Snowmobile insurance in BC

FernieHawk · Dec 11, 2018

I'm sure this has been covered before but I would like to see if anyone has current information.

I just got back from the local insurance/ICBC office after registering a used sled.

The agent said ICBC liability insurance is required for staging areas and crossing highways at legal crossings.

The agent also said liability is required for crown land/Forest Service roads. ICBC or a third party insurer (Capri) can provide this insurance.

I told them I didn't believe it was law to have liability insurance but they insisted the rules have been in place for a while now, but there has been a lot of misunderstanding.

Anyone done the research yet?

The point of this thread is to discuss whether or not its required by law....not if its a smart thing to be insured.

catinthehat · Dec 11, 2018

Here is the section in the Forest Service Roads Act dealing with snowmobiles. The first sentence says it all.
Snowmobiles

3

(1) Despite the requirements of sections 2 (c) and 12, a person is not required to hold a subsisting driver's licence issued under the Motor Vehicle Act or a valid and subsisting contract of third party liability insurance while operating a snowmobile on a forest service road in compliance with subsection (3).
(2) Subject to compliance with subsection (3) and with the Motor Vehicle (All Terrain) Act and the regulations under that Act, a person may operate a snowmobile on a forest service road.
(3) A person must not operate a snowmobile on a forest service road if it appears that the road has been snowplowed, or that the road is otherwise fit for travel by motor vehicles other than snowmobiles.
(4) Despite subsections (1) to (3), snowmobiles that operate on the Gold Rush Snowmobile Trail may use plowed forest service roads, subject to:
(a) the driver's licence and insurance provisions in this regulation for other motor vehicles,
(b) the implementation of the safety and risk management plan for the trail, and
(c) the use of a helmet by the driver and passengers of the snowmobile.
(5) Despite subsections (1) and (3), in the circumstances referred to in subsection (3), a person may operate a snowmobile on a forest service road for the purpose of crossing the forest service road, subject to the following:
(a) the requirements of the driver's licence and insurance provisions in this regulation for other motor vehicles;
(b) the driver and passengers of the snowmobile must wear a helmet;
(c) the driver of the snowmobile must
(i) yield the right of way to traffic on the forest service road,
(ii) exercise due care and attention, and
(iii) take reasonable precautions for the safety of other persons using the forest service road.
[am. B.C. Reg. 302/2012.]

They are claiming that because staging areas are plowed they fall under subsection 3.

FernieHawk · Dec 11, 2018

So according to those rules, ICBC liability is required at a plowed staging area...but not required if staging at an un-plowed staging area, un-plowed FS Roads or out in the boonies on crown land.

ferniesnow · Dec 11, 2018

FernieHawk said:
So according to those rules, ICBC liability is required at a plowed staging area...but not required if staging at an un-plowed staging area, un-plowed FS Roads or out in the boonies on crown land.

and what about a staging area on private land? Is liability insurance required?

LUCKY 7 · Dec 11, 2018

I'm buying liability insurance this week just to cover my you know what if a accident happens. and sh** can happen

catinthehat · Dec 11, 2018

FernieHawk said:
So according to those rules, ICBC liability is required at a plowed staging area...but not required if staging at an un-plowed staging area, un-plowed FS Roads or out in the boonies on crown land.

That is their contention,(at least the way it was explained to me), however, even with liability insurance it doesn't say you can ride a plowed road. As always they leave everything ambiguous and open to interpretation.

52weekbreak · Dec 11, 2018

LUCKY 7 said:
I'm buying liability insurance this week just to cover my you know what if a accident happens. and sh** can happen

Excellent decision Lucky 7.

This subject comes up every year. On another thread, (Accident at Owl Creek I think) there was a collision between two sleds going opposite directions. One seriously injured and the other apparently disappeared. The seriously injured person was in a coma and for him and his family this is a f8cking nightmare. Suppose he winds up in a wheelchair or otherwise does not recover. A lawsuit could quite easily run into the seven figure range which would seriously screw up anybody's life IF THEY DON'T HAVE INSURANCE! This could have happened anywhere on the hill, in a bowl or any other place we go to. Even if a court decided that the liability was 50 50, that means one is only responsible for half that seven figure list of damages.

Seriously you guys need to quit splitting hairs and rolling the dice to save what - a couple hundred bucks a year? Unbelievable.

kfrey · Dec 11, 2018

The cost of third party liability -" legal liability or bodily injury to or death of any person or damage to property (exclusive of costs and post judgement interest)" from my Wawanesa

policy, for a $2 000 000.00 limit is $25.

