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'I forgot': BC RCMP reporting 'shocking' and 'dramatic' rise of uninsured cars

Are more British Columbians forgetting to renew their car insurance because they no longer need to put a date decal on their plates? BC RCMP suggest so.
Graeme Wood
Graeme Wood
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If you're caught driving without insurance in BC., your car will be taken off the streets at your cost and you'll be issued a $598 ticket.Burnaby RCMP

Two RCMP detachments in B.C. are reporting what they say is a sharp uptick of people driving uninsured vehicles.

Coquitlam RCMP stated Jan. 19 that its officers have issued 24 violation tickets for driving without vehicle insurance this month, calling it “a dramatic rise,” granted in January 2023 the detachment had only issued 11 such tickets for the entire month.

Mounties said they saw an overall rise in such violations in 2023 but did not state figures.

The detachment suspects the discontinuation of licence plate decals in May 2022 may be contributing to the uptick.

“When our officers stop vehicles for no insurance, drivers are often saying that they forgot or didn’t realize because they don’t have the decal reminder on their vehicle anymore,” said Staff Sgt. Mark McCutcheon, Coquitlam RCMP’s Traffic Services Commander.

“We strongly encourage drivers to ensure that their vehicles are properly insured before travelling.”

Not having a decal is one of 10 reasons the Kootenay RCMP Highway Patrol says it has heard from drivers without insurance.

“BC Highway Patrol - Kootenay has found a shocking number of drivers operating vehicles without valid insurance. From Dec. 1, 2023, to Jan. 11, 2024, BC Highway Patrol - Kootenay has located 177 drivers operating uninsured vehicles. Each driver received a violation ticket for no insurance for $598 dollars,” the detachment stated on Jan. 22.

Police note ICBC renewal notices are sent only as a courtesy and your address should be up to date with ICBC.

As a result, BC Highway Patrol has compiled the top 10 excuses encountered:

  •  ICBC never sent me a reminder.
  •  I am on the way to purchase insurance right now.
  •  I forgot.
  •  I don’t have a decal anymore.
  •  My insurance is paid for automatically, so I thought I didn’t need to renew.
  •  The registered owner is my mom, dad or friend and it’s their job.
  •  This is a company vehicle.
  •  My vehicle is actually insured, but I don’t have the documents.
  •  I cancelled the credit card that was making the preauthorized payments.
  •  I know I don’t have insurance, but I really needed to go somewhere.

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