Collector vehicles

Collector plates are special licence plates that show your vehicle is a real classic—while letting you save money on insurance, too.

With collector plates and insurance, you can drive for pleasure and go to car club events. However, there are driving restrictions.

Does my vehicle qualify for collector plates?

You can get collector plates for passenger vehicles, vans, light trucks and motorcycles.

To qualify, your vehicle must be

• at least 25 years old, or
• at least 15 years old and a limited-production model (1500 or fewer manufactured worldwide for that model year), or
• at least 15 years old, with no vehicles of any kind built by its manufacturer for at least five years.

Your vehicle must also be

• in exceedingly good condition (including no dents, scratches, chips in the paint and/or rust);
• maintained or restored to a condition that ICBC considers to be of collectible value, and
• the vehicle must remain in the same condition as represented in your original application for collector plates.

Top 5 most common reasons a vehicle may be not be accepted for collector plates:

1. Poor quality photos - Keep your hand steady! Blurry photos or photos taken too far away make it difficult to show the vehicles current condition.
2. Poor vehicle Condition - This may seem obvious, but a reminder that vehicles with dents, paint chips, scratches, rust, and/or rips or damage to any part of the interior are unlikely to pass.
3. Non era-correct parts - A CD player in a 1955 Ford T-Bird? Sorry. Non era parts like stereo equipment, wheels or performance parts will not be accepted. See the approved parts list for more info.
4. Incomplete vehicle - It's not push-pull or drag! Collector plates cannot be applied to vehicles missing parts such as mouldings, name plates or decals.
5. Approved stickers only - Club car stickers or Combat Auto Theft (C.A.T.) sticker are OK.

For more information, see the collector vehicle application form (PDF).

How do I apply for collector plates?

1. Fill out an application (PDF) to have ICBC designate your vehicle a collector vehicle. Forms are also available from Autoplan brokers.
2. Photograph your vehicle, following the instructions on the application form.
3. Take the completed application and photos to an Autoplan broker or mail them to ICBC (see application form for details).
4. ICBC will review the application. If your vehicle qualifies, the approved application will be sent back to you. Typically, the review and processing takes about three weeks.
5. After receiving your approved application, contact your broker to order your plates.

Your plates should be ready for you to pick up at the Autoplan broker in about four working days. (It's a good idea to call first to make sure the plates have arrived.) 

Insuring your collector vehicle

Once your vehicle has collector status and plates, you can insure it. If you live in the Lower Mainland or Fraser Valley, the vehicle must pass an AirCare test..

Driving restrictions 

Pleasure use: Vehicles with collector plates are restricted to pleasure use only. With collector vehicles, you may never drive to work or school.

Important: Driving a vehicle with collector plates for reasons other than pleasure use could void your insurance.

Driving after dark: If your vehicle doesn't have the lights and reflectors required by the Motor Vehicle Act Regulations, you may not drive it between half an hour after sunset and half an hour before sunrise.

Contact us for more information

Contact our Special Coverage Underwriting department:

Lower Mainland: 604-661-6890
Elsewhere in B.C., Canada and the U.S.: 1-800-665-8262
Fax: 604-443-4451

Mailing address

ICBC - Special Coverage Underwriting
Room 316 - 151 West Esplanade
North Vancouver, BC  V7M 3H9