Communism at its finest honestly. You can get 3rd party insurance if you please but everyone has to have at minimum the "basic" insurance through the insurance corporation of BC (ICBC). Our provinces are like US states, each has their own set of rules etc.. we must have front plates here as well where as the neighboring province Alberta doesn't require it. I can go on and on, but theres no other way to get custom plates here besides ICBC.
