Vehicles for Hire

The City of Oshawa has a comprehensive by-law that modernizes the City's standards for our local Vehicle-for-Hire (V.F.H.) industry, including Taxis, Transportation Network Companies (e.g. Uber, Lyft, etc.), Designated Driving (D.D.) Services, and Limousines. The Vehicle-for-Hire By-law is available online.

Currently licensed operators

Lists of currently licensed companies and brokers are available online:

Taxicab Brokers - Blue Line Durham Region Inc. and City Wide Taxi
Designated Driving (D.D.) Brokers - No companies/brokers licensed at this time
Limousine Owners - No companies/brokers licensed at this time
Transportation Network Companies - Uber and Lyft

Who needs a licence?

City-licensed Drivers (people who drive taxicabs, limousines and D.D.s)
D.D. Brokers
Limousine Owners
Taxicab Brokers
Taxicab Owners
Transportation Network Companies (T.N.C.s)

T.N.C. drivers (e.g. Uber and Lyft drivers) do not require a City licence. T.N.C.s must screen their drivers based on the City’s criteria.

How to apply?

Drivers (taxicab, limousine, and D.D.)

People who drive taxicabs, limousines, or for D.D. services in Oshawa must have a City Licensed Driver Licence. This Licence does not apply to T.N.C. drivers (T.N.C.s screen their drivers on behalf of the City).

The annual City Licensed Driver Licence fee is $75. You can apply online or by attending the Licensing Services counter at City Hall.

To apply for a new or renew a City Licensed Driver Licence, you must submit the following documents:

Ontario Driver’s Licence (minimum Class “G”)
Criminal Record and Judicial Matters Check (dated within 30 days of the application)
Ministry of Transportation Driver’s Abstract (dated within 30 days of the application)

Please Note: To obtain an Accessible Driver designation on your City Licensed Driver Licence, you must provide proof of completion of an approved accessible driver training program

D.D. Driver who is registering a vehicle must also provide:

Ministry of Transportation Vehicle Ownership
Proof of Ontario Standard Automobile Insurance Policy with third party liability limit of not less than $2,000,000 per accident

Apply for a new or renewal of City Licensed Driver Licence

Taxicab Brokers and Owners

People or companies who hold a Taxicab Broker Licence dispatch licensed taxicab vehicles.

The annual Taxicab Broker Licence fee is $250. You can apply online or by attending the Licensing Services counter at City Hall.

To apply for a new or renew a Taxicab Broker Licence, you must submit the following:

Proof of Identity (e.g. Driver’s Licence)
Business Name Registration and/or Articles of Incorporation
Certificate of Status for the corporation
List of directors and/or officers (including addresses)
Criminal Record and Judicial Matters Check (dated within 30 days of the application)
Proof of Commercial General Liability Insurance that:

Includes a limit of liability of not less than $2,000,000 per occurrence; and,
Names the Taxicab Broker and/or owner(s) as Additional Insured(s)

Apply for a new or renewal of Taxicab Broker Licence

People or companies who hold a Taxicab Owner Licence own licensed taxicab vehicles.

The annual Taxicab Owner Licence fee is $250. You can apply online or by attending the Licensing Services counter at City Hall.

To apply for a Taxicab Owner Licence, you must submit the following documents:

Proof of Identity (e.g. Driver’s Licence)
Business Name Registration and/or Articles of Incorporation
Certificate of Status for the corporation
List of directors and/or officers (including addresses)
Criminal Record and Judicial Matters Check (dated within 30 days of the application)
Vehicle Ownership
Proof of Ontario Standard Automobile Insurance with third party liability limit of at least $2,000,000 per accident
Safety Certificate and Passenger/Light Duty Vehicle Inspection Report (dated within 36 days of the application)

Apply for a new or renewal of Taxicab Owner Licence

The Plate Issuance Eligibility List (P.I.E.L.) tracks who may be eligible for a Taxicab Owner Licence. Note: The P.I.E.L. and plate limits do not apply to Accessible Taxicabs.

To have your name added to the Plate Issuance Eligibility List (P.I.E.L.) you must contact the Licensing Department for application details and requirements.

Please contact Licensing Services if you require a Change of Vehicle Application.

T.N.C.s

Transportation Network Companies (T.N.C.s) are companies that connect paying passengers with drivers of private vehicles-for-hire solely through a mobile app. Examples of T.N.C.'s include Uber and Lyft. The annual fee for a T.N.C. Licence depends on the number of affiliated drivers.

Fee Structure
Number of Drivers	Fee
1-100	$5,000
101-500	$10,000
501-1000	$15,000
1001+	$50,000

T.N.C.'s must also pay the City a Per Trip Fee of $0.20 for each ride started in Oshawa.

Please note that the City invoices all fees for T.N.C.'s.

You can apply online or by attending the Licensing Services counter at City Hall.

