We've reduced the need for in-person contact during the pandemic.

Many insurance transactions can now be completed via phone and email. Call your Autoplan broker for more details about:

• New policies
• Renewals
• Transfer of ownership
• Policy changes

Please note that insurance services are currently not available at ICBC's head office.

Canceling your policy

If you want to cancel your policy to reduce costs during the pandemic, we've introduced some temporary changes to help.

For all drivers:

• The $30 cancellation charge will be waived when you cancel insurance.
• The $18 plating fee will be waived when you choose to reinstate an insurance policy on your vehicle.

If you do cancel your policy, please remember to:

• Remove your licence plate and store it somewhere safe until you reinstate insurance or it's safe to return the plates to your Autoplan broker.
• Park your vehicle off the road.
• Call your Autoplan broker about options such as getting a storage policy to ensure your vehicle is protected while it's not in use.

For businesses / fleets:

• You can suspend insurance on fleet vehicles that are not being driven.
• An temporary exemption is available if your company delivers food or medical supplies and your service model has changed due to COVID-19. It does not apply to commercial delivery companies and drivers who provide delivery services in normal times.
• The Commercial Vehicle Safety and Enforcement Branch (CVSE) is providing an extension for all vehicles that have a valid Certificate of Approval which expires March 31, 2020, or April 30, 2020, and are unable to undergo the required mechanical inspection.

We're aware that you might be facing financial challenges during the pandemic, so we're helping to provide some relief.

If you're on a monthly Autoplan payment plan, you can apply to defer* your payments for up to 90 days without penalty. Payment deferral is also available for fleets.

Please note that if your account is not up to date, you won't be eligible to defer payments, but if you let us know, we'll work with you to find a solution.

How to defer your monthly payments

• Apply for a deferral using our online request form  before 6pm on the business day before your payment is due.
• You'll get an email confirming that your request has been processed.
• Please note that the total sum of your deferred payments will be withdrawn on your deferral date.

If you're going to be unable to make your deferred payment on the deferral date, then please contact us to discuss payment options:

• Call 604-661-2723 or 1-800-665-6442.
• Email accountservices@icbc.com, including your phone number and your driver licence number or licence plate number.

*Payment deferral refers to the postponement, or delay, of payment owed.

​To help increase safety for both customers and employees, ICBC has been working with the Ministries of Health and Citizens' Services to develop on-line and phone-based service delivery extension options to reduce the need for B.C. residents to physically visit a driver licensing office.

British Columbia Driver Licence (BCDL)

• The following services are now available over the phone. Please call us at 1-800-950-1498 or 250-978-8300 to:

• Renew an existing BCDL that is within 6 weeks of your card expiry date.

• Reinstate a BCDL that has been cancelled, prohibited or suspended and is now eligible for a reinstatement

• Issue a replacement BCDL

• The driver licensing fee, photo and signature (as appropriate) will not be collected at the time of your call.

• We will mail you an interim driver’s licence that shows an expiry date. For example, if your licence is expiring, the interim licence will expire 90 days from that date. A physical card will not be produced until you attend one of our driver licensing offices, at which time the regular fees and signatory requirements will apply.

• These temporary procedures apply to driver licences that are expiring within six weeks; or have not expired for more than three years.

British Columbia Services Card

• For health services, qualified residents can now phone Health Insurance BC (Toll-free: 1 800 663-7100, Lower Mainland: 604 683-7151) directly if they are unable to obtain or renew their BC Services Card and require a temporary Medical Services Plan (MSP) coverage extension or a confirmation of MSP coverage letter.  

• MSP Beneficiaries also have the option of using the Provincial Health Number (PHN) on their expired BC Services Card to access provincially funded health care services, they just need to also show another piece of ID. 

•  People with an expiring BC Services Card who use their mobile Card for access to online services will continue to retain their access to login to online government services with their mobile BC Services Card up to 90 days after the physical card has expired.
  

For more information visit:

• Ministry of Health and MSP coverage
• Ministry of Citizens' Services and BC Services Card

We’ve made it easier to access injury care during the pandemic.

