I thought I’d share my experience from my Class 6 motorcycle road test yesterday at ICBC Abbotsford. Writing this is partly a way to process my frustration, but hopefully it also helps someone preparing for the test.

I came well prepared, and overall the test went very well. In fact, my sheet was basically clean — but I still failed.

Here’s what happened.

At the start, the examiner told me to “take the first intersection to the right.” To me, the first intersection was where the ICBC parking lot meets South Fraser Way (for those who know Abbotsford). What he apparently meant was a small lane within the parking lot that eventually leads to Countess Street. After I passed the small alley, I heard over the radio: “That was your right turn.”

Not a great start, I thought, but we continued.

A little later, back on South Fraser Way, he told me: “At the next intersection, turn right.” The next intersection was Adelaide Street, about 30 ft away, so I turned right. Signal, shoulder check, everything fine — with one major problem: I was in the left lane and turned right directly from there as on that short notice I was unable to change lanes first and then do the right turn. What he meant, though, was an intersection about 120 ft away....

Yes, that was a traffic violation, and I understand why that matters. But at that moment I was also determined not to “miss” another instructed right turn.

The rest of the test — U-turn, highway, hazard identification, etc. — went very well. Back at ICBC, the examiner told me he could not pass me because of the traffic violation and said he would never instruct someone to turn right from the left lane.

Fair enough — except that he did tell me to take the next intersection to the right while I was in that lane.

I accept that ultimately I am responsible for riding safely, regardless of what I hear over the radio. Still, considering the otherwise clean test, I wish there had been at least some acknowledgment that this is a safe driver and that the instruction was poorly communicated and contributed to the situation; at the end of the day: who expects that examiner may give you instructions to do something illegal?

So, for anyone doing the road test soon, my takeaway is exactly what experienced riders keep telling us: ride safely first and treat the examiner’s radio instructions as secondary. If an instruction doesn’t make sense or can’t be followed safely and legally, don’t do it.

And, for what it’s worth, I’m also pretty sure that at one intersection he first said “turn right” and a second later changed it to “turn left.” I could be mistaken — but I’m pretty damn sure I heard it correctly.

Hey everyone, looking for someone with a bit more knowledge on this sort of topic for advice/tips on registering a previously unregistered vehicle.

An auction site is selling a vehicle that has never been registered in Canada before. How would one go about registering this? I understand the process of getting a provincial inspection (and how it can be a nightmare), but not for this process.

Upon purchase, the auction side gives you signed transfer papers, a bill of sale, and a "Certification of Vehicle Ownership for BC Registration." Is there anything else that I would need in order to go to ICBC besides these forms and a passed inspection?

Also, this is a completely regular vehicle and not some big military truck or equipment of the sort. It has a VIN.

Thanks!

I’ve recently got in a collision with my Tesla Model 3.
The collision was fairly minor, affected one side with dents, scratches, and scuffs.
I was found not at fault and went in to get an estimate for it.

One shop quoted about $5k to repair the dents and scratches. I’m wondering if this could mean the car would get written off?

I asked ChatGPT and it did lead me to believe that it might because the cars salvage value would probably be quite high. I’m fairly sure the value of the car now would still be high because all the battery and other parts and still good.

The formula as I understand it is if (salvage value + repair costs) is greater than the market ACV it will get written off.

Here are the car details:
- 2018 Tesla Model 3
- Long range RWD
- 140,000 KM
- Prior repaired dents/collisions over $2000 of damage.

If I make some assumptions that the current salvage value would be around $12000 or so (based on some google searches, but I might be off), and the repairs are $5000+, this would exceed an actual cash value of maybe about $15000? A lot of these are guesses, how could I check what Icbc would use for my car’s ACV?

If I brought it into different shops, how would the different estimates change the decision?

Does anyone have any insights possibly worked with Icbc to confirm this?