Last updated 2025-04-17

Salvage designation policy

Policy on applying a salvage designation to a total loss vehicle.

Policy

The designation or status of a vehicle determines whether a vehicle is salvage and can be rebuilt or if it is non-repairable and must be dismantled for parts or crushed. All vehicle designations will be entered as salvage or non-repairable with a declaration of dismantled for parts or crush in the salvage system, VISion.

All the following requirements apply to total loss vehicles.

Requirement Policy
Notice of vehicle status change ICBC must give notice of a change in vehicle status to salvage vehicle or non-repairable vehicle when a vehicle has been deemed a total loss.
Disposal through Salvage Operations All vehicles that are written off by ICBC must be disposed of through Salvage Operations. Subject to the exceptions:
  • Owner retentions,
  • Owner buy backs, and
  • Delayed settlements where a vehicle has been disposed by customer.

This ensures the vehicle is properly designated salvage (rebuildable), non-repairable, dismantled for parts, or crush.
Sell only to qualified salvage buyers All total loss vehicles within the province of British Columbia, may be sold only to an Impact Auto Auction (IAA) approved and properly licenced salvage buyer

Applicable legislation

Refer to the Motor Vehicle Act, Section 17.1.

Section topics

Use the menu on the left or click on the links below to explore topics.

Concept
Salvage designations and vehicle registration codes
Summary of salvage designations and vehicle registration codes.
Concept
Salvage designation criteria
Summary of salvage designation criteria.
Concept
Vehicle damage severity codes
Definition of vehicle damage severity codes.
Concept
Unsafe vehicle
Definition of an unsafe vehicle (also known as, an out of service vehicle).
Reference
Unsafe vehicle classification and criteria
List of the unsafe group classifications, and the criteria used to deem a vehicle unsafe.
Reference
Water damage considerations
What to consider when determining the extent of water damage on a vehicle.
Reference
Major electrical components
A list of the major components of an electrical system.
Concept
Crushing vehicles policy
When a vehicle is deemed a total loss due to the result of flood damage, then the vehicle is designated as non-repairable, for dismantle purposes only (DPO) or crush.
Concept
What is an electronic authorization
Definition of an electronic authorization for the Vehicle Ownership Transfer Agreement (CL96) form.
Parent topic: Salvage