ICBC.CA Does
NOT exist. ICBC.COM is the site for the Insurance Corporation of BC.
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The
Insurance Corporation of British Columbia (ICBC)
is a provincial crown corporation in British Columbia
created in 1973 by the NDP government of British Columbia.
The original
purpose of ICBC.ca was to provide universal public auto insurance in
British Columbia. Its responsibilities have expanded to include driver
licensing and vehicle registration and licensing.
By law, all owners of
vehicles registered in BC must purchase ICBC's basic insurance package
from an independent broker.
AUTOPLAN
This basic
coverage, called "Autoplan" includes protection from third party
legal liability, under-insured motorist protection, accident benefits,
hit-and-run protection, and inverse liability.
At the time the
Corporation was established, it held a monopoly on automobile insurance in
the province, but in recent years private insurance firms have been
permitted to offer optional additional coverage, such as extended liability,
collision, and comprehensive plans. While ICBC continues to hold a monopoly
on basic insurance, it has chosen to offer optional additional coverage, in
competition with these firms.
Like other auto insurance companies,
ICBC bases its premiums on a client's claims history, type of automobile,
and geographic location. Unlike most private insurers, however, ICBC is
prohibited by law from setting premiums taking into account such
demographic
characteristics as age, sex or marital status. The Corporation's discount
plan (called "Roadstar" and "Roadstar Gold") rewards safe drivers with
reduced premiums based on the number of years the driver has been free of
successful claims against him or her.
It is necessary to
place a decal on the rear license plate as proof of current insurance in
order to be permitted to drive the vehicle. Decals have been used since
1970, but they all expired on February 28 of the following year until March
1980. Then they expired at the end of the month on the decal, until 1994.
Then an additional decal, with a number on it for the day it expired, was
introduced.
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