ICBC

ICBC offers payment deferrals to those affected by COVID-19

Mar 24, 2020 | 2:12 PM

NORTH VANCOUVER — ICBC has announced measures to help those affected by the COVID-19 outbreak.

Firstly, it is offering British Columbians the opportunity to extend their driver’s licence remotely to ensure customers stay home and follow public health orders.

A customer can renew their driver’s licence up to six weeks in advance of the expiry date by contacting ICBC Driver Licensing Call Centre at 1-800-950-1498 and temporarily extend their licence over the phone.

ICBC says the customer will then be mailed an interim paper licence that will be valid for 90 days. Eligible extensions include routine renewals, reinstatement of a licence, and the replacement of a lost licence. Expiring BC Services cards and BC Identification Cards are not eligible for phone renewals. ICBC will monitor the situation and determine if the 90-day period needs to be extended further.

Secondly, ICBC is now offering customers the option to defer their monthly insurance payments for up to 90 days with no penalty, to support those facing financial hardship at this time. This deferral will be available to customers already on monthly Autoplan payments for up to 90 days. ICBC previously allowed for only a single deferral of 30 days.

Customers can use ICBC’s online resource tool to apply for deferrals or call the customer support team at 1-800-665-6442.

To meet social distancing requirements and to protect customers and employees, the following services will only be offered online at icbc.com or through the call centre until further notice:

  • Obtaining driving records/abstracts
  • Change of address
  • Paying violation tickets

Enhanced Driver’s Licence and Enhanced Identification Card processing has been suspended as of today (March 24), as those transactions require extended face-to-face interaction where physical distancing guidelines cannot be met.

To further meet social distancing requirements, all driver knowledge tests will be suspended indefinitely, for motorcycle and passenger vehicles, unless there is a legal requirement to obtain a licence (e.g. new resident of B.C.). Commercial vehicle knowledge tests will continue; however, they will not be permitted with the use of a translator as social distancing requirements cannot be met. Over the coming weeks, ICBC will be working on finding ways to provide knowledge tests without the need for an in-office visit.

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