Inter-city bus
Inter-city bus operators must have a passenger transportation licence with special authorization. Inter-city bus services operate between cities on a schedule, over regular routes and charge per person fares.
Start an inter-city bus service
Passenger transportation operators applying for a new licence must show the Board that they are:
- a fit and proper person to provide the proposed service; and
- capable of providing the service
Operators must demonstrate that:
- there is a public need for that proposed service; and
- that the application, if granted, promotes sound economic conditions in the passenger transportation industry in British Columbia.
Make sure you understand the application process. It explains how the Board uses the evidence you provide in your application to make a decision.
Start or expand an inter-city bus service on an existing route
Inter-city bus operators who want to start or expand an inter-city bus service on an existing route can use the new inter-city bus application checklist.
Checklist
New inter-city bus licence
Before you apply
- Understand commercial vehicle and safety information about commercial passenger transportation vehicles
- Obtain a National safety code certificate (NSC)
Forms
- Special authorization licence application (Registrar form)
- Signing authority (Registrar form)
- Inter-city bus authorization application summary(235 KB)
- Inter-city bus route worksheet(659 KB) (for each route you are going to add or change)
- Declarations & consent(573 KB)
Attachments
- Business plan
- Financial information
- All Applicants: Cash flow projections (36 months) and income statements
- Established Companies: Balance sheet
- Sole Proprietors or Partnerships: Personal net worth statements
- Resumés, criminal record checks and business registration documents
- Public need indicators
- Sample ICB time schedule
Final step
- Submit your completed application package to the Registrar’s Office at CPV@gov.bc.ca.
Start an inter-city bus service on a new route
Inter-city bus operators who want to start an inter-city bus service on a new route (a highway corridor without an inter-city bus operation) can use the simplified inter-city bus application checklist.
Checklist
Simplified ICB application
Forms
- Special authorization licence application (Registrar form)
- Signing authority form (Registrar form)
- Inter-city bus route worksheet(154 KB) (each route you are going to add or change)
- Inter-city bus application overview(87 KB)
- Disclosure of unlawful activity and bankruptcy(655 KB)
- Declarations & consent(573 KB)
Attachments
- Business plan
- Financial information
- All Applicants: Cash flow projections (36 months) and income statements
- Established Companies: Balance sheet
- Sole Proprietors or Partnerships: Personal net worth statements
- Resumés, criminal record checks and business registration documents
Final step
- Submit your completed application package to the Registrar’s Office at CPV@gov.bc.ca.
Change an inter-city bus (ICB) licence
Passenger transportation operators applying for a new licence must show the Board that they are:
- a fit and proper person to provide the proposed service; and
- capable of providing the service
Operators must demonstrate that:
- there is a public need for that proposed service; and
- that the application, if granted, promotes sound economic conditions in the passenger transportation industry in British Columbia.
Make sure you understand the application process. It explains how the Board uses the evidence you provide in your application to make a decision.
Transfer a licence
Taxi, ride-hail, inter-city bus, limo, shuttle and other passenger directed vehicle operators (transferors) can apply to transfer their passenger transportation licence to another business entity.
Amend an ICB licence
ICB operators must apply to the Board to amend their terms and conditions of licence, including operation on new routes or eliminating routes or route points. They cannot apply to amend terms and conditions labelled “legislative requirements”.
Add a route
ICB operators must apply to the Board to expand their routes of operation. ICB operators seeking to operate on a route already serviced must submit all items listed under the New Inter-city Bus Checklist. ICB operators seeking to operate on a route currently not serviced may submit all items listed under the Simplified ICB Application Checklist.
Reduce or stop inter-city bus service
The Board’s Inter-City Bus Minimum Route Frequency policy will take effect on the expiration of the ICB COVID-19 policy on December 31, 2023. The policy changed licensee requirements for reducing or stopping inter-city bus service. There will be a period of 90 days to transition to the updated MRF policy.
Operating an inter-city bus service
Minimum route frequency
Inter-city bus (ICB) operators must adhere to their license’s minimum route frequency requirements.
The Board’s Inter-City Bus Minimum Route Frequency policy will take effect on the expiration of the ICB COVID-19 policy on December 31, 2023. The policy changed licensee requirements for reducing or stopping inter-city bus service. There will be a period of 90 days to transition to the updated MRF policy.
Terms and conditions
The Board sets terms and conditions of passenger transportation licences when an application is approved.
Inter-city bus operator terms and conditions include things like:
- Schedules
- Routes
- Pick-up and drop-off points
- Minimum route frequencies (daily, weekly, month)
Operators must also follow the Passenger Transportation Act, the Passenger Transportation Regulation and Board Rates Rules.
Fitness reviews
The Board may review licensee fitness at any time to make sure they meet standards.
News and updates for
Inter-city bus
March 6, 2024
Update on climate change programs and initiatives
The scale of the climate emergency demands urgent action. Responding to climate change is a significant priority for the B.C. government. The Passenger Transportation Board (Board) continues to review its policies and procedures to ensure they support the government’s climate change programs and initiatives. The following initiatives are a few of those currently being undertaken by the Province and the Board.
February 7, 2024
The Passenger Transportation Board is moving
The Passenger Transportation Board (Board) has been advised by the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure that, as of April 1, 2024, the B
Quick links
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Make a complaint about a service.
Please put your complaint in writing and send it to the Commercial Passenger Vehicle Program. Their phone number is 604-527-2198 and their email is cpv@gov.bc.ca.
Find out what’s happening with someone else’s application.
We do not disclose the status of other applications until the final decision has been published on the website. We also do not disclose that an application has been received until it’s Application Summary has been published in the Weekly Bulletin.
Get an update on my application.
An applicant may contact the Board to inquire about the status of their application.
Renew my licence.
The Registrar of Passenger Transportation will automatically send licence renewal forms to licensees with expiring licences.