After a crash in B.C.: how ICBC's "no-fault" insurance helps with treatment, lost income and vehicle repairs, and what to do if you disagree

1. First, a few terms: no-fault, responsibility and income replacement

No-fault. People often call it "no-fault"; ICBC's official name for the system is Enhanced Care, and the injury benefits within it are called Enhanced Accident Benefits. It means that if you are injured, ICBC pays for things like medical care, rehabilitation and lost income without first asking whose fault it was. Section 117 of the Insurance (Vehicle) Act says exactly this: ICBC pays these benefits regardless of who is responsible for the accident.

Responsibility. ICBC calls it crash responsibility; it is also called fault or liability. "No-fault" does not mean that nobody is found responsible. ICBC still works out how much of the responsibility for the crash each person has, and the result is 0%, 25%, 50%, 75% or 100%. Your share of responsibility does not affect your injury benefits, but it does affect two things: who pays to repair your vehicle (section 8), and whether you will pay more when you next renew your insurance (section 9).

Income replacement. Its full name is the income replacement benefit (IRB). If you cannot work because of injuries from a crash, ICBC pays you a percentage of your usual after-tax income. Section 5 explains this in detail.

Some other terms you will often hear:

• Claim number: the number ICBC gives you after you report a claim. You need it for treatment, for phone calls and for checking your claim online, so be sure to write it down.
• Recovery specialist: the person at ICBC who handles the injury part of your claim. Contact them about treatment and income benefits.
• Claims representative: the person at ICBC who handles vehicle damage and responsibility.
• Personal Health Number (PHN): the number on your BC Services Card (your B.C. health card).
• Basic Autoplan: the ICBC insurance that every vehicle in B.C. must have. Injury benefits, Basic Vehicle Damage Coverage and third party liability coverage are all part of it.
• Collision: optional coverage you choose to buy, which mainly pays for damage to your own vehicle. You can buy it from ICBC or from a private insurance company.

In the same crash, look at three things separately:

Two of the most common questions, answered first:

• "I rear-ended someone and it was entirely my fault. I was injured. Can I still get benefits?" Yes. You can still get treatment costs and money for lost income. But your own vehicle can only be repaired under Collision coverage; if you did not buy it, you pay yourself, and your premium will generally go up at your next renewal.
• "I was hit by someone who was fully at fault. Can I still sue them and claim damages for emotional distress?" Generally, no. Since May 1, 2021, the law in principle does not allow you to sue the other party for injuries from a crash. There are only a few exceptions, such as when the other driver is convicted of a criminal offence like impaired driving; see section 11.

2. Who can get benefits: B.C. residents, international students and visitors from other provinces

B.C. residents: drivers, passengers, cyclists and pedestrians can all get benefits. ICBC states that B.C. residents injured in a crash in Canada or the United States can get injury benefits, whether they were driving, riding as a passenger, riding a motorcycle or bicycle, or walking and hit by a vehicle, no matter who was at fault. In law, this covers accidents in Canada or the United States, or on a vessel travelling between Canada and the United States (section 118 of the Insurance (Vehicle) Act). You can get benefits even if you do not own a vehicle or have a driver's licence; ICBC states that passengers, pedestrians and cyclists should all phone to report their claim.

Who the law counts as a "resident." Section 5 of the Enhanced Accident Benefits Regulation says a resident is someone who ordinarily lives in B.C. and is one of the following:

• a Canadian citizen;
• a permanent resident of Canada;
• a person lawfully admitted to Canada (for example, someone living and working in B.C. on a work permit). There is one exception for this third group: a person who came from outside Canada to attend a school or post-secondary institution in B.C. does not count as a "resident" here. People who are attending, are registered or have been admitted all fall within this exception; this is what is usually meant by international students. The exception applies only to the third group; Canadian citizens and permanent residents who study in B.C. are not affected. If you hold a work permit and are also registered at a school in B.C., it is not clear how the rule applies, so ask ICBC when you report your claim.

A minor child counts as a resident if the adult the child lives with is a resident. People who leave B.C. temporarily to study elsewhere, or to work elsewhere for the B.C. or federal government, do not stop being residents just because they are away.

When you stop being a B.C. resident. Section 5(4) of the regulation lists several situations, for example: you have been away from B.C. for more than 12 months in a row (there are exceptions involving temporary work elsewhere and a spouse or minor children who still live in B.C.); or, when you left B.C., you already intended not to live in B.C. again. If you also have a home outside B.C. (for example, you still keep a home of your own in your home country), this subsection has two separate rules: one relates to your spouse and children staying in B.C. and to working away temporarily, and the other relates to living in B.C. for at least 183 days a year. These situations are complicated, so if you are not sure, ask ICBC directly when you report your claim.

International students, tourists and visitors from other provinces: it depends on the licence plate, and on where the crash happened. For people who are not B.C. residents, section 119 of the Insurance (Vehicle) Act provides:

• if the crash is in B.C. and you were driving or riding in a vehicle licensed and insured in B.C., or were hit as a pedestrian by such a vehicle, you can generally get benefits;
• if the crash is in B.C. and you were driving or riding in a vehicle with plates from another province or the U.S. (including your own vehicle that you drove here from another province or the U.S.), or were hit as a pedestrian by such a vehicle, you can get benefits only in proportion to the part you were not responsible for. For example, if you were 25% responsible, benefits are calculated at 75%;
• if the crash is outside B.C. (for example, you drove to the U.S.), you are covered only if you yourself are the registered owner or lessee of a vehicle insured in B.C., and at the time of the crash you were driving or riding in a vehicle insured in B.C., or were hit by such a vehicle;
• if you are injured in B.C. by a hit-and-run vehicle, ICBC states that non-residents may also be able to get benefits if no other insurance covers them.

