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Coming from Ontario as a late 20's single male with no accidents or driving infractions, my insurance would have gone from $700 to $2400. I was told 'Everyone pays the same rate'. I guess they do, it's just that it is the highest possible rate.

I haven't lived in BC for quite some time, but the ICBC rate system does seem "fair" in that they classify drivers based solely (or is it just primarily?) on their driving history rather than on their demographics. The things one has at least some control of (ie your driving record) seems less arbitrary than your age, gender, etc. With that said, I don't know how ICBC deals with people who's history is from outside the province, but it seems reasonable to think they should be able to get historical data from other provinces.

http://www.icbc.com/autoplan/costs/premiums-set

Around here, we could save tons of lives by having better ROADs. Most roads here have no space berm off to the side (just trees), tons of random curves, hills, blind spots, etc. They'd save tons of lives (at huge cost, no doubt) if they straightened and flattened the roads and made them a little wider.

I understand that in BC (west coast of Canada) their socialized car insurance company which has a monopoly on car insurance uses some of their "profits" to improve roads. According to their propaganda, "A 2009 independent evaluation concluded that for every dollar invested, ICBC and customers see a return five to 12 times the investment. That is, for every dollar invested, ICBC and customers save $5.60 over two years and $12.80 over five years in reduced crash costs."

http://www.icbc.com/news/2011mar22-11
http://www.icbc.com/road-safety/safer-roads/invest-roads

As the single source for car insurance, it makes economic sense to fund this type of program, which would be much harder to structure if there were multiple competing insurance providers.

Around here, we could save tons of lives by having better ROADs. Most roads here have no space berm off to the side (just trees), tons of random curves, hills, blind spots, etc. They'd save tons of lives (at huge cost, no doubt) if they straightened and flattened the roads and made them a little wider.

I understand that in BC (west coast of Canada) their socialized car insurance company which has a monopoly on car insurance uses some of their "profits" to improve roads. According to their propaganda, "A 2009 independent evaluation concluded that for every dollar invested, ICBC and customers see a return five to 12 times the investment. That is, for every dollar invested, ICBC and customers save $5.60 over two years and $12.80 over five years in reduced crash costs."

http://www.icbc.com/news/2011mar22-11
http://www.icbc.com/road-safety/safer-roads/invest-roads

As the single source for car insurance, it makes economic sense to fund this type of program, which would be much harder to structure if there were multiple competing insurance providers.

http://www.icbc.com/

It's not the same as in Texas. In British Columbia, you pay for vehicle registration and liability insurance at the same time, to the same entity (the Insurance Corporation of British Columbia, a quasi-government company similar in status to the post office). ICBC also runs the driver licensing offices. If you want your registration to last for a year, then you pay for a year of insurance up front. The system is set up so that there is no enforcement problem. The downside is that ICBC has a monopoly on third-party liability insurance for automobiles.

Vehicle import laws in Canada are pretty protectionist too, though our exemption for private imports is "only" 15 years. Once landed, it's not difficult to register and license just about anything.

We currently have a lot of early 1990s Japanese imports running around B.C. Hell, I bought one myself (1992 Mitsubishi Delica, a 4x4 diesel minivan). The Authorities are certain something is terribly wrong with the situation, but can't quite figure out what, no matter how much money the car dealers give them to come up with something. Import enthusiasts are dead set against any change to the law, unless it involves lowering or abolishing the age limit.

...laura

That's a shame. Here in Canada we have uninsured motorist protection - if you're driving and someone without insurance smokes you you have a certain amount of coverage already.

http://www.icbc.com/insurance/insura_getsta_whacov_underi.asp

Now get this - it's a state run program as opposed to a private one...

My view is based on the scientific data that exists. I therefore want laws enacted to ban driving while using a cel phone. The more data that supports my view, the better.

http://www.psych.utah.edu/AppliedCognitionLab/Stra yerHFES04.pdf
http://www.hcra.harvard.edu/cellphones.html
http://www.utah.edu/unews/releases/03/jan/cellphon e.html
http://www.nsc.org/library/shelf/inincell.htm
http://www.ur.ku.edu/News/01N/JulyNews/July12/cell ular.html
http://www.icbc.com/Inside_ICBC/january2001news.ht ml

You sir, should be modded to the floor for your trollish ways.

Which allows the "moped sponge" technique. Rack up points on your policy, then buy a moped, transfer the "tainted" policy to the moped, and get a new policy on your Camaro, and continue driving like an idiot.

Not only that, but if a friend or family member crashes your car, I believe that both your insurance rates and their insurance rates go up. Cool, eh?

Hmm... I agree in your case, but... I know from personal experience (being on the receiving end) that running over a pedestrian in a crosswalk is somehow considered a "no-fault" accident by ICBC.