You go to your car and realize your ICBC insurance expired yesterday, last week or perhaps even several months ago. What should you do?

The most important thing is do not drive the vehicle until you have valid ICBC auto insurance again. Once your ICBC Autoplan policy has expired, your vehicle is no longer covered by that policy simply because you previously had insurance. Basic Autoplan insurance is mandatory coverage for vehicles in British Columbia, so you need valid coverage in place before getting back on the road.

Fortunately, an expired ICBC policy is usually something an Autoplan broker can help you resolve. Contact a broker, explain that your insurance has expired and arrange to get coverage back in place before driving the vehicle.

ICBC allows eligible policies to be renewed as early as 44 days before expiry. King Insurance’s guide to a smooth ICBC insurance renewal explains how the normal renewal process works and what you should prepare before your policy expires.

Once your policy has already expired, however, you should contact an Autoplan broker to determine what you need to do to restore coverage.

What should I do if my ICBC insurance has already expired?

If your insurance has expired, follow these steps:

Stop driving the vehicle. Do not drive it to an insurance office.
Check when your policy expired. Your previous insurance documents will show the expiry date.
Contact an Autoplan broker. Tell the broker that your policy has already expired.
Provide the information needed to insure the vehicle. Your broker can tell you what documents or information are required for your particular transaction.
Review your coverage. Check that your address, drivers, vehicle use and optional coverage are still correct.
Purchase the new insurance before using the vehicle again.

Do not assume that being only one or two days late gives you continued coverage. If the expiry date shown on your insurance documents has passed and you have not renewed, treat the vehicle as uninsured until you have confirmed that new coverage is in force.

Can I drive if my ICBC insurance expired?

No. You should not drive a vehicle on a B.C. highway without the insurance required by law.

Driving without insurance can result in a substantial fine. The financial consequences could become much more serious if you are involved in a crash while uninsured.

The safest approach is simple: leave the vehicle where it is and contact an Autoplan broker to arrange insurance before driving again.

Is there a grace period after ICBC insurance expires?

There is no general 30-day grace period that lets you keep driving after a regular Autoplan policy expires. ICBC’s current Autoplan guide states that if you do not renew icbc insurance before the insurance policy expires, you will not be covered for a crash that happens after the expiry date.

ICBC lets customers renew eligible policies before expiry, starting as early as 44 days ahead of time. This gives drivers time to complete their renewal before their existing coverage ends.

If your regular Autoplan policy has already expired, contact an Autoplan broker before using the vehicle.

If you tend to leave renewals until the last minute, see our guide to preparing for an ICBC insurance renewal for the documents, information and deadlines you should keep in mind.

Can I renew expired ICBC insurance online?

ICBC’s online renewal service is primarily intended for eligible policies that are still active and approaching their expiry date.

If your insurance has already expired, contact an Autoplan broker instead of assuming you can simply complete the same online renewal you could have done before the expiry date.

A broker can check the ICBC insurance policy status and explain what needs to be done to put insurance back in place.

If you renew an eligible active policy online, ICBC requires you to print your insurance documents and keep a printed copy in your vehicle.

We also offer information about ICBC online insurance renewals, including eligibility requirements and what to do if you cannot complete your renewal online.

What do I need to renew my ICBC insurance?

The exact requirements can depend on your vehicle and policy, but it is helpful to have information such as:

Your existing insurance documents or renewal information
The driver’s licence number and birth date of drivers being added to the policy
Your vehicle’s odometer reading if you want to be considered for an applicable usage-based discount
Payment information

Your broker may need additional information if something has changed since your previous policy.

For example, tell your broker if:

You moved
You changed how you use your vehicle
Someone needs to be added or removed as a driver
The vehicle has been modified
Your commuting situation has changed
The vehicle is now being used for work or business purposes

Your policy information should be accurate and current because incorrect information can potentially affect your coverage.

An expired policy can therefore be a good opportunity to review your coverage rather than automatically purchasing exactly what you had before.

What if my insurance expired months ago?

The first step is still to contact an Autoplan broker.

A longer lapse does not mean you should try to drive the vehicle to a broker or assume your old policy remains effective. Explain how long the vehicle has been uninsured and what you intend to use it for.

Your broker can determine what transaction is required and help you arrange the appropriate coverage.

If the vehicle has been sitting unused for a long time, you may also want to review whether your previous insurance still reflects your current circumstances. For example, your address, principal driver, vehicle use or optional coverage needs may have changed.

Can I leave a car parked if the insurance has expired?

Where the vehicle is parked matters.

If your vehicle is on private property, different considerations apply than if it is parked on a public street. Municipalities may have rules requiring vehicles parked on public streets to have valid licence plates and insurance.

If you discover your insurance has expired while the car is already parked somewhere, do not drive it simply to move it to another location without first confirming that you can legally do so.

An expired policy can also leave the vehicle exposed while it is parked. Comprehensive coverage is the coverage that normally protects against losses such as theft and vandalism. If your expired policy was your only applicable coverage, do not assume theft or vandalism occurring after expiry would be covered by that policy.

