As of May 1, drivers will no longer be required to display an insurance decal and will be able to renew vehicle insurance online in B.C.
The B.C. government announced the incoming changes in February, and they will come into effect this weekend.
For the insurance decal, drivers can choose to leave the decal on their licence plate or remove it on Sunday.
Insurance can be renewed up to 44 days in advance of the policy expiration date, and the online process is estimated to take less than 10 minutes.
“We know online insurance renewals are something our customers have been waiting for, and we’re pleased to announce that we’re on track to have this option go live next month,” said Nicolas Jimenez, president and CEO, ICBC in a news release on Feb. 14. “Online insurance renewals add to the growing number of digital options available to customers, providing greater convenience, choice and flexibility for British Columbians.”
While this weekend is the official launch of the online renewal process, it has been available for a few weeks and ICBC says over 3,000 customers have used the process to renew online.
There are a list of exceptions where online insurance renewal is not possible, including if the insurance is:
- For a jointly owned vehicle
- For a leased vehicle
- For a company-owned vehicle
- For a motorcycle
- For a collector vehicle
- A commercial policy
- Expired
- You want to add, remove or change your ICBC optional coverages during the renewal
- You have outstanding debt owed to ICBC
The requirement to carry a printed copy of insurance is unchanged.
Laura Brougham