People from other provinces or countries who have a crash in B.C. should also notify their own insurance company. If you are not sure whether you count as a resident, ask ICBC directly when you report your claim: "Am I considered a B.C. resident for Enhanced Accident Benefits?"

An ordinary driving mistake will not stop you from getting benefits. But in a few situations, ICBC can, under the law, reduce, suspend, terminate or refuse benefits (section 121 of the Insurance (Vehicle) Act and sections 14 and 15 of the regulation):

• you caused the crash on purpose, or injured yourself on purpose;
• you knowingly gave ICBC false or inaccurate information;
• you did not cooperate: for example, you did not take part in rehabilitation without a reasonable excuse, did things that got in the way of your own recovery, or did not go back to work when you were able to.

Impaired driving and other criminal offences: some payments are reduced. If you were driving and caused an injury (even if the only person injured was you), and you are convicted of a criminal offence listed in the regulation, such as impaired driving by alcohol or drugs, refusing a breath test, dangerous driving, failing to stop after hitting someone (hit and run), fleeing from police, or criminal negligence causing death or bodily harm, then the lump-sum permanent impairment compensation you can receive and your income replacement for the first 12 months are both reduced using a formula set by law; if a family member of yours in the vehicle died as a result, the lump-sum death benefit you could receive as a family member is also reduced. How much is taken off depends on your share of responsibility, and for income replacement and the death benefit, also on how many people you support (section 16 of the regulation). If you have only been charged and not yet convicted, ICBC can also reduce them at its discretion (section 16.1). Section 16 lists only these three as payments that must be reduced; it does not list treatment or rehabilitation costs.

Apart from injury benefits, there is one more thing: ICBC says that if you crash while impaired, you have likely breached your insurance conditions, and you may personally have to pay the full cost of damage to other people's property or injuries to other people. This is a separate matter from whether you are convicted of a criminal offence; it depends on how ICBC handles your claim, and if you are not sure, ask a lawyer. For the licence suspension, Responsible Driver Program, ignition interlock and Driver Risk Premium after an impaired driving conviction, see section 8 of Guide No. 53.

→ No. 53 · Impaired driving and medications

Some injuries are not covered by these benefits. Section 11 of the regulation lists several, for example: injuring yourself while maintaining, repairing or modifying your own vehicle; injuries caused by the actions of an animal being carried in the vehicle; and suicide or attempted suicide.

3. On the day of the crash: people first, then evidence, then report your claim

Step one: take care of people first. If someone is injured or trapped, there is a fire, or a vehicle is stopped in a dangerous spot, call 911 first. Do not stand in a traffic lane arguing about who was right.

Step two: when it is safe to do so, write down the following. ICBC's checklist for cyclists and pedestrians is useful for drivers too:

• each driver's name, contact details and driver's licence number, and which province or state issued the licence;
• each vehicle's licence plate, year, make and model;
• insurance details; for vehicles from other provinces or the U.S., ask which insurance company insures them;
• the names and phone numbers of any witnesses;
• the date, time and location of the crash, the weather and road conditions, and which direction and lane each vehicle was travelling in;
• take photos if you can: the whole scene, every vehicle's licence plate and the damage. If there is dashcam video, keep the original file.

Step three: report the claim to ICBC as soon as possible. ICBC says to report it as soon as it is safe to do so. First check which kind of person you are, because the ways you can report are different:

• Reporting by phone, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. every day, is open to everyone. In the Lower Mainland, call 604-520-8222; from Victoria and elsewhere in B.C., from other provinces of Canada and from the U.S., call the toll-free number 1-800-910-4222.
• Reporting online is open 24 hours a day, but only to the registered owner, principal driver or lessee of the vehicle involved. Go to the ICBC website, click Claims, then Report a claim. The page first asks "What best describes you?" Only if you choose the owner option can you continue online; to report online, you sign in with your ICBC account, your BC Services Card or online banking to verify your identity.
• ICBC requires these people to report by phone: passengers, pedestrians and cyclists; drivers of someone else's vehicle who are not the registered owner or principal driver; and people reporting only damage to property hit by a vehicle. If you choose one of these options online, the page will tell you to call.
• Witnesses can fill out the witness form online; see later in this section.

Have these ready before you report (ICBC's list): your driver's licence and vehicle information; the date, time and location of the crash; photos or video; contact details for the people involved and any witnesses; and receipts for anything you have already paid for. If you reported the crash to police and have a police file number, have that ready too.

If you need an interpreter on the phone. ICBC states that phone interpretation is available free of charge in 170 languages: once you are connected, just say the name of the language you need, and you will be connected to an interpreter within a few minutes. For Mandarin, say "Mandarin"; for Cantonese, say "Cantonese." You could start like this:

• "Hi, I'd like to report a car crash. Mandarin, please."
• Once the interpreter is on the line: "I was a passenger / I was a pedestrian hit by a car / I was the driver. On [date] at [time], at [intersection], the other vehicle's licence plate was … I was injured and would like to start treatment."
• At the end, be sure to ask: "What's my claim number?" Write it down.

If you felt fine at first but the pain came later. If you first reported only vehicle damage and later started having neck or back pain, see a doctor as soon as possible, then call ICBC to add the injury to your claim. The law requires you to notify ICBC "promptly" after an accident (section 56 of the regulation); the time limit for first applying for injury benefits is generally two years, explained in section 12.

