At Fault Drivers to Pay More
Prince George, B.C.- ICBC has applied to update its basic insurance so those who are at-fault will lose their safe driving discounts faster.
Right now, it’s possible for some drivers who have achieved the maximum discount to have caused two, or even three, crashes and have the same discount on basic insurance as a driver who has never caused a crash. Under the new system, long-term safe drivers will continue to have their discount protected if they’re at-fault for one crash but that won’t be the case if they have multiple at-fault crashes.
“This change will help us ensure our safe driving discount is applied more fairly and continue to benefit our customers who make smart and safe driving decisions,” said Mark Blucher, ICBC President and CEO. “Drivers who make good driving decisions should pay less than drivers who cause multiple crashes.”
Starting today, drivers who cause crashes will have their discounts calculated based on the updated approach for policies renewed after May 6, 2018. This way, drivers will have plenty of warning and a chance to change their behaviour. The increased accountability changes will not apply to at-fault crashes that are on a driver’s insurance record prior to today. The vast majority of ICBC customers – those who don’t cause crashes – will not see any change.
All drivers will continue to earn credit towards discounts for every year they’re crash free. In addition, just like today, customers who cause a crash will regain their previous discount if they go three consecutive years without being responsible for a crash.
Comments
That still doesn’t help with all the increases that are happening.
I was congratulated on such a nice driving record that ICBC gave me a 3 month term for insurance @ $228.00 but did not actually tell me how much for an entire year. I guess I x’s it by 4.
I think that works out to $912.00 this year, and last year it was $800.00..
Gee.Thanks
Buying your insurance every three months costs ICBC more in adminstration so you pay a surcharge for that convenience.
My trailer is 57.00 for 3 months or 154.00 if I pay annually
There is a surcharge on short term insurance, in your case you would still be around $800 if you bought a year at a time.
ICBC traditionally punishes good drivers and gives the bad ones a break. Buy your optional insurance privately. If you have a good driving record you will save money.
Make the change stop raiding ICBC and give us a bloody break, just more hidden tax in the end, sick of it.
They are not taking dividend this year, but the NDP may reverse that if they form the next government as they are the ones that started the annual dividend from crown corporations. Once you open that can of worms it is hard to close it again as the other option is to just tax people more on the income tax side
I usually don’t buy my insurance every 3 months because I don’t want to give them an extra $45.00 in service charges. That being said, my renewal did not say how much it would be per year, just a break down for every 3 months. In general, everyone is paying through the nose and it never stops…increases every fricken year!
You have to add it up yourself, it will give you the annual costs on page 2 and then give you an estimated amount due based on your current coverage. You can just add up the “Your Cost” column for annual.
Everything increases every year these days, ever check your property tax assessment?
This is good news. My rate will go down, them that screw up, Suffer!
I doubt your rates will go down…it would be nice though.
Good luck. Your rates will not go down but bad drivers rates will go up.
“..All drivers will continue to earn credit towards discounts for every year they’re crash free..”
Well, based on my record I should be premium free by now. However, somebody has to pay. 500 claims a day in the lower mainland costs them a few bucks.
On cross country checkup I heard that virtually every jurisdiction in the world wishes they had the ICBC system in place. Particularly eastern Canada.
You mean, every govt in virtually every jurisdiction in the world wishes they had the ICBC system in place.
On cross country checkup I heard that virtually every jurisdiction in the world wishes they had the ICBC system in place. Particularly eastern Canada.
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I don’t. The annual insurance costs for my truck and my wife’s car, combined, are just a little more than what I was paying to insure just my truck in BC.
Might not have been so happy had I moved here as a new driver or one with a poor driving record though!
In private insurance age plays a huge factor, in BC young drivers get a huge advantage over other provinces. In BC I don’t think you can become “uninsurable” regardless of driving habits
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