Vehicles for Hire

People who drive taxicabs, limousines, or for D.D. services 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). You can apply for or renew your City-licensed Driver licence online. You can also apply by attending the Licensing Services counter at City Hall.

The annual licence fee is $75.

To apply for a licence, you will have to submit the following:

• Completed application
• Driver’s Licence (minimum Class “G”)
• Criminal Record and Judicial Matters Check (dated within 30 days of the application)
• Driver’s Abstract (dated within 30 days of the application)
• Proof of completion of an approved training program if applying for an accessible driver endorsement
• D.D. Drivers who are registering vehicles only:
  • Proof of insurance: Ontario Standard Automobile Insurance Policy with third party liability limit of at least $2,000,000.00
  • Vehicle Ownership

Applicants must:

• Hold a valid Ontario Class ‘G’ (minimum) Driver’s Licence
• Have a current “Level” 2 Police Record Check (dated within 30 days of application)
• Have a current driver’s abstract (dated within 30 days of application)
• Have completed an approved training program if they are applying for an accessible driver endorsement

People or companies who hold Taxicab Broker licences operate licensed taxicab vehicles. You can apply for or renew your Taxicab Broker licence online. You can also apply by attending the Licensing Services counter at City Hall.

The annual Taxicab Broker licence fee is $250.

To apply for a licence, you will have to submit the following:

• Completed application
• 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:
  • Commercial General Liability Insurance policy that:
    • Includes a limit of liability of not less than $2,000,000.00 per accident or occurrence; and,
    • Names the Taxicab Broker and/or owner(s) and the City as Additional Insured(s)

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. You can apply for your Taxicab Owner licence online. You can also apply by attending the Licensing Services counter at City Hall.

The annual Taxicab Owner licence fee is $250.

To apply for a licence, you will have to submit the following:

• Completed application
• 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:
  • Ontario Standard Automobile Insurance policy with third party liability limit of at least $2,000,000
• Vehicle Ownership
• Safety Certificate and Passenger Light Duty Inspection Report (dated within 36 days of the application)

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.

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.

T.N.C.s must also pay the City a Per Trip Fee of $0.11 for each ride started in Oshawa.

Please note that the City invoices all fees for T.N.C.s.

You can apply for or renew your T.N.C. licence online. You can also apply by attending the Licensing Services counter at City Hall.

To apply for a licence, you will have to submit the following:

• Completed application
• 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)

You can apply for or renew your D.D. Broker licence online. You can also apply by attending the Licensing Services counter at City Hall.

The annual D.D. Broker licence fee is $250.

To apply for a licence, you will have to submit the following:

• Completed application
• 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:
  • Commercial General Liability insurance policy that:
    • Includes a limit of liability of not less than $2,000,000.00 per accident or occurrence
    • Names the D.D. Broker and/or owner(s) and the City as Additional Insured(s); and
    • Has a non-owned automobile liability in an amount of not less than $1,000,000.00 per occurrence

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.

You can apply for or renew your Limousine Owner licence online. You can also apply by attending the Licensing Services counter at City Hall.

The annual Limousine Owner licence fee is $250.

To apply for a licence, you will have to submit the following:

• Completed application
• 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:
  • Ontario Standard Automobile Insurance policy with third party liability limit of at least $2,000,000.00
• Vehicle Ownership
• Safety Certificate and Passenger Light Duty Inspection Report (dated within 36 days of the application)

• As part of the Council-approved process, the City initiated its first round of Industry-specific Stakeholder Consultation Sessions. The purpose of the first round of the Consultation Sessions was to re-engage Oshawa’s V.F.H. Industry, affirm the feedback received in the 2017 Consultation Process, discuss regulatory policy options used in other municipalities, and obtain feedback.

• The Corporate Services Committee (“Committee”) held a Special Meeting on Wednesday, November 20, 2019 at 3:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers to present two regulatory policy options for consideration. Report CORP-19-96 “Modernizing Vehicle-for-Hire Standards in the City of Oshawa and Proposed Regulatory Policy Options” details the two regulatory policy options. 
• Committee directed staff to develop a third regulatory option which limits the City's regulatory role in the Vehicle-for-Hire Industry, to be included as part of the second public and industry consultation sessions.
• Committee approved the three regulatory policy options for the second public and industry stakeholder consultation sessions detailed in CORP-20-11 “Modernizing Vehicle-for-Hire Standards in the City of Oshawa, Option “C” and Proposed Consultation Process” at its meeting on March 2, 2020.

• The City completed an industry and public consultation to receive feedback on three proposed regulatory options for the City’s Vehicle-for-Hire Industry (e.g. Taxis, Transportation Network Companies, Designated Driving Services, and Limousine Services).
• The Second Public and Industry Stakeholder Consultation occurred between June 16, 2020 to July 6, 2020 and the feedback was included in Report CORP-20-34 “Modernizing Vehicle-For-Hire Standards in the City of Oshawa: Regulatory Options”.
• The consultation process involved the use of Connect Oshawa, the City’s online engagement platform, and included options to submit feedback online through Connect Oshawa, via Email, and via phone through Service Oshawa.
• Staff also engaged directly with stakeholders and those who had previously expressed an interest in the initiative. Staff promoted the public consultation to the community and stakeholders using various methods, including media materials, the City website, social media and print promotional material.
• In light of COVID-19 and as per Council’s May 25, 2020 direction, the City moved its Vehicle-for-Hire (V.F.H.) public and industry consultation sessions from an in-person consultation to an online and mail-in consultation.

• Committee considered Report CORP-20-34 “Modernizing Vehicle-For-Hire Standards in the City of Oshawa: Regulatory Options” at its special meeting at 9:30 a.m. on October 20, 2020. Information about the special meeting including the agenda, report, and web stream link is available on the special meeting webpage.