Insurance, Vehicle Registry, etc.

[jar_e]

Hi guys,

Well, I have to switch my vehicle insurance from BC to Alberta and am just curious on the whole "process". I read on the government services website that I need to have all the necessary information (bill of sale, ID, etc.) to register the vehicle and it has to be inspected as it's from out of province...do I have to get the inspection before I goto register the vehicle? I'd presume I could get this done at any mechanic...anyone have any recommendations or idea of cost?

So after I finsh that fiasco, I have to find insurance. I know it's already going to be an arm and a leg (I'm 18, and male) but does anyone have some recommendations on who to deal with for insurance? I thought about just going through the phonebook and start phoning but I don't really feel that up to doing something that extensive? Anyone have insurance through a good yet rather cheap company that they could refer me to?

Sorry for the n00b questions, I guess I don't have many life skills yet

Thanks guys,

Jared

[Cowboy]

A good place to start for 18 and under are independent brokerages, not direct writers. They tend to want the business and will spend the time with you, plus being 18 you might they might find you a company that will send you through less hoops.

To get insurance (if your vehicle is older) you will need the inspection first...Then you need insurance in order to get your vehicle registered. It is not the same as the BC system as I am sure you are aware.

You pretty much have to do it that order, but you might want to get your insurance first or at least inquire as you might be able to skip over the whole inspection.

Canada Broker Link
Blue Circle (don't personally like them but if you need financing and you have bounced some cheques in the past they will help you...for an arm and a leg)

[Eddie Bronze]

Meloche Monnex for insurance. Do a search on it here on CP, there was a lengthy discussion about them.

The biggest obstacle for you is going to be that out of province inspection. What are you driving, how new is it? When I moved here I took my car to one place that charged me almost $200 to tell me they wouldn't pass it until a list of over $3000 worth of work was done. I took it somewhere else and it passed with one small recommendation. Finding a good place is not easy and not just anyone does it.

[jroc]

why would you even think about registering it under Alberta? i have a few buddys that leave their vehicles with BC plates and it save them an ass load of money

[Reaper]

Originally Posted by jroc

why would you even think about registering it under Alberta? i have a few buddys that leave their vehicles with BC plates and it save them an ass load of money

Gee, perhaps he doesn't have an address in British Columbia any more? Perhaps because he needs an Alberta Driver's License and BC won't let you register a vehicle without a valid BC license?

[tvp2003]

Hi Jared,

I feel your pain... I'm going through the same process myself. First you need to go to an Alberta Registries location and get an 'authorization' to get an inspection (basically a sheet of paper) that will cost you $9+GST. Take that to a dealer and they will inspect it for $120 (I've been told some places do it for cheaper, but I haven't found any yet).

EDIT: I think you get INSURANCE after that and then PLATES, although it depends on the place... I can't say for sure because I haven't gotten that far yet!

[jar_e]

Thanks for the replies guys.

I'm driving a 1997 Plymouth Breeze 4 door sedan. It's uncool, it's rather old, but it works. I'd hate if i need to put more money into this after an inspection. Eddie, which place did you end up going if you don't mind me asking?

Jroc, it's kind of for a few reasons. As much as I'd love it, it's under my mom's name as the primary driver so the moment I changed it to mine, i would have to give a BC address which I woudln't be able to give anymore. Also, the insurance would be void if I were to crash here. So, unfortunately, I can't take that route.

I do have an alberta's drivers liscence so that's taken care of thankfully...though that costs $75 a pop!

TVP, that's exactly what I'm looking for. So, inspection --> registry --> insurance?

[Vulcan]

I think it goes inspection, insurance, registration. As an aside I switched from Alberta to BC a couple of years ago and found Alberta a lot cheaper. YMMV.

[Eddie Bronze]

I went to a place called Malik Auto Centre. Bay #7-4101 19St in the NE. Give them a call to ask how much an Out of Province costs. Their number is 250-7195.

I must inform you though, that I went there upon the recommendation of a guy I met through a friend. This gentleman drives a tow-truck for AMA and knows the guys at Malik well. I went in there and quickly mentioned his name and they treated me very good.

If you call and find out how much the OOP is, let me know. I'd be interested to find out if it's any different.

[Cube Inmate]

Originally Posted by jar_e

...Also, the insurance would be void if I were to crash here. So, unfortunately, I can't take that route. ...

Bugger me! An 18-year-old who's not trying to f--- the system? Colour me impressed!

In order to actually contribute to this thread, I'll confirm what someone else said about INSURANCE -> REGISTRATION. You need proof of insurance to get registered.

[ken0042]

Originally Posted by jroc

why would you even think about registering it under Alberta? i have a few buddys that leave their vehicles with BC plates and it save them an ass load of money

That is the most irresposible comment I've heard in a while. Here's the thing, people get insurance to cover themselves for liability in case of an accident. If his insurance carrier can prove he isn't elligible, they will do everything they can to save themselves money.

