

I hear some drivers can provide their country of origin "no claim car insurance record" to get the ICBC discount in auto insurance. What if I don't own a car in my country of origin but borrow my relative's car to drive like once a week, hence the insurance and car are not under my name?

Am I doomed to pay car insurance in full without a discount or can I get my relative write me a personal affidavit declaring I drive his car once a week and then provide HIS "no claim car insurance record" to get the discount?

 

[Tri-Cities]

It doesn't matter at all if you borrowed a car, even on a regular basis from friends or/and relatvies. The only way (in BC) is to have a letter / statement from your insurance with information including your name etc.

ICBC won't accept any letter or affidavit from a friend or relative. Not a chance.

I recommend to go to ICBC / autoplan and ask for a ball park. Take all the information from the car you plan on buying and they'll be able to tell you how much it will cost you. Be prepared to pay taxes at ICBC / autoplan when you bought a car and going to insure it.

btw they're going to - finally (thank god) - increase the fines for using cell phone (& other devices).

Good luck!

 

[foodie69]

The cheapest under ICBC is probably around $1700 per year..not included all the add ons like theft, fire etc etc..

 

[wyho007]

It doesn't matter at all if you borrowed a car, even on a regular basis from friends or/and relatvies. The only way (in BC) is to have a letter / statement from your insurance with information including your name etc.

ICBC won't accept any letter or affidavit from a friend or relative. Not a chance.

I recommend to go to ICBC / autoplan and ask for a ball park. Take all the information from the car you plan on buying and they'll be able to tell you how much it will cost you. Be prepared to pay taxes at ICBC / autoplan when you bought a car and going to insure it.

btw they're going to - finally (thank god) - increase the fines for using cell phone (& other devices).

Good luck!

So I can save the effort to get any document and hope for a discount as it won't be granted. Bummer!

 

[wyho007]

The cheapest under ICBC is probably around $1700 per year..not included all the add ons like theft, fire etc etc..

Wow! That's just the basic minimum coverage required by law? Is that without/with any discount? Expensive!

 

[Tri-Cities]

Well yes, ICBC will only accept statements from insurance. Where I come from it's the same scenario, no insurance cares about what a friend has to say about my driving. Thinking about it, it doesn't make sense anyways.

I don't know what the cheapest price is you can get, it depends on the car and your insurance history (which you don't have). Again, look at a car (craigslist or whatever), get information and talk to the guys from autoplan. They'll let you know. They will explain how things work and what to expect.

Just in case...there's only ICBC / autoplan, you won'T find another insurance company (for motor vehicles).

Good luck!

 

[foodie69]

Wow! That's just the basic minimum coverage required by law? Is that without/with any discount? Expensive!

No discount the above.. for example, I drive a 2006 Chrysler 300, I am on 40% discount plus another few benefits, plus fire, theft, collision etc etc and still pay $145.00 a month. But heard Ontario is more expensive.

 

[wyho007]

My wife has the no claim letter issued by insurance company before immigrating. However, her driver's license is not eligible for a direct transfer right away and need to go through written and road tests.

We need to buy a car asap, I'm the one with BCDL but no letter by insurance co for discount.

My wife and I are the only drivers for the car. What kind of car ownership and insurance (primary vs secondary drivers) combination will yield the least expensive insurance? I own the car and being the primary driver for insurance (with no discount) and once my wife get her BCDL, change the ownership to her and switch her as primary driver to get the insurance discount?

 

[steaky]

Just tell your wife to take the written test and get a BC driver license number.

Combination of this number and her no claims letter, go to a dealership to buy the car and she can be the car owner directly. You will have to pay the no discount sum first at the auto plan broker and wait for ICBC decision to give you the discount approved letter.

 

[wyho007]

Just tell your wife to take the written test and get a BC driver license number.

Combination of this number and her no claims letter, go to a dealership to buy the car and she can be the car owner directly. You will have to pay the no discount sum first at the auto plan broker and wait for ICBC decision to give you the discount approved letter.

Thanks!

1. Can I earn my "no claim" insurance record if I sign up as the second driver of that car? I figure I need to earn my own discount somehow.

2. Can I be the joint registered owner of the car (with my wife) when my wife is the primary driver?

 

[steaky]

Find an autoplan broker

 

[wyho007]

I wrote to ICBC for the questions I have, here is their reply for anyone's reference:

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The only driver that ICBC names on an Autoplan policy is the principal operator. However, if you get a BC driver’s licence, you will earn credit on our Claim-Rated Scale for each year of claim-free driving with that licence, even if you do not have a vehicle that is licensed and insured in your name.

You and your spouse may be joint registered owners of the car, with her as the principal operator, provided that she will be operating the car more than 50% of the time during the policy term.