No Claims Bonus
 

Hi everyone...

I'm having a bit of a nightmare with my car insurance with ICBC, and wondered if anyone had any advise.

We came to BC with a letter stating we had 11 years no claims bonus. Our autoplan agent took this and gave us our insurance through ICBC with 40% discount. Even with 40% discount we were still paying a ridiculous amount of $2200 for the year!!! nuts.
Anyway after 6 months we got a letter from ICBC saying they don't except no claims bonus without seeing a letter from every single company we've been with. Like most people we used to change insurer each year to get the best deal so we'd need to contact all the companies individually.
Anyway after calling the UK and spending a fortune we managed to get letters from companies dating back 5 years. After 5 years we can't remember who we were insured with and have tried calling random insurance companies but with no luck. Also it seems many insurance companies also don't keep records past 5 years on their computers.

Firstly, does anyone know of a register or company that could tell us our insurance history. Whenever we used to pass on our no-claims bonus they would always say they would check them on their records, but can we get access to these records?

Also, is it just ICBC that is this strict? Is it the same in the rest of Canada? If not then I might insure a car in Toronto just so I can get my no-claims and then show that to ICBC.

At present they want another $700!!!! Which is more than my whole insurance in the UK!!!! By the way I'm not some joyrider, I'm 30 and and have been driving a Ford Escape (too old for my time)... so nothing fancy. $3000 for insurance will be too hard to swallow and I'd rather get a horse and cart and tell ICBC to stick it where the road don't shine.

Any help or advise welcome.....

Re: No Claims Bonus
 

Re: No Claims Bonus
 

There is a database called the Motor Insurers Database that will be able to tell you who insured you and when. The difficulty is accessing it. If you speak to your last insurer, they maybe able to help, or if you know a lawyer that does personal injury work, they may be able to help as will a police officer, if you know one.

Re: No Claims Bonus
 

This is a common occurrence now. ICBC will not accept proof of no claims discount anymore, they will only accept proof of no claims having occurred. The point at which there is a break in your insurance history is where they will stop. We managed to get them to go back 12 years, but could not get beyond that.

Re: No Claims Bonus
 

8 yrs is the maximum standard NCD you can get with ICBC, so going back any further is somewhat irrelevant:

For each year of driving without an at-fault or chargeable claim, you move one step on the Claim-Rated Scale until the maximum level is reached. Effective January 1, 2001, each step represents another 5% discount off your base premium, up to a maximum of 40%. There are additional discounts after that through RoadStar and RoadStar Gold savings. (http://www.icbc.com/insurance/insura...cla_crsinf.asp)

Re: No Claims Bonus
 

We had exactly the same problem as you. We went thru ICBC not liking the wording/format of letter from UK insurance etc. We had to ask UK companies for several different copies over a few months. Finally when it was refused for the last time i called ICBC and asked them EXACTLY what they wanted written on the letter. When they told me i looked at my letter from UK insurance and it was exactly what they had just told me needed to be on there. So i resubmitted it and it was accepted :confused:

I think they just do it in the hope new residents give up im sure :curse::curse:

Re: No Claims Bonus
 

The maximum discount is 40%, however you need significantly more years claims free to get Roadstar. The further back you go, the closer you are to Roadstar & RS Gold discounts (43%). We managed to get 12 years, so got Roadstar right away. Basic Roadstar is 9 years, the more years you have of no claims the longer you keep your discount if you have a charegable claim. You move up too far and could end up paying a surcharge.

http://www.icbc.com/insurance/pdf/cl...e_apg26web.pdf

Re: No Claims Bonus
 

After getting our full no claims with ICBC we are in exactly the same position, we have to go back and get full details from previous insurers. Have tried to do this with our insurance company and am finding it nigh on impossible. We have to pay another $500 now.
So yes it seems so unfair, will carry on trying though
Terese

Re: No Claims Bonus
 

Didn't have any issues at all. We gave them a letter from our UK insurers in the exact format they asked for (there is a sample on their website) and after a few nailbiting months it was accepted no question.
We had been with the same company for 8 years in the UK so it was a little easier for us and i had kept all the records of our insurance history too.

