Car Insurance in British Columbia: ICBC Basic and Optional Coverage
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Car insurance in British Columbia starts with a public product. Every vehicle must carry Basic Autoplan from the Insurance Corporation of British Columbia (ICBC), and only ICBC sells it. Optional coverage, such as collision or higher liability, can come from ICBC or from a private insurer through a broker. This guide explains what Basic covers under Enhanced Care, what B.C. drivers pay on average, and how to lower your premium. For other provinces and insurance types, start from our insurance hub.
All figures come from ICBC or the Government of British Columbia, as of October 18, 2026.
How car insurance works in British Columbia
B.C. splits car insurance into two layers. Basic Autoplan is mandatory and sold only by ICBC, a Crown corporation. You buy it through an Autoplan broker when you license your vehicle.
Optional coverage sits on top. ICBC sells optional products in competition with private insurers, according to its 2025/26 annual report. You can therefore buy Basic from ICBC and your optional coverage from another company.
Since May 1, 2021, B.C. has used a care-based model called Enhanced Care. Your own Basic coverage pays your injury benefits, whoever caused the crash. In most cases, you can no longer sue the at-fault driver for injuries.
What Basic Autoplan covers
ICBC lists the main Basic coverages on its Basic insurance and Enhanced Care page. As of October 18, 2026:
- Third Party Liability: $200,000
- Enhanced Accident Benefits, care and recovery: no overall limit
- Income replacement: 90% of net income, on gross annual income up to $122,500
- Basic Vehicle Damage Coverage: up to $200,000, when the other driver is responsible
- Underinsured Motorist Protection: up to $1 million per insured person
Enhanced Care and lawsuits
Under Enhanced Care, ICBC says the need to sue the responsible driver for accident benefits or vehicle damage is removed. Some exceptions remain. For example, ICBC notes you can still take legal action against an at-fault driver convicted of certain Criminal Code offences, such as impaired driving.
Why liability still matters
Third Party Liability still protects you in some cases. It applies if you damage someone else's property, or if you crash in a province or state that allows lawsuits. That is why many B.C. drivers raise their liability limit well above $200,000 with optional coverage.
Optional coverage in British Columbia
ICBC says optional coverage can be bought through ICBC or a private auto insurance broker. The main products are:
- Extended Third Party Liability: raises your liability limit above $200,000.
- Collision: pays for damage to your vehicle when you are responsible, after your deductible.
- Comprehensive: pays for theft, fire, vandalism, glass, and similar losses.
- Loss of use and rental: pays for a replacement vehicle while yours is repaired.
Private insurers sell only optional coverage in B.C. They cannot sell you Basic. When you compare quotes, compare the optional package only, since Basic comes from ICBC in every case.
How much car insurance costs in British Columbia
ICBC reports an average premium of $1,408 for 2025/26, up from $1,360 in 2024/25, in its 2025/26 Annual Service Plan Report. That average is based on all Autoplan premiums earned, so it includes optional coverage bought from ICBC.
Basic rates have not gone up in years. On October 28, 2025, the B.C. government announced no increase to Basic rates through to spring 2027. It called that seven consecutive years without an increase.
The government also says the move to Enhanced Care cut Basic rates immediately, by $496 or about 28% for the average customer. On top of that, ICBC paid a $110 rebate in 2025 to customers with an active Basic policy in January 2025. The table below summarizes these figures.
| Figure | Amount | Period or date |
|---|---|---|
| Average premium, all Autoplan premiums earned | $1,408 | 2025/26 |
| Average premium, all Autoplan premiums earned | $1,360 | 2024/25 (restated) |
| Basic rate change | No increase | Through to spring 2027 |
| Average saving at the switch to Enhanced Care | $496 (about 28%) | From May 1, 2021 |
| Rebate for active Basic policies | $110 | Announced March 26, 2025 |
Your own premium depends on your vehicle, where you live, how you use the car, and your driving record. Our guide to how much car insurance costs explains the main pricing factors.
