The City of Vancouver says it is ready to license ride-hailing companies in Vancouver. Once the Provincial TNS licence is issued, the ride hailing companies can obtain a municipal business licence from the City.
City staff are already working closely with ride-hailing companies to ready their business licence applications for quick processing.
Ride-hailing vehicles operating in the metro core between 7 am and 7 pm are required to pay 30 cents per each pick-up and drop-off as of January 6, 2020, but fees are reduced by 50 per cent for zero emission vehicles.
Wheelchair accessible vehicles are exempt from the fee.
Metro Core is the area bounded by Burrard Street, 16th Avenue, Clark Avenue, and the Burrard Inlet. Staff aims to issue a business licence within three days of receiving a complete application.
The annual licence fee for a ride-hailing company is $155. As part of the business licence, ride-hailing companies pay a $100 annual per vehicle fee.
Wheelchair accessible and zero emission vehicles will receive a 100 per cent discount on their vehicle fee.
To keep costs fair for all operators in the city, the licensing and vehicles fees for taxis and limousines companies are now set at the same cost as ride-hailing companies, the city added.
A new Congestion and Curbside Management Permit program has also been designed to mitigate congestion on City streets during peak traffic hours, and will take effect on January 6, 2020.
The City said it supports the concept of an integrated regional approach and continues to work with other municipalities toward inter-municipal business licensing for ride-hailing.
