Pandemic Precautions: What You Need to Know About ICBC Insurance and COVID-19
During a global pandemic, there are enough things to worry about without stressing over your car insurance. To make things easier and safer for anyone looking to renew or make changes to their car insurance, ICBC has temporarily changed their rules for completing certain transactions.
Many insurance brokers are no longer providing in-person service to protect their clients and their staff, and to help comply with social distancing protocols. However, insurance is as important now as always, so Megson FitzPatrick remains open for business (though closed for walk-in service).
We are able to process many common ICBC auto insurance transactions by phone and email:
- Renewals
- Changes to existing policies
- Storage policies (if you are taking your vehicle off the road for a while)
- Temporary Operating Permits (if you need insurance just for a day or two)
- Cancellations
To start, call our office at (250) 595-5212 to speak to an auto insurance expert. We will gather your written consent (by email) to process your ICBC transaction, complete the transaction with you on the phone, and email your policy documents to you right away for your review and acceptance. A paper copy of the documents will be mailed to you.
When you renew your car insurance over the phone, your new decal will be mailed to you. You may drive your vehicle before you receive your new decal; however, you must have your new insurance papers with you to prove your vehicle is currently insured.
Temporary Operating Permits should be printed out and displayed in your vehicle’s window before driving anywhere since they act as your license plate.
If you call Megson FitzPatrick to cancel your ICBC auto insurance, your license plates must be returned to our Shelbourne Street office through the mail slot in the front door. Once you cancel your Autoplan insurance, you may no longer drive or park your vehicle on any public roads.
Other transactions, like transfers of ownership, new vehicle registrations, or any other transactions requiring new license plates to be issued, cannot be processed over the phone. At this time, ICBC has not amended their requirements for processing these transactions; we recommend calling ICBC’s customer service line at 1-800-663-3051 to discuss your options.
For those clients whose ICBC Autoplan insurance is paid monthly, and who experience financial difficulty due to COVID-19, payment can be deferred for up to 90 days. You can apply for a payment plan deferral here. There is no penalty for deferring payment in this circumstance.
ICBC Driver Licensing offices remain open to the public; however, all road tests have been cancelled. Social distancing protocols are in place, and everyone visiting an ICBC Licensing office will be asked COVID-19 screening questions.
For more information on ICBC’s changed service during the pandemic, including changes to claims service, click here.
In addition to providing ICBC car insurance services, Megson FitzPatrick is available to help with your home and business insurance needs, as well as life insurance, during our regular business hours (8:30am – 5:00 pm, Monday through Friday)!
Morgan Thomas, BA (Dtn.)
Project Management & Customer Experience Coordinator