Registrar, Passenger Transportation Branch

What’s New

• Passenger Transportation Branch Advisory Update: Party Bus Advisory (Posted April 15, 2008). See the Advisory page.
• The Passenger Transportation Branch web pages have been updated to include information on Temporary Operating Permits.
• Passenger Transportation Branch Advisory Update: Stretch Sport Utility Vehicle - Type Limousines (Updated March 16, 2007). See the Advisory page.
• The Passenger Transportation Online Licence Application. For people looking to apply for a new Passenger Transportation licence.
• The Passenger Transportation Online Licence Tutorial. To assist with completing the Licence Application Process.
• General Authorization Licensees (Updated Monthly)
• General Authorization Application Decisions (Updated Weekly)

About us

Welcome to the website of the Registrar of Passenger Transportation. This site provides information about the licencing requirements for those currently involved in, or wanting to obtain authority for, operating commercial ground passenger transportation services, as required by the Passenger Transportation Act (Act) and the Passenger Transportation Regulation.

This website provides detailed information, including associated application forms and approval processes, for the two types of licences established by the Act:

Special Authorization licences, approved by the Passenger Transportation Board, are required for:

• Inter-city buses, such as those providing scheduled services (set time, individual fares, regular route and fixed terminal points)
• Passenger directed vehicles, such as taxis, limousines or other types of vehicles with a carrying capacity of 11 passengers or less, excluding the driver

General Authorization licences, approved by the Registrar of Passenger Transportation, are required for:

• Limousines and charter buses designed to carry 12 passengers or more, excluding the driver.
• Vehicles designed to carry 11 passengers or less, excluding the driver, provided the services are carrier directed – such as sightseeing tours.

In the Passenger Transportation Branch's Burnaby office, the Registrar accepts all applications (including those which require Board approval), verifies safety requirements for vehicles proposed for licencing, and issues all licences. The Registrar is also responsible for initiating compliance and enforcement actions against both licenced and unlicenced operators.

This internet site also provides a registry of General Authorization (GA) licensees, as well as a list of GA applicants whose applications have been identified by the Registrar as appearing to have satisfied the criteria for a GA licence, but for which the respective licence hasn't yet been issued. In addition, the site provides a link to the website of the Passenger Transportation Board, which includes a list of both Special Authorization (SA) licensees and those which hold Hybrid licences (both SA and GA operating authority).