If the crash happened at work, report it to WorkSafeBC first. For example, if you crash while driving a company vehicle, ICBC states that you must report to WorkSafeBC (B.C.'s workers' compensation board) first and then to ICBC. Treatment for a work injury is paid first by WorkSafeBC, and ICBC covers what WorkSafeBC does not.

If it was a hit and run. If the other driver hit you and left, ICBC's steps are:

1. If you can see the other vehicle leaving, call police right away and describe the vehicle, what the driver looked like, the licence plate and which way they went;
2. If there is a suspect, or you were injured, ICBC needs a police report, so try to report to police within 24 hours;
3. Report the claim to ICBC as soon as possible, and no later than 6 months after the crash. ICBC may ask you for photos of the damage, a statement, or even a sworn affidavit;
4. If you bought your Collision coverage from another insurance company, call that company's claims line too.

If you are in a hit and run outside B.C., call 1-800-910-4222 from where you are, and ICBC will tell you where to report it; also report it to local police within 24 hours.

If you are a witness. Write down the licence plate, what the vehicle looked like, the time and place, and what the driver looked like. Call police from the scene if you can, then fill out the Witness form on the ICBC website.

Related: for how to protect yourself and others at a crash scene and how to call 911, see Guide No. 20, Staying safe and getting help, section 6.

4. From the first few days to 12 weeks: how to use pre-approved treatment

The 12 weeks start on the day of the crash. ICBC states that for 12 weeks after the crash, the treatments below are already "pre-approved": you do not need a referral from a family doctor or nurse practitioner, and you do not need to wait for ICBC's approval. Bring your Personal Health Number (PHN) and your claim number, and you can book. The 12 weeks go by quickly, so ICBC recommends booking right away.

Pre-approved visits and how much ICBC pays per visit (for treatment from April 1, 2026 to March 31, 2027; amounts in Canadian dollars):

If a doctor recommends occupational therapy, ICBC can also pay for it; talk to your recovery specialist.

Ask the clinic first: can it bill ICBC directly, and will you have to pay a difference? Many clinics in B.C. can bill ICBC directly (direct billing), so you do not pay anything. The ICBC website has a health care provider locator where you can check which clinics bill directly. To check whether a therapist is licensed: physiotherapists, psychologists and occupational therapists can be looked up in the public directory of the College of Health and Care Professionals of British Columbia (CHCPBC), which shows their registration status; this guide has not verified where to check licences for chiropractors, massage therapists, acupuncturists, kinesiologists or counsellors. If the clinic charges more than ICBC's standard fee, you pay the difference yourself; ICBC does not reimburse it. For example, if a clinic charges $110 for one physiotherapy visit and ICBC pays $97, you pay $13 yourself each time, which adds up to $325 for all 25 visits. When you call to book, you can ask: "Do you direct bill ICBC? Will I need to pay anything extra per visit?"

If you pay up front: submit receipts within 180 days. If the clinic cannot bill ICBC directly, you pay first and then claim the cost from ICBC. Section 57 of the regulation requires you to give ICBC your receipts within 180 days (about 6 months) from the day you paid, and each receipt is counted from its own date. To submit online, sign in to ICBC's online claims service; you can also give them directly to your recovery specialist. ICBC reimburses you at its standard fees. To get your money faster, set up direct deposit in online claims.

Travel costs for treatment can also be claimed. Mileage if you drive to treatment, bus fares and parking fees may be claimable. Sign in to online claims and use the "submit expenses" section; if you cannot sign in, fill out ICBC's Treatment Travel Expense form (form number CL753).

Medical equipment: since May 1, 2025, ICBC pays first. ICBC states that for medical equipment invoices issued on or after May 1, 2025, you only need to submit them to ICBC; you do not need to go to any other insurance first.

If you have other insurance, it may pay some costs first. For example, if you bought extended health insurance yourself or have it through your employer, that plan may pay some costs first. To find out which plan to claim from first for which cost, ask the person handling your claim at ICBC (your recovery specialist or claims representative).

Do more "active" treatment. ICBC recommends combining active treatment (where you do the work yourself, such as exercise with a kinesiologist) with passive treatment (where you lie still and someone else does the work, such as massage); active treatment does more to help your body regain function.

Concussion and brain injury. If, within 12 weeks of the crash, you cannot work because of a concussion, or you have a brain injury, ICBC has a pilot program that may arrange team-based treatment or help connect you with your local brain injury association. Ask your recovery specialist whether you can take part.

Contact your recovery specialist every 2 to 3 weeks. ICBC recommends calling or emailing your recovery specialist every 2 to 3 weeks, even if everything is going well, and telling them right away if your condition changes. Your specialist's phone number and email address are in the letters ICBC sends you.

5. If you cannot work: how income replacement is calculated and how to apply

It starts on the 8th day after the crash. ICBC states that if your injuries from a crash mean you cannot work, income replacement is counted from the 8th day after the crash; the first 7 days are not counted.

How much: up to 90% of your after-tax income, based on a gross annual income of up to $122,500. This means ICBC first looks at your usual income; if your gross annual income is more than $122,500, the part above that is not counted. It then works out your usual after-tax (net) income and pays up to 90% of it.

An example (for illustration only; the actual figures are what ICBC calculates): suppose your gross annual income is below $122,500, ICBC works out that your usual after-tax income is $900 a week, you cannot work at all, and nothing else is paying you. Then for a full week from the 8th day after the crash onward, you would receive about $900 × 90% = $810.

