Last updated 2025-07-31

Biohazard inspection and cleaning of a vehicle

Circumstances when biohazard inspection and cleaning is required.

Circumstances

The majority of recovered total thefts and vehicles that are severely damaged or exposed to contaminated or bodily fluids pose a risk to ICBC staff, customers, and business partners. These vehicles may contain biohazardous materials that are undesirable and potentially dangerous.

Whenever possible, the inspection or cleaning service must be completed prior to the insured viewing the vehicle. The following circumstances would indicate the need for a biohazard inspection and cleaning:

  • recovered total theft, or
    • exposure to
  • contaminated water
  • bodily fluids (blood, feces, semen etc.), or
  • drugs and related paraphernalia (needles, pipes, etc.).
Note: The biohazard cleaning of a vehicle is not impacted when there is a vehicle estimate hold; however, vehicles with an Special Investigation Unit (SIU) related hold should not be cleaned.

Cleaning service provider

A qualified service provider must perform a thorough inspection and cleaning of the vehicle. The service provider must advise ICBC staff of the results of the inspection and whether cleaning

  • can be restricted to the area where the hazards were found, or
  • should be extended to include the entire interior and/or exterior of the vehicle.

Benefits

The benefits of inspecting these vehicles for hazards and cleaning the vehicle include the following:

  • reduced exposure by staff, customers and business partners to biohazardous materials
  • an increase in customer confidence and an improved experience
  • reduced liability to the Corporation, and
  • claims cost control.