ICBC processes an average of 50,000 salvage items each year. To offer an accessible and transparent market for these vehicles, ICBC partnered with industry leader IAA. By modernizing our salvage operations and technology, we will mitigate rising cost pressures and keep rates affordable for customers, while improving our internal processes.
What features will the new platform offer?
The new salvage platform will allow open bidding, letting buyers follow auctions as they happen. The platform will also include:
Mobile access
Enhanced search functionality (e.g. searching via make/model)
Buyer purchase history, billing details and seamless profile updates
Automated updates and reminders for bids, purchases and pick-up schedules
Digital Bill of Sale available to buyers through their profile (Bills of Sale will no longer be printed and mailed)
Modernizing our salvage operations technology will help salvage buyers make more informed purchase decisions and give them more convenient, online payment options. It will also provide an efficient vehicle inventory and tracking management system for our salvage buyers and employees.
What about photos?
The new platform will accommodate more and better photo sharing. Our goal is to have a platform that enables buyers to make more informed purchases so they can focus on the vehicles they want.
Does the platform have the ability to show if there is a lien on a vehicle?
No. ICBC sells salvage vehicles “as is” and it is not uncommon for vehicles to have a lien. It is standard practice for salvage buyers to process liens and ICBC strongly recommends all salvage buyers do their own due diligence and conduct their own lien search.
How will the platform represent each salvage yard?
Each vehicle that is up for sale will be clearly marked with the ICBC location it is being auctioned from. These are the same locations that we use today; no vehicles are being sent to IAA-operated sites.
How do the auctions work?
The AuctionNow platform utilizes an open, transparent bidding process for the live auctions of its salvage vehicles. Salvage items will be viewable for two days (minimum) before being up for auction and a pre-bidding option will be available as soon as an item is added.
Auctions will be held Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. If a statutory holiday falls on one of these days, the auction will be moved (e.g. in the case of a Monday stat holiday, the auction will occur Tuesday).
What are IAA’s restrictions on who can buy ICBC salvage?
IAA has rigorous rules in place on who can buy. Their platform is designed to automatically allow or restrict access based on buyer qualifications, and they actively monitor and suspend accounts that violate their rules. IAA strictly permits only licensed businesses (non-dealers) that are automotive-related to register for auction access. These include recyclers, exporters, body shops and other verified automotive businesses.
The registration process involves a two-level approval system to validate business credentials and licences and to ensure applicants meet all required conditions. IAA performs detailed checks to confirm the legitimacy and relevance of each applicant’s business. In addition, they run frequent checks to ensure licences are valid and accounts are in good standing.
Importantly, all bidding on IAA’s platform is transparent and open only to approved buyers, ensuring fairness and compliance with high standards.
IAA also works closely with regulatory bodies, to ensure they remain compliant and fulfill client-specific requirements. They are aware of the challenges posed by the misuse of business registration loopholes and are committed to further closing these gaps through stronger validations and policy enforcement.
IAA understands the importance of maintaining integrity and regulatory compliance in the automotive auction industry, especially when it comes to protecting legitimate dealers and consumers in British Columbia.
Will all buyers be required to be a registered B.C. dealer?
No. ICBC will not restrict buyer audience. We currently have international buyers and will continue marketing internationally. However, all buyers will need to be registered with IAA and buyers purchasing from outside of B.C. must meet all the requirements and certifications for the intended use of the salvage they buy with the appropriate registration or licensing authority in their jurisdiction.
Can members of the general public purchase ICBC salvage?
No. To purchase ICBC salvage on IAA’s platform, buyers must be a licensed dealer or licensed non-dealer with a valid IAA Registered Buyer Account.
How can buyers pay for salvage purchases?
To reduce fees and inefficiency, all salvage purchases must be paid online via credit card, e-transfer or Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT). Cash, cheques and walk-in or phone payments are not accepted and we cannot receive payments from the AFC Line of Credit.
What extra fees will buyers be charged?
ICBC aligns our national fees with IAA’s standard buyer fee model and will not include any non-essential or redundant fees.
However, we will charge late fees instead of suspending buyers for late pick-ups.
What if I’ve already paid my registration fee for the current year?
If you have recently paid your annual ICBC renewal fee, you will be issued a refund for a prorated portion, based on when you paid for it. If you already paid your IAA registration fee, your free year will be applied to the next year’s registration.
When can I pick up my purchased salvage items?
Salvage purchases are to be paid for online and picked up within two days of purchase. Late pickups will result in a late pick-up fee. This way, those who pick up in a timely manner can avoid unnecessary fees.
What do I need to pick up a purchase?
Salvage buyers will be required to present their GatePass, available from the buyer’s Auction Center dashboard, to the ICBC facility or off-site salvage facility in order to pick up each purchased vehicle.
If you are sending a tower to pick up your purchased salvage, the GatePass can be sent to the tower, who must present the GatePass in paper or electronic form (i.e. on their phone/device).
What if I’m not available at the time of the live online auction?