If your income is above $122,500: Income Top-Up. ICBC sells optional coverage called Income Top-Up for people whose gross annual income is more than $122,500 and whose employer does not provide enough coverage for lost income. You buy it in steps of $10,000, up to an extra $100,000; each step raises the annual income cap used to calculate income replacement by one step. To decide whether to buy it, ask an Autoplan broker (an agent who sells ICBC insurance). Insurance brokers must be licensed, and you can check their licence in the licensee directory of the Insurance Council of British Columbia (the link is at the end of section 9).

Note: on November 3, 2026, ICBC's "If you are not responsible" page still showed the old figure of $119,000. ICBC's Enhanced Care overview, basic insurance page, shared responsibility page, time off work page and Income Top-Up page all say $122,500, and $122,500 is the figure to go by.

Claim lost-income payments from other sources first; ICBC pays the difference. ICBC is the "second payer," so you must apply for these first:

• if the crash happened at work: WorkSafeBC;
• sick leave or disability insurance from your employer;
• federal Employment Insurance (EI) sickness benefits.

Whatever you receive from these sources is deducted from ICBC's income replacement. Section 122 of the Insurance (Vehicle) Act also states that if you are entitled to this kind of payment but choose not to claim it, ICBC still deducts that payment, so be sure to apply first for anything you should apply for.

How to apply. ICBC says the best way is to apply online: sign in to online claims, select this claim under "View claims," then click the "Income benefit" section and follow the instructions. If you cannot apply online, contact your recovery specialist.

Have this information ready first (ICBC's list):

• your work history for the 52 weeks before the crash;
• your most recent pay stubs;
• your current employer's contact details;
• for each job, the start and end dates, your weekly hours and how your pay is calculated;
• any job offers you have accepted or are discussing;
• if you are self-employed: proof of your self-employment income and business, such as a corporate tax return (T2), documents showing what you do in the business, and proof of the business's gross income.

After you apply, ICBC will ask you for supporting documents, which may include pay stubs, your Notice of Assessment from the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA), and T4 slips. If you work several jobs, you must provide documents for each one. If you study full time or part time at a college or university, provide proof of enrolment. If you were already receiving another income benefit before the crash, provide the documents for that benefit too. Documents are submitted in two rounds: the first lets ICBC work out a preliminary amount so payments can start sooner; after the second, ICBC does a detailed calculation, and the amount may go up a little.

After you go back to work. If you can return to your original job, income replacement stops. If you go back part time first to ease back in, the payment is reduced based on your part-time income. Tell ICBC promptly if you return to work, reduce your hours or change jobs (section 59 of the regulation requires you to notify ICBC promptly of changes).

Even without a pay stub, you may get benefits:

• Caregivers (caregiver benefit). If, before the crash, you were the main person caring for others in your home (for example, children or elderly relatives) and you can no longer do so because of your injuries, you may receive a weekly payment to cover the cost of someone new to provide that care. Ask your recovery specialist.
• Help with daily living (personal care assistance). If after your injury you cannot bathe, dress, cook or do similar things yourself, you can ask your recovery specialist to arrange a Personal Care Assessment, with an occupational therapist assessing you if needed. If the assessment finds you need help, you can hire a professional caregiver, or have family members or people close to you help, and ICBC reimburses you subject to conditions. Keep a record of every expense and how many hours the caregiver worked each day, and submit them regularly in online claims. The monthly maximums are: $5,974 for most injuries; $7,144 for catastrophic injuries that do not need 24-hour care; and $11,872 for catastrophic injuries that need 24-hour care.
• Students, people who are not working, minors and people who have reached retirement age have separate calculations in the law (Divisions 6 to 10 of Part 10 of the Insurance (Vehicle) Act), so the example above for people who work cannot be applied to them directly; ask your recovery specialist.

6. Not better after 12 weeks: extended treatment and benefits for serious injuries

Most people recover within 12 weeks, but if you do not, there are still options. ICBC states that if your injury needs a longer course of treatment, your benefits can be extended (benefit extension). The way it works: first tell the health care provider treating you, and ask them to assess what further treatment and support you need to get back to your daily life; they then talk with your recovery specialist to get that treatment approved.

You can ask your treatment provider to write down clearly what you still cannot do (for example, climbing stairs, driving or working), what progress you have made so far, and what goals you want to reach next. For more complex cases, ICBC may arrange a Comprehensive Medical Assessment (CMA) by an independent team of health care providers.

There is no overall limit on treatment and rehabilitation. ICBC states that medical and rehabilitation benefits under Enhanced Accident Benefits have "no overall limit." But each type of treatment still has standard fees, numbers of visits and conditions for approval.

Serious, permanent and catastrophic injuries. Catastrophic injuries generally mean the loss of a limb, a traumatic brain injury, or an injury that is just as serious. ICBC has a dedicated team of senior recovery specialists who will support you for as long as you need, even for life. Benefits may include:

• Lump-sum permanent impairment compensation: up to $313,918 for catastrophic injuries. If your injury is less severe but permanent, you may still get some compensation, calculated using the impairment ratings set in law;
• Higher personal care assistance: up to $11,872 a month if you need someone with you 24 hours a day;
• Special expenses: transportation and accommodation, and, if necessary, modifying your home or vehicle;
• Recreation benefit: if a permanent injury means you can no longer do the sports or hobbies you used to, you may get extra support or reimbursement.

