British Columbia Motorcycle Insurance – Definitions and Private Insurer Comparisons
If you live in British Columbia and just got your motorcycle license and bike, this one’s for you. Buying insurance can be quite confusing, so here’s how I went about it. First you need to decide if you want just basic insurance, or if you’d like to add extended 3rd party liability, collision and comprehensive. Then you need to decide if you want to go with ICBC, or a private insurer. Let’s start with Basic: Everyone has to have basic, and it’s offered only through ICBC autoplan. As an example, my 2008 Ninja 250 cost me $376 for 6 months of basic coverage (and I’m at a 20% discount). Then comes 3rd party liability: your basic insurance plan defaults to $200,000, but you can choose to increase it. I’ve bumped mine to $2,000,000 for an extra $81 for 6 months. I don’t think $200K is enough these days. Now Collision and Comprehensive: most private 2 wheels insurers offer this combined as “all perils”, ICBC offers it separate. Check my definitions below to see what’s included.
BASIC:
All drivers in B.C. must have Basic auto insurance coverage. Basic Autoplan includes up to:
- $150,000 for medical and rehabilitation costs for each injured person
- $200,000 for damages claimed by other drivers
- $1 million per person if the at-fault motorist is under-insured.
THIRD PARTY LIABILITY:
Third-Party Liability coverage covers you for claims made by other drivers after a crash. Extended Third-Party Liability surpasses the Basic Autoplan limit, and can cover you for damages between $200,000 and up to $5 million to cover a claim. How much you pay for your extended coverage will depend on the limit you choose.
COLLISION:
Collision coverage pays for repairs to your vehicle if you are in a crash. You are also covered if the vehicle needs towing, storage or salvage disposal. Collision coverage is specifically for crashes in which your vehicle is damaged. You will get it repaired or get a payout if your vehicle is a write-off in a claim, no matter who was at fault in the crash. Collision coverage applies when: you hit another vehicle, person, object or the surface of the road the vehicle needs towing, storage, or salvage disposal as a result of a claim for loss or damage
COMPREHENSIVE:
Comprehensive coverage protects your vehicle against a number of losses. As well as paying for repairs or a replacement windshield, it covers you if the vehicle is lost or damaged by any of the following
- weather — lightning, windstorm, hail, rising water
- theft, vandalism and malicious mischief
- missiles and falling or flying objects, including rock or gravel damage to your windshield
- the stranding, sinking, burning, derailment, upset or collision of a conveyance
- transporting the vehicle on land or water
- fire earthquake civil commotion or riots
- impact with a domestic or wild animal
Private Motorcycle Insurers in BC
I called all the private insurers of B.C., and narrowed it down to 3 companies that would insure a brand new bike driver. Most require you to have your bike license for at least 1 year. Chutter, Beacon and Megson Fitzpatrick were the only three that would take on new drivers. To give you a clear idea of my profile:
- I’m 26 years old
- one moving violation (speeding ticket)
- one at fault claim
- license for 5 years
- bike learner’s license
- I’m insuring a 250 cc Kawasaki Ninja.
The three private insurers seem to offer pretty similar options – slight variations in the amount of $ you are covered for, and how many claims you’re permitted before they choose to not insure you. Ultimately, I chose Megson Fitzpatrick: they were cheaper by about $50, and if I have more than one at fault claim my premium will rise by 10%-15%, which is still less than what the other two were charging.
Another thing to note – a friend of mine who has NO driving experience (not even a car driving licence) has his bike license and is doing the graduated licensing program on a bike (the “L”, “N”, etc.). His insurance with Megson Fitzpatrick was about $50 cheaper than mine. Mine was higher thanks to my speeding ticket and claim. If you have a clean record, yours should be even cheaper than what’s listed below.
