B.C. NDP to Require Class 4 Licenses for Ride-Sharing Companies Like Lyft, Uber

The saga of British Columbia’s quest for ride-sharing continues, with the provincial government now deciding to require Class 4 licenses for ride-hailing drivers, similar to the requirement of taxis.

The B.C. NDP went against an all-party committee’s recommendation of allowing Uber and Lyft to use regular Class 5 licenses for drivers.

Expected to see an influx of applicants for Class 4 licenses now, Attorney General David Eby says the province is adding extra resources for ICBC to handle the extra demand, reports Global News.

“ICBC will be ready to handle the influx of people applying for licences required for rideshare,” said Eby, adding “If people are interested in rideshare there is no harm in going now.”

B.C. joins Alberta and Nova Scotia as other provinces in Canada to require Class 4 licenses for ride-sharing. Class 4 licenses require a $15 knowledge test, vision test, as well as a medical exam, to go with a $40 road test plus license card.

Lyft disagreed with the decision, saying “Class 4 licences will unnecessarily keep responsible drivers with safe driving records and clean criminal background checks from driving with ridesharing services and limit the number of drivers available, thereby affecting service levels for riders,” according to the company’s public policy manager Traci Lee said.



The Vancouver Police Department said “we were in favour of the Class 4 licensing requirement because of the additional steps that potential drivers must take — with the ultimate goal of ensuring the highest levels of public safety,” said a spokesperson.

“What we have heard from British Columbians is people are looking for flexibility and safety is number one,” said Transportation Minister Claire Trevena.

Premier John Horgan yesterday, again promised the NDP government would bring Uber and Lyft to B.C. by the end of the year.

“Forgive me if I ignore their fear mongering,” said Horgan, adding “I’m absolutely confident ride hailing will be here in 2019.”