Passenger Transportation Online Licence Application Tutorial

Special Authorization Licence Application Process and Requirements

Special Authorization Licence Application Process

Note: The filing of an application does not confer any permission or authority to operate a passenger transportation service. Applicants are advised to delay the purchase, lease or rental of vehicles until approval is obtained from the Passenger Transportation Board (Board).

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

Once the application and the non-refundable filing fee have been received, Passenger Transportation Branch staff review the materials to confirm that they are complete but do not assess the quality of the materials. If information is missing staff informs the applicant and sets a deadline to submit the information. After the deadline has passed the Registrar will send the application to the Board. The Board may, after giving notice to applicants, dismiss incomplete applications. Dismissed applications will not be processed any further. The $200 application fee will not be refunded.

When the Board receives the application, Board staff post an applicant-approved summary of the application in the Weekly Bulletins section of the Board’s website. This published summary represents the special authorization and the terms and conditions of licence that the applicant seeks to get approved by the Board.

Once published, the public has 15 days to make written submissions regarding the application, which are forwarded to the applicant for a reply. The submissions and applicant replies are included in the application file to be reviewed by the Board.

The Board considers the following when determining whether to approve an application for Special Authorization:

  • Whether there is a public need for the service the applicant proposes to provide under any special authorization,
  • Whether the applicant is a fit and proper person to provide that service and is capable of providing that service, and
  • Whether the application, if granted, would promote sound economic conditions in the passenger transportation business in British Columbia.

The Board issues a written decision, with reasons, for each application. If an application is approved, the decision will specify any terms and conditions to be included on a licence issued by the Registrar. The Board also approves or sets the rates to be charged for Passenger Directed Vehicles. Each decision is sent by the Board to the applicant and the Registrar. Decisions are also published in the Weekly Bulletins section of the Board's website.

If your application is approved by the Board, the Registrar must issue a licence before the service can start. Before a Special Authorization licence can be issued, Passenger Transportation Branch staff will contact the applicant and request the required vehicle documents (i.e. vehicle registration(s), proof of insurance and inspection(s) and Special Authorization Vehicle Identifier (plate and decal) fees. Once the Branch has received and verified all necessary documents and fees and has ensured that all safety requirements have been met, the Branch will issue the special authorization licence, a vehicle specific plate and decal and Vehicle Identification Certificate (VIC) for each vehicle to be operated under the licence. Before any passenger transportation services may be offered the plate and decal must be attached to the vehicle(s) and a copy of the corresponding VIC and licence must be placed in the vehicle(s).

All Applicants are advised to delay the purchase, lease, or rental of vehicle(s) until after they have obtained Board approval of their application.

Prior to making decisions on the purchase, lease or rental of vehicle(s) applicants should review the information sheet PTR5005A: Provincial and Federal Commercial Vehicle Safety Requirements and Federal Requirements for Imported Vehicles

On occasion, at the discretion of the Registrar, special authorization applicants and existing licensees may be required to complete the Vehicle Safety Compliance Declaration. For more information please read the June 15, 2011 Industry Notice introducing the Vehicle Safety Compliance Declaration requirement. The Registrar may also require proof that vehicle(s) comply with Canadian Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (e.g. digital photos, inspection).

Basic Special Authorization Licence 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 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 website http://www.th.gov.bc.ca/cvse/national_safety_code/nsc_application.htm.

Applicants from outside of British Columbia must supply proof that they hold a valid safety fitness certificate, with a satisfactory rating, issued by their home jurisdiction, as well as 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. Both these documents must 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.

Signing Authority

The Passenger Transportation Branch keeps specimen signatures on file for all signatories and persons who will be in contact with the Branch regarding passenger transportation matters (e.g. the individual (sole proprietor), each partner in the partnership, or a principal(s) of the corporation and each person with delegated signing authority).

Supporting Documentation

Applicants must submit supporting documentation that meet both Registrar of Passenger Transportation (Registrar) and Passenger Transportation Board (Board) information requirements.

For information about Board requirements and copies of their guides, reference sheets and forms, visit the Board's website at http://www.ptboard.bc.ca/.The Board's website also provides access to additional information including, but not limited to, the Weekly Bulletin, industry information and Board operational policies and procedures.

