THE City of Vancouver announced on Tuesday that it has issued the first inter-municipal business licence (IMBL) for ride-hailing to Kabu-Ride Inc (Kabu). This IMBL allows Kabu to pick up and drop off passengers across the Lower Mainland using one business licence.
Participating municipalities include Abbotsford, Anmore, Bowen Island, Burnaby, Chilliwack, Coquitlam, Delta, Harrison Hot Springs, City of Langley, Township of Langley, Lions Bay, Maple Ridge, District of North Vancouver, Pitt Meadows, Port Coquitlam, Port Moody, Richmond, Squamish, Surrey, Vancouver, West Vancouver, White Rock.
“Having one ride-hailing business licence for the entire lower mainland will save companies hundreds of dollars in permitting fees and give residents across the region more transportation options, which is especially important during the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Vancouver Mayor Kennedy Stewart.
The City’s municipal ride-hailing regulations will remain in place for Lyft and Uber, until they apply for their IMBL. Both companies received their City of Vancouver ride-hailing business licences on January 23.
Kabu was the only other business that had received a municipal ride-hailing business licence to operate in the City of Vancouver, on February 19.
Effective April 1, 2020, ride-hailing companies wishing to operate in Vancouver and other participating municipalities by purchasing only one business licence for all participating municipalities may apply for an IMBL, provided they have obtained a Provincial TNS licence.
Receipt of an inter-municipal business licence is the final step for a company to legally operate ride-hailing vehicles in participating municipalities across the Lower Mainland. Companies must also hold a Provincial Transportation Network Service (TNS) licence from the Passenger Transportation Board, which Kabu-Ride Inc received on February 7, 2020.
Licencing costs:
* Annual IMBL licensing fee is $155
* Per-vehicle IMBL fees are $150 per standard vehicle and $30 for each zero emission vehicle. Wheelchair accessible vehicles are exempt from this fee.
For more details on ride-hailing in Vancouver, visit:
