Commercial Carrier Safety Certificate (SFC) —Province/Territory Comparison

Ontario

If your vehicle is plated in Ontario, the United States, or Mexico, you need a CVOR for:

• Trucks with a registered gross weight (RGW) or actual weight over 4,500 kg, including trucks with farm licence plates
• Buses with a seating capacity of 10 or more passengers
• Concrete pumps and mobile cranes (not including off-road mobile cranes)
• Tow trucks, including vehicles with a flatbed that can tilt to load and are used exclusively to tow or transport other motor vehicles, and any motor vehicle designed, modified, configured or equipped to tow another motor vehicle

You can apply for a CVOR certificate online through the Ontario Ministry of Transportation (MTO) website. Knowledge Test: Ontario-based applicants must complete a knowledge test.

You will need to provide proof of insurance, proof of valid periodic mandatory vehicle inspection (PMVI), and proof of valid business entity.

To continue operating your commercial vehicle(s), you must renew your CVOR certificate every year or every two years, depending on your carrier safety rating.

Ontario Ministry of Transportation: 777 Bay Street, 5th floor Toronto, Ontario M7A 1Z8

Quebec

A Registrant Identification Number (RIN) is issued by the Ministry of Transportation in Quebec. It is used to register your motor vehicle against a corporation or business, allowing you to operate the vehicle on public roads. A Registrant Identification Number (RIN) is required for:

• Commercial Vehicles: Any vehicle used for commercial purposes, such as fleet cars or official-use vehicles.
• Corporations and Businesses: Vehicles owned or leased by corporations, businesses, sole proprietors, and partnerships.

Carriers must register in Quebec’s Register of Owners and Operators of Heavy Vehicles, administered by the Commission des transports du Québec (CTQ). Upon registration, the carrier is issued a Register Identification Number (RIN), which serves as the carrier’s NSC/Safety Fitness identifier.

You will need to provide various documents, including:

• Proof of business registration.
• Proof of insurance.
• Proof of valid periodic mandatory vehicle inspection (PMVI).
• A notarized statutory declaration.

A Registrant Identification Number (RIN) in Quebec does not have an expiration date. Once issued, it remains valid as long as the business or corporation continues to operate and complies with all relevant regulations

Quebec Ministry of Transport: 200 Sainte-Foy Road, 7e Floor, Quebec City, Quebec G1R 5V5

Nova Scotia

• All commercial carriers operating in Nova Scotia or into other jurisdictions.
• Vehicles with a registered gross vehicle weight over 4,500 kilograms.
• Vehicles with a designed seating capacity of 10 persons or more, including the driver.

Carriers must apply through Service Nova Scotia’s Registry of Motor Vehicles under the Commercial Carrier Registration (National Safety Code) Program.

Applications may be submitted in person or by mail at any Registry of Motor Vehicles office using the prescribed NSC application form and fee.

You will need to provide proof of insurance, proof of valid periodic mandatory vehicle inspection (PMVI), and proof of valid business entity.

The certificate is valid for one year and must be renewed annually.

Service Nova Scotia

Address: Service Delivery Division, Service Nova Scotia, P.O. Box 1652, Halifax, NS B3J 2Z32.

New Brunswick

• All commercial carriers operating in New Brunswick or into other jurisdictions.
• Vehicles with a registered gross vehicle weight over 4,500 kilograms.
• Vehicles with a designed seating capacity of 11 persons or more, including the driver.

Carriers must apply through Service New Brunswick, registering as a motor carrier and providing information needed to establish an NSC carrier profile.

You will need to provide proof of insurance, proof of valid periodic mandatory vehicle inspection (PMVI), and proof of valid business entity.

The certificate is valid for one year and must be renewed annually.

New Brunswick Department of Transportation and Infrastructure

Email: dti@gnb.ca.

Manitoba

All motor carriers and operators of regulated vehicles, including trucks with a registered gross vehicle weight over 4500 kilograms, and passenger vehicles designed with a seating capacity of 11 or more persons, including the driver.

Application Form: New operators can obtain an application form online or contact the Motor Carrier Safety Program to receive a copy by fax, email, or Canada Post.

New operators must provide proof of insurance, proof of valid periodic mandatory vehicle inspection (PMVI), and proof of valid business entity.

The certificate is valid for one year and must be renewed annually before vehicle registrations.

Motor Carrier Safety Program

Email: sfc@gov.mb.ca

In-person or via Canada Post: Unit C - 1695 Sargent Avenue, Winnipeg, Manitoba, R3H 0C4.

British Columbia

All commercial carriers operating in British Columbia or into other jurisdictions.

Division 37 of the Motor Vehicle Act Regulations defines a “commercial motor vehicle” as a motor vehicle, used in the course of business for the transportation of persons or freight, that is one or more of the following:

(a) a truck or truck tractor, including a trailer, if any, attached to the truck or truck tractor, having a licensed gross vehicle weight of more than 5 000 kg,

(b) a bus,

(c) a commercial passenger vehicle operated under a licence or temporary operating permit issued under the Passenger Transportation Act, or

(d) a business vehicle within the meaning of section 237 of the Act having a licensed gross vehicle weight of more than 5 000 kg.

