Vancouver, BC - Insurance Advice!

[UltrA_09]

Hey Everyone,

I will be moving to Vancouver for about 6 months (during riding season) for work and need some advice/information about motorcycle insurance. My plan is to ship the bike over to BC (I've read a few threads about that already) but I have found zero information about actually insuring bikes in BC.

Does anyone have any suggestions on Insurance companies to call?
Are rates prorated based on months similar to Ontario?
How do they treat motorcycles? Is it based on CCs alone like StateFarm/RidersPlus, or are there sport/sport touring etc. classifications like Intact/Desgardins?
Does Liability/Comprehensive/Collision coverage work the same?
Are there any motorcycle restrictions? (similar to California's emission testing?)

Luckily my insurance doesn’t expire for a few more weeks (gives me time to figure out transportation plans), and I have not yet insured my bike for the 2014 season here in Ontario. I am hoping the rates are more competitive than they are here.
If it helps, please see my details below:

Bike: 2007 Suzuki SV650s
Motorcycle Licensed: 5 years
Claims: None
Convictions: None

Any information would be appreciated!

EDIT: Well, plans changed. I won't be heading to BC this summer, I guess I'll have to endure another year paying for insurance in Ontario...but I still appreciate the info!

 

[spaceboy]

I'm assuming you're leaving the bike registered in Ontario. This means in needs to be insured in Ontario.

 

[PLau]

Insurance companies there are run by the government rather than privately owned in Ontario.

Insurance rates are A LOT cheaper than here generally, you just have to make sure your tickets are paid every year.

Just as an example, my gf cousins that live there pay $1000/year for both of their cars. They're both in their mid-late 20s

PS. Buy some rain gear if you don't already have it.... lol

 

[drumstyx]

Take your bike there, re-register it there, insure it for a year there, enjoy crazy cheap rate even after you come back.

 

[hedo2002]

Take your bike there, re-register it there, insure it for a year there, enjoy crazy cheap rate even after you come back.

Except under HTA he MUST have the bike registered at his place of residence within 7 days with the MTO so if stopped say 3 months after returning to Ontario he could get nailed with not having the bike properly registered. Once he registers the bike back in Ontario his BC insurance, (remember it is provincially run system), which he will no longer qualify to have so he will have to insure it in Ontario.

But to the OP enjoy the 6 months of savings while your there. Please post what you end up paying compared to Ontario rates.

 

[UltrA_09]

Awesome, thanks for the info! I had no idea insurance companies were run by the government, makes me wonder why they don't do the same Ontario. I'm glad there are some savings to be had. At the end of the day, I will probably end up paying around the same amount to ride my bike on the road when you factor in the transportation costs to/from BC.

When I get back, there may not be many riding days left, in which case I'll most probably re-ensure the comprehensive coverage in Ontario.

Sure, I'll post up what my current/new rates when the time comes. If there's anything else I'm missing, please let me know