ICBC says the people who receive the maximum permanent impairment compensation and the maximum personal care assistance generally have injuries such as quadriplegia, paraplegia or a severe brain injury.

Family members may also get counselling. If the injured person was seriously hurt in a way that changed their life, and family members have been greatly affected, family members may be able to get counselling costs covered. ICBC states that this applies to crashes after May 1, 2021, for costs incurred after May 1, 2025. Ask your recovery specialist which family members and which kinds of counselling are covered.

Tell them when you are better. When you can do your daily activities as you did before the crash, tell your recovery specialist.

7. If a family member dies in a crash

After a family member reports the claim, ICBC assigns a recovery specialist to help you with the following:

• Funeral costs: up to $10,839;
• Grief counselling: up to $4,533 for each immediate family member. Each session is covered up to $160, or up to $246 if it is with a registered psychologist. You can see a registered clinical counsellor, a psychiatrist, a member of the clergy, an Indigenous Elder and others. To check a psychologist's registration, see section 4;
• Lump-sum death benefit: some family members can receive this. The amount depends on the age and income of the person who died, and on your relationship to them and your family situation.

Keep all receipts and documents related to the funeral. ICBC has a death benefits support guide, available in Simplified Chinese, which you can find at the bottom of ICBC's "If the crash resulted in a death" page.

Time limit for death benefits: if the family member applying was an adult on the day of the death, within two years from the date of death; if they were a minor on that day, within two years from when they turn 19 (section 55 of the regulation).

8. Getting your vehicle repaired: your share of responsibility decides who pays

Basic Vehicle Damage Coverage. This is part of Basic Autoplan and pays up to $200,000. For a crash in B.C., the part you are not responsible for is paid by your own coverage; you do not have to claim from the other driver's insurance. This is the same even if the other vehicle is not insured with ICBC. The part you are responsible for is covered by your Collision coverage; if you did not buy Collision, you pay it yourself.

An example: suppose the crash was in B.C. and ICBC assesses the repair cost at $8,000:

Deductible. This is the amount you pay yourself before insurance pays. ICBC states that when responsibility is shared, part of your deductible may be waived or refunded, depending on how much responsibility the other driver has and whether they are insured with ICBC.

Crashes outside B.C. Basic Vehicle Damage Coverage does not cover crashes outside B.C. In some parts of Canada and the U.S., local laws do not let you claim against the person who hit you; in that case, the inverse liability protection in Basic Autoplan pays for repairs in proportion to the part you were not responsible for: for example, if you were 25% responsible, it pays 75%. If you want coverage no matter who was at fault, ICBC recommends buying Collision. Injury benefits are different: they apply in both Canada and the U.S.

People from other provinces or countries who crash while driving in B.C. ICBC states that their repairs must be paid by the insurance on their own vehicle (or rental vehicle), and even if the crash was not their fault, they cannot claim vehicle damage from the other driver's insurance.

Without a vehicle while yours is being repaired. ICBC states:

• if you are not responsible and the crash was in B.C., Basic Vehicle Damage Coverage may also pay for other transportation while your vehicle is being repaired; even if you did not buy Loss of Use coverage, you can generally get a replacement vehicle if the other driver was fully at fault;
• if you bought Loss of Use (on its own, or as part of the RoadStar or RoadSide Plus packages), once your claim is accepted you can rent a vehicle, or be reimbursed for taxis, ride-hailing or transit, when your vehicle cannot be driven, is unsafe or is being repaired; there are overall and daily limits, you can only rent a vehicle of the same size, and electric vehicles are not currently approved;
• keep all receipts. ICBC's partner rental companies in Victoria and other places can bill ICBC directly (list as of September 1, 2026).

Repair steps. ICBC's collision claims page lists them as: report the claim (have your police file number ready if you have one) → a claims representative is assigned to look into what happened and assess responsibility → estimate → repair → pay the deductible after the repair. You can get the estimate at a repair shop of your choice; if you choose a shop in the ICBC Repair Network, the shop can bill ICBC directly and gives a limited warranty on the repairs it did. If you have a deductible to pay, you pay it to the repair shop. For some parts and labour that wear out normally, you may have to share the depreciation; ask the estimator. If the vehicle is not worth repairing, you are generally paid its fair market value.

If the car in the crash is leased. The registered owner of a leased car is the leasing company. When a car is declared a total loss, ICBC pays the car's market value at the time, and the cheque is made out to the registered owner and anyone else with an interest in the car; the payout may not be enough to pay what you still owe, and whether you get back any part of the down payment you made depends on the lease contract. See sections 7 and 8 of Guide No. 56.

→ No. 56 · Buying, financing, leasing or renting a car

If you damage other people's property: third party liability. Basic Autoplan also includes $200,000 of Third Party Liability coverage, which covers several situations where you are legally required to pay others: damaging something that is not a vehicle, such as a neighbour's fence; damaging items inside the other vehicle; and injuring someone or damaging their vehicle in another province or a U.S. state where they are allowed to sue you. If you are worried that $200,000 is not enough, you can buy Extended Third Party Liability.

You also generally do not sue the other driver for vehicle damage. Since May 1, 2021, when two or more vehicles collide on a highway, you generally cannot sue the other party for vehicle damage either; each side's own insurance handles it instead (section 172 of the Insurance (Vehicle) Act). The law separately defines which vehicles are included, and vehicles from other provinces and special vehicles may be treated differently; if you are not sure, ask your claims representative.

Hit and run: who pays for repairs.