You must send the following supporting documents to the Passenger Transportation Branch before staff can process your Special Authorization application:

  • Business Plan
  • Financial Information
  • Public Need Indicators
  • Disclosure of Unlawful Activity & Bankruptcy
  • Disclosure of Passenger Transportation Ownership

Applicants requesting authority to operate Passenger Directed Vehicles (PDV's) add the following documents:

  • PDV Rates & Rules
  • Contract(s) (if you want to provide a limited passenger transportation service for PDVs)
  • Municipal Notice Form (if you want to operate taxis)
  • Preparing an Accessible Service Plan (if you want to use wheelchair accessible taxis)
  • Flip Seat Request and a Preparing an Accessible Service Plan (if you want to put flip seats in your accessible taxis)

A requesting authority to operate Inter-City Buses (ICBs) add the following documents:

  • ICB Application Summary
  • ICB Route Worksheet for each proposed route
  • Sample ICB Time Schedule
  • If requesting "Engaged Carrier" authorization to operate ICBs for another ICB operator include a letter from one or more ICB licensees that want to "engage" your ICB services under their ICB licence

If your business or organization is located outside of British Columbia, add copies of the following documents:

  • Identification Documents:
    • If you are applying as an individual (sole proprietor) you must include a legible photocopy of your current driver's licence.
    • If you are applying as a partnership you must include a legible photocopy of each partner's current driver's licence.
    • If you are applying as a corporation, limited liability company or society you must include:
      • a photocopy of your Company's certificate of incorporation/articles of incorporation issued by your Company's home jurisdiction, and a list of its directors and officers; AND
      • a photocopy of your Company's BC Certificate of Incorporation (issued by the BC Registrar of Companies and showing registration in BC as an extra-provincial company), OR
        a signed letter declaring that your Company is exempt from being a BC registered company under the Business Corporations Act, SBC2002 Chapter 57 - Part 11, Section 375.

        Note: To register your Company in BC, or to learn if your Company is exempt from registering in BC, visit the BC Corporate Registry's website at http://www.bcregistryservices.gov.bc.ca/bcreg/corppg/crcontact.page or call 250-387-7848.
  • Safety certificate issued by your home jurisdiction: All applicants must have a safety certificate in the legal name of the applicant, with a satisfactory rating, issued by a jurisdiction in North America. Safety certificates are known by different names, depending on the province, territory or state that issues them; for example, in British Columbia the safety certificate is known as the National Safety Code (NSC) certificate.
  • Extra-provincial or Inter-state Operating Authority: Out of province applicants need authorization from their home jurisdiction to operate as a commercial passenger carrier beyond the boundaries of their home province or state.
  • BC Insurance Filing: Include a copy of your valid BC Insurance Filing letter issued by the Insurance Corporation of British Columbia; OR
    If you do not have a BC Insurance Filing number, you must include a written statement to explain how you intend to meet motor vehicle liability insurance requirements (e.g. prior to entering British Columbia you will contact the Provincial Permit Centre at 1-800-559-9688 to purchase a non-resident single commercial vehicle permit (NRSCV) or a non-resident quarterly commercial vehicle permit (NRQCV), that includes insurance.
    For further information on British Columbia Financial Responsibility Certificate (BC Insurance Filing) please call 604-443-4624 or Toll Free 1-800-665-4336.
  • Apportioned Cab Card: Include an apportioned cab card for each vehicle showing proof that that the vehicle is licensed under the International Registration Plan (IRP) to operate in British Columbia; OR
    If you are not registered with the International Registration Plan (IRP), you must include a written statement to explain how you intend to pay British Columbia vehicle licensing fees (e.g. prior to entering British Columbia you will contact the Provincial Permit Centre at 1-800-559-9688 to purchase a non resident single commercial vehicle permit (NRSCV) or a non-resident quarterly commercial vehicle permit (NRQCV). For further information on IRP please call your local IRP office.

Fees

The final step in the Passenger Transportation Online Licence Application process is to submit all supporting documentation and a non-refundable application filing fee.

Continue with the next page of this tutorial for additional information on application fees.

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