ICBC Autoplan Insurance: What You Need to Know
Looking to renew your ICBC insurance? Whether you're located in Langley or anywhere else in British Columbia, you can request your renewal through me by phone or email, and I'll help you arrange your coverage without having to make a trip to the office.
If you're due for an ICBC renewal, adding a driver, or need to make changes to your policy, you can get started by completing my ICBC renewal and quote form.
What Is ICBC Autoplan?
ICBC (Insurance Corporation of British Columbia) is a provincial Crown corporation that provides mandatory Basic Autoplan insurance in British Columbia.
Basic Autoplan provides the minimum auto insurance coverage required by law. Drivers can also purchase optional coverage through ICBC or, depending on the coverage and their circumstances, through a private insurer.
ICBC auto insurance is sold through a province-wide network of Autoplan brokers.
New to BC or getting car insurance for the first time?
If you're new to British Columbia or getting car insurance for the first time, I've also put together an article explaining the process and what you'll need to get your vehicle insured.
What Does Basic ICBC Insurance Cover?
Basic Autoplan provides several types of coverage as part of the mandatory insurance required in BC.
Enhanced Accident Benefits
Enhanced Accident Benefits provide care and recovery benefits if you're injured in a motor vehicle crash.
Coverage can include medical treatment, rehabilitation, counselling, medication, home support and other expenses related to your recovery.
If you're unable to work because of your injuries, Enhanced Accident Benefits can also provide income replacement benefits based on 90% of your net income, subject to the applicable maximum.
Basic Vehicle Damage Coverage
Basic Vehicle Damage Coverage can cover repairs to your vehicle when another driver is responsible for a crash.
If you're responsible for a crash, however, Basic Vehicle Damage Coverage doesn't pay to repair your own vehicle. Optional Collision coverage can provide protection in that situation.
Third Party Liability
Third Party Liability provides protection when you're legally responsible for certain damage or injury to another person.
Basic Autoplan includes $200,000 of Third Party Liability coverage. Additional liability protection is available through Extended Third Party Liability.
What Is Enhanced Care?
BC's auto insurance system changed significantly in 2021 when ICBC introduced Enhanced Care, a care-based model of auto insurance.
Under Enhanced Care, people injured in a crash can receive care and recovery benefits regardless of who was responsible for the crash. This includes drivers, passengers, pedestrians and cyclists.
This is sometimes described as a no-fault insurance system because access to care and recovery benefits doesn't depend on who caused the crash.
However, no-fault doesn't mean that fault no longer matters. ICBC still determines responsibility for crashes, and fault can affect insurance premiums and other consequences. There are also limited circumstances in which legal action may still be possible.
For most people, the important distinction is that Enhanced Care is focused on providing care and recovery benefits to people injured in crashes, rather than requiring them to pursue compensation through a lawsuit.
What Optional ICBC Coverage Is Available?
Basic Autoplan provides the mandatory foundation, but many drivers choose additional coverage for greater protection.
Common optional coverages include:
Collision
Comprehensive
Specified Perils
Hit & Run
Extended Third Party Liability
Loss of Use
Rental Vehicle Coverage
New Vehicle Protection (RCC & NVR+)
Unlisted Driver Protection
Income Top-Up
RoadStar
Roadside Plus
The right combination depends on your vehicle, how you use it, your financial situation and the level of protection you want.
Collision
Collision coverage can help pay for repairs to your vehicle following a collision with another vehicle, an object or the road surface, including certain situations where you're responsible for the crash.
Comprehensive
Comprehensive coverage provides protection for certain types of damage that aren't caused by a collision. Depending on the policy, this can include things such as theft, vandalism, fire and certain weather-related damage.
Specified Perils
Specified Perils provides coverage for specific types of losses listed in the policy, rather than the broader range of non-collision losses generally associated with Comprehensive coverage.
Hit-and-Run Coverage
Hit-and-Run Coverage protects your vehicle against damage caused by an unidentified driver who leaves the scene of a crash.
Extended Third Party Liability
Extended Third Party Liability increases the amount of liability protection available beyond the $200,000 included with Basic Autoplan.
The amount of liability coverage you choose is an important consideration because a serious accident can result in significant financial exposure.
Loss of Use and Rental Vehicle Coverage
Loss of Use coverage can help with transportation expenses when your vehicle can't be used because of a covered claim.
Rental Vehicle Coverage can provide coverage for a rental vehicle in certain circumstances.
These coverages aren't identical, so it's worth understanding what each one provides before choosing your coverage.
New Vehicle Protection
New Vehicle Protection (RCC& NVR+) can provide additional protection for eligible newer vehicles in certain circumstances.
The eligibility requirements and coverage depend on the specific policy.
