The Roundabout Online AIRCARE & ICBC UPDATES ●
Reports by Fred Bennett,
VCB AirCare Representative ●
Links to information sources ●
Page updated
01/09/2009
INFORMATION ON ●
AirCare in British
Columbia ●
ICBC Regulations
● Collector Car License Plates
and other regulatory topics pertaining to old English cars
Fred Bennett is the Vancouver Coast Branch ICBC & AirCare Liaison. His reports from the last several years are
provided here as a resource for anyone looking for information on ICBC and
AirCare compliance of old English cars. The article on the Canadian Jag/MG Club
website by Duncan Cowen is an
outstanding "how to" guide to help you through the process of getting your old
English car ready for AirCare. Sources of information include
the following:
April 2008 AirCare/ICBC
Update
Collector Car Club Council
Fred Bennett
My apologies for the delay between the
meeting and reporting. I had hoped that allowing time might provide more
definitive answers to some questions but this was not helpful. I will pass
on the points we covered and the responses.
A meeting of the Collector Car Council was
held April 21, 2008, chaired by Nigel Matthews (ICBC), attended by John
Carlson (NAAACCC), Jim McDonald (Vintage Car Club of Canada), and Fred
Bennett (OECC).
Q: Review or clarify sanctioned
events/activities related to vintage plated vehicles.
A: Regulations permit transportation to, from, and use in exhibitions, club
activities, parades and like functions, repairs and servicing, and
presentation for vehicle inspection. Owner concerns generally focus on
defining “club activities” and avoiding any violation. Few, if any,
difficulties arise. The policy writers in Victoria are currently reviewing
usage of the plate. This is a licensing, not an underwriting, issue. To be
followed up.
Q: Review the process regarding the use of
vintage/collector vehicles for movie making.
A: Vintage/collector approved vehicles are not licensed or insured for use
on movie sets. Permission to do so must be obtained from ICBC. Your Autoplan
broker will refer to Autoplan Bulletin “Permission for Collector Vehicles to
be Used on Movie Sets,” November 8, 2002, Number 2002-15, pages 1 and 2.
This procedure may cover active collector plated vehicles, vehicles insured
under a collector multiplate policy, and unrenewed or stored collector
vehicles. A Temporary Operation Permit will be required and, possibly, a
temporary change endorsement. A Collector Vehicle Agreed Value policy will
not be in effect while a vehicle is being used on a film set or other
commercial usage.
Q: What is the claims frequency for vintage,
collector, and modified collector vehicles?
A: Numbers not made available at this time. It was stressed that claims
numbers are very small, premium cost increases are not being considered.
Q: Explore the possibility of instituting a
“year of manufacture”” license plate program.
A: No possibility at this time. The cost of a program change of this this
type is prohibitive.
Q: What is the status of the inclusion of
replica steel and composite bodies vehicles into the modified collector
program?
A: This issue remains on the back burner. It must be addressed by Victoria,
[but] opportunity is limited. Q What is the ICBC position on fenderless
cars? A: This is a federal (DOT) area. Vehicles must conform to DOT
requirements.
Q: What constitutes a period accessory?
A: If considering the addition of a period accessory, the best approach is
to contact Nigel Matthews (604-982-4718) and ask the question. This will
provide a definitive answer. It is also wise to provide a new picture (or
pictures) showing any additions to update your vintage/collector plate
record.
Q: What is the status of the modified A & B
issue?
A: This began as an AirCare concern. Again, this requires the attention of
Victoria with other issues having priority.
Q: The ability to distinguish between a
regular collector plate and a modified collector plate has been requested
since the beginning of the modified collector program. Can any progress in
this are be expected?
A: None. As stated earlier, cost of making program changes, especially to
accommodate a small customer group is prohibitive.
Q Are blue-dot tail light lenses legal and
able to pass a collector vehicle safety inspection.
A: No, blue-dot lenses are not acceptable and will not pass a safety
inspection. This a federal Department of Transportation responsibility and
ruling.
From time to time the Council has brought the
above issues up in order to “keep them on the table.” It appears that there
is little appetite for change at this time. We will continue to pursue these
and any other issues which are brought forward. It should be pointed out
that vintage and stock collector vehicle owners have the fewest number of
issues.
