Passenger Transportation Accessibility Program

Eligible applicants are defined in the Terms and Conditions.

Eligibility criteria requires that applicants:

• Be resident of BC or business (registered to do business in BC)
• Be a valid owner-operator of wheelchair accessible taxi vehicles (“WAVs”) under a valid Passenger Transportation Licence with Special Authorization Passenger Directed Vehicle issued under the Passenger Transportation Act

Note: WAV owner-operators that operate under one Passenger Transportation Licence (e.g. shared dispatch services) should contact the individual or business they work for to apply on their behalf (if the owner-operators paid for expenses for a WAV) as the individual or business is the eligible applicant.
 

If this applies, a consent form must be completed as part of the application process. The consent form  allows the individual or business to apply for rebates on behalf of the WAV owner-operator.

Between January 1, 2022, and December 31, 2023, eligible applicants must have:

1. Operated one or more WAVs under your owner-operator licence
2. Followed the terms and conditions of your licence (including submitting trip and shift data)
3. Completed accessible trips
4. Incurred eligible expenses
5. Paid invoices/receipts detailing those eligible expenses
6. Certified that all vehicles in the application are wheelchair accessible and are being actively used to complete wheelchair accessible trips 
7. Certified the auto insurance was in good standing, without withdrawal or cancellation

This year, the program is accepting applications for expenses incurred in the 2022 calendar year. Eligible applicants may include proof of maintenance and repair costs paid for between January 1, 2022, and December 31, 2022, if these expenses were not previously claimed under last year’s rebate program.
 

As part of the application process applicants must provide:

• Legible copies of paid invoices/receipts clearly marked PAID or similar. Fuel invoices are NOT required
• Proof of auto insurance that includes vehicle identifying information and the premium amount (e.g. Owners Certificate of Insurance and Vehicle Licence)
• Please see the Terms and Conditions for all the submission requirements

Applicants may be asked for a clear photo of a vehicle’s compliance label/decal or a CVSE inspection report clearly referencing a vehicle is wheelchair accessible, if one is not on file with the Province.

Eligible maintenance expenses for the WAV Maintenance and Operation Rebate are defined as any expenses associated with maintaining and repairing a WAV to ensure its safe operation, state of good repair, and availability. Examples include: 

• Maintenance and repair costs for a WAV’s mechanical systems/running gear (e.g., axles, tires, brakes and rotors, transmissions, engines, suspension systems)
• Maintenance and repair costs for a WAV’s accessibility-related equipment (e.g., wheelchair-related safety/securement devices, ramp repairs, door mechanisms on the wheelchair accessible entrance)
• Commercial vehicle inspection costs
• Towing expenses where the vehicle is unable to be safely operated
• Driver expenses where repair service is not available in local communities
• Auto detailing

Ineligible expenses are generally defined as any expenses not covered under the definition of eligible expenses. For example:

• Costs claimed under last year’s WAV Maintenance Rebate Program
• Costs that are eligible under a separate rebate

The maximum rebate value for each WAV will be based on the:

• Shift and trip data submitted by the taxi industry to the Province
• Total number of eligible applications received
• Total funding available
• Applicants may be eligible for additional rebates including fuel and insurance rebates

For the WAV Maintenance and Operation Rebate, the average rebate for maintenance expenses is expected to be approximately $6,500 per WAV. A cap may be applied to the total rebate for each vehicle based on applications received and total available funding. Eligible applicants are encouraged to submit all eligible maintenance expenses they have incurred.

Additional rebate opportunities include:

• A flat price Auto Insurance Rebate of approximately $2,400 per WAV
• A flat price Fuel Rebate of approximately $3,000 per WAV

These additional rebates depend on available funding and may be prorated for the portion of the year the vehicle was in operation in 2023.
 

Eligible applicants are encouraged to apply for the WAV Maintenance and Operation Rebate even if they do not have maintenance expenses to qualify for these additional rebates.

Eligible applicants are defined in the Terms and Conditions.
 

Eligibility criteria requires that applicants:

• Be resident of BC or business (registered to do business in BC)
• Be a valid owner-operator of wheelchair accessible taxi vehicles (“WAVs”) under a valid Passenger Transportation Licence with Special Authorization Passenger Directed Vehicle issued under the Passenger Transportation Act

Note: WAV owner-operators that operate under one Passenger Transportation Licence (e.g. shared dispatch services) should contact the individual or business they work for to apply on their behalf (if the owner-operators paid for expenses for a WAV) as the individual or business is the eligible applicant.
 

If this applies, a consent form must be completed as part of the application process. The consent form allows the individual or business to apply for rebates on behalf of the WAV owner-operator.

Between January 1, 2022, and December 31, 2023, eligible applicants must:

1. Have purchased (at fair market value) and or/converted a vehicle to a wheelchair accessible taxi in compliance with Canadian Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (CMVSS) and Canadian Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Regulations
2. Ensure the vehicle is an active WAV under a Passenger Transportation Licence with Special Authorization Passenger Directed Vehicle
3. Follow the terms and conditions of their licence (including submitting trip and shift data)
4. Incurred eligible expenses
5. Certify that all vehicles in the application are being actively used to complete accessible trips

As part of the application process, eligible applicants are required to provide:

• Legible copies of bill of sale/paid invoices/receipts marked PAID or similar
• A clear photo of a vehicle’s compliance label/decal

Eligible expenses for the WAV Acquisition and Conversion Rebate are defined as expenses incurred between January 1, 2022, and December 31, 2023, for:

• Purchasing a wheelchair accessible vehicle at fair market value
• Purchasing a vehicle at fair market value and converting it to a wheelchair accessible vehicle
• Converting a vehicle that is already owned into wheelchair accessible vehicle

Acquisition: The purchase cost of a wheelchair accessible vehicle or a vehicle that has been purchased and converted to a wheelchair accessible vehicle. To be eligible the ramp must be installed before applying for funding. The conversion must take place within 12 months of purchasing the vehicle for the vehicle purchase cost to be eligible.
 

Conversion: The costs to convert a vehicle into a wheelchair accessible vehicle (e.g. install a ramp). The conversion must have taken place between January 1, 2022, and December 31, 2023. To be eligible the conversion must be completed before applying for funding.
 

Ineligible expenses any expenses not covered under the definition of eligible expenses. For example:

• Vehicle purchase or conversion costs that occurred outside of the eligible dates
• Purchase of a vehicle that has not yet been converted to a wheelchair accessible vehicle
• Pre-purchased or back ordered vehicles (not yet received)
• Deposits related to the purchase or conversion of a vehicle
• Purchase and/or conversion of a vehicle that is not being used to complete accessible trips
• Applicable taxes and other costs associated with vehicle purchase, registration, or the transfer of ownership
• Leased or rented vehicles

Note: Each Vehicle Identification Number (VIN)/Vehicle Registration Number (VRN) number is only eligible for the WAV Acquisition and Conversion Rebate once.

The maximum rebate value for each WAV will be based on the:

• Total number of eligible applications received
• Total funding available
• Funding for vehicle conversions will be up to 50% of the eligible conversion costs up to a maximum of $9,000
• Funding for vehicle acquisitions will be up to 20% of eligible purchase at fair market value up to a maximum of $11,000
• Total funding for eligible acquisition and conversion costs will not exceed $20,000
• Funding for a purpose build or pre-converted vehicle will be 20% of eligible purchase costs not to exceed $20,000
• The Province may adjust the grant amounts at any time, at its sole discretion, based on available funding