Author Topic: First Time Insurance  (Read 2049 times)

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Offline el_flechador

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First Time Insurance
« on: October 06, 2004, 12:01:21 PM »
I haven't owned or insured a car in Canada before and it looks as though i may have found myself a ride, finally. Any suggestions on decent insurance companies, or ones to steer clear of? Are there any specialist companiesetc i guess your own experiences are more useful than any blurb i might get from a salesman.
I'm 32 and have been driving for 15 yrs, but i still expect to have a bite taken out my ass. The ride im lookin at gettin is a sixties van and its in the US at the moment.
Any advice would be appreciated.

Dott

Offline James Buchan

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First Time Insurance
« Reply #1 on: October 06, 2004, 01:15:16 PM »
Our Insurance is run by a government monopoly called ICBC - You'll get charged the same at all the agents out there...TOO MUCH!

The only other option is canadian direct insurance but I think you need to have XXX amount of driving experience prior to them insuring you....not to sure how they work.

Offline el_flechador

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First Time Insurance
« Reply #2 on: October 06, 2004, 01:19:03 PM »
Thanks James, i'll try looking into the direct thing anyway.

Russ

First Time Insurance
« Reply #3 on: October 06, 2004, 01:57:54 PM »
i think you may save 75 bucks with direct...like james said it's a monopoly
hit any agent you want and away you go

russ

Offline Chad M

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« Reply #4 on: October 06, 2004, 02:03:23 PM »
Have you guys seen what happened here in Alberta lately?  I don't know the fine details but here's an example.
18 year old male, sketchy record, 3 tickets or so - $9000.00 Annually!!
That same kid, after October 1, 2004 pays something like $2500.00.
Now these aren't exact numbers but I know they are in the ball park, we have privatized insurance here but the Alberta government finally stepped in and put a wrench into that money printing machine!  'bout time!

Offline moni

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« Reply #5 on: October 06, 2004, 02:20:27 PM »
our provincial government had been planning on scrapping icbc, but then the public figured out we'd be going the way of alberta and they backed down from that plan. if you think it was bad in alberta, you should see nova scotia. in that province, the private companies were running so amok that not only could *no one* afford insurance, the companies weren't paying out insurance claims. their provincial government's now working something out, but this has been 10 years in the works and since then, car sales in that province took a serious nose dive.
Sometimes I get the feeling the whole world is against me, but deep down I know that's not true. Some smaller countries are neutral.


Offline el_flechador

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First Time Insurance
« Reply #6 on: October 06, 2004, 04:46:11 PM »
Holy Smoke..maybe i'll just stay inside...nah

Offline Hansk

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« Reply #7 on: October 06, 2004, 07:22:25 PM »
And any vehicle from out of provence has to PASS a full mechanical inspection before it can be registered here .  
Big fat black fastback

Russ

First Time Insurance
« Reply #8 on: October 06, 2004, 09:11:48 PM »
good point hans

Offline Aircooled Angel

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« Reply #9 on: October 06, 2004, 09:43:35 PM »
correction, it has to pass a safety inspection, which includes mechanical components. not a huge deal, but something to be aware of.
 
65 Bahama Blue Beetle DAILY DRIVING TILL OCTOBER!

Matt

First Time Insurance
« Reply #10 on: October 06, 2004, 10:02:41 PM »
hmmmm...potatoe/patatoe.....I thunk it's been said.

Offline Bruce

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« Reply #11 on: October 07, 2004, 02:57:36 AM »
Dott, if you have 15 years driving experience and your driving record is clean without any \"at fault\" claims, you should look into getting a letter from your previous insurance co.  This letter may help you get lower rates from ICBC.  Worth looking into.

Offline el_flechador

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« Reply #12 on: October 07, 2004, 10:10:47 AM »
I'll bare all your suggestions in mind , im sure my past history would help but i lived on 3 different continents in 5 yrs and i know ive lost any paperwork. If the charm doesn't work i'll just have to pay up i guess.
Something i found out when in Australia and im not sure weather it is relevant here but it saved me some cash.
I was told by the guy at the insurance/registration  place that if i registered it (kombi)as a microbus it would be about 25% cheaper, apparently for this it just have to have the mounting points in the floor for the seats(which it did) even though it was fully kitted out as a camper!
This meant my on road insurance was less than 300 for the year(third party)....I do hope im not going to have to add another 0 to the number!!

Thanks to all

Dott

Anyone know where a vw friendly/ knowledgable(if such a thing exists) safety inspection place is located? Im thinking of bringing a bus up from south of the boarder :ph34r: