We’re told sharing is caring
We’re told family comes first. But when it comes to car insurance in BC, sharing can cost you more. For many families, the system managed by the Insurance Corporation of British Columbia doesn’t feel like protection — it feels like pressure.
Paying Premiums… But Who Benefits?
Families work hard to afford monthly insurance payments. For many households, car insurance is not optional — it’s required to get to work, school, medical appointments, and daily responsibilities.
Yet the frustration is growing.
Drivers often feel the only people satisfied with the system are those employed by it. When customers feel financially strained but the institution appears secure, trust begins to weaken.
If drivers fund the system, shouldn’t they feel supported by it?
Strict With Drivers, Generous Elsewhere?
When filing a claim or requesting reimbursement, drivers describe rigid processes, heavy scrutiny, and little flexibility.
At the same time, approved repair shops and accredited mechanics operate within structured agreements that seem far less restrictive.
To everyday families, this creates the perception of imbalance:
Individuals are questioned.
Institutions are protected.
Even if that perception isn’t always accurate, it matters — because trust matters.
Sharing Comes at a Price
Families have always shared vehicles.
Parents lend cars to teens for work.
Siblings help each other commute.
Spouses rotate vehicles to save fuel.
Sharing reduces expenses.
It can even reduce carbon emissions.
Yet adding a household driver often increases premiums.
Fail to list someone? A claim could be denied.
We’re told to reduce emissions and share resources — but when families actually do it, they are financially penalized.
When “sharing is caring” becomes “sharing is costly,” something feels off.
Selling Your Car? Think Again.
Even selling a vehicle within the family has complications.
If you sell a damaged car for $2,000 but a standardized valuation system lists it at $6,000, taxes may still be calculated based on the higher value.
You pay tax on money you never received.
Meanwhile, dealerships can repair vehicles and resell them at market-driven prices.
Families ask a simple question:
Why are the rules different?
The Bigger Issue
This isn’t about anger.
It’s about fairness.
When families feel squeezed from every angle — premiums, penalties, rigid processes — they start asking whether the system still works for the people funding it.
Canadian Migraines 
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