Passenger Transportation Accessibility Program (PTAP): Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle (WAV) Acquisition and Conversion Rebate
The Acquisition and Conversion Funding Stream will subsidize applicants for the added costs associated with purchasing or converting a WAV taxi compared to a non-accessible taxi by providing rebates for eligible costs.
Offered by Ministry of Transportation and Transit
Amount
Up to 50% of eligible conversion costs to a maximum of $9,000 and up to 20% of eligible purchase at fair market value to a maximum of $11,000, total not to exceed $20,000 per WAV (previously converted or purpose-built vehicles: 20% of eligible purchase costs not to exceed $20,000)
Quick eligibility check
Who can apply
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.
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
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.
About the funding
The Acquisition and Conversion Funding Stream will subsidize applicants for the added costs associated with purchasing or converting a WAV taxi compared to a non-accessible taxi by providing rebates for eligible costs.
The maximum rebate value for each WAV will be based on the:
- Total number of eligible applications received
- Total funding available
Show all funding details
- 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.
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.
