Car Insurance

[COPRQuestion]

Hi All,

Quick question on car insurance. I understand that I can buy, register and insure a car before arriving in British Columbia. However, ICBC won't give me any discount on insurance until I have a BC driving license.

Is that correct?

Thanks

 

[foodie69]

From the ICBC FAQ

Can I buy and insure a car in BC while visiting?

Yes, you can. Once you've found a vehicle you like, you'll have to transfer its ownership into your name and insure it at one of 900 Autoplan brokers around B.C. For details, see Buy a vehicle.
Please keep in mind, you'll need to let the broker know your address in B.C., as well as where you'll be using the car. If you plan to mainly use the vehicle outside B.C., then you may not be able to register and insure it here.
For more information, please speak to an Autoplan broker.

The discounts are applied based on your insurance history from your home country, you will need evidence of no claims in the past..

 

[COPRQuestion]

From the ICBC FAQ

Can I buy and insure a car in BC while visiting?

Yes, you can. Once you've found a vehicle you like, you'll have to transfer its ownership into your name and insure it at one of 900 Autoplan brokers around B.C. For details, see Buy a vehicle.
Please keep in mind, you'll need to let the broker know your address in B.C., as well as where you'll be using the car. If you plan to mainly use the vehicle outside B.C., then you may not be able to register and insure it here.
For more information, please speak to an Autoplan broker.

The discounts are applied based on your insurance history from your home country, you will need evidence of no claims in the past..

thanks foodie, I will be getting a BC licence but looking onto buying the car before I arrive so it's waiting for us rather than hiring and the buying.

I've got the evidence from HK of no claims. it was more the point on the discount but guess I'll find out when I arrive.

 

[NetMecca]

A driver's license is a driver's license if Canadian, or international. Either should suffice

 

[COPRQuestion]

A driver's license is a driver's license if Canadian, or international. Either should suffice

Sorry, I don't think you read my question. Thanks anyway

 

[NetMecca]

I did read your question, sorry if my answer was not clear. Your insurance discounts are not dependent typically on where your license is from. It is your claims experience as someone else has mentioned.

However, be aware that in most of the provinces (if you are a resident there) it is a legal requirement that you get their provincial drivers license within 3 months of settling there. I know I had to convert when I moved to BC (within 3 months)and the same when I subsequently moved to NS. This is a separate issue (not related to your insurance questions however). For insurance purposes however, the where from is not an issue as long as it is a license that permits you drive legally within Canada.

Hope that clarifies what I meant.

Good luck

 

[COPRQuestion]

I did read your question, sorry if my answer was not clear. Your insurance discounts are not dependent typically on where your license is from. It is your claims experience as someone else has mentioned.

However, be aware that in most of the provinces (if you are a resident there) it is a legal requirement that you get their provincial drivers license within 3 months of settling there. I know I had to convert when I moved to BC (within 3 months)and the same when I subsequently moved to NS. This is a separate issue (not related to your insurance questions however). For insurance purposes however, the where from is not an issue as long as it is a license that permits you drive legally within Canada.

Hope that clarifies what I meant.

Good luck

hi there, thanks for that. The confusion I had was that someone said that the insurance discount wouldn't apply unless I had a BC license. For example if I buy a car now (2 months before moving) and insure it, I will have to pay the full insurance, no discount.

Once I move and get a BC license and show my NCB proof they will then rebate me the difference.

Have you heard of this?

 

[NetMecca]

I can honestly say I have not heard of this. Certainly was not an issue when I moved to BC in 2009. It also seem "unCanadian" and discriminatory. Driver's licence is a driver's license. If it is legal for use anywhere in Canada I do not see how they could legally penalize you for such a thing.

In any case if you want to be absolutely certain, my suggestion is that you contact any of the ICBC autoplan insurance brokers directly. This site will help you find a broker to talk to : http://www.icbc.com/locators/Pages/default.aspx

I had a peek on the ICBC website http://www.icbc.com/Pages/default.aspx And there appears to be a wealth of information specifically also relating to moving to BC (even from outside of Canada) This might be helpful to you.

I did not read all of it, but I certainly did not see anything regarding discounts be subjected to your BC driver's license.

Good luck

 

[CDNPR2014]

I can honestly say I have not heard of this. Certainly was not an issue when I moved to BC in 2009. It also seem "unCanadian" and discriminatory. Driver's licence is a driver's license. If it is legal for use anywhere in Canada I do not see how they could legally penalize you for such a thing.

In any case if you want to be absolutely certain, my suggestion is that you contact any of the ICBC autoplan insurance brokers directly. This site will help you find a broker to talk to : http://www.icbc.com/locators/Pages/default.aspx

I had a peek on the ICBC website http://www.icbc.com/Pages/default.aspx And there appears to be a wealth of information specifically also relating to moving to BC (even from outside of Canada) This might be helpful to you.

I did not read all of it, but I certainly did not see anything regarding discounts be subjected to your BC driver's license.

Good luck

Since i'm assuming ICBC is specific to BC, it makes sense that certain discounts will not apply unless you can prove you have a BC license. This suggests the driver is a BC resident, which is probably a requirement for those discounts. I was unable to insure my car in Ontario without an Ontario license, so this is not specific to BC. Even though licenses are recognized for driving in any province, the insurance companies do not have to insure you or provide discounts if you can't prove you are a resident of that province. These are probably basic provincial insurance laws. If a person doesn't have a license for that province, then why are they insuring a car to drive in that province? Insurance is based on where you are located, and a driver's license is what insurance companies use to confirm residency.

 

[Hasan9999]

Hello members,

A different question !

Recently my family added a second car in Ontario ( first one 2007 Dodge Caravan & last one 2007 Honda DX Sedan) and insurance premium (TD Meloche Monnex) per month now stands at CAD 455/-(260+195)! Is this too high or standard?

Allstate Insurance offered CAD 360/- per month for these two vehicles but TD cancellation fee was like CAD 450/- and Allstate was asking for first and last months deposit...

After reviewing all aspects, we decided to stay with TD.

Any comments will be appreciated.

Hasan

 

[foodie69]

wow..that is expensive. Even more than here in BC!

 

[Hasan9999]

wow..that is expensive. Even more than here in BC!

Hi foodie69,

How much would be in BC? Next year TD promised to give us a discount of CAD 40/- per month.

My wife couldn't find better option other than Allstate Insurance.

Hasan

 

[foodie69]

I pay $145.00 for one car, so probably $290.00 if I had two. But if I ever get a second car it will be a collectors car for $20.00 a month.

 

[CDNPR2014]

Hello members,

A different question !

Recently my family added a second car in Ontario ( first one 2007 Dodge Caravan & last one 2007 Honda DX Sedan) and insurance premium (TD Meloche Monnex) per month now stands at CAD 455/-(260+195)! Is this too high or standard?

Allstate Insurance offered CAD 360/- per month for these two vehicles but TD cancellation fee was like CAD 450/- and Allstate was asking for first and last months deposit...

After reviewing all aspects, we decided to stay with TD.

Any comments will be appreciated.

Hasan

call Aviva Insurance. When I first got to Ontario, it was nearly impossible to find a rate under $300/month. Aviva covered me for just over $100/month , and almost 2 years later, i'm now paying less than that a month. Definitely worth calling them instead of going to the big guys. Of course, i'm only insuring 1 car, so i'm not sure how it compares for 2 cars. i do know they offer discounts for multiple insurances.

 

[Hasan9999]

I pay $145.00 for one car, so probably $290.00 if I had two. But if I ever get a second car it will be a collectors car for $20.00 a month.

Thanks again foodie69!

What is collectors car? I have never heard this!

Hasan