AMONG THE AUTO INSURANCE CHANGES THE B.C. GOVERNMENT IS PROPOSING:

FREE CRASHES

Allow one free at-fault crash after 20 years of incident-free driving, instead of 13 years. The ICBC says 40 per cent of claims are forgiven each year for drivers who are at their maximum good-driver discount rate.

After a free crash, require 10 years of crash-free driving before a driver can earn another free crash.

KEEPING YOUR DISCOUNT

Require 10 years before a driver returns to a pre-crash insurance discount level, rather than three, after any at-fault crash.

Limit or eliminate a program that allows drivers to repay their vehicle claims cost in an at-fault crash, thereby avoiding an insurance hike. The ICBC says 10 per cent of claims are repaid like this.

PENALIZING DRIVERS OF OTHER PEOPLE’S VEHICLES

Change the driver-based model so that the owner of a vehicle is not penalized if a crash is caused while someone else is driving. The ICBC says one in five drivers in a crash are driving someone else’s car.

Ask owners to list all the people who might drive their vehicle. If an unlisted driver causes a crash, the ICBC would hit the owner with a one-time fee and put the crash on the driver’s record for 10 years. There may be exemptions for events like a medical emergency.

Charge a higher fee for owners who don’t list a driver who causes a crash and resides with the owner, such as a son or daughter.

CHANGES FOR SENIORS AND NEW DRIVERS

Lower the discount rate for seniors, who get a 25 per cent break, after a first at-fault crash, and remove it entirely after a second crash.

Impose an insurance premium on residents new to B.C. for three years before discounts can apply.

Eliminate discounts for new drivers after a first at-fault crash.

Extend additional discount rates for up to 40 years of safe driving.

BIGGER PENALTIES

Hike the cost of driver penalty points and driver risk points by 40 per cent over two years for drivers with multiple serious convictions like excessive speeding, distracted driving and impaired driving.

Include driving tickets in optional insurance rates.

NEW DISCOUNT PROGRAMS

Offer a 10 per cent discount on basic insurance rates for people who install automatic emergency braking systems.

Create a new 10 per cent basic insurance discount for those who drive fewer than 5,000 kilometres a year.

The government public consultation period runs until April 5.