Moving to B.C.

Welcome to B.C.!

Here is what you need to do to get your vehicle registered, licensed and insured here.

The steps you take depend on where you are coming from.

Important: you must switch to a B.C. driver's licence within 90 days.

If . . .	Then . . .
you are bringing a vehicle to B.C. from elsewhere in Canada	your vehicle will likely need a safety inspection. You can get this done at a designated inspection facility in B.C. Once your vehicle has been inspected, go to an Autoplan broker to register, license and insure it. When you go to the broker, bring your vehicle's current registration the "passed" vehicle inspection report, and required identification.
you are brining a vehicle to B.C. from outside Canada	your vehicle must  pass a federal inspection to ensure it meeds Canadian standards (see the Registrar of Imported Vehicles website for details), and pass a provincial safety inspection at a designated inspection facility in B.C. Once your vehicle has been inspected, go to an Autoplan broker to register, license and insure it. When you go to the broker, bring your vehicle's current registration the "passed" vehicle inspection report, and required identification.

Insurance discounts

You might be eligible for a discount on your insurance if you can prove a claim-free insurance history of longer than one year.

You can reduce your Autoplan premium if your insurance coverage was claim-free. When you licence and insure your vehicle bring a claim history letter.  You will need this if you want to qualify for a Claim-Rated Scale discount. When you ask for this letter, remind your previous insurer that it must:

• Be on the insurance company’s letterhead.
• Show the main driver’s name and the policy number.
• State the period you had coverage, and the dates of any at-fault claims.
• Be written in English. If the claim letter is not written in English, it must also be:
  • translated by a certified translator, and
  • submitted along with the certified translation.

Find a certified translator in B.C. (Disclaimer)

Next, bring the original letter or have the insurance company fax it to your Autoplan broker.

If you don’t have your insurance history letters when you first apply for Autoplan insurance, you have up to six months to obtain them and submit a Claim-Rated Scale application. Once your letters and application are received, ICBC will determine if you are entitled to a Claim-Rated Scale discount. Simply complete this application form (PDF) and return it to us at:

CRS Discount Applications — Room 136
Insurance Corporation of British Columbia
151 West Esplanade
North Vancouver BC V7M 3H9

Renewing your insurance

When you come to renew your insurance (typically a year later), your vehicle may need to pass an AirCare test . This measures its emissions to make sure it meets clean-air standards.