A feature called Pre-Bid enables you to view the items you are interested in prior to the day of auction and place a maximum pre-bid amount without attending the live auctions on AuctionNow. Using Pre-Bid doesn’t guarantee yours will be the successful bid.
I paid a 2025 fee for Salvage Web. Will I receive a refund?
Yes. If you paid for your 2025 sign-up fee for Salvage Web (ICBC’s previous salvage system), you will receive a pro-rated refund for the portion of 2025 once ICBC switched to AuctionNow.
Your refund will be provided to you by direct deposit or cheque starting June 16, 2025. Due to the potential Canada Post service disruption, we encourage you to sign up for direct deposit to receive your refund faster. Sign up for direct deposit by completing this form and sending it to this email address by June 13, 2025. If we don’t receive your direct deposit registration by June 13, a cheque will be issued.
If you will be receiving your refund by cheque, it will be mailed to the address—and will be payable to the business name—that you provided upon registration or renewal.
How will you determine my refund amount?
Your refund amount is based on how much you paid for your most recent registration or renewal fee, when the business license you provided at that time was set to expire (known as the “Fee Expiry Date”), and the amount of time between that expiry date and April 23, 2025, which is the day that Salvage Web was no longer accessible.
Will my purchased salvage vehicle be in the buyer’s name when it is picked up?
No. When you purchase an ICBC salvage vehicle, it will be in ICBC’s name.
In British Columbia, you will need to visit an Autoplan insurance broker within 10 days of purchase and provide your Bill of Sale to transfer the vehicle into your name. Transfer of ownership must be completed before you can re-sell the vehicle.
Non B.C.-registered companies will need to inquire in their home jurisdiction about their registration process.
What if I am purchasing the salvage vehicle for parts only?
If the vehicle is being used for parts or dismantling in B.C., it’s recommended to complete the ownership transfer within 10 days to reflect your name as the legal owner.
Vehicles with a “Non-Repairable” status can never be put back on the road within B.C. and can only be used for scrap or parts.
Will I have to pay a transfer fee when registering my vehicle?
In B.C., if you are transferring the vehicle into your name as a Salvage vehicle, there is no transfer fee. If you are transferring and changing the vehicle’s status from Salvage to Rebuilt at the same time, the standard $28 transfer fee will apply.
What documents do I need to bring to transfer the vehicle?
To complete the ownership transfer in B.C., you must bring the following to an Autoplan broker’s office:
Your ICBC Salvage Bill of Sale, can be printed through your Auction Center dashboard, which is the primary ownership document for salvage buyers and must be presented when registering the vehicle
Valid government-issued identification
Payment (if applicable) for any transfer or status update fees
If you have questions about transferring ownership within British Columbia, talk to an Autoplan broker.
I purchased a salvage vehicle from ICBC but was only provided a bill of sale. Why wasn't a registration document included?
ICBC provides only a Salvage Vehicle Bill of Sale when selling salvage vehicles. This document serves as proof of ownership for the purposes of salvage disposal or rebuilding. The Salvage Bill of Sale is the official ownership record and will have the following information about the vehicles current registration record in B.C.: year, make, model, VIN number, B.C. registration number, vehicle status in B.C. (salvage or non-repairable), and a statement that ICBC has sold the vehicle to the buyer named on the Salvage Bill of Sale.
My home jurisdiction is requesting a vehicle registration document in addition to the bill of sale. What should I do?
Different provinces, states, or countries may have varying requirements for registering out-of-province salvage vehicles. If your jurisdiction requires a registration document, we recommend that you:
Contact your local licensing or registration authority and explain that the vehicle was sold by ICBC with a Salvage Bill of Sale only.
Ask your licensing authority whether alternative documentation or a formal explanation from ICBC can be accepted in lieu of a registration.
Provide your local authority with a copy of this FAQ to help clarify ICBC’s standard salvage documentation process.
Can ICBC provide a copy of the previous registration or another ownership document?
No. ICBC does not provide previous registration documents for salvage vehicle sales. The Salvage Bill of Sale is the official ownership record and will have the following information about the vehicles current registration record in B.C.: year, make, model, VIN number, B.C. registration number, vehicle status in B.C. (salvage or non-repairable) and a statement that ICBC has sold the vehicle to the buyer named on the Salvage Bill of Sale). Buyers must rely on the bill of sale to pursue next steps in their own jurisdiction.
Will rebuilt vehicles continue to be valued lower than comparable vehicles?
Yes. All insurers match insurance costs to both the driver's and the vehicle's risk. The higher the risk, the more they pay in insurance. Optional premiums also consider the age, make, model and features of the vehicle, along with its repair costs.
ICBC uses Mitchell International, a third-party company, to help with determining a vehicle’s value. Mitchell researches the market area to find comparable vehicles either sold or listed for sale and rebuilt vehicles tend to have a lower value.
Will the sale of electric vehicles (EVs) be restricted to within B.C.?
