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British Columbia-based passenger vehicles
Passenger carriers are required to maintain a Passenger Transportation Licence.
There are two types of authorizations for Passenger Transportation Licences:
- General authorization licences. General authorization licences are required for general passenger vehicles (such as charter buses carrying more than 11 passengers excluding the driver) and vehicles designed to carry no more than 11 passengers, excluding the driver, that are carrier-directed (such as sightseeing tours).
- Special authorization licences. Special authorization licences are required for intercity buses and passenger-directed vehicles (such as taxis and limousines).
Visit http://www.th.gov.bc.ca/forms/getFile.aspx?formId=1231 for help in determining which license is appropriate.
Carriers can also obtain hybrid general authorization and special authorization licences. The licence year is March 1 to February 28. Application for licences under the Passenger Transportation Act must be filed with the Registrar of the Passenger Transportation Branch.
Applications for general authorization and applications for special authorization vary slightly. Basic application requirements for both types of licences include the following:
- Applicable licence application form;
- Signatures of all persons who will be in contact with the Passenger Transportation Branch;
- Letter of authorization, if the applicant has hired an agent to prepare the application;
- National Safety Code (NSC) Certificate Number if located in British Columbia, or a photocopy of the safety certificate if located outside of British Columbia; and
- The application filing fee ($200 for each application submitted).
Upon approval of the carrier’s proposed service, the Registrar requires general authorization applicants to complete and submit the Vehicle Safety Compliance Declaration Form. This form is used by the Registrar in determining if the passenger vehicles are satisfactory. It is also the applicant’s declaration that the vehicles meet the Canadian Motor Vehicle Safety Standards. The declaration form is available at www.th.gov.bc.ca/forms/getForm.aspx?formId=1171. The criteria and standards for such vehicles are outlined in the informational document, Provincial and Federal Commercial Vehicle Safety Requirements, available at www.th.gov.bc.ca/forms/getForm.aspx?formId=1172. After the Registrar determines that the vehicles meet safety standards, applicants will be required to submit certain vehicle documents, such as proof of insurance, vehicle registration, and periodic inspections, for the Registrar’s review.
The Passenger Transportation Board will also determine if the applicant is “fit and proper.” If the applicant is fit and proper, the Board will approve the authority. If the applicant is not fit and proper, the Board may refuse to issue authority.
Upon final approval of the authority, safety compliance declaration, and vehicle documents, registrants are issued a passenger transport licence with general and/or Passenger Transportation Board-approved special authorizations. Registrants with general authorization are issued a general authorization vehicle identifier (GAVI) number that must be displayed on the driver’s side of the vehicle below the window or on the rear window or rear bumper. The letters “PT” must precede the GAVI. The marking must be displayed in letters and numbers at least five centimetres in height.
Registrants with special authorization are issued a plate and decal that must be displayed on the vehicle.
Registrants must carry a copy of the Passenger Transportation Licence in each vehicle to which it applies.
Authorizations must be renewed annually. The annual renewal fee for all vehicles is $100.
Seven-day temporary operating permits are available. Applicants must file the temporary operating permit application along with a copy of the current vehicle registration and the commercial vehicle inspection report. The temporary operating permit is $25 per permit.
Passenger carriers must also obtain a safety fitness certificate.
British Columbia-based property-carrying vehicles (private and for-hire)
British Columbia has deregulated all extraprovincial freight carriers. Vehicles that carry only freight (including those in the logging and dump truck industries) are no longer required to carry British Columbia motor carrier authority permits, plates, certificates, and cab cards.
Carriers are required to obtain a safety fitness certificate from the British Columbia Commercial Vehicle Safety and Enforcement (CVSE) Office.
Out-of-province carriers
Passenger-carrying
Passenger carriers based in other provinces that are operating into British Columbia require a Passenger Transportation Licence or a temporary operating permit (TOP). The Passenger Transportation Licence requirements are listed above.
Seven-day extra-provincial temporary operating permits, referred to as “EXPRO TOP” may be obtained for trips that originate outside of British Columbia to drop off passengers in the province or to transport passengers into British Columbia and back out of British Columbia on the same trip. An out-of-province passenger carrier cannot pick up passengers in British Columbia.
Temporary operating permits are available from the Provincial Permit Centre or the Passenger Transportation Branch. To obtain the permit, applicants must confirm to the permitting office that they hold a valid safety fitness certificate issued by the base province/territory and that they hold a valid vehicle inspection certificate. Applicants will also be asked to verify their point of entry into British Columbia, their insurance coverage (if not appropriate, an non-resident single commercial vehicle permit or non-resident quarterly permit will be required), and that their vehicles are registered under the International Registration Plan (if not, an additional non-resident single commercial vehicle permit or non-resident quarterly permit will be required).
