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The Insurance Corp. of B.C.’s new rate structure is hitting young drivers hard, while at the same time could be letting some bad drivers off the hook.

Damon Langford, a Grade 12 student in Surrey, obtained his N (novice) licence a few months ago, and has been using his grandfather’s car to gain experience on the road.

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Before Sept. 1, when ICBC implemented a new rate structure, the insurance for his grandfather’s car, which listed Langford as a driver, was just over $1,400. Now the same insurance would be $2,950, more than double the previous cost.

If Langford was to become the principal driver for the car — something he was considering because his grandfather may stop driving due to his age — he would be paying premiums of more than $5,900.

Photo by Nikola Bennett / PNG

That’s not something he or many young drivers can afford, said Langford.

“I’d be willing to pay the price — maybe $3,000 is my max — as a principal driver, but I think $5,900 is kind of ridiculous,” he said.