ICBC will not restrict what vehicles may be purchased for movement outside of the province. We will monitor and consider, though, what parts are needed to ensure local collision repair facilities have ongoing access to quality used parts.
Will all buyers have access to "dismantle parts only" vehicles?
Section 17.1 of the Motor Vehicle Act restricts the sale of “Irreparable” vehicles, also known as dismantle parts only (DPO), to buyers that are registered and licensed as a “wrecker/dismantler” or a “recycler”. Only these businesses will be able to purchase DPO vehicles.
How does the release of a vehicle to ICBC from the owner affect the timeline of estimate, condition report, and disposal for a company who has custody of the vehicle?
For total loss vehicles, the sooner the customer signs the Vehicle Ownership Transfer Agreement, the sooner our salvage department can process the vehicle for sale.
Processes have been put in place at first notice of loss to expedite the release process.
Will recovered stolen vehicles continue to be designated with a salvage status?
ICBC is investigating changes around how we will designate/brand our vehicles and may consider changes to this policy in a future update.
How will ICBC ensure that any increase in sales outside of the province won’t negatively impact the availability of used parts for the local collision repair industry?
ICBC has analyzed what vehicles are purchased by local recyclers/dismantlers and data suggests this group does not compete against international buyers for the same vehicles.
Historically, 76% of recycler transactions were 2012 models or older. These late model vehicles are generally not the target of international buyers due to transport costs. We will continue to monitor this for any change and work with our industry liaison committee.
Has ICBC considered that increased exposure of its salvage vehicles to new buyers will negatively impact the B.C. rebuilder/dealer community?
Data shows that nearly 40% of salvage vehicles sold are not being re-registered in B.C., indicating they are being resold outside of the province. As an insurer, ICBC has a responsibility to its customers to help keep rates low and stable. ICBC will work to maximize salvage sales revenues to help manage escalating material damage costs and the rates our customers pay.
How will ICBC help rebuilders/dealers compete against independent and unlicensed buyers?
Upgrading to a modern, transparent, and efficient system will greatly enhance the bidding experience while ensuring fairness and accessibility for all participants. The new platform will lead to:
Fair Competition – Preventing unfair advantages, such as excessive bidder registrations per dealer.
Improved Transparency – Ensuring a level playing field where all bidders have equal opportunities.
Enhanced User Experience – Providing a seamless, secure, and reliable bidding process.
ICBC currently does not provide independent buyers access to our salvage sales platform. ICBC will explore options to combat credential sharing through the new platform. While independent buyers are eligible to bid on vehicles in other jurisdictions, ICBC will not be opening bidding to independent buyers.
Questions about the launch of the new platform?
Contact the Salvage & Vehicle Information Management (SVIM) project team at [email protected].
Questions about using the new platform?
Enhanced support provided by IAA’s Helpdesk:
1-866-485-4285
IAA's helpdesk hours
Monday-Friday from 5 a.m. to 5 p.m. (PST)
Saturdays from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. (PST)
Buyers must meet the environmental requirements of their respective jurisdiction, along with an annual confirmation.
Will buyers licensed as a wrecker/dismantler or recycler still be able to purchase vehicles designated with salvage status?
Yes. Buyers licensed as a wrecker/dismantler or recycler can purchase vehicles designated with salvage status. However, these purchases will not re-designate the status of the vehicle to dismantle parts only (DPO).
Will ICBC continue to allow local buyers to browse ICBC salvage facilities or off-site salvage locations?
No. The steadily increasing salvage volumes and associated traffic at ICBC's facilities has increased the risk to our buyers and staff, so we do not permit onsite viewing of salvage items.
Note: AuctionNow will typically provide buyers with a detailed view of the interior and exterior of vehicles, thereby removing the need for physical visits.
Is it possible that this comprehensive system change could allow large investment groups or grey-area organizations to take over business with ICBC, shouldering out smaller salvage buyers?
This is a system replacement with the focus on improving the communication, correspondence and sales experience for our salvage buyers. Our employees will still manage the process at our ICBC locations.
I am exempt from PST (provincial sales tax). How can I avoid being charged PST on my salvage purchase?
You can email your PST exemption documents to IAA buyer services at [email protected] at least 24 hours before the auction or upload the documents to your IAA profile (navigate to the Document Uploads section of your account profile). You can email IAA buyer services to confirm receipt of your exemption forms.
Note: Sales will not be reversed to resolve PST issues.
ICBC cannot control the policies of other jurisdictions. If your local authority refuses to process registration without a registration document, you may need to:
Request clarification from your jurisdiction on whether they offer exceptions or workarounds for salvage vehicles purchased from out-of-province sellers.
Seek legal or vehicle registration advice in your jurisdiction if no path forward is offered.
Where can I get more information about the salvage vehicle and sales process?
For questions about registration requirements or exceptions in your jurisdiction, please refer to your local vehicle licensing authority. For any questions related to buyer registration, contact Impact Auto Auctions (1-866-485-4285 Monday to Friday, 5 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturdays, 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. PST).
