A few months ago there was an article published stating that your name and address should be blacked out on your auto insurance papers, so in the event that your auto was stolen with the garage door opener in it, the thieves would not have easy access to your home and address. It went on to say that all the info that the police require would be on your drivers licence. Is this a good idea?
The best practice is not to leave your insurance and licence / registration papers in the vehicle at all. Carry the document in a wallet or purse. If your vehicle is stolen the thief will not be able to produce the necessary documents and will attract more attention from the police. In addition, the thief will not know where you live and if they find keys in the vehicle will not be able to come back to your home with an easy way in.
You are allowed to carry photocopies of your vehicle licence document in B.C. However, there is no provision for producing anything other than the original of your certificate of insurance. Since BC documents typically have the vehicle licence and certificate of insurance on the same page, it doesn't make sense to carry the original of the insurance and a copy of the licence.
If you black out information, it is no longer a copy of the original and will not meet the requirement to produce. In short, it is not acceptable to produce documents to the police where information has been blacked out.
Carrying of licence
11 The licence issued for a motor vehicle or trailer, or a photocopy of it, must be carried in the motor vehicle, or in the case of a trailer, in the motor vehicle towing the trailer, at all times while the motor vehicle or trailer is on a highway.
Production of licence and liability card, duplicates
33 (1) Every person, except
(a) a person driving or operating a motor vehicle exempted under section 2 (5) or section 8 or 10, or
(b) a person driving or operating a motor vehicle of a fire department of a municipality,
must have his or her driver's licence and driver's certificate and a motor vehicle liability insurance card or financial responsibility card, issued for the motor vehicle he or she is driving or operating, in his or her possession at all times while driving or operating that motor vehicle on a highway, and must produce the licence, certificate and card for inspection on demand of a peace officer.
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