Do I Have to Get All My Auto Insurance From ICBC?
Not necessarily.
Basic Autoplan is mandatory, but optional auto insurance coverage can also be available through private insurers.
This means there can be different options when arranging your auto insurance, depending on your vehicle, circumstances and the coverage you're looking for.
If you're comparing options, it's important to compare the actual coverage, limits, deductibles and exclusions rather than simply comparing the premium.
A lower premium doesn't necessarily mean two policies provide the same protection.
Who Needs to Be Listed on My ICBC Policy?
It's important that your policy accurately reflects the people who regularly drive your vehicle.
Depending on the circumstances, you may need to list:
Members of your household who drive your vehicle
Employees who drive the vehicle
Regular drivers
Household members or employees who are learner drivers and drive the vehicle
There are specific rules around who needs to be listed, so it's important not to assume that someone is covered simply because they have permission to use your vehicle.
If you're unsure whether someone needs to be listed, ask your Autoplan broker.
What Is Unlisted Driver Protection?
Unlisted Driver Protection is designed for situations where you occasionally lend your vehicle to someone who isn't listed on your policy.
For example, this could be a friend visiting from another province who borrows your vehicle for an errand.
The coverage can protect you from the Unlisted Driver Accident Premium that could otherwise apply if an occasional unlisted driver causes a crash in your vehicle.
However, it isn't intended as a way to avoid listing someone who regularly drives your vehicle.
Unlisted Driver Protection does not apply to certain drivers, including household members, employees and regular drivers. Learner drivers who are household members or employees also need to be listed when they drive the vehicle.
ICBC also has rules around the number of days an otherwise unlisted driver uses the vehicle. In general, someone who drives your vehicle more than 12 days in the previous 12 months may not qualify as an occasional driver for this purpose.
If you're unsure whether someone should be listed on your policy, talk to your Autoplan broker.
What Is Income Top-Up?
Under Enhanced Care, income replacement benefits are based on 90% of your net income, subject to the maximum gross annual income amount used by ICBC.
The maximum gross annual income used to calculate the benefit can change over time. Income Top-Up is optional coverage that can increase the income amount used to calculate your income replacement benefits if your income is above the applicable maximum and you don't have sufficient income replacement coverage from another source.
Income Top-Up is available in different coverage amounts, allowing higher-income individuals to increase the maximum income amount used in the calculation.
This can be particularly relevant for higher-income and self-employed individuals.
If you already have income replacement through an employer or another insurance policy, it's worth reviewing those benefits before deciding whether additional coverage is appropriate.
What If I Drive for Uber or Lyft?
If you use your vehicle for ride-hailing, your insurance needs can be different from those of an ordinary personal-use vehicle.
ICBC has specific insurance arrangements for ride-hailing. The ride-hailing company carries blanket Basic insurance that applies during covered ride-hailing activity, including when you've accepted a trip, are travelling to pick up a passenger or are transporting passengers.
Optional coverage can depend on the ride-hailing company's insurance and your own policy.
If you drive for Uber, Lyft or another ride-hailing service, tell your Autoplan broker before you begin. Your broker will need information about the service you drive for and how you expect to use your vehicle.
What If I Deliver Food or Other Products?
Using your vehicle to earn income can also include delivery work.
If you're delivering food or other products for services such as SkipTheDishes, DoorDash or Uber Eats, it's important to tell your broker how you're using your vehicle.
Business and commercial vehicle use can have different insurance requirements from ordinary personal use. Don't assume that personal auto insurance automatically covers every type of paid delivery work.
Your broker can review how you're using the vehicle and determine what insurance arrangements may apply.
What About Business Use?
Not all business use of a vehicle is the same.
You may use your vehicle to:
Travel between work locations
Visit customers
Transport tools or equipment
Make deliveries
Travel to different job sites
Carry out other business-related activities
It's important to tell your broker how you actually use your vehicle rather than simply describing it as “personal use.”
The type and frequency of business use can affect the insurance required.
How Much Does ICBC Insurance Cost?
There's no single price for ICBC insurance.
Your premium can be affected by factors including:
Your driving history
Where you live
The vehicle you drive
How the vehicle is used
Who drives the vehicle
Your coverage
Your deductibles
Your driving experience
Other factors used in ICBC's rating system
Your renewal premium can also change when something about your situation changes.
For example, the vehicle you drive, where it is normally kept, how you use it and the driving experience and crash history of listed drivers can all affect premiums.
That's why two people with similar vehicles may not necessarily pay the same amount for their insurance.
When Should I Contact My Autoplan Broker?
You don't have to wait until your renewal date to ask questions about your policy.
