Garage service operators

As we move to a more driver-based insurance rating model, there are some considerations that body shops and other garage service operators, their employees and customers should know.

Garage Certificate (Policy) Owners

The Garage Vehicle Certificate (APV4) is not changing in the new model.

That means at-fault crashes that occur while driving a vehicle insured under a Garage Certificate (Rate Class 800) will not follow the at-fault driver. 

You can contact your Autoplan broker for more information about your garage policy.

Fleet policies remain the same

For the most part, fleet policies will continue to be rated the same under the new insurance model.

Fleet customers will not be asked to list drivers, and the claim repayment rules for fleets are not changing. Refer to the Fleet section for more details. 

Impacts depend on the rate class

For vehicles that are not insured under a Garage Certificate, at-fault crashes will follow the driver, not the vehicle. This means that at-fault claims may impact policies that the driver is listed on, not the registered owner of the vehicle. Impacts depend on the rate class of the vehicle.

​”Personal” rate classes​”Commercial” rate classes​Rate classes that do not belong to a profile
Pleasure/Commute/Business/Artisan (001-007, 012)U-Drive (008, 018, 058)Motorhomes (051)Motorcycles (310s)Collectors (700s)Decommissioned (005, 20s, 055, 320s, 705, 720s)Temporary Operation Permit APV16 (850, 851, 852-859, 860s)​Light Comm. (009, 011, 013-015, 017)Heavy Comm. (100s, 110s, 120s, 150s, 170s)U-Drive heavy commercial vehicles (160s)Delivery (400s)Bus/Taxi/Limo (600s)​Off Road Vehicle (030, 035, 036)Trailers (500s)Insurance exempt (919)Temporary Operation Permit (852 exclusively Type 6/Commercial Trailers)Storage (APV345 RC 200s)Garage (800)Emergency Vehicles (040, 041, 140, 141)

If a driver has an at-fault claim while driving a vehicle with a personal rate class, it could impact all non-fleet policies where the driver is listed.

  • For example, if a driver has an at-fault crash while driving to work with a rate class 003, it will impact any policy they are listed on with a “Personal” or “Commercial” rate class.

If a driver has an at-fault claim while driving a vehicle with a commercial rate class, the claim may only impact other non-fleet policies with a commercial rate class where the driver is listed.

  • For example, if a driver has an at-fault crash while driving a taxi cab, it will impact any policy they are listed on that has a “Commercial” rate class. It would not affect those policies with a “Personal” rate class, such as his own vehicle that he has insured for pleasure use under rate class 001.

If a driver has an at-fault claim while driving a vehicle in a rate class that doesn’t belong to a profile, the claim will not follow them on any policy where they are listed.

  • For example, if a garage employee is driving a vehicle licensed and insured on the garage policy (rate class 800) and has an at-fault crash while driving home, the claim will not affect any policy where they are a listed driver.

Claims repayment eligibility

Previously, customers may have directed questions about claim repayment to garage service operators when they came in for vehicle repairs. Because claim repayment rules are changing, customers should speak to their brokers or call ICBC for more information about how a claim will impact their insurance premiums.

Garage service operators with non-fleet vehicles should list drivers

Garage service operators with non-fleet vehicles that are not insured under a Garage Certificate should list those that will drive these vehicles, because if an unlisted driver causes a crash, the garage service operators may face a financial consequence.

They may also choose Unlisted Driver Protection to protect against at-fault crashes caused by unlisted, incidental drivers. However, it is important to note that the Unlisted Driver Protection does not cover employees, as they should be listed. Find out more about Unlisted Driver Protection.  

Courtesy cars

The impacts and coverage for drivers and owners of courtesy cars depend on the rate class of the vehicle.

If a courtesy car rated 007 (fleet) is in an at-fault crash:

  • The claim would impact the fleet’s loss ratio as it does today.
  • From January 1, 2020 onward the claim would follow the responsible driver on any policy (non-fleet) where they are listed as a driver.
  • When the courtesy car is being used as a Temporary Substitute Motor Vehicle (TSMV), the customer’s collision coverage from their policy will apply and the garage’s third party liability from the courtesy car will apply.

If a courtesy car rated 007 on a non-fleet policy is in an at-fault crash:

  • If an unlisted driver is responsible for a crash and Unlisted Driver Protection did not apply, the registered owner may be subject to a one-time financial consequence.
    • Unlisted Driver Protection does not cover employees or those who use the vehicle more than 12 days in the 12 month period before the crash. Refer to the Unlisted Driver Protection page for more details.
  • At fault claims may also impact the driver on any policy (non-fleet) where the driver is listed.

If a courtesy car used as a TSMV under Rate Class 800 is in an at-fault crash:

  • Third party liability will be paid under the Garage Certificate (policy) for Rate Class 800
  • These claims may affect the Garage Service Operator’s loss ratio, as they do today, if they are insured as a fleet
  • Collision coverage will be paid under the customer’s policy (not the Garage Certificate) and will affect that the driver and any policy where they are listed as a driver
  • Comprehensive (with signed agreement from customer) will be paid under the customer’s policy and will not affect that policy as comprehensive is not a chargeable claim payment

Resources

  • Garage certificate information sheet
  • Conversation guide
  • Shop tent card