Insurance Expert Advice

How Does an Autoplan Work?

Anyone who possesses and drives a vehicle on the roads and highways must have an ICBC auto Insurance. This is to make sure that all British Columbians are financially protected from the various risks associated with driving.

Guide to Determine the Right Plan?

• Find a broker
• Understand the Basic  coverage
• Find optional extended coverage
• Understanding the insurance premium rates
• Understanding your teen insurance cost
• Working out insurance cost if vehicle used for Commercial purpose
• What if Driving outside of B.C.

How to buy An Auto Insurance?

Go to any Autoplan broker in Vancouver to choose insurance that meets your requirements and get an insurance quote.

• Your broker guides you to opt for the right policy length and any optional coverage that you may require
• Show your insurance documents and pay for your policy or place a monthly payment plan
• You get a fresh Certificate of Insurance and an insurance decal that shows the date your insurance expiry
• Always keep your signed insurance papers in your vehicle.

AirCare

If your vehicle is parked in the Lower Mainland, it is likely that your vehicle needs to pass an AirCare emissions test before you can buy coverage. It measures key pollutants that are found in exhaust fumes and compares them to acceptable emission standards.

Who Needs an Auto Insurance?
If you are tourist visiting B.C. and have brought your vehicle with you, you can drive up to six months for touring purposes only with your existing coverage.

Students from outside B.C. enrolled full-time at a recognized B.C. educational institution and armed forces personnel on temporary assignment in B.C exempted from buying insurance are required to carry the following documents all the time when they drive.

• student card/proof of registration
• combined certificate of registration of a non-resident automobile
• an insurance certificate

Basic Costs

Your insurance premium rates are based on what your vehicle is used for, where your vehicle is located when not in use, where your vehicle is driven and depends on how good your driving record is.

How to calculate your premium?

The amount you pay above for your Basic plan is called a premium. Apart from the age, the car they own etc, each driver in B.C. is supposed to pay a premium based on the following:
 
• Where you live
If you live in a busy city, you will have to pay higher premium as compared to small town as you may experience different driving conditions. In a city there may be heavy traffic and you may have higher chances of being involved in a collision, your insurer takes this into account.
• Rate classes
The usage of vehicle to drive to your workplace is different from using it for commercial use. There are more than 150 different rate classes to cover all the different ways B.C. drivers may use their vehicles. Hence ICBC charges accordingly different rates.
• Your Driving History claims
Your driving history and the frequency of claims is taken into account. If you have been at error in a collide, your insurance premium will be higher. Similarly, you will get discounts or save money if you maintain a better driving record.
• Extra coverage
The more optional coverage you tend to buy, the higher your insurance premiums will have to pay.

Before buying coverage take a note of making payment of any outstanding fines or debts that are supposed to be paid.