It's important to speak with your broker if something changes, such as:
Adding or removing a driver
Moving to a new address
Changing how you use your vehicle
Driving a different vehicle
Modifying your vehicle
Starting to use your vehicle for business
Starting ride-hailing or delivery work
Having questions about your coverage
It's also worth contacting your broker if you're unsure whether your current coverage still makes sense for your situation.
What Information Do I Need to Renew My ICBC?
Your renewal reminder and current insurance documents will contain much of the information needed to review your existing policy.
Depending on your situation, your broker may need to confirm:
Your vehicle information
Current address
Drivers listed on the policy
Vehicle use
Current coverage
Any changes since your last policy
Payment information
If you're adding a driver, you'll generally need information such as their driver's licence number and date of birth.
It's important that your policy information is accurate and up to date. If something has changed since your last renewal, let your broker know.
James' Insurance Tip
James' Insurance Tip: Don't treat your ICBC renewal as simply a bill that needs to be paid. It's also a good opportunity to review your coverage and make sure your policy still reflects how you use your vehicle.
If you've started driving for work, added another driver, changed vehicles or had another change in your circumstances, let your broker know.
The Bottom Line
ICBC insurance can seem straightforward until you start looking at the different coverage options and situations that can affect your policy.
Basic Autoplan provides the mandatory foundation, while optional coverage can provide additional protection for your vehicle, liability, income and other risks.
Your insurance needs can also change over time. If you're approaching your renewal or something about your driving situation has changed, it's worth taking a few minutes to review your coverage.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Basic Autoplan includes coverage such as Enhanced Accident Benefits, Basic Vehicle Damage Coverage, Third Party Liability and Underinsured Motorist Protection, along with other protections.
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ICBC's Enhanced Care system is sometimes described as a no-fault model because people injured in a crash can access care and recovery benefits regardless of who was responsible. However, fault still matters for things such as crash responsibility, premiums and certain other consequences.
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Enhanced Care is BC's care-based auto insurance model. It provides care and recovery benefits to people injured in crashes regardless of fault, including medical treatment, rehabilitation and income replacement benefits.
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Yes. Basic Autoplan is mandatory, but optional auto insurance coverage can also be available through private insurers.
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Household members, employees, regular drivers and certain other drivers need to be listed when applicable. Learner drivers who are household members or employees also need to be listed when they drive your vehicle.
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Unlisted Driver Protection can protect you from the Unlisted Driver Accident Premium when an occasional driver who isn't listed on your policy causes a crash. It doesn't apply to certain drivers, including household members, employees and regular drivers.
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Income Top-Up is optional coverage that can increase the income amount used to calculate income replacement benefits under Enhanced Care. It may be relevant if your income is above ICBC's applicable maximum and you don't have sufficient income replacement coverage elsewhere.
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Ride-hailing has specific insurance arrangements. The ride-hailing company's blanket Basic insurance applies during covered ride-hailing activity, while optional coverage depends on the policies in place. Speak with your broker before starting ride-hailing work.
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It depends on how the vehicle is being used and the applicable insurance arrangements. If you use your vehicle for paid delivery work, tell your broker before you begin so the appropriate coverage can be reviewed.
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Yes. You can contact an Autoplan broker to arrange your renewal by phone and email renewal depending on the broker.
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Yes. You should contact your Autoplan broker when adding or removing a driver so your policy can be updated and the appropriate coverage reviewed.
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You should tell your broker. Changes such as using the vehicle for business, beginning delivery work or starting ride-hailing can affect your insurance.
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You can renew your ICBC policy up to 44 days before it expires.
Need Insurance Advice?
Insurance information is a great starting point, but every person, family, home, and business has unique insurance needs.
If you have questions about your current coverage, are approaching your renewal, or simply want a second opinion, I'd be happy to help you understand your options and determine whether your coverage still meets your needs.
I work with multiple insurance companies to help clients find coverage that fits their situation, not just the lowest price.
📍 Proudly serving Langley, the Fraser Valley, Metro Vancouver, and clients throughout British Columbia and Alberta.
About the Author
James Kramer is an independent insurance advisor with more than a decade of experience helping individuals, families, and business owners protect what matters most.
He provides general insurance, including Home, Auto, ICBC Autoplan, Business, Travel, and Specialty Insurance, throughout British Columbia and Alberta, as well as independent life insurance solutions across British Columbia.
Through the Insurance Learning Centre, James shares practical insurance advice, explains common coverage questions, and helps Canadians better understand their insurance so they can make informed decisions with confidence.
Disclaimer
The information provided in this article is intended for general informational purposes only and should not be considered insurance, legal, or financial advice.
Insurance products, policy wordings, coverage options, eligibility, and availability vary by insurer and province. Always review your own policy and consult a licensed insurance advisor regarding your specific circumstances before making insurance decisions.