• If you bought ICBC Collision: it covers it, and you pay the Collision deductible you chose, which can be as low as $300;
• If you did not buy Collision but bought ICBC Hit and Run coverage: it covers damage on a highway in B.C. caused by a driver who cannot be identified, with a $750 deductible;
• Do not wash or repair your vehicle before the estimate (this is what ICBC's hit and run page says);
• If you bought neither: you pay for all repairs yourself;
• If what was damaged was not a vehicle, such as a fence, a bicycle or items in the vehicle, and no other insurance covers it: B.C. residents can claim up to $200,000, with a $750 deductible;
• There is no deductible for treatment of injuries, and a hit and run claim does not affect your premium.

Cyclists and pedestrians: things you had with you can also be claimed. If you are hit by a vehicle, things you were carrying, wearing or using at the time, such as a bicycle, e-scooter, clothing, mobility aid or helmet, may be partly or fully covered if you were not responsible or only partly responsible. If your bicycle is how you get to work or is your main means of transportation, ICBC may also pay for other transportation. Ask your claims representative.

Motorcycle riders: protective gear can also be covered. ICBC's motorcycle safety gear page states that if your motorcycle has ICBC Collision coverage, protective gear that needs to be repaired or replaced after a crash can be covered up to $1,500. See section 8 of Guide No. 67.

→ No. 67 · Helmet rules and the Sikh rider exemption

A stolen vehicle is a different kind of claim. A stolen vehicle is not a crash, and it is covered only if you bought ICBC Comprehensive or Specified Perils coverage; if a vehicle with only Basic insurance is stolen, there is no insurance to pay for it. Every stolen vehicle must be reported to the police; write down the police file number, then make your claim with ICBC. If you have no vehicle to drive, once ICBC has accepted your claim, it starts reimbursing your transportation costs 72 hours after you reported it, up to $40 a day and up to $800 in total; if you bought Loss of Use, you can rent a vehicle right away. See section 7 of Guide No. 57.

→ No. 57 · High-theft vehicles and insurance surcharges

Related: for which insurer provides car insurance in each province, how to carry over car insurance when you move to another province, and how to check whether the person selling you insurance is licensed, see Guide No. 1, Insurance, section 5; for what to do if something happens while you are driving an Evo car share vehicle and how Evo charges damage fees, see Guide No. 27, Evo car share and BCAA membership, sections 4 and 9.

9. How responsibility is assessed, and whether your premiums will go up

How ICBC assesses responsibility. The claims representative will ask you what happened and, if needed, get statements from the other driver, passengers and witnesses. They may also look at the police report, consult the estimator who saw the damage, apply the rules of the road in the Motor Vehicle Act, and refer to past court decisions on similar crashes. Once a decision is made, ICBC will send you a letter telling you whether you are fully, partly or not responsible. The ICBC website also has a "Crash examples" page that explains which rule is used to assess responsibility for each type of crash.

Common percentages: 0%, 25%, 50%, 75% and 100%. When the accounts conflict, there are no independent witnesses, or the evidence is unclear, each side may be found 50% responsible.

When your premium goes up. If you are more than 25% responsible, your premium will generally go up when you next renew or buy a new policy; both Basic and optional insurance may go up, and other policies on which you are listed as a driver may also be affected. In general, the more crashes you have, the more you pay; ICBC says the only exception is for people with a long safe-driving record and no previous claims. When a learner (L) driver is responsible, in some situations the premium may not be affected.

In these situations your premium will not go up:

• you are not responsible at all: ICBC states that the claim will not affect your premium;
• a hit and run claim: ICBC states that it does not affect your premium.

If someone else crashes your vehicle, look at the record and your premium separately. ICBC states that "crashes follow the driver": if a friend borrows your vehicle and crashes, the crash goes on your friend's record, not yours. But this does not mean your premium is never affected: the crash records of the drivers listed on your policy also count toward the premium for your vehicle (for the driver portion, 75% is based on the principal driver and 25% on the listed driver with the highest risk). If someone who is not listed on your policy drives your vehicle and has a crash, and you did not buy Unlisted Driver Protection, you have to pay an extra amount; this protection also does not cover crashes by members of your household, employees, people who drive the vehicle regularly, or people without a driver's licence.

If you want to know how much it will go up. ICBC states that an accurate figure can only be estimated within 6 weeks of your renewal date (that is, when you get your renewal reminder); ask ICBC or an Autoplan broker. Before that, ICBC cannot give an estimate.

For a minor crash, consider paying ICBC back yourself. If nobody was injured, the damage is small and you were partly responsible, ICBC says it may be cheaper to pay the amount of the claim back to ICBC (repaying a claim), so that it does not affect your future premiums. Ask an Autoplan broker whether it is worth it.

Related: traffic ticket fines, DPP / DRP and your insurance premium are three separate amounts of money; see Guide No. 19, Traffic tickets, disputes and penalty points, section 10. For the fine and points for using a phone while driving, see Guide No. 33, Phones and driving in B.C., section 9. For the rules for N and L drivers, see Guide No. 6, Driver licensing, section 3. For whether not having winter tires can affect responsibility if you crash in winter, see Guide No. 30, Winter tires in B.C., section 8.

10. How to challenge an ICBC decision, step by step

Disagreements fall into two kinds: decisions about injury benefits (for example, physiotherapy is no longer approved, or your income benefit was calculated too low), and your share of responsibility (for example, you think you were not responsible but ICBC found you 50% responsible). The routes for the two are different.