To apply for a T.N.C. Licence, you must submit the following:

Proof of Identity (e.g. Driver’s Licence)
Business Name Registration and/or Articles of Incorporation
Certificate of Status for the corporation
List of directors and/or officers (including addresses)
Criminal Record and Judicial Matters Check (dated within 30 days of the application)
Proof of Insurance:
- Insurance product approved by the Finance Services Regulatory Authority of Ontario, which the Financial Services Regulatory Authority in their sole discretion deems adequate
List of all T.N.C. Drivers who have picked up passengers in the city (to be submitted at a frequency as determined by the Director)

Apply for a new or renewal of T.N.C. Licence

D.D. Brokers

People or companies who arrange the D.D. Services hold a D.D. Broker Licence. Designated Driving (D.D.) Services involve the transportation of a vehicle owned by a person (and passengers) by a Designated Driver.

The annual D.D. Broker Licence fee is $250. You can apply online or by attending the Licensing Services counter at City Hall.

To apply for a D.D. Broker Licence, you must submit the following:

Proof of Identity (e.g. Driver’s Licence)
Business Name Registration and/or Articles of Incorporation
Certificate of Status for the corporation
List of directors and/or officers (including addresses)
Criminal Record and Judicial Matters Check (dated within 30 days of the application)
Proof of Commercial General Liability insurance policy that:

Includes a liability limit of not less than $2,000,000 per occurrence
Names the D.D. Broker and/or owner(s) as Additional Insured; and
Has a non-owned automobile liability in an amount of not less than $1,000,000 per occurrence

Apply for a new or renewal of D.D. Broker Licence

Limousine Owners

People or companies who arrange Limousine services hold a Limousine Owner Licence. Limousines are vehicles (not including taxicabs) used for pre-arranged transportation services. They operate on an hourly, daily or weekly basis. This includes services like companion drivers and traditional limousine providers.

The annual Limousine Owner Licence fee is $250. You can apply online or by attending the Licensing Services counter at City Hall.

To apply for a Limousine Owner Licence, you must submit the following:

Proof of Identity (e.g. Driver’s Licence)
Business Name Registration and/or Articles of Incorporation
Certificate of Status for the corporation
List of directors and/or officers (including addresses)
Criminal Record and Judicial Matters Check (dated within 30 days of the application)
Vehicle Ownership
Proof of Ontario Standard Automobile Insurance with third party liability limit of not less than $2,000,000 per accident
Safety Certificate and Passenger/Light Duty Vehicle Inspection Report (dated within 36 days of the application)

Apply for a new or renewal of Limousine Owner Licence

Operating Standards

Vehicle-for-Hire By-law 31-2022 details the operating standards for each type of Vehicle-for-Hire.

Examples of operating standards include:

Transportation Network Company drivers cannot pick up passengers at taxi stands or accept street hails;
Vehicles older than 10 years cannot be used as a Vehicle-for-Hire;
Drivers driving accessible vehicles must provide priority service to people using wheelchairs, regardless of prior requests for service;
Taxicab drivers must follow specific rules for the use of their meters;
Taxicab Owners must affix City plates to their vehicles
Transportation Network Companies must screen their drivers annually;
Designated Driver Brokers must maintain records following the City’s specific requirements in the By-law.

Please refer to Vehicle-for-Hire By-law 31-2022 for a complete list of operating standards.

If you have any comments or concerns related to Accessible Taxicab services, please email Licensing Services with the following information:

Your contact information for follow up, including your name, phone number, and email
Any relevant information about the vehicle and your trip, such as plate number, the date and time of your trip or service delay, etc.
Any other relevant comments about the concern

Information of Soft Meters

The City of Oshawa has recently approved the use of digital Taxicab Meters in certain City-licensed Taxicabs. The digital Taxicab Meter may be referred to as a ‘Soft Meter’ and resembles an electronic tablet (e.g. iPad). The Soft Meter is used in place of the older version analogue meter which is often referred to as a ‘Hard Meter.’ If a Soft Meter is in a Taxicab, the Hard Meter will be removed. Both Meters cannot be in a Taxicab.

The Soft Meter is calibrated to calculate ride Tariffs in the same manner as the analogue Hard Meter and is subject to all the same regulatory requirements pursuant to Vehicle-for-Hire By-law 31-2022, as amended. The City inspects and tests both Hard and Soft Meters installed in City-licensed Taxicabs to verify the trip rate payable is calculated accurately and consistently.

A Hard Meter will have a physical tag attached to it to show the Meter was sealed by a City Inspector. The Soft Meter will show a ‘seal number’ to verify it has been sealed. To verify that the Soft Meter has been inspected and sealed by a City Inspector, the Tariff Card found in the Taxicab will show the same seal number displayed on the Soft Meter and show the date the Meter was inspected and sealed. Verification may be in the form of a sticker with the Inspector's initials (in the case of a recently inspected meter) or the information may be printed on the laminated Tariff Card.

At this time, Blue Line is the only licensed Taxicab Broker permitted to use Soft Meters.

Taxicab Tariff Rates

Rates include Harmonized Sales Tax. All Taxicabs must prominently display Tariff Cards.

Taxicab Tariff Rates	Rate
First 132 metres or part thereof	$3.90
Each additional 128 metres or part thereof	$0.25
Waiting time while under engagement, for each 33.1 seconds	$0.25
For each package or piece of luggage handled by driver in excess of four (4) pieces	$0.30
Wheelchairs, walkers, etc.	No charge
Debit Service Charge	Up to $1.75