Coming soon: ICBC insurance is about to get more convenient
February 14, 2022
Online insurance renewals
You may have heard that we're expanding our online insurance services. Online Autoplan insurance renewals will be available to most ICBC customers with a personal insurance policy for renewals effective May 1, 2022, onward. We already offer insurance renewals in-person and through a phone and email process – and those aren't going away – but this new online option is another way you can conveniently renew your auto insurance.
If you are eligible to renew online, you may renew the same ICBC insurance coverage you have now, add or remove listed drivers and change how you use your vehicle. We hope this option will provide you with more choices and added convenience.
Whether you renew online, over the phone or in person, you'll continue to choose an ICBC Autoplan broker office to support you with your transaction. Your experienced broker will review your online renewal after you've purchased your policy and reach out to you directly if they have any questions.
There will be some things you can't do online – for example, our online renewal service won't allow for changes to our optional coverages. You'll need to contact a broker to make changes to your coverages but you can renew your policy at the same time.
There will also be some ICBC insurance policies which are not eligible for online renewals such as joint ownership or multiple owners, leased vehicles, along with commercial or fleet policies will need the assistance of an insurance broker. Additionally, Temporary Operation Permits, new policies, lapsed policies, midterm changes and cancellations will not be available as online transactions.
If eligible, we hope you give our new online insurance service a try. It's the latest in a growing number of digital options available to our customers, which we hope provide you with greater convenience, choice and flexibility.
No more decals
To coincide with the launch of online auto insurance renewals, B.C. drivers from May onwards will no longer be required to display a licence plate validation decal to show they have valid insurance. This change aligns our province with other jurisdictions in Canada that have successfully eliminated the decal, including Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Quebec and the North West Territories. We've also let other jurisdictions and borders know about these changes so you can have peace of mind traveling outside of B.C.
Blank stickers will not be given out to place on top of your current decal when you renew your insurance. After May 1, you may choose to leave your decal on your licence plate or remove it.
Importantly, everyone will need to continue to keep their insurance documents in their vehicle at all times. You'll be able to print these out at home, request a copy by mail or visit a broker office to receive a copy.
More information on online renewals will be made available on icbc.com in March, when British Columbians are able to start renewing May policies online.
