The Insurance Corporation of British Columbia (ICBC) is a provincial crown corporation in
British Columbia created in 1973 by the NDP government of British Columbia. The original purpose of ICBC was to provide
universal automobile insurance in British Columbia. Its responsibilities have expanded
to include driver licensing and vehicle
registration and licensing.
By law, all owners of vehicles registered in BC must purchase ICBC's basic insurance package from an independent
broker. This basic coverage, called "Autoplan," includes protection from third party
legal liability, under-insured motorist protection, accident benefits, hit-and-run protection, and inverse liability. At the time the Corporation was established, it
held a monopoly on automobile insurance in the province, but in recent years private insurance
firms have been permitted to offer optional additional coverage, such as extended liability, collision, and comprehensive plans.
While ICBC continues to hold a monopoly on basic insurance, it has chosen to offer optional additional coverage, in competition
with these firms.
Like other insurance companies, ICBC bases its premiums on a client's claims history, type of
automobile, and geographic location. Unlike most private insurers, however, ICBC is prohibited
by law from setting premiums taking into account such demographic characteristics as age, sex or marital status. The
Corporation's discount plan (called "Roadstar" and "Roadstar Gold") rewards safe drivers with reduced premiums based on the
number of years the driver has been free of successful claims against him or her.
ICBC is governed by a board of directors appointed according to the provisions of the Insurance Corporation Act, ICBC's
enabling statute. The board of directors, the CEO, and ICBC management govern ICBC in accordance with corporate governance best
practices, and in accordance with the provisions of the enabling legislation, the Motor Vehicle Act, and other legislation
applicable to ICBC. Rates applicable to ICBC's basic automobile insurance coverage are subject to the review of, and are set by,
the British Columbia Utilities Commission. Revenue collected by
the Corporation goes mostly into paying insurance benefits, while some is invested in fulfilling the Corporation's mandate to
promote safe driving (the "RoadSense" campaign) and pursue other loss prevention
strategies. Unanticipated profits incurred by the Corporation have been applied to lower premiums.
Although it was established by a New Democratic government, successive governments of various stripes have maintained the
public insurer. Occasionally movements for reform of the automobile insurance system in the province spring up, but they have
thus far been unsuccessful. Poll results gauging public satisfaction with ICBC and/or support for its privatization have been
mixed over the years.
License plate decals
It is necessary to place a decal on the rear license plate as proof of current insurance in order to be permitted to drive the vehicle.
Decals have been used since 1970, but they all expired on February 28 of the following year until March 1980. Then they expired
at the end of the month on the decal, until 1994. Then an additional decal, with a number on it for the day it expired, was
introduced. The following are the colour patterns used in years from 1980 onward:
| Year |
Colour |
| 1980 |
Black and White |
| 1981 |
Red and Black |
| 1982 |
Green and White |
| 1983 |
Black and White |
| 1984 |
Orange and White |
| 1985 |
Blue and White |
| 1986 |
Red and Blue |
| 1987 |
Red and White |
| 1988 |
Dark Blue and White |
| 1989 |
Green and White |
| 1990 |
Pink and White |
| 1991 |
Blue and White |
| 1992 |
Black and White |
| 1993 |
Green and White |
| 1994 |
Red and White |
| 1995 |
Blue and White |
| 1996 |
Black and White (Jan-Sept) |
| 1996 |
Pink and White (Oct-Dec) |
| 1997 |
Green and White |
| 1998 |
Red and White |
| 1999 |
Blue and White, thick or thin border |
| 2000 |
Yellow |
| 2001 |
Orange |
| 2002 |
Dark Green |
| 2003 |
Pink |
| 2004 |
Yellow |
| 2005 |
Sky-Blue |
| 2006 |
Red |
| 2007 |
Light Green |
| 2008 |
Baby Blue |
External links
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