Application Form: You can apply for a Safety Fitness Certificate online through the National Safety Code Safety Certificate Online Application.

Supporting Documents: You will need to provide proof of insurance, proof of valid periodic mandatory vehicle inspection (PMVI), and proof of valid business entity.

The certificate is valid for one year and must be renewed annually.

National Safety Code Office

Email: nsc@gov.bc.ca Address: PO Box 9250 STN PROV GOVT, Victoria, BC V8W 9J2.

Prince Edward Island

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

Saskatchewan

The NSC applies to class PB, PS and PC buses; and class A, C, D, F vehicles and class LV vehicles used for commercial or business purpose that:

• Are registered with a Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) over 11,793 kg and travel within Saskatchewan.
• Are registered with a GVW over 5,000 kg when prorated and travel outside of Saskatchewan.

The safety fitness certificate application process has two components:

• Application form - Complete the online form on this page.
• Knowledge exam - Successfully pass the NSC knowledge exam as a means of ensuring a basic understanding of transportation safety compliance.

You will need to provide proof of insurance, proof of valid periodic mandatory vehicle inspection (PMVI), and proof of valid business entity.

The certificate is valid for one year and must be renewed annually.

Carrier Safety Services

SGI Website: www.sgi.sk.ca/

Address: 2260 11th Avenue, Regina, SK S4P 0J9.

Alberta

An SFC is required for carriers who are the owner of one or more of the following commercial vehicles:

• A truck or trailer, or any combination of the 2, with a registered weight of 11,794 kg or more, operating solely within Alberta
• A truck or trailer, or any combination of the 2, with a registered weight of more than 4,500 kg that is used (or intended to be used) to transport goods on a highway outside of Alberta, including farm-plated vehicle(s)
• A commercial vehicle originally designed for carrying 11 or more persons, including the driver, that is used (or intended to be used) for the transportation of passengers

A new carrier applying for a Safety Fitness Certificate must:

• Register a commercial vehicle;
• Successfully complete the safety and compliance course for new National Safety Code carriers;
• Successfully complete a knowledge test; and
• Submit an application to Carrier Services with all required information.

• Motor Vehicle Identification Number (MVID)
• Insurance
• Written safety and maintenance programs

Carriers will be required to renew their Safety Fitness Certificate every three years. A Certificate may be suspended or cancelled by the Registrar at any time if a carrier is found to be noncompliant or if the carrier does not hold valid registration on a regulated vehicle over a 12 month period.

Alberta Carrier Services

Email: carrierservices.info@gov.ab.ca

Newfoundland and Labrador

• All commercial carriers operating in Newfoundland and Labrador or into other jurisdictions,
• Vehicles with a registered gross vehicle weight over 4,500 kilograms.
• Vehicles with a designed seating capacity of 11 persons or more, including the driver.

Carriers must apply through the Motor Registration Division (MRD) by establishing a National Safety Code carrier profile. The application is reviewed by the province’s NSC office before a Safety Fitness Certificate is issued.

You will need to provide proof of insurance, proof of valid periodic mandatory vehicle inspection (PMVI), and proof of valid business entity.

The certificate is valid for one year and must be renewed annually.

Government Services/Motor registration https://www.gov.nl.ca/motorregistration/commercial-vehicles-and-drivers/

Northwest Territories

• All commercial carriers operating in the Northwest Territories or into other jurisdictions.
• Vehicles with a registered gross vehicle weight over 4,500 kilograms.
• Vehicles with a designed seating capacity of 11 persons or more, including the driver.

Carriers must apply through the NWT Infrastructure – Motor Vehicles Division (MVD) by submitting a Commercial Application for National Safety Code Certification. Once approved, the carrier is issued an NSC number and Safety Fitness Certificate, which must be in place before vehicle registration for regulated vehicles.

Supporting Documents: Provide the following documents:

• Proof of business registration.
• Proof of insurance.
• Proof of valid periodic mandatory vehicle inspection (PMVI).

The certificate is valid for one year and must be renewed annually.

Government of the Northwest Territories Infrastructure – Motor Vehicles Division (MVD) website (forms and carrier services): https://www.idmv.inf.gov.nt.ca/Forms

Yukon

• All commercial carriers operating in Yukon or into other jurisdictions.
• Vehicles with a registered gross vehicle weight over 4,500 kilograms.
• Vehicles with a designed seating capacity of 11 persons or more, including the driver.

Carriers apply for an SFC by submitting an application to the Yukon National Safety Code Office, typically in connection with registering a commercial vehicle. Applications are submitted in person, by email, or by fax at the Whitehorse Weigh Scale, and an application fee applies. Once approved, the certificate is issued and recognized across Canada.

You will need to provide proof of insurance, proof of valid periodic mandatory vehicle inspection (PMVI), and proof of valid business entity.

The certificate is valid for one year and must be renewed annually.

National Safety Code Office Email: nsc@gov.yk.ca.

Email: weighstation.whitehorse@yukon.ca

Nunavut

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A