Taxpayers: ICBC reinstating unfair change fees while refusing rebates

VANCOUVER, B.C.: The Canadian Taxpayers Federation is denouncing the British Columbia government’s move to hit drivers with ICBC fees again.

“It’s bad enough that ICBC isn’t giving B.C. drivers any rebates during this economic crisis, but now it’s reinstating these nasty little fees so we get hit with them every time we need to change our car insurance,” said Kris Sims, B.C. Director of the Canadian Taxpayers Federation. “Drivers in other parts of Canada have already gotten about $280 back in rebates from their auto insurance companies, but ICBC is giving us nothing because it knows we are stuck with its monopoly.”

After weeks of pressure in May, ICBC starting waiving cancellation and change fees for B.C. drivers who couldn’t afford to drive their cars anymore because of the COVID-19 pandemic and economic crisis.

Late Friday afternoon, ICBC posted a news release on its website saying they are slapping those $30 change fees back on to drivers and they won’t let people use their own cars for deliveries unless they jump through expensive hoops once again.

“Lots of people lost their jobs and they had to scramble to save money or make it up somewhere else so they cancelled their auto insurance or they started delivering supplies while using their cars to make ends meet – ICBC temporarily eased up on those fees but now it’s clawing that little bit of help back and it’s pathetic,” said Sims. “This is why the ICBC monopoly should be opened up to competition so drivers can take their business elsewhere if they’re mistreated like this.”

• To see the Canadian Taxpayers Federation petition to stop the ICBC monopoly and open it up to competition click HERE.
   
• To read about rebates and fee savings for drivers in provinces with car insurance choice click HERE.

• To read ICBC’s news release announcing the reinstatement of fees click HERE.