Just get this type of insurance and be covered.

acesup800 · Dec 11, 2018

kfrey said:
The cost of third party liability -" legal liability or bodily injury to or death of any person or damage to property (exclusive of costs and post judgement interest)" from my Wawanesa

policy, for a $2 000 000.00 limit is $25.

Just get this type of insurance and be covered.

You may have gotten a smoking deal, but from Beaconand Got Toys, 2,000,000 is around $90/year. The basic 200,000 is $53. Not sure how any policy would only be $25 unless it is an add-on.

Tchetek · Dec 11, 2018

Insurance companies will screw your if they can.

You need to have coverage for your insurance company to battle for you! Even if you are not at fault.

Look up ballsdeep recent issues. Other driver admitted fault, but he got screwed because he didn’t have collision on his vehicle.

Bc needs to wake up and insurance needs to be mandatory on all public land!

LUCKY 7 · Dec 11, 2018

The other day my quote was $65 for 2m

dgiles said:
You may have gotten a smoking deal, but from Beaconand Got Toys, 2,000,000 is around $90/year. The basic 200,000 is $53. Not sure how any policy would only be $25 unless it is an add-on.

rknight111 · Dec 11, 2018

Your insurance is quite cheap in BC on snowmobiles, In Alberta through the ASA policy through draydon is around $480 per year, that's full coverage though. At those BC prices Is it worth the risk to ride without insurance.

kfrey · Dec 11, 2018

Mine is an add on but it can't be too expensive on its own either.

Bottom line is get some liability insurance. We've seen the problems it causes if you don't.

And then stick around to solve the problem. It's not that expensive to stay legal.

A bumper or trail fee. OMG not an engine!

catinthehat · Dec 11, 2018

It never ceases to amaze me how fast a thread on this site goes sideways.
As stated in the original post this wasn't about whether or not to get insurance, it was questioning the legal requirement for it.

ferniesnow · Dec 11, 2018

Question still not answered; in a staging area on private land in BC, does one require liability insurance by law.

moyiesledhead · Dec 11, 2018

ferniesnow said:
Question still not answered; in a staging area on private land in BC, does one require liability insurance by law.

Liability insurance isn't required on sleds anywhere anytime by law in BC. It would be up to the private land owner to make it a requirement for access.

52weekbreak · Dec 11, 2018

catinthehat said:
It never ceases to amaze me how fast a thread on this site goes sideways.
As stated in the original post this wasn't about whether or not to get insurance, it was questioning the legal requirement for it.

HaHa. You put up post number 2 and that is going to be as good as it gets because:
1. If a cop decides to give you a ticket for no insurance you are either paying the fine or going to court;
2. A judge makes the final decision in traffic court whereas a lawyer can only give you an opinion based on their years of study and education - refer back to the beginning of the sentence;
3. Nobody on here is a lawyer or judge but in case I am wrong about the lawyers part, maybe PM me because my wife keep changing to the Christmas shows and I might need an opinion.
4. If I am wrong about a judge being a member on S&M and encountering this thread AND he is in traffic court in Alberta, I say to you "Good Day Your worship."

Cableguy · Dec 11, 2018

"PM me because my wife keep changing to the Christmas shows and I might need an opinion."
mine too whats up with that eh

I was told if government plowed or serviced ground u need liabilty
so if you unload in the walmart parking lot to drive up your buddy deck you need liabilty,
but if you hand bomb from one deck to the other you dont
technically you dont even need them registered if you stay on private land

FernieHawk · Dec 11, 2018

ferniesnow said:
Question still not answered; in a staging area on private land in BC, does one require liability insurance by law.

I was told by the agent today, that insurance on private land is not a legal requirement. So best guess is staging from private and riding onto crown land does not require insurance.

FernieHawk · Dec 11, 2018

Cableguy said:
"PM me because my wife keep changing to the Christmas shows and I might need an opinion."
mine too whats up with that eh

I was told if government plowed or serviced ground u need liabilty
so if you unload in the walmart parking lot to drive up your buddy deck you need liabilty,
but if you hand bomb from one deck to the other you dont
technically you dont even need them registered if you stay on private land

If you don't register your sled because it is used solely on private land, thereby avoiding the payment of PST, ICBC will get you when/if you try to sell your sled if the new owner wants to register the sled. ICBC will look for continuity of ownership and the new owner will be unable to register until the previous owner registers and pays the PST. Happened to me with a travel trailer.

In BC, registration is all about collecting the 12% PST on used vehicle sales and 7% on new vehicle sales. Money grab.

Snowmobile insurance in BC

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