Passenger Transportation Accessibility Program

Funding for the taxi industry to improve accessibility services

Eligibility

The Passenger Transportation Accessibility Program (PTAP) supports the taxi industry in delivering improved services and experiences for the accessibility community by providing funding and training to expand availability of wheelchair accessible taxis.

Please note that this Program description should be read together with the applicable program Terms and Conditions. If there is a conflict or discrepancy between this Program description and the program Terms and Conditions, the Terms and Conditions will prevail. 

Passenger Transportation Accessibility Program Rebates

Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle (WAV) Maintenance and Operation Rebate

The WAV Maintenance and Operation Rebate provides rebates for applicants for the added maintenance costs associated with operating a WAV taxi compared to operating a non-accessible taxi.

Two additional rebates will be available during the 2025 application period:

  • A flat price Auto Insurance Rebate
  • A flat price Fuel Rebate

These two rebates are subject to the available funding in the rebate program after all other rebates have been totaled and may be pro-rated for a portion of the year. Each vehicle is eligible for one Auto Insurance Rebate and one Fuel Rebate. To qualify for these rebates, proof of auto insurance must be submitted as part of the application.

Applicants are not required to submit maintenance expenses to apply for the Fuel and Auto Insurance Rebates, however, they must complete the WAV Maintenance and Operation Rebate application form. 

 

Applicants

Eligibility criteria are defined in the WAV Maintenance and Operation Rebate Terms and Conditions.

Eligibility criteria requires that applicants:

  • Be a company (registered to do business in BC)
  • Hold a valid a valid Passenger Transportation Licence with Special Authorization Passenger Directed Vehicle issued under the Passenger Transportation Act 
  • Have operated a wheelchair accessible taxi for the purpose of accessible passenger transportation in the past 12 months

Note: WAV operators that incurred expenses and operate under one Passenger Transportation Licence (e.g. shared dispatch services) should contact the company to apply on their behalf as the licence holder (company) is the applicant.

If this applies, a WAV Maintenance and Operation Rebate Consent Form must be completed as part of the application process. The consent form allows the company to apply for rebates on behalf of the WAV operators that incur expenses. The applicant may not withhold any portion of the rebate funds from whomever ultimately paid for the expense. 

 

Application criteria

Between January 1, 2024, and December 31, 2024, applicants must have:

  • Operated one or more wheelchair accessible taxis under your Passenger Transportation Licence
  • Followed the terms and conditions of your licence (including submitting trip and shift data to Province)
  • Incurred eligible expenses as outlined in the program Terms and Conditions
  • Paid invoices/receipts detailing those eligible expenses
  • Have auto insurance in good standing, without withdrawal or cancellation

As part of the application process applicants must:

  • Provide legible copies of paid invoices/receipts clearly marked PAID or similar
    • Invoices without proof of payment attached will not be processed
    • Please do not submit fuel invoices
  • Provide proof of auto insurance (e.g. Owners Certificate of Insurance and Vehicle Licence)
    • Please include all pages showing the vehicle identifying information and premium amount
  • Provide all required consent forms
  • Certify
    • All vehicles in the application are wheelchair accessible and are being actively used to complete wheelchair accessible trips 
    • All vehicles in the application display a valid Transport Canada mobility conversion decal showing the National Safety Mark
    • All WAVS in the application have completed all required inspections at a Designated Inspection Facility
    • All WAVs in the application comply with all applicable laws and standards
    • All required consent forms have been attached to the application
    • No portion of the rebate will be withheld from the company/individual who incurred the costs

Please see the WAV Maintenance and Operation Rebate Terms and Conditions for all submission requirements.

Applicants will be asked for a clear photo of a vehicle’s Transport Canada mobility conversion decal showing the National Safety Mark, if one is not on file with the Province.

 

Eligible and ineligible expenses

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 but are not limited to:

  • 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, and repair service is not available in the local community
  • Driver expenses where repair service is not available in local communities

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

  • Invoices that do not include proof of payment
  • Invoices that do not include clear vehicle identifying information (e.g. VIN or VRN)
  • Invoices that are not legible or do not contain sufficient information (e.g. do not identify the seller, payor, product or service, date and/or price)
  • Receipts from retail sellers/auto wreckers (e.g. Costco, Lordco, Canadian Tire, Amazon, eBay, Rona, Home Depot, Rock Auto etc.) except for invoices from auto service shops that contain sufficient detail
  • Auto detailing and car washes
  • Invoices that are not maintenance related (e.g. full/complete paint jobs, taxi meter installations, propane conversions)
  • Towing expenses where repair services are available in the local community
  • Costs incurred outside the eligible dates
  • Cost of vehicle rebuilds
  • Costs that are eligible under the WAV Acquisition and Conversion Rebate
 

Maximum rebate value 

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

  • Total number of eligible applications received
  • Total funding available
  • Applicants may be eligible for additional rebates including Fuel and Insurance Rebates

A cap may be applied to the total rebate for each vehicle based on applications received and total available funding. Applicants are encouraged to submit all eligible maintenance expenses they have incurred.

