Auto Insurance FAQ

Insurance rates are typically based on your driving experience, claims history, where you live, the type of vehicle you drive, and how the vehicle is used, visit our Car insurance page for more details on BC auto Insurance.

Most drivers choose to carry ThirdParty Liability coverage - typically between $3 Million and $5 Million, along with a $300-$500 Collision deductible, and a $300 Comprehensive deductible. Many BC drivers also choose to add rental vehicle coverage through RoadStar, Roadside Plus, or Loss of Use.

Contact the Reliance team for more information about ICBC car insurance.

Your premiums may increase if ICBC determines you were more than 25% at fault in a crash. If the incident was a hit and run or didn’t cause damage another party or their property, you could choose not to repair your own vehicle—or pay for the repairs out of pocket to maintain your existing discount. Additionally, comprehensive claims, such as fire, theft, vandalism, glass, or collisions involving animals, will not result in a premium increase.

Maintaining a clean driving record, record your odometer reading on renewal, choosing a higher deductible, asking your broker about additional discounts or options for private insurance.

Yes—we offer private auto insurance to complement your ICBC Basic Autoplan coverage. Optional products like excess thirdparty liability, collision, comprehensive, and lossofuse coverage can enhance your protection and may even help reduce your overall insurance costs.

Premiums are based on factors such as your claims history, location, driving experience, and named drivers, allowing us to tailor coverage to your needs.

ICBC requires vehicle owners to list the primary driver along with any household members or employees that will operate the vehicle. Additional or occasional drivers should also be included if they are likely to drive the vehicle more than 12 days a year.

Your policy is flexible, allowing you to add or remove drivers at any time to keep your coverage accurate.

Listing all drivers on your vehicle helps ICBC accurately assess driving risk, calculate auto insurance premiums, and determine driver accountability in the event of an at fault accident. Providing this information ensures your BC auto insurance policy reflects who operates the vehicle, helping prevent coverage issues and supporting fair, risk based insurance pricing.

Learner drivers pay a flat learner fee to be listed on a vehicle’s policy, but they do not start building discount until they obtain their N licence. Leaners must be supervised and have limited driving privileges, but if a learn er causes a crash, the accident does not go onto their driving record.

Once a driver moves to an N licence, they can operate the vehicle independently, but their premiums increase significantly. At the same time, N drivers begin to build their drivingexperience discount, so each full year of safe, crashfree driving helps reduce their future insurance costs. If an N driver is found at fault for a crash, their rates can increase significantly, reflecting ICBC’s riskbased pricing for inexperienced drivers.

If the learner (L) driver is already listed on the policy, they can continue driving the vehicle after earning their N. Just make sure the primary driver information is updated if needed. Keep in mind that an N driver now carries a higher insurance rate, and this updated rate will apply to any vehicle they are added to or appear on at renewal.

Contact Reliance to add a driver.

This coverage allows you to lend your vehicle to an occasional driver up to 12 days a year. UDP can typically be added to your ICBC policy for free unless an unlisted driver has had at fault accident. This coverage does not cover household members, employees, or anyone who has previously caused a crash in your vehicle.

Without this coverage, you could face a significant fine from ICBC if an unlisted driver has an accident while operating your vehicle.

ICBC offers a variety of rental vehicle coverage options designed to protect you when traveling or working anywhere in Canada and the U.S., including Alaska and Hawaii. Rental insurance coverage is extended to drivers with Roadstar or Roadside plus coverage and can be purchased as a stand-alone policy for $10 per day (minimum 2-day purchase). This coverage applies to vehicle rentals, garage courtesy cars, and Peer-to-peer rental platforms such as Turo.

If your ICBC plate is still active, you have a few options:

• You may reduce your current coverage to the minimum required, depending on how long the vehicle will be unused
• You can allow the policy to lapse at renewal, then switch to Storage Insurance afterward.

Or, you can cancel your plates in person at an Autoplan broker. This requires:

• Visiting a broker’s office with your plates (cancellation cannot be done remotely)
• Paying a $30 plate cancellation fee
• Receiving a prorated refund for the unused portion of your policy

If your ICBC insurance has already expired:

• You can purchase Storage Insurance immediately without cancelling plates. Vehicles without active plates or permits cannot be parked on public roads or city streets in BC — they must be kept on private property or in a storage location.
• If your vehicle is coming up for renewal, you may choose a shorter 3–11 month policy to better match seasonal or limited use.
• You may also purchase a Temporary Operating Permit for 1–15 days to servicing, relocation, or storage the vehicle elsewhere.

You have several ways to check a vehicle’s background and lien status before buying in BC:

• ICBC Vehicle Claims History Report provides BC claims history, vehicle status, and import/theft indicators.
• CARFAX Canada offers a broader North American report, including a crossCanada lien search. ICBC explains the differences and how to order both types of reports click here for Vehicle history reports.

Follow ICBC’s car buyers guide:

• ICBC suggests you start with a thorough inspection (DIY + professional), run a lien search, and review history records before you commit.

Commercial Truck Inspections:

• Commercial Truck Inspections: CARFAX Canada does not guarantee lien checks for trailers, RVs, or heavyduty equipment, and can’t run a lien check if the VIN has no Canadian registration history. For heavy trucks, consider a specialized lien provider alongside a BC PPR lien search.

Additional safety checks:

• Run the VIN through the Canadian Police Information Centre (CPIC) stolen vehicle search as a quick, free safeguard.
• Search for private companies that provide lien search services across Canada & US.
• Visit a ServiceBC centre for in person further assistance.