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Difference between revisions of "The Points System and ICBC"
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The Points System and ICBC (view source)
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If you get a ticket for a driving offence, you’ll typically get points on your driver's record. The more points you rack up, the more you’ll pay in insurance premiums. | If you get a ticket for a driving offence, you’ll typically get points on your driver's record. The more points you rack up, the more you’ll pay in insurance premiums. | ||
=Understand your legal rights= | ==Understand your legal rights== | ||
==Driving violations lead to driver penalty points== | ===Driving violations lead to driver penalty points=== | ||
When you receive a ticket for speeding or some other driving offence under the ''BC Motor Vehicle Act'', you typically get points on your driver’s record. You also get points for certain ''Criminal Code'' offences like impaired driving, criminal negligence, and failure to remain at the scene of an accident. '''Driver penalty points''' are like black marks on your driving record. | When you receive a ticket for speeding or some other driving offence under the ''BC Motor Vehicle Act'', you typically get points on your driver’s record. You also get points for certain ''Criminal Code'' offences like impaired driving, criminal negligence, and failure to remain at the scene of an accident. '''Driver penalty points''' are like black marks on your driving record. | ||
==How many points you get== | ===How many points you get=== | ||
The number of points you get depends on the driving violation involved. Many driving violations result in two or three points. All speeding violations are three points. Distracted driving is four points. Driving while prohibited or suspended is 10 points. | The number of points you get depends on the driving violation involved. Many driving violations result in two or three points. All speeding violations are three points. Distracted driving is four points. Driving while prohibited or suspended is 10 points. | ||
You don’t get points for parking tickets and other minor violations of city bylaws. | You don’t get points for parking tickets and other minor violations of city bylaws. | ||
==If you dispute a driving violation== | ===If you dispute a driving violation=== | ||
Points are added to your record if you plead guilty to a driving offence or if a court convicts you of the offence. If you pay a traffic ticket, you’re admitting you are guilty. | Points are added to your record if you plead guilty to a driving offence or if a court convicts you of the offence. If you pay a traffic ticket, you’re admitting you are guilty. | ||
If you don’t agree with a ticket, you must fight (or dispute) it. You have 30 days from the date of the ticket to dispute it. If you don’t do so, the offence and points are automatically added to your driving record. See our information on traffic tickets (no. 194) for more information on how to fight a traffic ticket. | If you don’t agree with a ticket, you must fight (or dispute) it. You have 30 days from the date of the ticket to dispute it. If you don’t do so, the offence and points are automatically added to your driving record. See our information on traffic tickets (no. 194) for more information on how to fight a traffic ticket. | ||
==Driver penalty points can increase your insurance premiums== | ===Driver penalty points can increase your insurance premiums=== | ||
Everyone who owns a motor vehicle in BC must have basic vehicle insurance from the Insurance Corporation of British Columbia (ICBC). Each year, ICBC looks at your record of driver penalty points. If you had four or more points in the previous year, ICBC bills you a '''driver penalty point premium'''. This is an additional premium beyond the premium you pay to insure any vehicle you own. You are billed even if you don’t own or insure a vehicle. | Everyone who owns a motor vehicle in BC must have basic vehicle insurance from the Insurance Corporation of British Columbia (ICBC). Each year, ICBC looks at your record of driver penalty points. If you had four or more points in the previous year, ICBC bills you a '''driver penalty point premium'''. This is an additional premium beyond the premium you pay to insure any vehicle you own. You are billed even if you don’t own or insure a vehicle. | ||
==The amount of the premium== | ===The amount of the premium=== | ||
The driver penalty point premium depends on the total number of points you get in a 12-month period, called the assessment period. ICBC reviews your driver’s record for this period, which starts about 17 months before your birthday. | The driver penalty point premium depends on the total number of points you get in a 12-month period, called the assessment period. ICBC reviews your driver’s record for this period, which starts about 17 months before your birthday. | ||
If you have four points, the premium is $210. It’s $276 for five points, $360 for six points, and so on. If you have 50 points or more, you get the maximum driver penalty point premium of $28,800. ICBC’s website [https://www.icbc.com/driver-licensing/tickets/Pages/Driver-Penalty-Points.aspx lists all the premiums]. | If you have four points, the premium is $210. It’s $276 for five points, $360 for six points, and so on. If you have 50 points or more, you get the maximum driver penalty point premium of $28,800. ICBC’s website [https://www.icbc.com/driver-licensing/tickets/Pages/Driver-Penalty-Points.aspx lists all the premiums]. | ||