 

Fuel and Auto Insurance Rebates 

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 2024.

Applicants are encouraged to apply for the WAV Maintenance and Operation Rebate, even if they have not incurred maintenance expenses to qualify for the fuel and auto insurance rebates.

 

Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle (WAV) Acquisition and Conversion Rebate

The Acquisition and Conversion Funding Stream will subsidize applicants for the added costs associated with purchasing or converting a WAV taxi compared to a non-accessible taxi by providing rebates for eligible costs.

 

Applicants 

Eligibility Criteria are defined in the WAV Acquisition and Conversion Rebate Terms and Conditions

Eligibility criteria requires that applicants:

  • Be a company (registered to do business in BC)
  • Hold a valid a valid Passenger Transportation Licence with Special Authorization Passenger Directed Vehicle issued under the Passenger Transportation Act and operate wheelchair accessible taxis under that license

Note: WAV operators that incurred expenses and operate under one Passenger Transportation Licence (e.g. shared dispatch services) should contact the company to apply on their behalf as the licence holder (company) is the applicant.

If this applies, a WAV Acquisition and Conversion Rebate Consent Form must be completed as part of the application process. The consent form allows the company to apply for rebates on behalf of the WAV operators that incur expenses. The applicant may not withhold any portion of the rebate funds from whomever ultimately paid for the expense.

 

Application criteria

Applications with eligible expenses must be submitted within 12 months of the eligible acquisition or conversion date.

The WAV Acquisition and Conversion Rebate intake will remain open as long as program funding is available. 

An applicant must:

  • Have purchased (at fair market value) and or/converted a vehicle to a wheelchair accessible taxi in compliance with all the applicable laws and standards
  • Followed the terms and conditions of their licence (including submitting trip and shift data to the Province)
  • Ensure the vehicle is an active WAV under a Passenger Transportation Licence with Special Authorization Passenger Directed Vehicle
  • Have incurred eligible expenses as outlined in the program Terms and Conditions

As part of the application process, applicants must:

  • Provide legible copies of bill of sale/paid invoices/receipts marked PAID or similar
    • Invoices without proof of payment attached will not be processed
  • Provide a clear photo of a vehicle’s Transport Canada mobility conversion decal displaying the National Safety Mark
  • Provide all required consent forms
  • Certify
    • All WAVs in the application are being actively used to complete wheelchair accessible trips
    • All WAVs in the application display a valid Transport Canada conversion decal showing the National Safety Mark.
    • All WAVS in the application have completed all required inspections at a designated inspection facility
    • All WAVs in the application comply with all applicable laws and standards
    • All required consent forms have been attached to the application
    • No portion of the rebate will be withheld from the company/individual who incurred the costs

Please see the WAV Acquisition and Conversion Rebate Terms and Conditions for all submission requirements.

 

Eligible and ineligible expenses

Eligible expenses for the WAV Acquisition and Conversion Rebate are defined as expenses incurred for:

  • Purchasing a wheelchair accessible vehicle at fair market value (the rebate application must be submitted within 12 months of the purchase)
  • Purchasing a vehicle at fair market value and converting it to a wheelchair accessible vehicle within 12 months of the purchase date (the conversion must be complete and the rebate application must be submitted within 12 months of the eligible conversion)
  • Converting a vehicle that is already owned into a wheelchair accessible vehicle (the rebate application must be submitted within 12 months of the eligible conversion)

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). To be eligible the conversion must be completed before applying for funding.

Ineligible expenses are defined as any expenses not covered under the definition of eligible expenses. Examples include but are not limited to: 

  • Invoices that do not include proof of payment
  • Invoices that are not legible or do not contain sufficient information (e.g. do not identify the seller, payor, vehicle, product or service, date and/or price)
  • Cash deposits
  • 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
  • Vehicle transfers between owners within the same fleet
  • Pre-purchased or back ordered vehicles (not yet received), including deposits on vehicles
  • 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
  • Invoices that are not considered acquisition and conversion expenses
  • Costs that are eligible under the WAV Maintenance and Operations Rebate

Note: Each Vehicle Identification Number (VIN)/Vehicle Registration Number (VRN) is only eligible for the WAV Acquisition and Conversion Rebate once, except in circumstances where the vehicle is purchased by a new owner in an eligible rural community.

