HELP!! NECESSARY SWITCH car insurance and drivers lisence???

[jwilliamson]

help, there is sooo much conflicting advice on the website about this issue. i am moving from bc to seattle. i would definately prefer to keep my canadian driver's lisence and insurance!

some say that as long as you come back over the border within 6months you do so? i think someone quoted progressive of honoring this but does that mean you have to by american car insurance??

does icbc honor this?? is your coverage the same? will icbc still protect you if an accident occurs?

does it make a difference if you are a TN visa temporary resident? which i am.

OR do you absolutely have give up your bc identities and get a us insurance plan, us driver's lisence and us plates?????????

its an older car, that i own outright and is aircare approved.

anyone know the real facts about how to keep bc identity in regards to cars/driving etc...

[agnelson]

It all depends where you actually LIVE. You seem to have moved to SEA, thus your DL, plates, and insurance should reflect this. Any deviation from this puts you at risk.

To keep you BC 'identity', you need to live in BC, and commute.

This would be tru if you moved to Alberta, why do you think moving to US would be simpler?

[jwilliamson]

FYI for anyone else out there doing a BC to Washington State move! i spoke with both icbc and washington state department of transportation and washington state department of issurance commisioner. BC is the only Canadian province that has a reprocicity agreement with washington. ICBC will honor your policy you just have to change the territroy to Z, meaning out-of country, your policy may go up in price. washington state will honor this too! also you can drive in washington for up to a year with a bc lisence, BC only! not any other province. on a TN visa you are still a canadian resident, i have confirmed this with many departments, you are only a TEMPORARY us resident, despite the fact that you are physically not in BC.

[agnelson]

Doing this will likely make you taxable in BC for your TN income, which you may not want.

On a TN, you are only a Cdn residnet if you still live in canada.

Most TNs are 3 years now, and all can be renewed. Then what?