If you are in the process of moving to Alberta from B.C. you might be wondering what happens with insurance as you are in between.
Can you get Alberta Car Insurance with a B.C. License?
Yes, you can get Alberta car insurance with a B.C. license.
However, it is a temporary act that is only good for up to 90 days from when you move to Alberta. This allows you plenty of time to switch your records while you move from one province to the other.
It is important to understand that Alberta insurance and registration works differently than in B.C.
Difference Between Alberta and B.C. Insurance and Registration
In Alberta, registration and insurance are treated separately, and the insurance industry is private and competitive. In B.C. these two processes are combined.
How Do I Switch Car Insurance and Registration from B.C. to Alberta?
- Get your driver’s abstract and claims experience letter from ICBC in British Colombia.
- These documents are needed to get insurance in Alberta. It is recommended that you use an Alberta insurance broker to help you shop around and walk you through these steps.
- Now you have Alberta insurance. The insurance agent will provide you a ”pink card”. This is proof of insurance. Take the proof of insurance to an Alberta registry building to get registration for your vehicle. You may also need a bill of sale and an out of province vehicle inspection.
It should be noted that the Alberta and British Columbia insurance and registration systems do not ”communicate” with each other.
This why you need the abstract and letter for Alberta insurance.
It’s also why you may need to manually cancel your B.C. insurance when the above steps are complete.
You will also be required to get a new Alberta driver license.
This a brief overview of the process. Every detail about switching insurance from B.C. to Alberta can be found here.
Additional Reading: How to register a vehicle in AlbertaHow to register a vehicle in Alberta
In Summary
- Yes you can have Alberta insurance with a B.C. license for up to 90 days from the time you move.
- The two provinces do not share documents so you will be doing things manually.
- The 2 provinces have different ways to handle insurance and registration. B.C. combines the process at the same location.
- Alberta requires you to get insurance first from a private insurance company, then prove your insurance at a registry agent to get registration.