Had an accident though last year so now we are back at 5% except that it turns out we aren't, it's just the one vehicle in my name that is back at 5% any other vehicle i insure is still at 40%.

Re: No Claims Bonus
 

Out of interest what sort of cars are you insuring - age / type price?
is it cheaper to insure an older banger for a few years, to build up the NCD ?

Re: No Claims Bonus
 

Oi! I don't need life insurance :P

Re: No Claims Bonus
 

thanks for all your advise.

We leased our car for 3 years, so although with hindsight it would have been better for us to insure an old banger, we are stuck with our current car.
I'm racking my brains to see if I know any police in the UK that could check the insurance records for me....

I'm also interested to know what its like in Ontario. Is their ICBC equivalent as strict? Would they accept a no-claims letter from my latest insurance without needing to see all the individual letters? If they will accept my no-claims then I might buy an old banger in Toronto and insure it, and then show that insurance letter to ICBC (and then sell that old car and cancel my insurance).

(yes I'm clutching at straws!!)

Re: No Claims Bonus
 

Extremely unlikely to work, ICBC will only take the number of years you can prove no claims with each company, not what another company accepted for previous history. So if you held ON insurance (assuming residence there as well) for 2 years and had no claims, that is 2 years to your credit, you would still have to prove previous insurers.

Insuring older cars in BC does not reduce the rate that much either, we have a 15 year old import car I use to leave at the airport and a 2008 (larger import car) for family use, there is not much more than $200 difference between them for insurance, although significantly more in value.

You may be able to get some reduction with a higher deductible, restriction for no drivers under 25 and minimum 10 year experience if any of that applies to you. Another option is to look for a lower rate class of vehicle, rather than the age of the vehicle.

Let go of those straws, suck it up and do your time. ICBC have it sown up. Now if you have a make a claim, ICBC 50/50 is not the same as a knock for knock in the UK, where each company pays their own insured costs. With ICBC they agregate the cost of the claim and each party is responsible for half the costs.

If you have an accident get witnesses, especially if it is not your fault! ICBC don't give a hoot whose fault it is, they're paying out anyway.

Re: No Claims Bonus
 

My sincere apologies oh Hookness ;)

Aviator - how do I find out which cars are in the lower insurance groups -whilst am still in UK? (may be a silly qusetion but am up to my eyeballs at mo!)

Also do I need a BC licence before I insure car - -
What comes first, the car insurance or the driver's licence?

You must register, license and insure any vehicle you bring to B.C. within 30 days of its arrival here. (Vehicles intended for commercial use must be registered, licensed and insured immediately.)

You have up to 90 days to get your B.C. driver's licence.

However, you need to have a B.C. driver's licence for ID when you buy your insurance if you plan to take advantage of our 12 month payment plan, that lets you pay for your annual insurance policy in 12 monthly payments. If you don't have a B.C. driver's licence or any recent history with ICBC, you will have to start out on the six month payment plan if you want financing for your premium. from the ICBC web site. . .

so can insure a car with a Uk licence intially but only in a 1 off payment or on the 6 month plan and then once got my BC licence can then go on 12 month plan?? Yes?

OR as am living on Commercial Drive - dont get a car and use Public transport and cycle / run everywhere!! AAAAAAAGGGGH! and we moan about the UK inusrers!

Re: No Claims Bonus
 

You can ask an autoplan broker about the rate class and also get quotes on insurance before buying a vehicle. One of the larger brokers is Hub you could always give them a call and get some rates. In BC you can buy a car without a BC license. Once you buy a car you need to get the insurance, if you buy from a dealer the broker will come to the lot and help you out, otherwise you have to get to an autoplan agent and get the insurance.

If you are in the downtown area, near buses etc. could you wait until you've had time to research? Rushing in can often leads to regrets. Buying a car from a dealer is another minefield to negotiate. It is buyer beware here, go to a dealer by recomnedation. One thing to watch for is the add ons after you buy, an insurance in case the vehcile gets stolen, they make it sound like it is doing yuo a favour, if it is such a favour why don't they pay for it? Also there is often a 'documentation fee' at the end of the contract, I always refuse to pay this and so far have never had to as I would have walked away from the deal.

We have used Jim Pattison dealerships and found them to be very reputable.

Do some research before rushing in.