Transportation Network Companies (Ride-sharing Service)

Ride-sharing services are now regulated in Newfoundland and Labrador and can be offered by registered Transportation Network Companies.

The public can expect the following from ride-sharing services:

Transportation Network Companies will be required to ensure all affiliated drivers hold a valid Class 4 driver’s licence and undergo a certified Criminal Record Check.
Transportation Network Companies will be required to ensure all vehicles affiliated with a ride-sharing service comply with the Highway Traffic Act and associated Regulations, including an annual vehicle inspection completed by an Official Inspection Station, as authorized by the Registrar of Motor Vehicles.
Ride-sharing drivers will be required to display a decal on their vehicle whenever they are offering ride-sharing services. This decal is issued by the affiliated Transportation Network Company.
Passengers must book their trips using an online enabled application or app. ride-sharing drivers are not permitted to pick up customers who hail them on the street or seek out business by approaching potential customers on the street.
Prior to the start of a trip, the passenger will be provided the following information:
- First name and a clear, accurate image of the driver.
- Make, model, model year and license plate of the vehicle or an image of the vehicle.
- Name and contact information for the Transportation Network Company.
- Applicable rate charged for the trip, any variable or surge pricing, the total estimated cost of the trip, if any other passengers can or are being picked up on the trip and the estimated time of pick up.
All payments must be made via a secure payment mechanism through the Transportation Network Company. Drivers are not permitted to accept cash.
If the ride is accepted by the passenger, an electronic receipt must be issued upon completion of the trip.
The locations of all ride-sharing vehicles will be monitored and recorded by the Transportation Network Company using a global positioning system (GPS).
Transportation Network Companies must also provide the ability for the passenger to rate the driver.

How to apply for a Transportation Network Company licence

All Transportation Network Companies are required to obtain a licence to operate from the Registrar of Motor Vehicles.

All affiliated ride-sharing drivers must also obtain a Class 4 driver’s licence from the Registrar of Motor Vehicles and apply to be a ride-sharing driver with the Transportation Network Company of their choosing.

Applications are available online and will be accompanied by a $50 processing fee.

Before a licence is issued, a licensing fee must also be paid in accordance with the Department’s fees policy. This fee must also be paid annually should the company wish to continue its operations.

Application checklist

Include the following with your application form:

A current Certificate of Good Standing from the Registry of Companies.
A list of drivers affiliated with the Transportation Network Company on the date of application, including driver’s licence number.
The name of the application, software or technology that will be used for the ride-sharing service.
Proof of insurance required including:
- A motor vehicle liability policy which insures against liability up to $200,000, exclusive of interest and costs, resulting from bodily injury to or the death of one or more persons and loss of or damage to property; and
- A motor vehicle liability policy which insures against liability up to $1,000,000 exclusive of interests and costs, resulting from bodily injury to or the death or loss of property belonging to passengers arising from any one accident.
Confirmation that a Certified Criminal Records Check has been received for all affiliated drivers.
A copy of the Transportation Network Company’s policies and procedures related to these criminal record checks of affiliated drivers.
Drivers must be notified, in writing, by the Transportation Network Company that their personal information (driver’s licence number) will be shared with the Motor Registration Division as part of this application.
Proof of HST registration.
Specifications of the Global Positioning System (GPS) that will be used to monitor and record the locations of all vehicles affiliated with the Transportation Network Company.

Applications can be submitted to National Safety Code, Motor Registration Division.

Fees can be paid by cash, cheque debit/credit card or Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT).

Requirements of a Transportation Network Company

Transportation Network Companies must comply with the Highway Traffic Act, the Transportation Network Company Regulations and the terms and conditions of their licence.

The licence remains into effect, subject to the submission of required documents and information and the payment of an annual fee, until suspended or cancelled by the Registrar of Motor Vehicles.

Requirements may include, but are not limited to:

