Last updated 2025-05-01

Alternative Transportation Service compensation and holds on total loss vehicle

ICBC compensates collision repair program participants when Alternative Transportation Service (ATS) is used for customers with an authorized claim number. ICBC may also reject or hold an repair estimate in specific situations.

ICBC Estimate Review

The estimator may reject an estimate review after
  • reviewing the repair estimate or supplement
  • identifying a potential total loss concern, or
  • confirming that the estimate's actual cash value (ACV) threshold has been exceeded.
An estimator who rejects an estimate review must
  • contact the participant to advise that repairs are on hold, and
  • create a Journal note documenting the situation.

Allowable turnaround time

When the original estimate review is rejected due to a potential total loss situation, the claim is on hold and the estimator has one business day to research and advise the participant if the vehicle is repairable or a total loss.

For the Total Loss Decision, a business day is counted as the 24-hour period from the time the vehicle repairs were placed on Hold; excluding, Saturdays, Sundays, or statutory holidays in British Columbia (B.C.).

Conditions for ATS Vehicle Reimbursement

ICBC does not pay for the first 24-hour period, also referred to as the elimination period, but does pay for the delay days after the elimination period until the repair or total loss decision is made; including, if
  • the delay exceeds one business day from the time the repairs were put on hold
  • the customer is in an ATS replacement vehicle, and
  • ICBC decides to continue with repairs.
Note: If the vehicle is determined to be a total loss, refer to the topic. Alternative Transportation Service for vehicles deemed to be a total loss policy

ATS compensation billing period

The participant may bill for one day of ATS Vehicle Reimbursement for each 24-hour period or portion thereof
  • after the initial elimination period, and
  • up to the point that ICBC contacts the participant with a decision.
Note: The participant must complete a Repair Facility Support Request form - ATS Vehicle Reimbursement related to a hold based on a repair decision. For access to the form and how to use it, refer to Make a support request.
Important: ATS Vehicle Reimbursement only applies when ICBC is required to determine if a vehicle is repairable versus being a total loss. It does not apply to any other delay in approval of a “Requires Review” flagged estimate.
Parent topic: Alternative Transportation Service