Passenger Transportation Insurance in British Columbia
BC passenger transportation operators — taxi, limousine, bus, shuttle, accessible transport, and rideshare — face the toughest commercial auto market in Canada. Coverage typically runs $3,500–$12,000/vehicle/yr depending on Passenger Transportation Board licence class and passenger capacity. Get a free, transparent estimate in under 60 seconds.
Get my free 60-second estimate →
What BC passenger transport operators pay in 2026
Operator Per vehicle / year Required licence class
Taxi (Lower Mainland) $8,000–$12,000/vehicle/yr PTB Passenger Directed (PDVA) Limousine / executive sedan $5,500–$9,500/vehicle/yr PTB Passenger Directed Shuttle / charter bus (under 25 seats) $4,500–$8,000/vehicle/yr PTB Inter-City / Charter Highway coach (25+ seats) $9,000–$15,000/vehicle/yr PTB Inter-City Bus Rideshare (TNS Class) $3,500–$6,500/vehicle/yr PTB Transportation Network Services Accessible / HandyDART contractor $5,000–$9,500/vehicle/yr PTB Passenger Directed
What BC passenger transport policies need to cover
ICBC Class 8 / 10 commercial auto: Mandatory base coverage. Most PTB licences require $5M+ third-party liability.Passenger Hazard / SEF 44: Family-protection endorsement is effectively required for any vehicle carrying paying passengers.$5M – $10M excess liability: PTB and most municipal taxi bylaws require above the ICBC base layer.Garage Auto Policy (GAP): For operators with their own depot, charter pool, or shop space.Driver vetting: Carriers require Class 4 (or Class 1/2 for buses) abstracts annually; one at-fault claim per driver per 3 years can re-rate the entire fleet.
BC passenger transportation insurance FAQ
Is my regular ICBC plate enough to carry paying passengers? No. The Passenger Transportation Act requires PTB licensing plus a commercial-rated ICBC policy (Class 8/10 + passenger hazard). Running paid passengers on a personal-use plate voids coverage.
Do rideshare drivers (Uber / Lyft) need their own commercial policy in BC? The TNS company's blanket policy covers most situations, but drivers carrying delivery/courier work or who own multiple vehicles should consider a personal commercial endorsement to avoid coverage gaps when the app is off.
How can I lower my passenger transport insurance premium? The biggest savings come from a clean 3-year fleet abstract, telematics/GPS adoption, in-vehicle cameras, and consolidating multiple vehicles on one fleet policy instead of separate per-vehicle policies.
Popular insurance pages in BC How It Works
Answer 4 quick questions about your business
Get an instant insurance cost estimate based on BC market data
See how your costs compare to similar businesses
Optionally connect with a licensed BC broker for a real quote
Insurance by Industry
Roofing Insurance BC — $5,000 to $20,000+/yrTrucking Insurance BC — $8,000 to $15,000+/truckContractor Insurance BC — $1,500 to $5,000/yrExcavation Insurance BC — $4,500 to $18,000/yrWelding Insurance BC — $4,000 to $15,000/yrRestaurant Insurance BC — $2,000 to $8,000/yrRetail Insurance BC — $800 to $3,000/yrTechnology Insurance BC — $1,000 to $5,000/yrLandscaping Insurance BC Electrician Insurance BC Plumber Insurance BC HVAC Insurance BC Manufacturing Insurance BC Security Insurance BC Cleaning Insurance BC Auto Repair Insurance BC
Insurance by City
Roofing Insurance by City
Plumber Insurance by City
Contractor Insurance by City
Trucking Insurance by City
Excavation Insurance by City
Welding Insurance by City
Restaurant Insurance by City
HVAC Insurance by City
Electrician Insurance by City
Resources & Guides
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does roofing insurance cost in BC?
Roofing insurance in BC ranges from $5,000 to $20,000+ per year. Roofers doing torch-on or hot work pay $12,000–$25,000+. Vancouver roofers pay 10–20% above BC average.
How much does plumber insurance cost in BC?
Plumber insurance in BC ranges from $1,400 to $26,000+ per year depending on revenue and work type. Solo residential plumbers pay $1,400–$3,500, while large commercial/sewer firms pay $10,000–$26,000+.
How much is contractor insurance in BC?
Contractor insurance in British Columbia typically costs $1,200 to $25,000+ per year depending on your trade, annual revenue, and claims history.
How much does business insurance cost in BC?
Business insurance in BC typically ranges from $500 to $30,000+ per year depending on your industry, revenue, number of employees, and claims history.
What types of business insurance do I need in BC?
Most BC businesses need Commercial General Liability (CGL) insurance at a minimum. Depending on your industry, you may also need professional liability, commercial property, commercial auto, and WorkSafeBC coverage.
© Smarter Insurance — Privacy Policy | Terms of Service