What is the Toronto PTC Licence Card?

If you’re planning to drive for a rideshare, taxi, or limo company in Toronto, you’ll need a Private Transportation Company (PTC) Licence. This licence is required by the City of Toronto to make sure every vehicle-for-hire driver is properly trained and meets safety standards.

In this post, we’ll explain what the PTC Licence Card actually is and how to get one.

What is the Toronto PTC Licence Card?

In Toronto, it’s mandatory for all vehicle-for-hire drivers – including rideshare (like Uber and Lyft), taxi, and limo drivers – to hold a valid PTC Licence. Without one, you can’t legally drive passengers in the city.

So, is there an actual card? Not really. The PTC Licence Card is a digital or paper certificate that confirms you’ve met all of Toronto’s licensing requirements. This means you won’t typically receive a physical card in the mail – instead, your licence status is stored and managed electronically by the company you drive for. Some companies may also require that you print out the licence and store it in your vehicle.

How to Get a PTC Licence

Step One: Take a City-Approved Driving Course

Before you can apply for a licence, you’ll need to complete a city-approved training course. This mandatory course covers the essential knowledge you’ll need as a vehicle-for-hire driver, such as safely transporting passengers and navigating city driving.

The course typically takes a few hours to complete and can be done entirely online at your own pace. At the end, you’ll take a short multiple choice test. Once you pass, you’ll receive a certificate of completion which is required when applying for your PTC licence.

Step 2: Sign Up With a PTC

You can’t apply for a PTC licence directly through the City of Toronto. Instead, you’ll need to sign up with a rideshare, taxi, or limo company. The company will act as a middleman and submit your application to the City on your behalf.

Each company has slightly different requirements for their drivers. Along with your training certificate, you’ll typically need to provide:

• A valid Class G Ontario driver’s license
• Proof of work eligibility, such as a passport, PR card, or work permit
• Proof of vehicle registration and insurance
• A valid vehicle inspection certificate

For more details on rideshare company requirements, refer to the Uber and Lyft websites.

Where Can I Take the Drive Training Course?

The City of Toronto has approved several providers to deliver the PTC driver training course, and DrivePro is one of them. With DrivePro, you can complete the entire course online, including the final exam. That means you can work through the training on your own schedule, from anywhere.

Getting started is easy: register online, pay the course fee, and start working through the training materials. Once you pass, your completion certificate will be instantly sent to you.

Final Thoughts

The Toronto PTC Licence enables you to drive passengers in the city. By completing a city-approved course and submitting your documents through the vehicle-for-hire company you plan to drive for, you’ll be on your way to hitting the road safely and legally.

Looking for more guidance? Check out our post on How to Renew Your PTC Licence.