Alberta insurance in another province

[Doctordestiny]

Is it a good idea to move to another province for a couple of years and not let your insurnace company know? Keeping an Alberta address for your insurance but for all respects you've living in another province. What happens if you get into a serious accident? Could it void your insurance?

[Eric Vail]

I lived in Saskatchewan for a few months for a few summers and couldn't change my insurance fast enough. It costs a ton for insurance in Alberta, and would expect that you would save some money by changing over.

[Bring_Back_Shantz]

I'd say it's definitely a bad idea.
If you're not telling them you're living in another province, it's probably because you're getting some sort of benfit from it, which probably falls into the realm of insurance fraud.

[Azure]

Originally Posted by Bring_Back_Shantz

I'd say yes.
If you're not telling them you're living in another province, it's probably because you're getting some sort of benfit from it, which probably falls into the realm of insurance fraud.

Or when it comings to claiming, they might do some investigation and find out you weren't actually living in Alberta.

[Pinner]

You have 6 months when moving to BC

[DownhillGoat]

Have you changed your license over? If not you have anywhere between 3 months and 6, from when you move depending on the province. To change both license and insurance.

If you've changed your license over, you aren't insured. If they have any proof of you being over the time limit, you aren't insured.

All in all, no. You can't do this for a 'couple of years'. No, it's not a good idea.

If you're in an accident with out of province you'll be questioned. They will pull up employment records to determine when you moved there. They will look at T4s. They'll look at utility bills, rent receipts, whatever they can find.

[Doctordestiny]

It's my family members who have moved from Alberta to B.C. in the last month and they have not changed insurance over yet. I'm nervous about this and what might happen if they get into a serious accident.

[hillspeak]

In the Standard Auto Policy it states you must be a "resident" of Alberta. If you are living and working in another province that does not mean you are a resident. If you got into an accident in the other province would you want to risk the chance of not having insurance? If you are getting a better rate here would you really want to risk the few bucks you are saving here for the chance of no insurance at all?

[DownhillGoat]

Originally Posted by Doctordestiny

It's my family members who have moved from Alberta to B.C. in the last month and they have not changed insurance over yet. I'm nervous about this and what might happen if they get into a serious accident.

They have 90 days to switch over.
http://www.icbc.com/autoplan/moving/moving-to

I would recommend that they do switch over. Null and void insurance not only means that the vehicle isn't insured, but they'd have no liability insurance if someone sues them either.

[Mad Mel]

Originally Posted by Doctordestiny

It's my family members who have moved from Alberta to B.C. in the last month and they have not changed insurance over yet. I'm nervous about this and what might happen if they get into a serious accident.

Coupla thoughts...

BC has no-fault insurance. So even if you're the mostest awesomest driver in the world and would never cause an accident, if you get in one, your insurance company is paying. And we all know how much they like to do that. So expect them to try to find a reason to not pay...

...speaking of which, one of the major factors in how most insurance companies set your premium is where you live. If that changes and you don't notify them, my guess is that they've loopholed the crap outta your contract with them and they don't have to pay.

Another good reason to get on with it: last I lived there, BC drivers are required to insure through ICBC. Cop pulls you over, asks for license and proof of insurance, you hand over BC license and your State Farm papers, and he hands you back a mucho expensive ticket for driving without insurance.

[ken0042]

Originally Posted by Doctordestiny

What happens if you get into a serious accident? Could it void your insurance?

I've moved back and forth to Winnipeg a couple of times. A couple of months after moving back I was involved in a serious accident- 6 figure settlement. MPIC ran me and my employers through the ringer to determine how long I had been living away from Manitoba.

And it doesn't mean you should just be careful. The police officer who witnessed my accident said he probably would have done the same thing as me; but I was still at fault.

[Hanni]

Originally Posted by Eric Vail

I lived in Saskatchewan for a few months for a few summers and couldn't change my insurance fast enough. It costs a ton for insurance in Alberta, and would expect that you would save some money by changing over.

This isn't necessarily true, I'm guessing you were fairly young when you did this? My parents just moved to Saskatchewan and they're insurance went up. Everyone in Saskatchewan basically the pays the same amount, so they are in their 50's with good records and pay the same as I would at 25.

[WilsonFourTwo]

Dear Customer,

You did not honor the criteria to which your policy was based, therefore we have chosen not to honor your claim.

We normally have to use one of our (many, many) investigators to find a reason to reject a claim, but in this case, you've made it incredibly easy for us. Thank you!

Signed,
Your Insurance Company

PS - We're still keeping the premuims.

[HOOT]

Originally Posted by Pinner

You have 6 months when moving to BC

It's 3.

And yes it's a bad idea. If they got into an accident on day 91 their claim would most likely be declined and they would have to pay damages out of pocket. If it was a liability claim they could be screwed for a very long time.

[valo403]

Oddly enough when I moved to the US for school I let my Alberta insurance company know and they didn't require me to change anything. I'm assuming it has to do with how residency is defined, if you're moving on a non-permanent basis it's possible they don't consider it to be a change of residency. I know that for many legal purposes (at least the US) domicile/residency requires an intent to remain in your new location, otherwise the previous spot remains your residence.

[wooohooo]

What if you're from BC and studying in Alberta but your insurance is under your parents? Is that okay or does that fall under that 3-6 month grace period?

[HOOT]

Originally Posted by wooohooo

What if you're from BC and studying in Alberta but your insurance is under your parents? Is that okay or does that fall under that 3-6 month grace period?

Really you should let them know because your ICBC papers will say your location (2nd page) is probably your parents address, when it should show where the car is going to be (Alberta address).

Because it is under your parents name you would have to switch it to Alberta registration, if it is under the students name (you), you could keep your current ICBC insurance while in school. However in saying that most likely they will ask you to switch your territory and if you live anywhere outside the Mainland right now you would notice a big increase, but probably not the same increase as insuring in Alberta.edit:

edit: My advice, and if your parents would let you, is transfer to the vehicle to your name or at least joint ownership with one of them. This will save you a ton of headaches. I will cost you $18 new plates and $28 to re-register the vehicle but it will be much cheaper than having a claim denied.

[Ducay]

Just call your insurance company and ask, that way you know for sure.

[Doctordestiny]

Originally Posted by Ducay

Just call your insurance company and ask, that way you know for sure.

They did and didn't like the answer they got. I'm trying to save them some grief.

[FlamesKickAss]

I know some company's only offer coverage for 30 days from when you leave alberta (if you move)