Out-of-Province & Imported Vehicle Registration in BC
Just moved to BC with a vehicle — or imported one? We handle the ICBC registration.
Your vehicle might be registered in another province, or imported from the US or overseas. Either way, it needs a BC inspection, registration and ICBC insurance before you can drive it here. Our Surrey advisors handle the registration, plates and Autoplan. With your paperwork and inspection ready, that's usually one visit. You have 30 days to register and insure your vehicle in BC.
Surrey's family-run ICBC Autoplan brokerage since 1990. Licensed advisors answer every call. No voicemail, no menus.
ICBC out-of-province vehicle registration: what to know before you arrive
You've arrived in BC, or your imported vehicle has, and now it needs BC plates and ICBC Autoplan insurance. What you need depends on where the vehicle's coming from. Most vehicles need a BC inspection before registration and Autoplan, though some qualifying private vehicles from Alberta, Saskatchewan or Manitoba may be exempt. Either way, we handle that part.
The one rule that catches people out: an out-of-province safety certificate isn't accepted here. BC wants its own inspection before the vehicle can be registered and insured. Below is what applies to your situation.
Register within 30 days of arriving
BC gives you 30 days from the day you become a resident to register and insure your vehicle here. Miss it and you can't legally drive it. But it's fixable. If you're past the deadline, or your previous insurance has lapsed, we can issue a restricted, one-day permit so you can drive the vehicle to an inspection facility and back to our office.
Which situation are you in?
From another province
The most common case: you've moved to BC with a vehicle registered elsewhere in Canada.
- Current out-of-province registration
- Proof of ownership / bill of sale
- Government photo ID
- A passed BC safety inspection
Private vehicles from Alberta, Saskatchewan or Manitoba may be exempt from the BC inspection. See the details just below.
Imported from the US
Bought in Washington or elsewhere stateside and brought across the border.
- RIV federal import registration
- CBSA Vehicle Import Form 1 (stamped)
- Recall-clearance & federal inspection
- A passed BC safety inspection
You must meet the federal import requirements before the BC inspection. A US vehicle 15+ years old (by manufacture date) is exempt from RIV and federal inspection, but the BC inspection still applies. Flood-damaged vehicles can't be registered or insured in BC.
Imported from overseas (incl. JDM)
Japanese imports and other overseas vehicles — popular with enthusiasts here.
- CBSA import documentation (Form 1)
- A passed BC safety inspection
- Proof of ownership
Vehicles 15+ years old (by date of manufacture, not model year) are exempt from the federal RIV program. Right-hand-drive is eligible once it passes inspection.
Alberta, Saskatchewan or Manitoba vehicle?
Qualifying private vehicles from these provinces may be exempt from BC's pre-registration safety inspection. It depends on the model year, ownership and any prior inspection. Personally leased vehicles can have different rules. Call us to confirm and we'll check your vehicle's details before you book anything.
Bring the vehicle. We'll verify it on the spot
What your advisor checks against your paperwork
Before ICBC can register an out-of-province or imported vehicle, your advisor has to see it in person and check it against your documents:
- Vehicle Identification Number (VIN)
- Make, model and exact trim
- Body style
- Exterior colour
- Odometer reading
- Any visible prior damage or repairs
If the VIN or description doesn't match the documents, we fix it before registration. That's why we ask you to bring the vehicle to our Surrey office. Park out front and we'll come sight it.
What to bring to Prime
- Your out-of-province registration, or import paperwork
- Proof of ownership / bill of sale
- CBSA Vehicle Import Form 1 with both stamps, for imported vehicles
- RIV / federal inspection confirmation, for US imports
- Your passed BC inspection (not required if your vehicle qualifies for the AB/SK/MB exemption — ask us first)
- Government photo ID
- The vehicle itself
Not sure which of these you need? Call us first and we'll confirm your list before you come in.
How it works
Call us at 604-582-0557 and tell us where the vehicle is coming from. We'll tell you which inspections and documents apply.
Get the BC inspection. For imports, get the federal clearance first. We can point you to a designated facility, or issue a restricted permit to drive there if your coverage has lapsed.
Bring the vehicle and your paperwork to our Surrey office. We verify it, register it with ICBC, issue your plates, and set up your Autoplan, often in one visit, once your documents and inspection are ready.
Drivers come to our Surrey office from Fleetwood, Guildford, Newton, Cloverdale, South Surrey, White Rock, Langley, Delta and across the Lower Mainland for out-of-province and imported vehicle registration.
Not sure what applies to your vehicle? One missing document can mean a second trip. Call before you book your inspection and we'll tell you exactly what to bring.
604-582-0557Questions people ask us
Can I insure a car imported from the US in BC?
Yes. Once the vehicle has cleared the federal import process (RIV registration, a stamped CBSA Vehicle Import Form 1, recall clearance and federal inspection) and passed a BC inspection, we can register and insure it through ICBC. One caution: flood-damaged vehicles can't be registered or insured in BC, which catches some US buyers.
Do Japanese (JDM) imports qualify for ICBC insurance?
Yes. Vehicles 15 years or older (measured from the month and year of manufacture, not the model year) are exempt from the federal RIV program, and once they clear CBSA import and pass a BC inspection they can be registered and insured. Right-hand-drive vehicles are eligible once they pass inspection.
Do I have to bring my vehicle to your office?
Yes. Your advisor has to sight the VIN, trim, body style, colour, odometer and any damage in person to match the ICBC record. Park out front of our Surrey office and we'll come to it. It only takes a few minutes.
How long do I have to register after moving to BC?
30 days from when you become a BC resident. If you're past that or your previous insurance has lapsed, ask us about a restricted, one-day permit so you can drive the vehicle to inspection and back to our office.
I'm coming from Alberta — do I still need a BC inspection?
Maybe not. Qualifying private vehicles from Alberta, Saskatchewan or Manitoba can be exempt from BC's pre-registration safety inspection, depending on the model year, ownership and any prior inspection. Call us with the details and we'll confirm whether yours qualifies.
Is my out-of-province inspection accepted in BC?
In most cases, no. An out-of-province safety certificate isn't accepted here. BC requires a passed inspection from a designated BC facility before an out-of-province vehicle can be registered. Some qualifying private vehicles from Alberta, Saskatchewan or Manitoba may be exempt, so call us before you book an inspection.
What if I've already missed the 30-day deadline?
It's fixable. If the 30 days have passed or your previous insurance has lapsed, you can't legally drive the vehicle. But we can issue a restricted, one-day permit so you can drive it to a designated inspection facility and back to our office, then complete the registration and Autoplan. Call us and we'll sort out the order.
Bringing a vehicle to BC? Let's get it on the road.
Call before your inspection and we'll tell you exactly what to bring. Then bring the vehicle and your paperwork to our Surrey office. ICBC Autoplan is the same everywhere. How it's handled is not.
Prime Insurance
150-8888 152A St, Surrey, BC V3R 0V7
Family-run ICBC Autoplan brokerage in Surrey since 1990. Licensed advisors, Punjabi & Hindi spoken.
Want us to check your paperwork before you come in?
Tell us where your vehicle's coming from. A licensed Prime advisor will tell you exactly what you need before you make the trip. On a 30-day deadline? We'll help you sort it fast.
- We confirm which inspection applies, or whether you're exempt
- We tell you exactly which documents you need
- One call can save you a second trip