If you have an ongoing injury claim, your initial pre-authorized treatment period will extend until at least July 31, 2020, or 12 weeks from the date of the crash - whichever is later.

To reduce the need for in-person contact, we're also temporarily funding telehealth services to provide healthcare online using phone and video technology.

Please talk to your healthcare provider to find out if these services are available to you. Telehealth services may be available for:

• Chiropractors
• Counsellors
• Physicians
• Kinesiologists
• Occupational Therapist
• Psychologists
• Physiotherapist

The following services are now only offered online:

• Get your driving record
• Change your address

If you received a ticket that starts with the letter "E" or "S", you may be able to pay it online at PayBC. All others may be paid by phone at 1-888-343-2240 or 604-661-2240.

For many driver licensing transactions, customers are required to provide an ICBC key word for verification of identity. You can now reset your key word by phone at 1-800-950-1498. 

Enhanced Driver Licenses (EDL) and Enhanced ID Cards (EIC) appointments are currently suspended. Any questions please contact the Driver Licensing Contact Centre 1-800-950-1498 or 250-978-8300. 

We are contacting customers with an appointment to inform them of this change, and advising them of the option to replace their EDL/EIC with a DL/BCID.

Starting June 1, 2020, we will be resuming knowledge tests for all applicants across the province. To book an appointment please call 1-800-950-1498 or 250-978-8300 and leave a voicemail. A representative will return your call within three business days and in the order of which the voicemail is received. Please only leave one voicemail.

All appointments will be 45 minutes per knowledge test and there will be no stand-by appointments at this time.

First knowledge test fees will be waived for Learner Driver's Licences (class 5-8) that expired on or after March 17, 2020. Any further test fees will not be waived. This change is in effect immediately until 90 days after the COVID-19 public health emergency is lifted.

Translation services for knowledge testing will also be reinstated effective June 1st, 2020, adhering to WorkSafeBC guidelines. At a minimum, Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) such as a basic mask (disposable, cloth etc.) for both you and your translator must be worn when conducting tests. We will not provide any PPE and if a customer or translator is not wearing a mask, they will be asked to leave.

If you require a translator, please inform your representative when booking your appointment. Please check the translation service page for more information. 

​The timeframe to exchange a valid out-of-province driver's licence has changed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

• If you are new to B.C. and the 90-day requirement to obtain a B.C. driver's licence (BCDL) expired on or after March 17, you may continue to drive legally in BC under the terms and conditions of the licence you hold.
• If you are a visitor whose 6-month exemption expired on or after March 17, you may continue driving with your valid out-of-province driver's licence.
• If you are a student who was exempt from getting a BCDL on or after March 17, you may continue driving here providing you're still registered and attending school, or the reason you are not is due to COVID-19.
• Temporary foreign workers in the Seasonal Agricultural Workers Program, are exempt from getting a BCDL while participating in the program, so may continue driving here under the terms of the program.

These changes do not apply to you if, on March 17, you were not able to legally drive in B.C. with your out-of-province licence, due to letting the time period lapse. If your licence is from a jurisdiction that has a reciprocal exchange agreement with B.C., you can switch to a B.C. driver's licence immediately. If your licence is from a jurisdiction that does not have a reciprocal agreement with B.C., you can book an appointment to take the knowledge test by calling us at 1-800-950-1498.

All road tests are currently suspended. ICBC is following the guidance of the Provincial Health Officer and actively working with WorkSafeBC to resume road tests in a way that ensures the health and safety of customers and driver examiners.

Motorcycle Skills Testing (MST) have resumed and can be booked online or by calling 1-800-950-1498 or 250-978-8300. There will be no standby appointments for MST.

We’ve made it safer to access collision and glass services during the pandemic.

Vehicle sanitizing
We’re reimbursing our partners so they can offer the following sanitization services:

• Body shops and glass suppliers are required to sanitize a customer's vehicle before and after repairs. 
• Body shops are required to sanitize courtesy vehicles provided to our customers.
• Rental vehicle partners are required to sanitize vehicles provided for an ICBC-related - claim.

Please note that:

• Vehicle sanitization is optional for towing companies.

These temporary services will are available until May 31, 2020, when they will be reassessed.