Passenger Transportation Online Licence Application Tutorial

General Authorization Licence Application Process and Requirements

General Authorization Licence Application Process

Please Note: The filling of an application does not confer any permission or authority to operate a passenger transportation service. Applicants are advised to delay the purchase or lease of vehicles until approval in principal has been obtained.

The application process for a “General Authorization” licence begins when an application has been submitted to the Registrar of Passenger Transportation. You have the option to use either the Passenger Transportation Online Application or the paper forms available at the Registrar of Passenger Transportation website.

The Branch reviews each application to confirm that all required documents and information have been received. If an application submitted to the Branch is incomplete (does not contain all required documents and information), the Branch will advise the applicant in writing and allow the applicant 30 days to submit the required documents and information.

Please note that when the 30 day deadline has passed, if the requested documents have not been received, the application will be closed.

If the services proposed in your application satisfy the criteria for a General Authorization licence, the Registrar of Passenger Transportation will approve the application in principal. Before the licence is issued, the Passenger Transportation Branch (the Branch) will contact the new applicant to obtain vehicle registration(s) and commercial vehicle inspection report(s) for the proposed vehicle(s). Once the Branch has received and verified all necessary documents and has ensured that all safety requirements have been met, the Branch will issue a General Authorization Licence. The General Authorization vehicle identifier must be displayed on the vehicle before any passenger transportation services may be offered.

Basic General Authorization Application Requirements

Safety Certificate
Applicants from British Columbia must hold a valid National Safety Code (NSC) certificate in the legal name of the applicant and have their NSC number available to start the application process.

If you or your business or organization is located in British Columbia and does not hold a valid NSC certificate, you can apply for one by calling National Safety Code Applications at (250) 952-0576 or visiting their web site http://www.th.gov.bc.ca/cvse/national_safety_code/nsc_application.htm.

Applicants based outside of British Columbia must supply proof that they hold a valid safety fitness certificate, complete with a satisfactory rating, from their home jurisdiction, as well as an extra-provincial or inter-state commercial passenger operating authority indicating that they are authorized by their home jurisdiction to operate as a commercial passenger carrier beyond the boundaries of the home province or state. These documents must both be in the legal name of the applicant.

Applicants who do not hold a valid safety certificate will not be able to complete the application process.

Service Proposal
A request for a General Authorization Licence must include a passenger service proposal statement. This statement should answer the following questions:

  • ) What is the nature of the business? - e.g. Tour Guide or Hotel
  • ) How will the vehicle(s) be used? – e.g. sightseeing and charter bus
  • ) What size of vehicle(s) will be used?
    • Is the intention to use vehicle(s) that are designed to carry 12 or more passengers, excluding the driver (13 persons in total)?
    • Is the intention to operate any vehicle(s) that are designed to carry 11 passengers or less, excluding the driver (12 persons in total)? If yes, who will direct the use of these vehicle(s)? – e.g. will the destination of the vehicle be determined by the carrier (“carrier directed”) or by the passenger (“passenger directed”).
  • ) What will be your area of service?
  • ) What type of compensation will you receive? – e.g. charter/individual fares/flat rates/point to point
  • ) Will the compensation be charged directly to the passengers or is the charge built into a package?

Signing Authority
The Passenger Transportation Branch will require a separate specimen signature for each signing authority and delegated signing authority within your organization that will participate in further communications with the Branch, or the Board, with regard to all Passenger Transportation matters.

Supporting Documentation
If your business or organization is located outside of British Columbia you will need to send legible copies of the following supporting documentation to the Passenger Transportation Branch before they can process your application (Please ensure that all documents submitted bear the legal name of the applicant):

  1. Identification Documentation:
    • If you are applying as an individual, you must forward a photocopy of your current driver's licence.
    • If you are applying as a partnership, you must forward a photocopy of the current driver's licence(s) of all of the partners.
    • If you are applying as a corporation, limited liability company or society you must forward:
      1. A photocopy of the Company's certificate of incorporation issued by your home jurisdiction and a list of all directors and officers; AND
      2. A photocopy of the Company's BC Certificate of Incorporation (issued by BC Registrar of Companies, showing registration in British Columbia as an extra provincial company) OR a signed letter declaring that your Company is exempt from being a BC Registered company.

      For information on how to register your Company in BC, or to determine if your company is exempt from registering, please contact the BC Corporate Registry

  2. A photocopy of the Safety Certificate issued by your home jurisdiction with a satisfactory rating.
  3. A photocopy of your extra-provincial or inter-state operating authority issued by your home jurisdiction, indicating that you are authorized by your home jurisdiction to operate as a commercial passenger carrier beyond the boundaries of your home province, territory or state.
  4. If vehicle(s) have been purchased or leased, and are base plated outside of British Columbia:
    1. A photocopy of a valid British Columbia Financial Responsibility Certificate (BC Insurance Filing) issued by the Insurance Corporation of British Columbia; OR

      If you do not have a BC Insurance Filing number, indicate how you are intending to meet your motor vehicle liability insurance requirements (e.g. you will purchase a non-resident single commercial vehicle permit (NRSCV) or a non-resident quarterly commercial vehicle permit (NRQCV), that includes an insurance certificate, from the Provincial Permit Centre (PPC) toll-free vehicle permit line: 1-800-559-9688 or at an inspection station, formerly known as a weight scale, when entering British Columbia)

    2. A photocopy of your apportioned cab card showing proof that your vehicle(s) is (are) registered with the International Registration Plan (IRP).; OR

      If you are not registered with IRP, you will include a written explanation on how you are intending to pay your British Columbia vehicle licensing fees (e.g. you will purchase a non-resident single commercial vehicle permit (NRSCV) or a non-resident quarterly commercial vehicle permit (NRQCV) from the Provincial Permit Centre (PPC) toll-free vehicle permit line: 1-800-559-9688 or at an inspection station, formerly known as a weight scale, when entering British Columbia)”

Filing Fee
The final step in the Passenger Transportation Online Licence Application process is to submit a non-refundable application filing fee.

Back to Licence Types
Next -- Application and Licensing Fees