COMPARISON OF BRITISH COLUMBIA MOTORCYCLE INSURANCE OPTIONS
| BENEFIT | Beacon via Cassells | Chutter via Atkinson & Terry | Megson Fitzpatrick | ICBC |
| Deductible | $500 | $500 | ($250 option for under 400cc if kept in private garage) $500 | $300/$500 |
| Coverage | Comprehensive & Collision | Comprehensive & Collision | Comprehensive & Collision | Comprehensive, Collision and “Roadside Plus” |
| License Requirements | 5 years | over 30 yrs old, at descretion so possible to be approved | Under 400cc: valid license. Over 400cc: valid license for 10 years. High performance sport bike: valid license for 10 years, motorcycle license for 10 yrs or have taken a driving course | No Restrictions |
| Agreed Value Policy | YES | YES | YES | NO, Actual Cash Value |
| After Market value additions to bike after Agreed Value | 80% value for aftermarket parts | at underwriters descretion | can increase value but more than 25% requires proof of upgrades and/or appraisal | |
| Road Side Assistance | 100 twice a year (no deductible) | 100 total limit twice a year (no deductible) | 100 (no deductible), unlimited occurances | $100 |
| Lock Re-Keying | 1000 no deductible | 500 no deductible | no limit, no deductible | $1,000 |
| Riding Gear | 1000 no deductible | 1000 no deductible | 1000 no deductible | NONE |
| At Fault Claim Forgiveness | no affect after 2 decline to renew | no affect but after 2 MAY decline to renew | After 1, penalty increase between 10%-15% | penalty increase |
| While Travelling: | ||||
| Living Expenses after loss from insured peril | $1,000 | $1,000 | $500 | $500 |
| Transport of damaged/stolen vehicle | $750 | $1,500 | $1,500 | $1,500 |
| Travel Expenses to return home | $1,500 | $1,500 | $1,500 | $750 |
| Replacement Vehicle Expenses | included part of above | included part of above | $500 | $500 |
| Riding Use | ||||
| Use Restrictions | unlimited (work and school | unlimited (work and school | unlimited (work & school inc.) | |
| Seasonal Riding Restrictions | none | none | None. | |
| Requirements to be Insured | ||||
| Moving Violations Allowance | not more than 3 tickets in 5 years | at underwriters descretion | No more than 5, but 3 and up requires driver’s abstract | |
| At Fault Claims Allowance | not more than 2 accidents | at underwriters descretion | ||
| Policy Price | $325 lowest policy | $325 | $278 | over $1,000 |
11 Comments
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About Riding Jezebel
My name is Victoria, I'm a petite (5'0", 98lbs) girl and Jezebel is my 2008 Ninja 250. I bought her after completing a motorcycle training course and receiving my learner's motorcycle license in early May 2011. This site is all about the research and modifications I've done to my bike to make her safer, and more comfortable for a petite girl to ride.
Thanks for doing this…good info for new/experienced riders.
No problem Phil, I hope others find it useful since I was pretty overwhelmed when I started looking into insurance for Jezebel!
Fantastic information thank you for putting this together.
is megs and fitz only avail on the island (250) ?
Hey EK –
No, they are not exclusive to the island. I’m on the mainland (Vancouver) and am with them. Give them a call or fill out their online quote calculator.
This is a very well written and should be a sticky at bcsportbikes.com
Thanks Chris, not sure how to go about getting that done – but I wouldn’t mind it being posted as long as there was a linkback
I like your chart. Once you’ve got about 3 years of experience, you get a few more options. I’m with Coast Capital, and they are cheaper than the others – AND they allow you to buy your increased 3rd party liability through them – for less than ICBC. Mind you – they’ve just notified my wife that her Ninja 250 is no longer “sport touring” and is a “sport” bike. This puts her insurance higher than my 955cc Triumph Sprint – but that’s the world of bike insurance, I guess. (Canadian Direct does bikes too – but won’t even touch a Ninja 250)
Hey Cam,
Yeah – there’s a whole lot more opportunity for insurance once you’ve passed your anniversary of riding – the chart was for people like me – complete newbies, to show what options are available to us who have the most limited insurance options.
I’ve heard Coast Capital is quite reasonable, though right now I can’t fault Megson Fitzpatrick!
So, have you insured Jezebel for the entire year or just for particular months?
Over the last few years, I’ve found Vancouver to have a unique pocket weather system during winter that leaves us with barely sprinkled lawns and clear roads while just beyond our city limits (the Tri-City area and East of the Fraser) is buried by at least a foot of snow.
And let’s not forget how snow had to be manufactured and/or brought in for the 2010 Winter Olympics. LOL
Johnny,
I insured Jezebel for 6 months on ICBC’s basic. Comprehensive is always for a year, so she’s insured through the winter, which means even if something happens while she’s stored, she’ll be covered.
I plan on stopping riding around October, if the sun makes it till then!