I ran into this situation when I moved to Calgary. I moved here in January, moved back to Winnipeg in July, then moved back to Calgary in September. I got into an accident in October, and MPIC put me through the ringer trying to prove that I had been in Calgary continuously since January. Luckily I had employment records from Winnipeg or else I would have been on the hook for almost $100K.

Now, having said all of that, the last time I checked you had 90 days to transfer your insurance over to Alberta. If BC insurance is cheaper, then use it for 89 days if you can.

[tvp2003]

Originally Posted by Cube Inmate

In order to actually contribute to this thread, I'll confirm what someone else said about INSURANCE -> REGISTRATION. You need proof of insurance to get registered.

Thanks

[Log]

I guess living in Saskatchewan does have its perks.... (all 4 of them!!)

Hopefully you find a half assed decent rate!

[MacDougalbry]

Originally Posted by ken0042

That is the most irresposible comment I've heard in a while. Here's the thing, people get insurance to cover themselves for liability in case of an accident. If his insurance carrier can prove he isn't elligible, they will do everything they can to save themselves money.

I ran into this situation when I moved to Calgary. I moved here in January, moved back to Winnipeg in July, then moved back to Calgary in September. I got into an accident in October, and MPIC put me through the ringer trying to prove that I had been in Calgary continuously since January. Luckily I had employment records from Winnipeg or else I would have been on the hook for almost $100K.

Now, having said all of that, the last time I checked you had 90 days to transfer your insurance over to Alberta. If BC insurance is cheaper, then use it for 89 days if you can.

Ditto that. Having spent some time on "the inside" at ICBC, I can tell you that they definitely will deny your coverage if you have you take your vehicle out of province but keep your BC insurance... And if you make a claim for an out-of-province accident, it will come under suspicion. Same for Saskatchewan.

Now, if you are some young 18 year old without a penny to your name, then I guess you don't care because if you get sued by another driver for disability or injuries resulting from your negligence, then you don't really have anything to lose. But there is a guy on my block whose home must be worth $600K by now who has lived there for over a year and still has Sask. plates on his truck. Is it really worth the risk?

[ken0042]

A few places that advertise online quotes. Not sure how good these companies or their rates are, just know they exist.

http://www.canadiandirect.com/
http://www.kanetix.ca/
http://www.tdcanadatrust.com/tdinsurance/auto/quote.jsp
http://www.morgex.com/customer/auto_insurance.aspx

The other "Alberta-ism" to be aware of........ here you have the option of just getting PLPD- Public Liability and Property Damage. Meaning if you get into a crash and it's your fault, the other party will be covered but your own repairs won't get done. Of course if the accident isn't your fault the other person's insurance covers your repairs.

This is handy if you have a car that is worth $2000, and getting only PLPD (aka declining comprehensive) will save you $1500, you might be better off. (Of course, depending on how confident you are in your driving abillities.)

[J pold]

Sorry for the n00b questions, I guess I don't have many life skills yet

Am I the only one would found that Funny?

[jar_e]

Thanks again guys. Grateful for all the feedback, it helps out alot.

Cube...*sigh* I definitely thought about f*#* with the system; but, as I said, it's my parents who's name are with the insurance right now, and if I were to change it, I'm sure they would be very quick to disapprove. So, it has crossed my mind, but I just don't have the balls to do it *laugh*

Ken, Case and point to what I want to avoid. I wouldn't want that extra variable in the insurance if i did ever get in an accident. It just wouldn't be worth it IMO. And, I am using the full 90 days...I believe I have till middle of July, but thought I'd get the ball rolling anyways.

Mac...interesting point about the age/net worth. Never really thought about it from that "personal" perspective. I know the whole out of province insurance thing probably is sketchy for insurance companies...they were hesitant to help my family out when they inquired about it.

Ken...Thanks for the websites and great info about the PLPD. That would definitely be what i'd need...I really don't want to get the comprehensive and collision (as the rates pretty much double) so that may be a great option. Thanks for that.

J pold...well, atleast you found it funny

[GrrlGoalie33]

Originally Posted by Eddie Bronze

Meloche Monnex for insurance. Do a search on it here on CP, there was a lengthy discussion about them.

Meloche Monnex is GREAT if you qualify because it is group insurance. I highly doubt that jar_e would qualify for group insurance being only 18. Most of the groups that qualify are university and college graduates or members of professional associations

[V]

I think it's funny that there are people out there who save a little money by buying invalid insurance. So you get in an accident. Suddenly that 500 bucks or so a year you saved sure doesn't look like much beside that $100K bill you're gonna get.

[jar_e]

An update if anybody's interested...

Got my inspection done...just under $900 to get it "fixed". It was quite a joke, IMO. I was talking with the mechanic and he said probably half the cars on the road would end up getting a large bill if they got their vehicles inspected to this so called "alberta" standard. So that, plus insurance, plus liscening changes = myself slowly slipping in to debt.