Ensure all drivers affiliated with the Transportation Network Company:
- Undergo certified Criminal Record Checks.
- Hold a valid Class 4 driver’s licence and do not have any conditions or restrictions on their driver’s licence that would prohibit them from operating a motor vehicle for ride-sharing services.
- Comply with the Act and Regulations.
- Are not subject to any undertaking, release order, recognizance, probation order, prohibition order or other court issued order prohibiting or preventing them from performing any function relating to providing a ride-sharing service.
Ensure all vehicles affiliated with the Transportation Network Company:
- Comply with the Highway Traffic Act and the Regulations, including annual inspection requirements from an Official Inspection Station, as authorized by the Registrar of Motor Vehicles.
- Do not have any conditions or restrictions on the vehicle registration that would prohibit them from operating that motor vehicle for ride-sharing services.
Issue a decal, which measures at least eight centimeters by eight centimeters, to all drivers/vehicles affiliated with the Transportation Network Company. Communicate to affiliated drivers that the decal must be displayed on at least two sides of the vehicle and be visible to the public whenever they are offering ride-sharing services.
Use a Transportation Network (technology which can be an online enabled application, digital platform, software, or website) to deliver the service.
The Transportation Network must provide the following to each passenger:
- A clear, accurate image of each affiliated driver, which matches their current likeness.
- The first name of each affiliated driver.
- The make, model, model year and license plate of the affiliated vehicles (or image of them).
- The name and contact information of the Transportation Network company.
- The fare amount, including any applicable surge pricing and the total estimated cost of the trip, before the start of every trip.
- A secure payment method.
- Whether any other passengers will be picked up during the trip.
- The estimated time for pick up.
The Transportation Network must also record information (i.e., trip records) outlined in the Regulations, in an accessible format and retain that information for a minimum of four years from the date the record was created.
If the ride is accepted by the passenger, an electronic receipt must be issued upon completion of the trip. The receipt must include all the information outlined in the Regulations.
All payments must be made through the technology. Drivers are not permitted to accept cash.
The locations of all ride-sharing vehicles will be monitored and recorded by the Transportation Network Company using a global positioning system (GPS):
- For the duration of the trip, GPS tracking of the location and route will be provided in a format that can be shared by the passenger with others who are not in the vehicle.
The Transportation Network Company must also make the following information available to the public at all times, either on a website or on the Transportation Network:
- Payments can only be made through the Transportation Network.
- Contact information, including legal mane and registered business address.
- Notice that the trip information is being recorded, including a link to their privacy policy.
- Information regarding the trip request cancellation policy.

The Motor Registration Division may review the Transportation Network Company’s compliance with the terms and conditions of its licence.

The Registrar may suspend the Transportation Network Company’s license if there is a violation of a term or condition of the license.

The public may submit complaints about ride-sharing services or license holders to National Safety Code, Motor Registration Division. All complaints are reviewed to ensure the safety of all road users in the province.

Requirements for ride-sharing service drivers

Ride-sharing services can only be provided by a driver who is affiliated with a Transportation Network Company.

The driver must only offer the service for compensation using the Transportation Network Company’s technology (e.g., an online enabled application, digital platform, software or website).

Drivers are not permitted to pick up customers who hail them on the street or to seek out business by approaching potential customers on the street.

Other driver requirements include:

Hold a Class 4 driver’s licence.
Submit a certified Criminal Record Check to the Transportation Network Company.
Provide proof of insurance coverage to the Transportation Network Company.

Requirements for vehicles used for ride-sharing

Vehicles originally designed to transport up to eight passengers, including the driver, are acceptable for delivering ride-sharing services.

Ride-sharing vehicles must also:

Be registered and insured as per the Regulations.
Display the decal provided by the Transportation Network Company, which must be visible to the public when an affiliated driver is operating as a ride-sharing service. The decal cannot be used on other vehicles.
Pass an annual inspection. Inspections must only be completed at an Official Inspection Station that has been authorized to perform inspections for that class of vehicle. For a list of Official Inspection Stations in your area please contact National Safety Code at 709-729-0100 or email nsc@gov.nl.ca.

Vehicles used for ride-sharing must be covered by a motor vehicle liability policy containing provisions, which:

Insure third parties against loss for amounts not less than $200,00.00; and
Insure against liability arising out of bodily injury, death or damage to a passenger’s property up to $1,000,000.00.

Vehicles used for ride-sharing services must also comply with Highway Traffic Act and associated Regulations, including an annual vehicle inspection completed by an Official Inspection Station, as authorized by the Registrar of Motor Vehicles.

Offences and penalties

Offences such as impaired driving, driving without the appropriate driver’s licence, operating an uninsured vehicle or any other offence under the Highway Traffic Act, may result in penalties such as fines, suspension of the driver’s license, cancelled vehicle registration, impoundment of the vehicle or demerit points.

The Registrar of Motor Vehicles may suspend or cancel a Transportation Network Company licence where the Registrar is satisfied that the person to whom the licence was issued:

Violated a term or condition of the licence.
Made a material misrepresentation in the application for a licence or in the documents or information required to be submitted to the Registrar.
Contravened a provision of sections 24.1 to 24.4.
Contravened the regulations made under paragraphs 186(1)(f.9) to (f.11) and section 197.1.

Where the Registrar of Motor Vehicles suspends or cancels a licence, the Registrar shall give written notice of the suspension or cancellation to the person to whom the licence was issued.

Using ride-sharing services

When using ride-sharing services, be sure to verify the identity of the driver and their vehicle before you get in.

Through the ride-sharing technology, you will receive information about the driver and vehicle with your booking confirmation. This should include the first name and photo of the driver, vehicle information and estimated time of pick-up.

Check this information and ask the driver for the name of the passenger to confirm you have the right vehicle.