Passenger Transportation Online Licence Application Tutorial

Special Authorization Licence Application Process and Requirements

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

Once the application and the non-refundable filing fee have been received, the Registrar will forward the Special Authorization licence application to the Passenger Transportation Board (the Board) for the approval process.

When the Board receives an application, Board staff post an applicant-approved summary of the application in the Passenger Transportation Bulletins section of the Board’s web site. 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.

For each application, the Board issues a written decision with reasons. If an application is approved, the decision will specify any terms and conditions to be included on a licence issued by the Registrar of Passenger Transportation. 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 Passenger Transportation Bulletins section of the Board's web site.

If your application is successful, 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 vehicles. Once the Branch has received and verified all necessary documents and vehicle identifier (decals and licence plates) fees and has ensured that all safety requirements have been met, the Branch will issue the special authorization licence and vehicle identifier(s). The vehicle identifier(s) must be attached to the vehicle(s) before any passenger transportation services may be offered.

Special Authorization Application Requirements

Refer to Application Handbook
Applicants seeking a Special Authorization Licence should review the Registrar of Passenger Transportation Information Requirements in the Special Authorization Application Form Package and section three and four of the Passenger Transportation Application Handbook.

For a copy of these documents, please refer to the Special Authorization Materials section of the Registrar of Passenger Transportation web site: www.th.gov.bc.ca/rpt/special_auth_materials.htm or visit the Passenger Transportation Branch.

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.

Signing Authority
As part of the application process, the Passenger Transportation Branch will require a signature for each delegated signing authority within your organization in section 3 of the Signing Authority form PT5002 contained in the application materials.

Supporting Documentation
You must send the following supporting documents to the Passenger Transportation Branch to process your request for a Special Authorization application:

  • Business Plan
  • Financial Statements
  • Public need indicators for the service being proposed
  • Rates and Rules (if applying for a passenger directed vehicle licence)
  • Contract(s) (if providing limited passenger transportation service for passenger directed vehicles)
  • Inter-City Bus sample time schedule for each proposed route (if applying for an Inter-City Bus licence)
  • If Engaging Carrier Authorization was indicated, a letter from one or more Inter-City Bus licensees that want to "engage" your ICB services under their ICB licence.

If your business or organization is located outside of British Columbia you will need to send 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 legible photocopy of your current driver's licence.
    • If you are applying as a partnership, you must forward a legible 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 your apportioned cab card showing proof that your vehicle(s) is (are) registered with the International Registration Plan (IRP).
    2. A photocopy of a valid BC Financial Responsibility Certificate issued by the Insurance Corporation of British Columbia.

    If your are not registered with IRP and/or a valid BC Financial Responsibility Certificate please provide an explanation, (e.g. A non resident permit will be purchased as a weigh scale.)

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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