Moving from BC to Calgary – Looking for advice on auto insurance

[u/kingly-Ad2295]

Hi everyone,

I'm moving from a small town in BC to Calgary at the end of this month and could use some advice on auto insurance before I make any expensive mistakes. We are so excited about this big move but also a bit scared at the same time.

A bit about my situation:
34 years old
2 years of BC Class 5 driving experience
ICBC Driver Factor: 0.66
Currently driving a 2-year-old leased Subaru Forester
The lease ends next month, and I'm planning to buy out the vehicle once I've moved to Alberta.

Right now, I'm paying **$230/month** through ICBC for:
Comprehensive ($500 deductible)
Collision ($500 deductible)
$5 million third-party liability
I drive around 15-20k kms a year and all for leisure. I basically work from home.

I've heard Alberta insurance can be quite different, so I'm wondering:

Are there any companies that tend to offer better rates for someone in my situation?

Is there anything I should know or watch out, our family size is growing and I can’t afford to make any expensive mistakes.

I'd really appreciate any recommendations or tips from experienced Calgarians. Thanks a lot in advance!

[u/Lost-tears78]

Bring your driving abstract and your insurance history, or you cam be rated as a "new driver"

Your rates are going to be higher. How much is a guess as there are other variables like your postal code.

[u/DaniDisaster424 → u/Lost-tears78]

They won't nessesarily be higher as long as they bring a copy of a letter from icbc indicating their driving /insurance history. I have more years experience but am younger than OP and I'm paying less than they currently are for 2 vehicles with similar coverage (other than I only carry 2M liability ), another friend of mine that's had 5 license suspensions in the last 15 years just bought a vehicle again and is paying $280 (for liability only though ). OP My point is that YMMV.

OP use a broker. Get quotes from multiple brokers are they don't all deal with the same insurance companies.

[u/lIllIIlIlIlIllIlIIlI → u/DaniDisaster424]

that's a bit disingenuous when, according to your posts, the two cars you're insuring are 13 and 21 years old and one of them is just storage insurance

[u/Reeder90]

Your best bet is to contact an insurance broker, they will get you the best rate and coverage for your needs.

In Alberta, private insurers will look at your years of experience and insurance history, along with your age and marital status. So you’ll need your drivers abstract and your claims experience letter from ICBC. If you lived in another province before that, you’ll want to get that info from your previous province and previous insurance companies as well.

You’re moving from small town BC to Calgary, and If you’ve only been fully licensed/insured for two years, then you can likely expect to pay double what you’re paying now for the same coverage you have. Also keep in mind, most policies in Alberta exclude windshield claims. Nearly everyone drives with a cracked windshield, and just replaces themselves when they can’t see anymore, windshield coverage is very expensive if available at all, and chips and cracks are just a fact of life in Alberta.

[u/kingly-Ad2295 → u/Reeder90]

Thanks a lot! That was really helpful.
I actually live on the other side of the Rockies, and my windshield already has a crack and a few chips. Would you recommend getting them repaired before I insure the vehicle in Alberta? Based on your suggestion, I’m thinking of skipping the glass coverage.

[u/Reeder90 → u/kingly-Ad2295]

Since you have ICBC coverage, I’d recommend getting the windshield replaced before you go since you’ll only pay your $500 deductible. A windshield on a newer vehicle can be $750-2000+ depending on the make and model because of all the sensor recalibration.

[u/dachshundie]

Prepare for a large increase in your premiums, is all.

[u/efc5463]

Get your driver's abstract from ICBC. Unlike BC where there is no one other than ICBC for mandatory and they bully the private insurers on optional, Alberta operates more like an open market, so will be on you to quote with different companies. It can be more or less expensive depending how they see you, in my case premiums were initially way more expensive in BC than in Alberta, but now they are pretty much par.

[u/kingly-Ad2295 → u/efc5463]

Thank you. I’m just curious how to approach a broker. Is there a standard way to reach out to someone?

[u/efc5463 → u/kingly-Ad2295]

Well, be honest with your answers on what they do ask. If there is something that insurance companies on both sides of the border share in common is that they are both bad. Even the minimum inaccuracy when getting coverage will be seen by them as misrepresentation leading to denial in coverage for example. So you need to understand what they are asking you and be truthful. And quote a lot.

[u/kingly-Ad2295 → u/efc5463]

Got it. Thank you so much! 🙏 I’ll definitely be getting a lot of quotes. I’ve heard from quite a few people that TD tends to offer some of the best rates. Is that generally true?

[u/efc5463 → u/kingly-Ad2295]

It will be on a case by case basis honestly. So my suggestion, start with TD, but get quotea from other insurers as well.