Decisions about injury benefits

ICBC sets out these steps in this order:

1. Start with your recovery specialist. Ask them to explain why they made the decision and what factors they considered; you can also use the chance to provide new information and ask questions. You can ask them to put the reasons in writing and say what information is still missing. If the issue is your income benefit, ask for a breakdown of the calculation and check your income and the other benefits deducted. If treatment was stopped, ask your treatment provider to write down clearly what you still cannot do, how far you have progressed, and what further treatment could improve.
2. Talk to a claims manager. If you are still not satisfied, ask your recovery specialist for the manager's name and contact details, or call 1-800-910-4222 and ICBC will arrange for a manager to contact you.
3. Contact ICBC's Fair Practices Office. If you have spoken with the manager and still feel the issue is not resolved, call 1-800-445-9981 or email FairPractices@icbc.com. ICBC requires you to speak with the claims manager before contacting this office. It can investigate decisions or practices you believe are unfair, help find a solution, and tell you what other ways there are to resolve the dispute.
4. Apply to the Civil Resolution Tribunal (CRT). The CRT is independent of ICBC and can resolve disputes without going to court; disputes about whether you can get benefits fall under it. ICBC and the CRT both state that there is a time limit (limitation period) for applying. How long it is depends on the kind of dispute; before you apply, check using the CRT's Solution Explorer (a free online question-and-answer tool that does not ask for your name), or call the CRT and ask; if you are not sure, talk to a lawyer (section 11 explains how to look up a lawyer). ICBC does not say that the time limit stops running while you go through its internal steps, so keep track of the time limit separately and check it early; do not wait until you have finished all the internal steps before asking.

ICBC's Enhanced Care overview also states that if you have used ICBC's internal channels and are still not satisfied, you can contact the B.C. Ombudsperson.

Your share of responsibility

Section 148.8 of the Insurance (Vehicle) Regulation and sections 9 and 10 of the Accident Claims Regulation set two 90-day time limits:

ICBC's steps are: first contact the claims representative and point out what was missed; then contact their manager; if you still disagree, the manager will refer your file to the Responsibility Review Team, which issues the CL722. When you speak with the claims representative or manager, say clearly that you are requesting a detailed responsibility assessment in writing, and keep the date you submitted it and proof that you did, so that you do not miss the 90 days.

At the CRT, it is up to you to prove two things: first, that ICBC was wrong or unreasonable in assessing your responsibility; and second, that your responsibility is less than what ICBC assessed. So keep the original dashcam video, witness information, scene photos and sketches. If the CRT changes ICBC's decision, ICBC will change it to match the CRT's result.

About the CRT. The CRT handles most vehicle accident disputes in B.C., including whether you can get benefits and the share of responsibility ICBC assessed. The CRT's website says that because of the number of applications, it may take several months from applying until a Dispute Notice is issued, and benefits disputes may be given priority. Phone: 1-844-322-2292 (toll free in North America).

11. Can you still sue the other driver?

In principle, no. Section 115 of the Insurance (Vehicle) Act: no one may start a lawsuit, or continue one already started, for bodily injury caused by a vehicle accident. So even if the other driver was fully at fault, you generally cannot sue them separately for damages such as pain, emotional distress or loss of enjoyment of life.

A few exceptions (section 116). You can sue the following for "non-pecuniary damages" (such as pain and emotional distress) and punitive damages:

• a vehicle manufacturer, for its manufacture of the vehicle;
• a vehicle dealer, for its sale of the vehicle;
• a manufacturer or supplier of vehicle parts;
• a repair shop or other vehicle service provider, for its repair services;
• a licensed bar or restaurant where customers drink on the premises, for its sale of alcohol to the customer;
• a person who injured someone while driving and was convicted of a criminal offence listed in the regulation. The offences listed in section 12 of the regulation include criminal negligence causing death or bodily harm, dangerous driving, impaired driving by alcohol or drugs, refusing to comply with an alcohol or drug test, failing to stop after an accident (hit and run), fleeing from police, and stealing a vehicle. ICBC puts it this way: if the other driver is convicted of certain criminal offences (such as impaired driving), you can still sue them for certain damages.

It takes a "conviction." The law says "convicted." It is not enough that the other driver only got a traffic ticket, was charged, or was suspected by police of drinking.

People in a stolen vehicle cannot sue. A person who knew or ought to have known that the vehicle was stolen or being used without the owner's consent, and still voluntarily rode in it or drove it, cannot use these exceptions (section 116(5)).

You can always hire a lawyer. ICBC states that you have the right to hire a lawyer at any time, and a lawyer can advise you during the claims process. If you want to sue someone, work out time limits, or are unsure before going to the CRT, talk to a lawyer licensed in B.C. Before you hire one, look them up in the Lawyer Directory of the Law Society of British Columbia: open the page, type the lawyer's last name into the "Last name" field (in English letters), and optionally the first name and city; the results show whether they can currently practise, their contact details, and any discipline history. The Law Society itself does not recommend lawyers; its "Finding a Lawyer" page lists ways to find one and also mentions Access Pro Bono (free legal services) and Legal Aid.

12. Time limits in one table, and a checklist before you act

Time limits:

A few more points:

• When an injured person is not capable of managing their own affairs, the 2-year time limits for first applying for injury benefits and death benefits are paused until the person regains capacity, or until a legal representative becomes aware of the matter, and then continue to run (section 55(2) of the regulation).
• If ICBC considers it fair, it can extend these time limits for first applications, even after a time limit has passed (section 165 of the Insurance (Vehicle) Act). But do not count on this; acting on time is the safest.
• These two points apply only to the time limits for first applying for benefits. The 180 days for submitting receipts, the two 90-day limits for the CL281 and CL722, and the time limit for going to the CRT are not included.
• If you have not received any benefits within 2 years of the crash, or more than 2 years have passed since your last payment, and you then apply for benefits such as income replacement or personal care assistance, ICBC must first find that the crash was the main cause of your injury before it will approve them (section 58 of the regulation).

