BC Registration, long trip "around the US"

[Driveby]

We live in and are permanent residents of BC (Canadian passports etc). Our retirement plan is to start in BC, head south, zig zag our way across the continent and then back up near the maritimes, head west and quit. We don't plan to full time, simply stop at some major access point, store the coach/toad and fly home. IE stop in Portland/Vegas/Phoenix/Salt Lake City.
Rinse and repeat as necessary over a 3-5 (maybe 10) year period.

I've come to understand that coach/toad insurance via ICBC is problematic. Since we will never have US address nor a US drivers license as we are BC residents I'm trying to figure out what the rules are. Seems a bit muddy.

We could just do the Montana LLC route but then we can't keep our coach at home for the first year as we plan to. Or can we? The whole thing seems rather confusing and as best as I can google, nobody knows what the rules are.

So I'm posting here hoping that some other BC resident has successfully done a version of what we are planning and can point us in the right direction.

[GBRG07]

What kind of issue's with ICBC?
I had a car that I left in Scottsdale for a couple years insured through ICBC. They said no problem as long as I disclosed where it was.

[Driveby]

Originally Posted by GBRG07

What kind of issue's with ICBC?
I had a car that I left in Scottsdale for a couple years insured through ICBC. They said no problem as long as I disclosed where it was.

My understanding is that ICBC takes issue with leaving your coach/toad for extended periods. IE 3 months at a time. I have yet to confirm this as my local autoplan agent isn't an RVer or expert enough to comment.

I think the real challenge is if asked "where is your coach normally parked" which ICBC has asked for years, I couldn't tell them. Pretty sure "It Depends" isn't a good address

[NevadaNick]

Its normally parked at your home address. When you are traveling you are not normally parked.

[Driveby]

Originally Posted by NevadaNick

Its normally parked at your home address. When you are traveling you are not normally parked.

That's the point. It won't ever likely be parked at my house. Like ever, not even on day 1. It will literally have no "normal address". If asked "what address would it normally reside at." I won't have an answer, I have a house but it won't. Years ago I used the storage warehouse where I parked my old coach. Aside from the first 30 days of life in Canada (if we buy here) it won't be at the same place for that long anywhere except in random cities across the US in between trips.

Since I'm either way off base or nobody really knows I will call ICBC next week and get them to answer directly.

[NevadaNick]

Go back to what i said, then ask yourself, am i going to tell them everywhere i stop ? I could see it being different if you owned a house in say Az and kept a car there but your not, you are traveling and need to come back every 6 months to stay right with BC. Personally i think you are putting to much thought into it.

[Driveby]

I phoned ICBC just now. So for those of you considering this here is the deal per the very nice call centre rep I just talked to.

When the coach is normally operated outside of BC it must have a Category Z changed from whatever zone you normally operate it under. I didn't ask but I presume Vancouver/GVRD would be one zone, Victoria another, Kelowna yet another etc etc. Z is "other".

Your vehicle must return to BC at least once per year (or insurance term if less than one year) to qualify to be registered in BC. That means our plan of leaving the coach outside BC for many years unsupported by ICBC. Hmm.

[wimpy]

I would call back & request the rules in writing.

[Eez Moose]

Get someone else to call ICBC for you. I would not trust those people if my life depended on it.