How your driving record changes the price
ICBC prices Basic coverage partly on who drives the car, their experience, and their crash history. According to ICBC, up to 40 years of driving experience is recognized for Basic insurance discounts.
At-fault crashes count against you. ICBC currently looks back at crashes from March 1, 2017 onward. From 2027, it will review a rolling 10 years of crash history at each renewal.
Convictions can add a separate charge, the Driver Risk Premium, billed once a year with your licence. As of October 18, 2026, ICBC lists these amounts:
- One excessive speeding conviction: $392
- One driving-related Criminal Code conviction: $1,108
- Highest amount in the table: $29,376, for 5 to 10 Criminal Code convictions
A separate Driver Penalty Point premium applies once you reach 4 or more penalty points in a 12-month period.
How to lower your premium
Start with your Basic discount. A clean record and years of experience lower your Basic premium automatically, so avoiding at-fault crashes is the single biggest lever.
Then shop the optional part. Ask your broker for quotes from ICBC and from private insurers for the same optional coverage. Our insurance comparison tool and our guide to cheap car insurance can help you build that comparison.
Finally, review your deductibles and limits each year. A higher collision deductible lowers the price if you can pay it after a claim. A lower liability limit saves little and can cost far more after a serious crash in another province.
- Optional quotes from ICBC and private insurers: same limits, same deductibles, compared side by side.
- Liability above $200,000: check the price of a higher limit before you renew.
- Listed drivers up to date: everyone who drives the car regularly should be on the policy.
- Convictions on your record: check whether a Driver Risk Premium is coming before you budget for the year.
Conclusion
Car insurance in British Columbia has a fixed base and a flexible top. ICBC's Basic Autoplan is mandatory and covers care and recovery with no overall limit. You choose your optional coverage, from ICBC or a private insurer.
ICBC's average premium was $1,408 for 2025/26, and Basic rates are frozen through spring 2027. Your record and the optional coverage you choose will move your price far more than the average. If you are new to the topic, our explainer on what car insurance is covers the basics, and our guide to home insurance in B.C. covers the other big policy most households buy.
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Frequently asked questions about car insurance in B.C.
Is ICBC insurance mandatory in British Columbia?
Yes. Every vehicle licensed in B.C. must carry Basic Autoplan, and only ICBC sells it. Basic includes $200,000 in Third Party Liability, Enhanced Accident Benefits, and Basic Vehicle Damage Coverage. Optional coverage on top can come from ICBC or a private insurer. Our guide to what car insurance is explains each coverage.
Can I buy car insurance from a private company in B.C.?
Yes, but only the optional part. ICBC says optional coverage can be bought through ICBC or a private auto insurance broker. Basic Autoplan remains an ICBC product in every case. Compare the optional package on our insurance comparison tool.
How much is car insurance in B.C. on average?
ICBC reports an average premium of $1,408 for 2025/26, based on all Autoplan premiums earned. That figure includes optional coverage bought from ICBC, so it is not a Basic-only price. Your own premium depends on your vehicle, location, use, and record. Our guide to car insurance costs explains what moves the price.
Will ICBC Basic rates go up in 2026?
No increase is planned before spring 2027. On October 28, 2025, the B.C. government announced no increase to Basic rates through to spring 2027, the seventh consecutive year without one. Optional coverage prices can still change, and your own premium can move with your record. Check your renewal notice each year.
Can I sue another driver after a crash in B.C.?
In most cases, no. Under Enhanced Care, your own Basic coverage pays your injury benefits, and the need to sue for accident benefits or vehicle damage is removed. Limited exceptions exist, such as a driver convicted of certain Criminal Code offences like impaired driving. ICBC explains these cases on its legal action page.
What is the ICBC Driver Risk Premium?
It is a yearly charge added for certain convictions, such as excessive speeding or a driving-related Criminal Code offence. As of October 18, 2026, one excessive speeding conviction costs $392 and one Criminal Code driving conviction costs $1,108. ICBC reviews the previous three years of your record before each billing. Keeping a clean record is the best way to avoid it, as our insurance hub guides explain.
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