For immediate or individual concerns, you may
contact:
► ICBC Collector/Vintage: Nigel Matthews (604-982-4718)
►AirCare Collector: Ron Leavitt, Emissions Advisor (604-453-5163) - have
your vehicle registration number available ►Fred Bennett (604-939-1773)
April 2007 AirCare/ICBC
Update
Collector Car Club Council
Fred Bennett
A regular meeting of the Collector Car Club
Council was held April 24, 2007. Present were: Peter Hill, PVTT(AirCare) –
Chair, Martin Lay, PVTT, Dave Gourley, PVTT, Ed Theobald, ETC(AirCare), Rob
Robinson, ETC, Nigel Matthews, ICBC, Fred Bennett OECC/CCCC, John
Carlson, NAAACCC, Jim McDonald, Vintage Car Club, Harold Wellenbrink,
SVABC
AirCare issues:
1. AirCare III Program.
• On-Board Diagnostic (OBD) testing
implemented for 1998 and newer vehicles
• Vehicles 7 years old and newer exempted from testing. Test numbers
drastically reduced
2. Since 2002 Collector status vehicles were
only required to pass the “static” (no dynamometer) AirCare Testing. The
full test could be taken if wished. During the last quarter of 2006, 169
1975 and newer vehicles applied for Collector status. Of these only 2
requested the idle (static) only test. The remaining 167 received the full
test. Based on these findings a change in policy has been made. 1975 and
newer vehicles, applying for collector status will receive a one time full
dynamometer (ASM) test. 1974 and older vehicles may continue to receive
the “idle only” test. On application for Collector status to
ICBC the
applicant will receive a letter stating the vehicle qualifies for the
“appropriate” test.
Item of interest: for the year 2006 cars of
the following year were tested
1980 year vehicles – 3267
1970 year vehicles – 634
1960 year vehicles – 106
1959 year vehicles – 69
1924 year vehicles – 3
1923 year vehicles – 4
3. The future of AirCare
• The current AirCare contract ends effective
December 31, 2011
• The Province will conduct a review of AirCare in 2009 – 2010. This will
determine the need for a future program and, if so, what form.
• The AirCare Administrative offices and laboratory facilities will move
from the Wayburne location to the Caribou Industrial Park this summer.
ICBC Issues
1. It was confirmed that period correct,
cosmetically unaltered a.m. radios, modified to receive FM broadcast are
now acceptable for Collector status. The radio must appear to be original.
One firm able to carry out this type of modification is: Wood Radios Vintage
Radio Repair and Restorations 604 594 5677
2. Composite versus metal vehicle bodies.
This issue remains unresolved.
3. ICBC definition of period accessories.
The accessory must have been available at the time the vehicle was sold as
new.
4. Concerns regarding the importation of
right-hand drive vehicles (15 year criteria). ICBC has safety concerns
regarding the importation of, primarily, Japanese right-hand drive vehicles
under the 15 year rule. Nigel Matthews advised that Transport Canada is
re-thinking the 15 year importation policy.
5. Archived vehicle registration numbers.
ICBC deletes inactive registration numbers from their system. Eventually
these deleted numbers are re-issued to other vehicles. This results in some
older or vintage vehicles receiving new registration numbers when the owners
wish to license their previously registered vehicles.
Future of the Collector Car Club
Council
When initially formed the Collector Car Club
Council consisted of representatives from AirCare, three car club
representatives and was chaired by a member from AirCare. Later the Council
was joined by a representative from ICBC, currently Nigel Matthews.
Due to the changing focus of car hobbyist
concerns from AirCare to those related to licensing and insurance, a review
of the Council structure was agreed upon. Nigel Matthews offered to
facilitate future meetings of the Collector Car Club Council at ICBC and
would invite AirCare Representation when an AirCare concern was raised by
the hobby. Club representatives will be: John Carlson, NAAACCC, Jim
McDonald, Vintage Car Club, Fred Bennett, OECC/CCCC, Harold Wellenbrink,
SVABC. All major related concerns are to be referred to the Council.
Collector/Vintage car concerns or need for
information – Contact Fred Bennett, 604 939 1773.
National Association of Antique Automobile Clubs of Canada Corporation News Report and Update #6, October 2001
We have been making excellent progress dealing with the Air Care program in British Columbia. The NAAACCC has a representative
that sits on the Air Care Board representing the collector car community. This board consists of three representatives from the collector
car community: Jim MacDonald for VCCC, Fred Bennett for SVABC, and John Carlson for NAAACCC. The meetings have brought a
new approach to the way collector vehicles are viewed and in the very near future a new set of vehicle emission guidelines will start to be
formulated based on actual figures derived from actual tested vehicles.
It should be noted that the Federal Government has allocated
48.4 million dollars to upgrade Air Care Canada wide. They have also allocated 28 million dollars to improve existing facilities in
Canada. BILL C-32 has been passed and is focusing its goals to improve our air quality over the next five years. The NAAACCC has
always supported clean air efforts and will continue to do so. However, we will also continue to provide the Government with
information pointing out how relatively insignificant the collector car hobby is as a pollution contributor and the many benefits the collector
car hobby provides by way of historical preservation and a genuine increase in revenues to local communities.
A good
example of the revenue generated and the public spectator involvement is illustrated by the recent Langley, British Columbia “Cruise
In." It was estimated that more than two hundred thousand (200,000) collector car enthusiasts viewed the vehicles on display. Reports
from the local merchant community were very positive and overwhelmingly in support of the event. The revenues in Provincial and Federal
taxes alone must have been very significant.
