Victoria, British Columbia – British Columbia’s crown insurer has almost caught up with the rest of us in 2020 as the Insurance Corporation of British Columbia prepares to offer customers the ability to renew auto insurance online—in May 2022.
The online renewal platform will also allow customers to obtain temporary operation permits for commercial fleet vehicles, with more insurance “products” to become available online in the near future, according to a statement from the Ministry of Public Safety on Friday.
ICBC plans to spend the next year laying the groundwork for the online insurance platform and despite the roughly year-and-a-half-long delay in rolling it out, the corporation claims that they value customer convenience.
“We know British Columbians want more convenience when they purchase and renew their auto insurance,” said Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General Mike Farnworth.
Nicolas Jimenez, president and CEO of ICBC elaborated on the motivations that led to the corporation taking services online.
“COVID-19 has accelerated our expansion of digital services for customers, including a shift to email and phone-based insurance transactions. Offering insurance renewals online will make buying insurance even more convenient and flexible,” said Jimenez.
The online platform was developed in collaboration with ICBC’s Online Broker Task Force, the corporation’s broker network used for consultations of this sort.
“Brokers and their consumer-focused advocacy will play an important part in delivering a great customer experience as part of ICBC’s Enhanced Care coverage changes next year and for the new online insurance services,” said executive director and COO of the Insurance Broker’s Association of B.C., Chuck Byrne.
“B.C.’s insurance brokers are up to the challenge. We know there’s much to accomplish and we look forward to working together with ICBC to reach the May 2022 date for online services.”