==How you are billed for the premium== | ===How you are billed for the premium=== | ||
The bill for any driver penalty point premium is sent four weeks before your birthday. ICBC uses the points just once to calculate the premium and bill you. So if you have three or fewer points in an assessment period, you won’t be billed for any premium. | The bill for any driver penalty point premium is sent four weeks before your birthday. ICBC uses the points just once to calculate the premium and bill you. So if you have three or fewer points in an assessment period, you won’t be billed for any premium. | ||
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*two or more roadside suspensions or prohibitions | *two or more roadside suspensions or prohibitions | ||
==The amount of the premium== | ===The amount of the premium=== | ||
The amount of the driver risk premium depends on the type and number of convictions you get. For example, the premium for one ''Criminal Code'' conviction (such as for impaired driving) is $1,086. The premium for two ''Criminal Code'' convictions is $4,512. | The amount of the driver risk premium depends on the type and number of convictions you get. For example, the premium for one ''Criminal Code'' conviction (such as for impaired driving) is $1,086. The premium for two ''Criminal Code'' convictions is $4,512. | ||
==How you are billed for the premium== | ===How you are billed for the premium=== | ||
You will be billed only for one driver premium, whichever is highest. Because the assessment period for the driver risk premium is three years, one conviction during this period means you have to pay this premium each year for three years. | You will be billed only for one driver premium, whichever is highest. Because the assessment period for the driver risk premium is three years, one conviction during this period means you have to pay this premium each year for three years. | ||
=Common questions= | ==Common questions== | ||
==What if I can’t (or don’t) pay the premium?== | ===What if I can’t (or don’t) pay the premium?=== | ||
If you don’t pay the bill for a driver premium within 30 days, ICBC will charge you interest. ICBC can also refuse to renew your vehicle insurance until you pay. Also, you won’t be able to renew your driver’s licence if you don’t pay a driver premium bill. | If you don’t pay the bill for a driver premium within 30 days, ICBC will charge you interest. ICBC can also refuse to renew your vehicle insurance until you pay. Also, you won’t be able to renew your driver’s licence if you don’t pay a driver premium bill. | ||
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Or you can reduce a driver premium bill by giving up your licence for 30 days or more during the billing period. When you want your licence back, go to a driver licensing office and pay the reduced bill, plus any extra licence fees. But this works only if you do not have to take a driver re-examination and don’t have any outstanding prohibitions. | Or you can reduce a driver premium bill by giving up your licence for 30 days or more during the billing period. When you want your licence back, go to a driver licensing office and pay the reduced bill, plus any extra licence fees. But this works only if you do not have to take a driver re-examination and don’t have any outstanding prohibitions. | ||
==What if I’m not allowed to drive? Do I have to pay the driver premium?== | ===What if I’m not allowed to drive? Do I have to pay the driver premium?=== | ||
ICBC will reduce a driver premium bill if you’ve been prohibited or legally banned from driving for 60 days or more in the billing period. It usually does this automatically, but you may have to ask it to do so and to prove your situation. | ICBC will reduce a driver premium bill if you’ve been prohibited or legally banned from driving for 60 days or more in the billing period. It usually does this automatically, but you may have to ask it to do so and to prove your situation. | ||
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Again, you may have to prove your case to ICBC. | Again, you may have to prove your case to ICBC. | ||
==Are there premium increases if I cause multiple accidents?== | ===Are there premium increases if I cause multiple accidents?=== | ||
Yes. If you are 50% (or more) at fault for three motor vehicle accidents in three years, you might need to pay a '''multiple crash premium''' of $1,000. This is in addition to your regular Autoplan premiums. | Yes. If you are 50% (or more) at fault for three motor vehicle accidents in three years, you might need to pay a '''multiple crash premium''' of $1,000. This is in addition to your regular Autoplan premiums. | ||
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=For help= | ==For help== | ||
==With more information== | ===With more information=== | ||
'''ICBC''' has information on the [https://www.icbc.com/driver-licensing/tickets/Pages/Driver-Penalty-Points.aspx driver penalty point premium] and the [https://www.icbc.com/driver-licensing/tickets/Pages/Driver-Risk-Premium.aspx driver risk premium]. | '''ICBC''' has information on the [https://www.icbc.com/driver-licensing/tickets/Pages/Driver-Penalty-Points.aspx driver penalty point premium] and the [https://www.icbc.com/driver-licensing/tickets/Pages/Driver-Risk-Premium.aspx driver risk premium]. | ||
:Toll-free: 1-800-663-3051 | :Toll-free: 1-800-663-3051 | ||
