What is "basic compulsory" Autoplan insurance?

It is the minimum coverage that a vehicle owner must purchase from the Insurance Corporation of BC (ICBC) before a motor vehicle can be operated on a BC highway. The minimum amount required by law varies in different jurisdictions. In BC, the minimum limit for Third Party Legal Liability coverage is $200,000 for each vehicle. (Taxis and limousine use vehicles require $300,000; buses $500,000).

What does basic Autoplan include?

It provides:

• Third Party Legal Liability 
• "No-Fault" Accident Benefits 
• Underinsured Motorist Protection 
• Protection against uninsured motorists and unidentified motorists when the accident occurs on a highway in the Northwest Territories, the Yukon or in some states of the USA, and
• Inverse Liability

Let's look at these coverages one by one.

1. Third Party Legal Liability

If you are legally liable for damages caused by a motor vehicle accident, you are protected from claims brought against you by others for bodily injury, death or property damage to a total limit of $200,000. In addition, interest on $200,000 and legal costs are covered. This insurance covers the owner of the insured vehicle, and any other licensed operator driving with the owner's permission, for $200,000 Third Party Legal Liability coverage, if the conditions and terms of the Insurance (Motor Vehicle) Act and Regulations have been met.

Extended limits of liability may also be purchased. If no extended limit has been purchased, and if the insured is legally liable, he or she is responsible for payment of the portion of any claim which exceeds $200,0000 well as interest and legal costs assessed against that portion.

Exclusions:

Third Party Legal Liability coverage is subject to various restrictions. For example the following wouldn't be covered:

• loss or damage to property, yours or someone else's, carried in your vehicle
• Loss or damage to property you own or rent (for example, your house)
• assessment penalties or premiums payable under the Workers' Compensation Act
• towing an uninsured vehicle that is required to be insured.
• operation of equipment at a work site (for example, a mobile crane)

2. "No-Fault" Accident Benefits

• Regardless of who is deemed to be at fault in an auto accident, Autoplan pays accident benefits for injury to all occupants of the vehicle if it is licensed and insured in British Columbia. Autoplan also pays accident benefits to a named insured as well as to members of the named insured's household who are injured in an auto accident while riding in a vehicle or as a pedestrian or a cyclist. In addition, accident benefit payments apply to any cyclist or pedestrian who is injured as a result of a collision with a vehicle that is insured in BC, provided that the accident occurs within Canada.
  
  
  
  "No-Fault" Accident Benefits include:
• reasonable medical and rehabilitation expenses, subject to a limit of $150,000 for each insured person who is injured 
• up to $300 per week in disability benefits to an employed person for the period of total disability. A homemaker who is totally disabled in an accident may also be eligible for benefits not exceeding $145 a week to hire a person, other than a family member, to perform the household tasks of the homemaker. These payments commence on the eighth day and will be paid only to people whose injuries have totally disabled them for eight days or more. If a person is still disabled after receiving 104 weekly payments, these payments for total disability will continue for the duration of the disability or until the insured reaches age 65, whichever comes first. However, if the insured has reached age 65 and is still disabled but has not received payments for a total of 104 weeks, the insured will continue to receive payments until the 104 weeks are done. At that time, payments will stop. Also, if the employed person is over 65, he or she will be entitled to the maximum 104 weekly payments.
• funeral expenses to a limit of $2,000
• death benefits.
  
  
  
  NOTE: After 104 weekly payments, the amount payable is reduced by any benefits received from the Canada Pension Plan. Death benefits end with the death of all survivors. For further details please refer to the Autoplan brochure on "No-Fault " Accident Benefits.

  Exclusions:

  There are some situations in which "No-Fault" Accident Benefits may not be provided. For example, injury or death of a person:  

• who commits or attempts to commit suicide 
• who is an occupant of a vehicle that is exempt from Autoplan coverage
• whose injury or death is caused by sickness or disease
• who is an occupant of a vehicle involved in an illicit trade or transport
• who is a driver who is not authorized and qualified to operate the vehicle

3. Underinsured Motorist Protection (UMP)

This part of the basic Autoplan package provides protection (up to a maximum of $1 million for each insured person) against bodily injury or death, for the insured person who is the victim of an accident caused by a motorist who does not carry sufficient insurance to pay for claims.

This coverage protects not only the individual named in the Owner's Certificate but anyone else who is the occupant of the insured vehicle, whether as a driver or a passenger. It also extends to provide coverage to the named insured (and members of his or her household) who are injured or killed while in someone else's vehicle or as a pedestrian or cyclist, or under any other circumstances resulting from an accident in which the "at fault" vehicle is used or operated by an underinsured motorist. ICBC also provides this coverage automatically lo all holders of a valid BC driver's licence and members of their households.

For accidents occurring outside BC, liability is determined by the law of the jurisdiction where the accident occurred, but the amount of the UMP claim is determined by BC law. This protection does not apply in a jurisdiction where the right to sue for injuries is barred by law.

For more information on UMP, including details of  special regulations relating to this coverage, please pick up a copy of the Autoplan brochure, Underinsured Motorist Protection, or consult your insurance broker

4. Protection against uninsured and unidentified motorists

Protection against uninsured  and unidentified motorists is; by the basic insurance to cover, for bodily injury or death, insured victims of such accidents occurring on a highway in the Yukon, N.W. Territories, or in states  do not have a plan similar to that in BC. The coverage is limited to the equivalent of whatever compulsory Third Party Legal Liability limit applies in the Jurisdiction where the accident occurred $200,000, whichever is less.

Note: in BC, under the Insurance (Motor Vehicle) Act, any person with a bodily injury or property damage claim against a negligent uninsured or hit and run BC motorist, resulting from an accident on a highway in BC, may be eligable to receive up to a maximum of $200,000. This benefit is separate from the coverage afforded by your basic compulsory insurance.

5. Inverse Liability coverage

This Autoplan insurance is included in the basic compulsory coverage at no extra cost. It will pay for loss or damage to a BC vehicle resulting from an accident when:

1. the accident occurred in a place in Canada or the US where the right to recover losses is legally prohibited,

or

2. the person responsible for the accident lives in a place in Canada or the US where the right to recover losses is legally prohibited. If you are involved in an accident in a jurisdiction where such laws apply, Autoplan will pay the cost of repairs to your vehicle to the extent that the other driver is liable.

This applies even when you do not carry collision coverage. If you have obtained collision coverage from a private insurer, Autoplan will pay the portion of your deductible for which the other driver is liable.

How is the $200,000 divided if I'm liable for claims for both bodily injury and property damage?

Claims for bodily injury or death have priority on the first $180,000 of your liability coverage. Claims for property damage have priority on the $20,000 balance. This same ratio applies to any extension Third Party Legal Liability coverage.

How am I protected in other geographic areas?

Autoplan basic insurance provides protection throughout all of the Canadian provinces, the Yukon and Northwest Territories and the United States, including Hawaii and Alaska. It does not provide coverage elsewhere.

Will a person who has a record of accidents be denied Autoplan Basic coverage?

ICBC cannot be selective in providing Autoplan insurance. It must provide the basic coverage to all owners of vehicles required to BC licensed and insured in the province. However, issuance or renewal of insurance will be refused to anyone who has an outstanding debt with ICBC or whose vehicle has failed required tests or inspections.

Statement of Limitation:

The applicable regulations and statutes contain much more detail and different wording. The wording of these regulations and statutes always prevail over the wording of this document.

If you wish to review some of the terms outlined by BC Statute, click here to view the documents located at the BC Statute Information web site.