Snow removal insurance in BC

What we can source

Zensurance’s 2026 cost guide lists, for $1 million in general liability:

• Residential shovelling: from $1,800 a year.
• One truck and plow outside Ontario: from $2,500 a year.

There’s no separate BC number in that table.

On r/Snowplow, a BC operator said his premium went from about $2,000 to about $15,000 a year with no claims, and that it was hard to justify on event-based revenue. One person’s post, not an average. It’s a fair reminder to get a real number before you price the season.

The truck and the liability are separate

• The truck needs auto coverage for commercial use. Zensurance says a personal auto policy won’t cover a truck used for commercial plowing, and the blade is a modification your insurer needs to know about. In BC your basic auto runs through ICBC, so ask a broker how your plow truck should be set up.
• General liability covers the slip-and-fall in the lot and the light standard you clipped.
• Tools and equipment coverage handles blowers, spreaders and hand gear.

We can’t advise on your ICBC setup. A licensed broker can.

Strata councils and property managers

Strata councils, property managers and municipalities usually want a certificate of insurance before your first visit. $2 million in liability is common. Some sites ask for more.

Keep a current certificate PDF ready to send. If a council asks to be named as additional insured, pass the request to your broker. Don’t promise wording you haven’t confirmed. If you run several sites, track which one needs which limit. You don’t want to find out on a Sunday night that one site wanted $5M and you carry $2M.

For the clauses you’ll actually see, the Housing Services Corporation’s sample wording is a good model. Our commercial guide breaks it down.

Coast vs Interior

A Prince George lot sees a lot more plow nights than a Burnaby townhouse complex. The liability works the same way, though. Someone falls, someone sues, and the plow contractor’s name is on the certificate. Coastal operators may plow less often, but they still need the paperwork ready for the weeks that count.

Renewals

If last year’s premium jumped, start early. Bring updated revenue, any new cities, and your loss runs. If you dropped sidewalks or ice work to bring the price down, put that in writing on the application and in your client contracts. Make sure your website and flyers say the same thing.

New to snow?

Adding plowing to a landscaping company? Zensurance says landscaping insurance doesn’t automatically cover snow. Read starting a snow business and residential and solo before you advertise.

Bottom line

Use $2,500 a year as the floor for one truck. Keep the truck and the liability straight. Have certificates ready before strata season. Then get a quote with your real scope.

We may earn a flat fee if you request a quote. We’re not a broker. Disclosure