Most teens spend months counting down the days until they can drive.

While they see only the possibilities, parents are also aware of the responsibilities anyone takes on when climbing behind the wheel of a vehicle.

The ICBC difference

Most other insurance companies charge some of their highest rates to young drivers. Even if teens only drive their parents' car occasionally, the parents get hit with a noticeable increase in their insurance costs.

At ICBC, youth, sex and marital status are not used to determine your premium level. Every new driver, whether 16 or 56, will start out paying the base premium level when insuring a vehicle.

Teens driving your car — declaring principal operator

If teens don't have a car of their own, chances are they will sometimes (or lots of times!) drive their parents' vehicles.

You must now declare who will be your vehicle's principal operator each time you renew. If your situation changes and your teen will be driving your car the majority of the time during the term of the policy you must redeclare when you renew.

If you don't redeclare principal operator but your teen is driving the majority of the time, your insurance may not be valid if you have a claim. See your Autoplan broker for more information.
If you are in the experienced driver rate class, in which all drivers of your vehicle must have had a valid driver's licence for 10 years or more, you will have to change your rate class.

Whatever rate class you are in, it will not affect the discount level on your premium just because a new driver starts using your vehicle on an occasional basis.

However, you should be aware that any at-fault claims affect the premium for the insured car, no matter who is driving it at the time. As the registered owner, you will pay a higher premium if your teen has an at-fault crash while driving your vehicle, but not before.