MAP *Parking in rear

MAP    *Parking in rear

#200-678 West Broadway
Vancouver, British Columbia
Canada V5Z 1G1


Phone: 604.876.7999
Fax: 604.876.7909


Monday to Friday: 9:00AM - 4:00PM
Saturdays: we are closed on weekends and stat holidays.


News Archives

Categories

Car Insurance

WHY DO YOU NEED MY BIRTHDATE TO RENEW MY CAR INSURANCE?.

In September 2016, ICBC changed the Broker computer system for the first time in 40 years. The new system requires your birthdate to identify your account.

BUYING A USED CAR? DON’T FORGET TO DO A LIEN CHECK AND CLAIM HISTORY CHECK.

Get a comprehensive report of outstanding liens and past claims for $64.95 here: http://www.carproof.com/content/order/order_01.asp?Report=BC

CAN I GIVE MY CAR TO MY FRIEND?  CAN I GIVE IT TO MY SON OR DAUGHTER?

You may “gift” a car to anyone but in order to get a tax exemption, it must be a “related individual” (ie: spouse, father, mother, sibling, grandparent, parents-in-law, etc.  but not an uncle, aunt, cousin, brother-in-law or friend refer to the Consumer Taxation website for a complete list). If you gift a car to a friend, the friend must pay PST tax on the market value of the car. You can’t declare nominal amounts such as $1.

DO I NEED AN AIRCARE TEST?
NO!  The AirCare program ended December 31, 2014.

CAN YOU RENEW THE INSURANCE FOR MY LEASED CAR?

Yes, definitely. Just bring us a copy of your current insurance papers. We’ll call your lease company for authorization and send them a copy of the insurance once it’s done.

 

HOW CAN I PAY FOR MY ICBC INSURANCE?

We accept VISA, Mastercard, AMEX, cash, cheque and debit. You may also apply for a monthlyor quarterly payment plans; just bring us a Void cheque from your account.

I HAD A SMALL ACCIDENT AND THE OTHER DRIVER DOESN’T WANT TO REPORT IT TO ICBC, WHAT SHOULD I DO?
It’s always best to report the accident to ICBC even if you do not plan on making a claim. ICBC will assist you in settling in the loss with the other party at no cost to you. Beware of other drivers who tell you their “friend” can repair your car at a good price; usually the repair work is substandard.

HOW DO I REPORT MY CAR ACCIDENT/THEFT/GLASS/INJURY CLAIM?

Call ICBC Dial-A-Claim at 604-520-8222 or report it online 24/7 at www.icbc.com. See our Claims page for more information.

I’M GOING ON VACATION AND PLAN TO RENT A CAR. DO I NEED TO BUY INSURANCE FROM THE RENTAL COMPANY?

If you have the RoadStar or RoadSidePlus benefits package on your car insurance policy, you already have insurance for rental cars in Canada and the USA for up to 30 day rentals*. The insurance provides similar coverage that you have on your own car (Liability, Collision, Comprehensive, etc) and will also cover any additional drivers you name on your rental contract. Some restrictions apply so best to call us to confirm coverage is in place.

If you don’t carry these packages on your own car insurance, you may still buy the same Rental Car coverage from ICBC at $10/day (minimum $20). This is better coverage and less expensive than what the rental car companies provide.

* The rental car insurance on Roadstar & RoadSide benefits does not apply if your car is in a company name unless the use of the car is a taxable benefit to you. Call us for more information.

I’VE JUST SOLD MY CAR. HOW DO I CANCEL MY INSURANCE AND GET A REFUND?

To cancel your insurance, bring us your licence plates and insurance papers. We’ll need your signature on a cancellation form and the refund will be either mailed to you in a week or applied to the credit card that originally paid the insurance. If the insurance was financed, you will either pay a small additional or have a small refund when you cancel.

NOTE: If your car was leased, only the lease company can sign the cancellation. In this case you should take the licence plates and papers to the Lease company or their dealer to cancel.

2nd NOTE: If you plan on replacing car in the near future (say within a week or so) it’s best to not cancel. Instead, hold onto your plates and when you get your new car, transfer them on to the new car.

MY DISCOUNT IS BETTER THAN MY DAUGHTER’S SO CAN I JUST DECLARE ME AS THE DRIVER ON HER INSURANCE?

Falsely declaring another person as the principal operator on an insurance policy in order to obtain cheaper rates is considered misrepresentation and your claim can be denied. New drivers must earn their Discount under the “Individual Driving Factor” system.  They can earn the discount simply by having a drivers licence (they don’t need to own a car or be a principal operator).

I HAVE AN EXPENSIVE CAR STEREO AND LOTS OF AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT. IS IT COVERED?

Sound and communication equipment that is permanently attached to your car is automatically covered up to $1000. Other aftermarket equipment such as custom paint, mag wheels, roof racks, etc. are covered up to $5000. Any equipment over and above these limits can be insured on a separate “Special Equipment Policy”.

ARE MY PERSONAL BELONGINGS IN MY CAR COVERED UNDER MY ICBC INSURANCE?

Personal belongings such as sporting goods, luggage, business equipment, purses & wallets, sunglasses, ipods & laptops, cash and jewellery and other valuables are NOT COVERED on ICBC policies. Some of these items may be covered on a home insurance policy. If you must leave personal items in your car, use common sense: take them with you or store them in your lockable trunk out of sight.

For most private passenger cars, the ICBC own damage coverage will cover vehicle equipment such as child seats, safety kit, car jack and other “permanently attached” equipment subject to your deductible (“permanently attached” means a tool is needed to remove the equipment).

MY CAR IS NOW 25 YEARS OLD. CAN I GET COLLECTOR PLATES?

You can apply for Collector licence plates and insurance by completing an application and sending it in with ten colour photos of your car. The car must be in clean, stock condition and cannot be driven to or from work. You must own or jointly own another non-collector car. The advantage of having Collector status is the rates are less than half of regular Pleasure-use rates.

I WANT TO BORROW MY GRANDFATHER’S CAR TO DRIVE TO WORK FOR A FEW DAYS. ANY PROBLEMS WITH THAT?

If grandpa’s car is rates as “Pleasure Use”, you may use it for commuting to work a maximum of six days in a calendar month. Otherwise, Grandpa will need to change his vehicle use or do a “Temporary Change of Use” and pay the additional premium for that period. Grandpa will have to sign the form so bring him with you.

IF I HAVE A CLAIM, WILL MY RATES GO UP NEXT YEAR?

Depends. If you have many years of claims-free history, you have some discount protection and an at-fault will only increase your rates slightly; the more claims-free years you have , the less the increase in rates. But if you’re a newer driver, one at-fault claim can increase your rates quite a bit so it’s best to call us and we can advise you if it will be worth making the claim or paying out of pocket. This only applies to Collision and Liability Claims; Comprehensive, Hit & Run and Glass claims do not affect your Safe-Driver’s Discount.

 

WHAT ARE THOSE RED LICENCE PLATES I SEE AROUND TOWN?

Those are for vehicles operated by Consulate Generals.

For more information about licence plate check out this website: www.bcpl8s.ca

For more ICBC FAQ’s, please check out the ICBC website:

http://icbc.com/cs/Satellite?c=ICBC_FAQ_C&cid=1225925714746&pagename=ICBC%2FICBC_FAQ_C%2Ficbc_FAQQuestion&proxied=true#1225925714746