In British Columbia, auto insurance is provided through ICBC, the Insurance Corporation of British Columbia. Every vehicle registered and driven in BC must carry an ICBC Basic Autoplan. This is mandatory, and it applies to every driver in the province, regardless of which broker you use.
What varies is who helps you with it and the optional coverage you build on top.
InsureLine is a licensed ICBC Autoplan broker, which means we handle your Basic Autoplan renewal, help you understand what your mandatory coverage actually includes, and make sure you have the right optional coverage in place for your situation. That is where the real conversation happens.
Whether you are a new driver working through BC's graduated licensing system, a teen being added to a family policy, or someone rebuilding after past convictions or claims, an InsureLine broker can help you understand your options and find the most affordable path forward.
In BC, new drivers start with a basic licence level and build their way up over time. Your position in the graduated system affects your premium, and knowing how to structure your policy correctly from the start can make a real difference. Our brokers won't judge your history. They will work with it.
Auto insurance in BC is not one-size-fits-all, even though every driver starts with the same Basic Autoplan foundation. The optional coverage you build on top of it should reflect how you drive, what you drive, who else drives your vehicle, and what you can afford to absorb out of pocket if something goes wrong.
A few quick tips:
Know what Basic covers and what it doesn't. Many BC drivers assume their Autoplan covers their own vehicle in an at-fault crash. It doesn't unless you have collision coverage.
Extend your liability limit. The basic $200,000 third-party liability limit is a legal minimum, not a recommendation. Most experienced brokers suggest at least $1 million.
Bundle to save. Combining your home and auto coverage with the same private insurer can reduce your overall premiums, where that option is available.
Ask about the distance-based discount. If you drive less than 15,000 kilometres per year, you may be leaving money on the table at renewal.
Talk to your InsureLine advisor to make sure your optional coverage actually reflects your situation, because expert advice makes a difference. We're 100 percent Canadian. We're local. And we've got you covered.
Covers the cost of repairing or replacing your vehicle if you are at fault for a crash. Without this, those costs come out of your pocket.
Covers damage to your vehicle from events other than a collision: theft, break-ins, vandalism, fire, hail, windstorms, and other weather-related events. Given BC’s weather patterns and urban vehicle theft rates, this coverage is one that most drivers are glad to have.
Increases your liability limit beyond the basic $200,000. Given that liability claims can run well into the millions, most drivers carry at least $1 million in extended liability coverage. The cost to increase it is modest relative to the added protection.
Tops up the Enhanced Care income replacement benefit if your income exceeds the basic coverage limits. Something to seriously consider if you have dependents.
Covers repair and replacement costs if your vehicle is damaged by a hit and run driver (*#$%*@!)
Protects against depreciation if your new vehicle is written off, replacing it at the current value rather than its depreciated cash value.
Covers the cost of a rental vehicle or alternative transportation while your vehicle is being repaired after a covered claim.
BC has one of the highest rates of electric vehicle adoption in Canada, and ICBC has been updating its approach to EV coverage accordingly. That said, battery replacement, charging equipment, and the higher repair costs associated with EV technology are all worth factoring into your optional coverage decisions.
InsureLine's brokers are up to speed on what BC EV owners actually need from their policy, so you are not left with gaps in coverage just because your car charges instead of fills up.
Basic Autoplan is the mandatory foundation of every BC auto policy. Here is what it includes:
Enhanced Accident Benefits: BC switched to an Enhanced Care model in 2021, which means that if you are injured in a crash, ICBC covers unlimited medical care and recovery benefits regardless of who was at fault. That includes physiotherapy, chiropractic care, medication, counselling, dental treatment, and more. If you are unable to work, you receive income replacement benefits based on 90 percent of your net income.
Third-Party Liability (basic): Covers up to $200,000 if you are at fault for a crash and cause damage to someone else’s property or vehicle, whether that is inside or outside BC. Most drivers choose to significantly extend this limit.
Not-at-fault vehicle damage: If another driver is responsible for a crash, your Basic Autoplan covers your vehicle repairs up to $200,000 without you needing to pursue the other driver's insurer directly.
Underinsured Motorist Protection: Covers you and members of your household for up to $1 million per person if you are injured by a driver who doesn't have enough insurance to cover your losses.
Inverse liability protection: If you are involved in a crash in a jurisdiction where local laws prevent you from claiming against the at-fault driver, this coverage steps in to cover your vehicle repairs based on the portion of fault that belongs to the other driver.
Basic Autoplan provides a solid foundation.
But it does not cover everything.
Your own vehicle damage from an at-fault crash, theft, vandalism, and comprehensive perils are not included unless you add optional coverage.
Come for the savings, stay for the questionable insurance jokes
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