Many insurance brokers looking to get into the industry want to get licensed to sell auto insurance (in BC, this is called ICBC Autoplan). Auto insurance is a great product to sell because it is mandatory for all drivers making finding new clients very easy. In this article, I’m going to discuss how to go about getting your autoplan license so you can sell auto insurance in BC (we will be releasing similar articles for other provinces).
Photo by Sarah Brown on Unsplash
GETTING YOUR AUTOPLAN LICENSE IN BC
Even if you only want to sell car insurance in BC, you have to go through the same General Insurance licensing process as everyone else. This means taking either the Fundamentals of Insurance exam (recommended for new brokers) or the Canadian Accredited Insurance Broker (CAIB) 1 exam.
On top of covering ICBC Autoplan and car insurance concepts, you’ll learn about core insurance concepts, home insurance, commercial insurance, and travel/accident & sickness insurance. Getting this Level 1 General Insurance license will qualify you to sell all types of insurance (except life & health insurance) – even if you only want to work in auto.
In order to pass these exams, you’ll need course materials to study. Students can enroll in our Fundamentals of Insurance or CAIB 1 online course directly on our website.
Once you’ve completed our course, you can register for the licensing exam.
FINDING AN AUTOPLAN AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE BROKERAGE
Not all brokerages are able to sell ICBC Autoplan. If this is the industry niche you have chosen, you will need to find a brokerage that has an ICBC Autoplan license. You can identify these brokerages by the big blue Autoplan sign they have on the windows or signage. In most cases, it shouldn’t be too hard to find.
Students of PNC Learning can take advantage of the post-graduation support and ask for help finding an appropriate brokerage.
WORKING INSIDE A CAR DEALERSHIP
In British Columbia (BC) you are not allowed to operate a motor vehicle on public roads without proper registration and insurance. That’s why you’ll find auto insurance agents inside dealerships that will help customers insure their new purchases before taking them on the road. Many auto dealerships will have deals with insurance brokerages to have a staff member stationed there for this reason.
Whether you want to work inside the office or at dealerships, you’re sure to find a fulfilling and lucrative career in auto insurance. Just make sure you read the job description carefully so you’re aware of what the position you’re applying for entails as some positions will require driving around and working independently.
There are a lot of different jobs and niches available in the insurance industry and I plan on writing a lot more of these breakdowns in the coming weeks. If this was helpful to you or if there is some other niche or position you would like to learn about, send me an email and let me know.
