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ICBC pandemic response measures expire August 20

120,000 drivers cancelled insurance policies as of April
ICBC-Claims-Rob-Kruyt-BIV

Three ICBC pandemic-response measures will expire in coming weeks as drivers return to their cars and the province’s restart plans progresses.

The BC Utilities Commission had approved the Insurance Corp. of British Columbia’s (ICBC) waiver of the $30 insurance cancellation charge, suspension of fleet vehicle insurance and allowance of unlimited deliveries by drivers in non-delivery rate classes.

Those measures went into effect April 23 and are slated to end August 20.

Private passenger vehicles continue to have up to six days per month for delivery use.

The provincial insurer said August 7 that customers are reinsuring vehicles at higher than historic levels. Since April 23, some 300,000 new plate policies have been issued for non-fleet customers compared with the approximately 120,000 non-fleet customers who cancelled their insurance policies for the same time period.

ICBC suggested customers talk to their brokers to ensure proper insurance, including those people using their vehicle for the delivery of food or medical products and services.

Waiving of the $18 re-plating fee and of the first knowledge test fee for learner driver's licence holders whose licence expired during the pandemic will remain in place.

Customers can continue to renew their insurance by phone and email with the help of brokers, while those still facing financial hardship and who pay for their insurance on a monthly basis can defer payments for up to 90 days with no penalty.

After a four-month hiatus, ICBC began rebooking non-commercial road tests (Class 5 and 7) late last month.

It resumed road tests for Class 1 to Class 4 commercial licences in June.

The insurance corporation says priority for booking a test will be given to customers whose road tests were cancelled between March 17 and March 30.

About 55,000 non-commercial appointments have been cancelled since March.

 

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