By Ka Hing Cheung

If you use a park-and-ride to commute, chances are you’ve hesitated at the ICBC renewal page while renewing your policy, unsure how the licensing requirements and rate classes might affect what you pay. Two options look almost the same. One clearly mentions “pleasure use.” The other seems less clear, especially when you’re deciding how much money to pay for coverage.

Many drivers ask the same question:
Does the park-and-ride option include pleasure use, or is it strictly for commuting?

The short answer: Yes, it includes pleasure use.
The longer answer explains why the wording is confusing, what ICBC actually looks at, and how to make sure you’re properly insured as a person using a car for everyday life, whether you’re driving from your house or heading out socially.

Why This Question Comes Up So Often

ICBC oversees vehicle registration, ownership transfers, and vehicle licensing. It offers different rate classes based on how you use your vehicle and how you apply those choices when renewing. Two common options are:

• Driving to work or school less than 15 km one way
• Driving partway to work or school, then completing the trip by public transit (park-and-ride)

The confusion comes from how these options are worded. One explicitly says “vehicle also used for pleasure.” The other bundles everything into a longer sentence that doesn’t clearly separate pleasure use from commuting use or other services you might rely on your car for.

Naturally, drivers have concerns about whether choosing the park-and-ride option limits them to commuting only, or whether they still agree with how ICBC defines personal use.

The Official Answer From ICBC

ICBC has confirmed that pleasure use is included in both options.

That means you can:

• Drive for errands, shopping, and social trips
• Take weekend drives
• Use your vehicle recreationally

In addition to your part-way commute. You are not restricted from using your car for personal reasons, nor are you required to pay extra money simply to drive for pleasure, provided you meet the requirements of the rate class.

Why Pleasure Use Is Almost Always Included

For most personal vehicles, pleasure use is the baseline. Unless your vehicle is in storage or insured under a specialty category (such as vintage or certain farm uses), pleasure driving is included by default, whether or not collision coverage is optional or selected.

Rate classes don’t remove pleasure use. They add or limit commuting and business use on your behalf as the insured person, without changing your fundamental ability to drive your car for personal reasons.

So when you select a park-and-ride option, you’re not giving up pleasure use. You’re simply describing how you commute in your car.

The Real Issue: Commuting Distance Still Matters

Where drivers can get into trouble isn’t pleasure use. It’s distance.

Even under the park-and-ride option, ICBC assumes:

• You drive part of the way to work or school
• The driven portion is 15 km or less one way

This limit is clearly stated in ICBC’s Basic Insurance Tariff, which is the legal document that governs insurance coverage, even if it’s not obvious when you sign or renew your policy online.

If you regularly drive more than 15 km one way before hopping on transit, the park-and-ride rate class may not be the correct one for you.

Why Your Driver’s Licence and the Renewal Page Can Be Misleading

Many drivers rely on:

• The renewal screen
• Their insurance certificate
• What “feels reasonable”

The problem is that these summaries don’t always show every condition that exists in the Tariff. ICBC relies on the Tariff when reviewing claims, not the shorthand descriptions.

That’s why two people can read the same option and come away with different interpretations.

What Happens If You Pick the Wrong Option?

There’s a lot of fear online about ICBC “denying claims.” In reality, here’s what usually happens:

• After an accident, ICBC may ask where you were going and how far you typically drive to work.
• If your usage clearly doesn’t match your declared rate class, they may require a correction.
• This can result in a retroactive premium adjustment, not an automatic denial.

The risk isn’t pleasure driving. The risk is consistently commuting farther than allowed under your selected option.

How to Choose the Right Insurance Coverage

Here are a few practical tips to guide your decision:

1. Do I use my vehicle for personal trips outside of commuting?
   If yes, you’re covered. Pleasure use is included.
2. Do I usually drive partway to transit, not the full commute?
   If yes, park-and-ride may be appropriate.
3. Is the driven portion under 15 km one way?
   If not, you may need a different rate class.

If you’re close to the limit or your routine changes seasonally, it’s worth reviewing your insurance coverage before renewal.

Why Talking to a Broker Helps

ICBC insurance isn’t about “gaming the system.” It’s about accurately describing how you actually use your vehicle and whether the rate class truly applies to your routine.

A broker can:

• Clarify confusing wording
• Match your real-world habits to the correct rate class
• Help you avoid issues after a claim

At King Insurance, we see this exact question every renewal season. Contact us through phone or email or book a time. A five-minute conversation now can save hours of stress later.

The Bottom Line

Yes, ICBC park-and-ride insurance includes pleasure use.

The real thing to watch is how far you drive before switching to transit. That detail matters more than most people realize, and it’s often buried in fine print.

If you’re unsure, ask. Getting it right upfront is always easier than sorting it out after an accident.

About King Insurance

Located at the northwest corner of Marine Drive and Main Street, King Insurance proudly serves not only the South Vancouver communities of Marpole, Sunset, Oakridge, Victoria–Fraserview, and nearby areas like Marine Gateway and Marine Landing, but also clients across Richmond and the entire Lower Mainland. 

Ka Hing Cheung is proud to work in the home, commercial and auto insurance industry, helping people manage risk and protect what matters most. Ka Hing is committed to ongoing learning and enjoys helping clients find the right information about their insurance coverage options at the best available rate, while making sure they understand their options clearly.

Related links

https://www.icbc.com/insurance/costs/territory-rate-class

https://www.icbc.com/insurance/buy-renew-cancel/renew-your-insurance-online