Passenger Transportation Accessibility Program

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

Eligibility criteria require applicants:

• Be a company (registered to do business in BC) or individual (only if they are the holder of a valid Passenger Transportation License)
• Hold a valid a valid Passenger Transportation Licence with Special Authorization Passenger Directed Vehicle issued under the Passenger Transportation Act 
• Operated one or more registered and insured wheelchair accessible taxis, under their license, for the purpose of accessible passenger transportation during the application year (January 1, 2025 to December 31, 2025)
• Comply with the terms and conditions of their licence (including submitting trip and shift data to Province)

Note: Only the Passenger Transportation license holder (company) can apply. WAV operators that incurred expenses should contact their company to apply on their behalf. If this applies, a WAV Maintenance and Operation Rebate Consent Form must be completed to allow the company to apply for rebates on behalf of the WAV operator(s) that incur expenses. The company may not withhold any portion of the rebate funds from whoever paid the expense(s). 

Eligibility criteria require WAVs must:

• Comply with all applicable laws and standards
• Have a valid Transport Canada Mobility decal displayed on the vehicle
• Have passed all required inspections at a Designated Inspection Facility
• Are not subject to any outstanding Notice and Orders

Between January 1, 2025, and December 31, 2025, applicants must:

• Maintain vehicles that are safe, roadworthy at all times throughout the rebate year including, but not limited to:
  • Mechanical systems and running gear, including the engine, transmission, brakes, suspension, steering, tires, and any other mechanical systems
  • Accessibility-related equipment, including ramps, lifts, securement systems, restraint belts, and any electronic or hydraulic components that enable accessibility
• Keep a complete vehicle maintenance history for five years, including supporting invoices, which must be provided to the Province on request. Invoices must clearly identify:
  • Name of the autobody shop, garage or service provider
  • Name of the payor
  • A clear description of the vehicle including the VIN or VRN
  • A clear description of the product or service, date, part numbers and the price of parts and services 

• Proof of auto insurance showing full coverage for the year (Owners Certificate of Insurance and Vehicle Licence) – all pages including the vehicle identifying information and premium amounts
  • If insurance coverage expired or changed at any point between January 1, 2025, and December 31, 2025, previous insurance documents must be provided.
• A clear photo of the Transport Canada mobility conversion decal displayed on the vehicle – the decal must display the National Safety Mark (maple leaf) 
  
  Example:
  
   
• Copies of all Commercial Vehicle Inspection Reports (CVIPs) covering the period from January 1, 2025, to the date of application.
• Disclosure of any Notice and Orders (N&Os) received during 2025 to date of application – date any N&Os were issued must be provided 
• Date the vehicle was added to the Passenger Transportation License
• Vehicle conversion invoice - only if the vehicle was converted to a WAV in 2025
• Signed consent form(s) if maintenance, fuel and/or insurance were paid for by someone other than the PT licence holder

Applicants will be required to certify that all information, statements and documentation submitted in the application are true and correct.

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

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.

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 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.

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.