Checklist before you act:

• If anyone is injured, call 911 first; when it is safe, write down the other driver's details, the licence plates, insurance and witnesses, take photos, and keep any dashcam video.
• Report the claim as soon as possible: call 1-800-910-4222 between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. every day (604-520-8222 in the Lower Mainland), and if you need an interpreter, say "Mandarin" or "Cantonese"; if you are the registered owner, principal driver or lessee, you can also report online 24 hours a day.
• Write down your claim number; bring your claim number and PHN to treatment.
• Book your pre-approved treatment in the first 12 weeks right away; first ask the clinic whether it can bill ICBC directly and whether you need to pay a difference each visit.
• Keep all receipts and submit them within 180 days; also keep track of travel costs for treatment.
• If you cannot work: first apply for EI sickness benefits, your employer's disability insurance or WorkSafeBC, then apply for income replacement in online claims.
• Contact your recovery specialist every 2 to 3 weeks.
• When you receive a CL281 or CL722 letter, write down the date on the letter and count 90 days from each.
• If you disagree, start with your recovery specialist or claims representative, then the manager, then the Fair Practices Office, then the CRT; keep track of the time limits separately.
• If you want to sue someone or are unsure, look up a lawyer in the Law Society of British Columbia's directory first.

Related guides

• → No. 20 · Staying safe and getting help
  At a crash scene, people come first: call 911 if anyone is hurt and say which road and direction you are on; those involved stay at the scene and exchange details once it is safe (section 6).
• → No. 1 · Insurance
  Which insurer provides car insurance in each province, how to carry over car insurance when you move, and how to check whether the person selling you insurance is licensed (section 5); how to ask for a written explanation and complain if a claim is denied (section 9).
• → No. 27 · Evo car share and BCAA membership
  If you crash or scrape an Evo car share vehicle, once everyone is safe, call Evo's 24-hour line right away; how Evo charges damage fees when the vehicle is damaged (sections 4 and 9).
• → No. 19 · Traffic tickets, disputes and penalty points
  How to read, pay and dispute a ticket, why a DPP or DRP bill can arrive after you get points, and why fines, DPP / DRP and your insurance premium should be looked at separately (section 10).
• → No. 33 · Phones and driving in B.C.
  What the law counts as "using" a phone while driving in B.C.: the usual result is a $368 fine and 4 points, and L and N drivers cannot use any electronic device at all.
• → No. 6 · Driver licensing
  Supervisor, passenger and time-of-day limits for L and N drivers, and how N drivers move up to a Class 5 licence (section 3).
• → No. 30 · Winter tires in B.C.
  Which routes require winter tires and on which dates, which tires count as legal winter tires, and whether not having winter tires can affect fault in a crash (section 8).
• → No. 53 · Impaired driving and medications
  Driving impaired by alcohol, drugs or medicine that makes you drowsy: if you crash while impaired, your insurance may not cover it; and the B.C. licence suspension, Responsible Driver Program, ignition interlock and Driver Risk Premium after a conviction.
• → No. 56 · Buying, financing, leasing or renting a car
  ICBC insurance for leased and rented cars: you buy the insurance for a leased car yourself, and leasing companies often require higher third party liability; when renting, whether to buy the rental company's protection or use ICBC rental coverage or your credit card's; and why a down payment may be lost if a leased car is written off early.
• → No. 57 · High-theft vehicles and insurance surcharges
  If your vehicle is stolen, report it to the police and write down the file number, then claim with ICBC: you need Comprehensive or Specified Perils coverage, how transportation costs are reimbursed, and how ICBC pays if the vehicle is not found, is found, or is a total loss; items stolen from your vehicle and stolen catalytic converters; and how to get ICBC's anti-theft discount.
• → No. 67 · Helmet rules and the Sikh rider exemption
  Whether you need a helmet on a motorcycle or bike in B.C. and the fines for not wearing one; with Collision coverage on a motorcycle, protective gear is covered up to $1,500; whether riding without a helmet under the Sikh helmet exemption affects a claim is not stated in the laws or on ICBC's pages, and how to ask ICBC (section 8).

Main official links in this guide

These are the official pages used most in this guide. ICBC's web pages; the text of the Insurance (Vehicle) Act, the Enhanced Accident Benefits Regulation, the Insurance (Vehicle) Regulation and the Accident Claims Regulation on BC Laws (each page says it is current to October 27, 2026); and the pages of the Civil Resolution Tribunal (CRT), the Law Society of British Columbia, the Insurance Council of British Columbia and the College of Health and Care Professionals of British Columbia (CHCPBC) were all opened and read on November 3, 2026; the B.C. Ombudsperson's website could be opened. A few things we could not check: exactly how many days the time limit is for taking a benefits dispute to the CRT, since ICBC and the CRT both say only that there is a time limit; part of the list on ICBC's income replacement documents page loads separately, and we were not able to read it; we did not read ICBC's PDF guides, so for how much the caregiver benefit pays each week and how benefits are calculated for students and people who are not working, this guide only says to ask your recovery specialist; and we have not verified the official places to check licences for chiropractors, massage therapists, acupuncturists, kinesiologists or counsellors. Other links are at the end of each section.