If you lease your car in BC, good news is coming your way.

In BC (similar to results across Canada), about 20% of new vehicles are leased. Leasing is often attractive because it gives you lower monthly payments and the flexibility to upgrade to newer models every few years.

The current paperwork in BC

If you fall within that 20% of leased car drivers, you’ll know that the ‘lessor’ (i.e., the company or dealer you lease the car from) must provide written authorization that allows you to get the car licenced and insured on the lessor’s behalf. Then the ‘lessee’ (that’s you, the driver) arranges and pays for the licence and insurance for your leased vehicle.

To make things easier for all, in the new year, the Government of BC is simplifying licence and insurance processes for leased vehicles so lessors and lessees can handle their transactions seamlessly.

Here’s what these new changes mean:

• BC drivers who are currently leasing, or looking to lease their vehicle, will have more control over their car insurance.
• The lessee (that’s you) can buy, change and renew your vehicle licence and insurance for the vehicle you are leasing through any ICBC Autoplan broker, such as BCAA Car Insurance.
• You can be the vehicle license holder and the insurance policyholder.
• This change aims to reduce complexity and save time for both lessees and lessors.

What you’ll soon be able to do

Once these changes go live, for policies with an effective date of January 6, 2025 or later, you will be able to:

• Complete most of your licence and insurance transactions without prior authorization from your vehicle’s lessors.
• Renew eligible ICBC Autoplan policies online for leased vehicles, just like non-lease drivers.
• Receive refund and rebate cheques without needing an authorization from your lessor.
• Choose any insurance broker (like BCAA) to renew or change your insurance policy.

Important dates to keep an eye on

This change will go live for ICBC Autoplan policies effective on or after January 6, 2025, with early renewals up to 45 days prior, starting November 22, 2024.

Ready to renew your insurance?

When it's time to renew your car insurance, get trusted advice with BCAA.

We make it easy for you to renew your car insurance from wherever you want. Give us a call at 1.888.268.2222, stop by your nearest BCAA location, or renew online at bcaa.com/car.