Applicants must also provide a completed temporary operating permit application along with the required supporting documentation, as required by the application. Applicants must use “PT5046: Temporary Operating Permit Application,” available at http://www.th.gov.bc.ca/forms/getForm.aspx?formId=1248.
The permit fee is $25 for each temporary operating permit.
Property-carrying
British Columbia will accept the safety fitness certificate of other Canadian jurisdictions. However, all carriers entering British Columbia from other jurisdictions are required to file proof of insurance coverage with the Insurance Corporation of British Columbia (ICBC) or obtain compulsory insurance coverage by purchasing a non-resident commercial vehicle permit. The certificate may only be filed by insurance companies authorized to do so in British Columbia. More information can be obtained by calling ICBC at (604) 443-4450.
U.S. carriers
Passenger-carrying
U.S. passenger carriers operating in British Columbia require a Passenger Transportation licence or a temporary operating permit. The Passenger Transportation License requirements and temporary operating permit requirements are listed above.
Property-carrying
U.S. carriers entering British Columbia are not required to obtain operating authority or the safety fitness certificate. However, U.S. carriers are required to file proof of insurance coverage with the ICBC or obtain compulsory insurance coverage by purchasing a non-resident commercial vehicle permit. The certificate may only be filed by insurance companies authorized to do so in British Columbia. More information can be obtained by calling ICBC at (604) 443-4450.
Insurance
Most carriers are required to obtain and maintain cargo insurance. There are liability and cargo insurance filing requirements through certification by the insurer. The minimum liability required for each commercial vehicle is $1 million and $2 million for commercial vehicles transporting dangerous goods. Buses require $500,000 liability.
Financial responsibility for cargo must be in the following amounts:
| Maximum authorized carrying capacity | Amount of insurance |
|---|---|
| Not over 12,700 kg | $15,000 |
| 12,701 - 21,000 kg | $20,000 |
| 21,001 - 37,000 kg | $27,000 |
| Over 37,000 kg | $32,000 |
Safety fitness certificates
Each carrier responsible for the operation of one or more of the following commercial vehicles must obtain a safety fitness certificate from British Columbia CVSE:
- Commercial vehicles licensed with a gross vehicle weight of more than 5,000 kilograms;
- Vehicles operating under the Passenger Transportation Act; and
- Commercial vehicles that have a seating capacity of 10 or more passengers plus the driver.
The certificate, which remains valid unless cancelled or suspended for unsafe practices, will contain a unique National Safety Code Number. Contraventions, roadside CVSA inspections, accidents, warnings and other information will be recorded under this number to create a record of compliance with federal and provincial requirements.
The certificate will identify those carriers having a violation record exceeding reasonable industry standards. Such carriers will be placed on notice that improvements must be made. In some cases, interviews, audits, or hearings may be ordered to promote compliance by the carrier. At the final stage, where significant noncompliance is demonstrated, a carrier may be removed from service.
To apply for the safety certificate online, go to https://pub-apps.th.gov.bc.ca/sco-public/welcome.do. The application fee is $200.
Safety inspections
All commercial motor vehicles over 17,236 kilograms (38,000 pounds) gross vehicle weight that are transporting either property or passengers are required to have some type of valid six-month vehicle safety inspection certificate. This can be done by ensuring that one of the following is on the vehicle:
- If the vehicle has current prorate registration identification, it will be sufficient. When applying for prorate, a carrier must sign and submit a declaration stating the vehicle will be in compliance with British Columbia safety standards.
- A current Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance sticker which shows that the vehicle has met certain safety standards.
- A British Columbia Safety Inspection Certificate and decal (completely separate from the prorate or motive fuel identification). The British Columbia certificate, which is available at various inspection stations, costs between $100 - $400 plus repair costs. When issued, the vehicle receives a decal to be placed on the passenger window (on vent window if present, otherwise in the lower right-hand corner), plus an inspection report to carry in the cab. Both the report and decal are only valid for six months.
It should be noted, however, that any vehicle stopped and inspected and found not to be in compliance, even though the vehicle does display a safety decal or certificate, must proceed to the closest inspection station for repairs. Although vehicles entering the province for a single trip are not required to have a safety sticker, if they are found faulty while in the province, they also will be sent for inspection and repair.