Eligible rural communities include the following communities:

  • Vancouver Island and Coast (except vehicles operating in Central Saanich, Colwood, Esquimalt, Langford, North Saanich, Oak Bay, Saanich, Victoria, and View Royal).
  • Thompson/Okanagan (except vehicles operating in Kelowna)
  • Cariboo
  • Kootenay
  • Northeast
  • Nechako
  • North Coast

Please see the Economic Regions of British Columbia Regions for a map.

If you are purchasing a used vehicle and are located in an eligible rural community, please contact PTAP@gov.bc.ca to inquire if the vehicle may be eligible for an additional rebate.

 

Maximum rebate value 

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 to a maximum of $9,000
  • Funding for vehicle acquisitions will be up to 20% of eligible purchase at fair market value to a maximum of $11,000
  • Total funding for eligible acquisition and conversion costs will not exceed $20,000
  • Funding for a vehicle that was previously converted to a WAV or a purpose-built vehicle will be 20% of the eligible purchase costs not to exceed $20,000
  • If the applicant has received funding from any other source (including CVSE One-Time Grant funding) the WAV Acquisition and Conversion Rebate will be capped and combined funding will not exceed the total eligible costs incurred

The Province may adjust the grant amounts at any time, at its sole discretion, based on available funding.

 

Application review and audit

Applicants should be aware that the Province may audit their application at any time. Additional information and records may be requested to verify the application. The Province may, at its sole discretion, reject an application and the rebate may be forfeited or repayment be required if the applicable Terms and Conditions are not complied with. Applicants must keep all original invoices, receipts and documents on file for two years after receiving a rebate. 

Overview

The B.C. Passenger Transportation Accessibility Program (PTAP) provides rebates to help eligible licensee taxi operators for the costs incurred to maintain, purchase, and convert wheelchair accessible taxis.

The Province launched the Maintenance Rebate in January 2023. It partially reimburses eligible licensee taxi operators for costs incurred to maintain wheelchair-accessible vehicles (WAVs). This rebate will continue in 2025 as the Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle Maintenance and Operation Rebate and is expected to continue in the future.

The Province launched the Acquisition and Conversion Rebate in January 2024. It provides a rebate to eligible licensee taxi operators for costs incurred to purchase and convert vehicles into wheelchair-accessible taxis. This rebate will continue and is expected to be available on an ongoing basis as long as funds remain available.

The Province may launch additional rebates over the coming years which will focus on reducing the cost of operating WAVs and providing training opportunities that will help support service for people that rely on wheelchair-accessible vehicles.

Benefits

People who depend on wheelchair accessible passenger transportation to run errands, access services in their communities, attend appointments, and connect with friends and family have been experiencing increasing wait times, and in some cases no service.

WAV taxi operators who want to provide services to support the accessibility community are struggling with the expenses of these vehicles over conventional vehicles.

The program is designed to provide equitable access for the accessibility community to passenger-directed transportation services. It will support sustaining and increasing the number of WAVs operating in B.C. and enhancing services provided to members of the accessibility community.

News releases

Apply

1

Review important information

Before applying for program rebates:

2

Register for a Business BCeID

A Business BCeID is required to access the program rebates. Please register for a Business BCeID as soon as possible as there may be application processing wait times.

3

Get ready to provide

  • Business and contact information including Business/GST Number
  • Passenger Transportation Licence number and National Safety Code number
  • Vehicle Registration Number, VIN, make, model, year, unit number
  • A photo of a vehicle’s valid Transport Canada mobility conversion decal showing the National Safety Mark
  • Proof of auto insurance (e.g. Owners Certificate of Insurance and Vehicle License)
  • Legible electronic copies of paid invoices (including proof of payment) for each vehicle
  • A completed consent form, if required
4

Rebate online application forms

The Passenger Transportation Accessibility Program rebates support the taxi industry to increase the availability of wheelchair accessible vehicles and improve accessible transportation services.

The application intake for the WAV Maintenance and Operations Rebate applications will be accepted between December 16, 2024February 14, 2025. Late applications will not be accepted.

The application intake for the WAV Acquisition and Conversion Rebate will open on December 16, 2024 and remain open on an on-going basis.

Grant recipients

Contact information

Page Last Updated: December 10, 2024

If you have any questions about PTAP, please feel free to contact us.

Please note this phone line is for voicemail use only. Leave your name, contact information, and preferred time for a callback and your call will be returned promptly.

Email: 
PTAP@gov.bc.ca

Address
PO Box 9850
Stn Prov Govt
Victoria, BC V9W 9T5