Contact an Autoplan broker about your options.

What if I need to move an uninsured vehicle?

There are circumstances where an uninsured vehicle needs to be moved even though the owner does not want to purchase a regular annual policy immediately.

ICBC has temporary permits available for certain situations involving uninsured and unlicensed vehicles. Whether a temporary permit is appropriate depends on why you need to move the vehicle.

For example, buying or selling an uninsured vehicle creates its own registration, licence plate and insurance requirements. Our step-by-step guide to buying and insuring a used vehicle in B.C. explains what buyers and sellers should know before a vehicle changes hands.

Speak to an Autoplan broker before moving an uninsured vehicle. Do not assume that a short trip is allowed simply because you are driving directly to an insurance office, mechanic or storage facility.

What happens if I get into an accident after my insurance expires?

If you have already been involved in a crash and then discover that your insurance had expired, the situation is more complicated.

Do not assume that the coverage from your previous policy will apply simply because the expiry was recent.

Report the crash as required and explain the circumstances accurately to ICBC. Depending on what happened, the absence of valid insurance may have significant financial and legal consequences.

Insurance normally provides several forms of financial protection. Basic Autoplan and optional insurance can cover different losses associated with a crash. If the relevant insurance was not in force when the crash happened, you should not assume those protections are available.

If your vehicle has been badly damaged, you may also encounter questions about repairs, valuation and whether ICBC considers the vehicle a total loss. We explain some of those issues in our article on ICBC total-loss decisions and claim delays.

If a serious collision has occurred while the vehicle was uninsured, consider obtaining appropriate legal advice about your circumstances.

What if my ICBC insurance expired because I couldn’t afford the renewal?

If cost is preventing you from renewing, speak with an Autoplan broker about the payment options available to you.

ICBC offers an Autoplan payment plan to eligible customers. Depending on your circumstances, you may be able to make monthly payments rather than paying the entire annual premium at once. ICBC also offers quarterly payments for eligible one-year policies.

However, eligibility can be affected by previous payment problems. Someone who has defaulted on an ICBC payment plan may be placed on cash-only status and may have to pay the new premium without using the regular payment plan.

If you owe ICBC money in addition to having an expired policy, the situation can be different again. Certain ICBC debts may prevent insurance from being issued until the debt or account restriction is resolved.

What if I owe ICBC money and my insurance has expired?

Contact ICBC or an Autoplan broker before assuming you can renew normally.

ICBC’s current Autoplan guide states that if you owe money to ICBC, are in arrears with the B.C. Family Maintenance Enforcement Program, or have unpaid traffic fines, you will not be able to renew your insurance until the applicable debt is paid. The exact restriction can depend on the type of debt and your account status, so check with ICBC or your broker if you are unsure.

ICBC debt can include unpaid insurance premiums, payment-plan debt and other amounts. Depending on the type of debt and restrictions on your account, you may need to make a payment before new insurance can be issued.

You may also be permitted to buy insurance but be unable to use ICBC’s regular payment plan.

That guide covers outstanding Autoplan premiums, payment-plan defaults, cash-only status, driver penalty premiums and other debts that can potentially affect an ICBC insurance renewal.

How can I avoid letting my ICBC insurance expire again?

The easiest solution is to renew before the expiration date.

ICBC allows eligible policies to be renewed up to 44 days in advance, either through an Autoplan broker or, for eligible active policies, online. ICBC also mails a renewal reminder to your last known address before the vehicle licence and insurance expire. Most renewal reminders include an estimated premium for the same policy duration and coverage as the previous term.

When your renewal date approaches:

Check your insurance expiry date
Review your renewal reminder
Make sure your address and driver information are current
Review your optional insurance coverage
Check whether there are outstanding ICBC debts or payment issues
Renew before the final day

Do not leave the renewal until the last minute if you can avoid it. Renew early and give yourself time to resolve unexpected issues before they interfere with your ability to drive.

Get your ICBC insurance back in place

If you suddenly realize, “My ICBC insurance expired,” the immediate priority is to stop driving until the vehicle is insured again.

Contact an Autoplan broker and explain that the current policy has already expired. Your broker can review the vehicle and policy information, help you determine what coverage you need and complete the appropriate ICBC insurance transaction.

Once your new insurance is in force, confirm the effective date before getting back on the road.

King Insurance can help B.C. drivers renew their ICBC Autoplan insurance and review their available coverage options.

About King Insurance

King Insurance can help you renew your ICBC Autoplan policy and review the coverage available for your vehicle. Our insurance professionals can explain your coverage and payment options so you can make an informed decision based on your needs and budget.

Ka Hing Cheung is proud to work in Canada’s insurance industry, helping people manage risk and protect what matters most. Ka Hing is committed to ongoing learning and enjoys helping customers find the right coverage for life, home or car insurance, at the best available rate, while making sure they understand their options clearly.

My ICBC Insurance Expired. What Do I Do?