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Copyright © King's Printer,

Victoria, British Columbia, Canada

Licence

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View Complete Statute

This Act is current to June 30, 2026

See the Tables of Legislative Changes for this Act’s legislative history, including any changes not in force.

Motor Vehicle Act

[RSBC 1996]

CHAPTER 318

Contents

Definitions

Part 1

Application of Act

Registration, licence and insurance

3.1

Exemptions — registration, licence and insurance

Restrictions on registration and licensing

Repealed

Payment of premium

Underage applicants

Licences for farm tractors

Special licence for motor vehicles used in industry

Special licence for tractors, etc.

Carrying of licence

Number plates

Offences

13.1

Change of lessee or end of lease

Change of address or name

Notice of change made in motor vehicle

New vehicle identification numbers

Transfer of motor vehicle

17.1

Irreparable and salvage vehicles

Transfer on death if estate small

Registration suspended if company dissolved

Notice of removal or destruction of motor vehicle

Registration of foreign motor vehicles and trailers

Reciprocal arrangements

Classes of drivers' licences

Offences

24.1

Residency requirement

Application for licence

25.01

Retention or seizure of records

25.1

Remedial courses and programs for drivers

25.2

Mandatory programs for drivers

25.3

Matters related to courses and programs for drivers

Refusal to issue a licence, permit, etc.

26.1

Cancellation of driver's licence

Short term driver's licence

Inspection of vehicles and refusal to issue licence

28.1

Not in force. Repealed.

28.2

Inspection of vehicles and refusal of licence or permit

28.3

Refusal to issue licence and plates for irreparable and salvage vehicles

Examination of licensees

No refund for driver's licence fee

Change of address or name

Application for minor's licence

Production of licence and liability card, duplicates

Exemption of non-resident and new resident drivers

Repealed

Municipal chauffeur permits

Employment of unlicensed driver

Demonstration licence

Inspections respecting demonstration licences

Refund of fees

Transporters' licences

Manufacturer's licence

Operation of motor vehicle by customer

Repairer's licence

Operation of demonstration cars by written consent

Offences

Pollution control devices on motor vehicles

48-50

Repealed

Issuance of new number plate or validation decal

Carrying of revenue receipt in place of licence

53-55

Repealed

Letting vehicles for hire

Used vehicle records and plates

Removal or obliteration of engine or vehicle identification number prohibited

Offence

Term and duration of licences

Cancellation of driver's licence

Fees

Rebate of part of licence fees

Recovery of licence fees

Repealed

Persons authorized to take affidavits

Repealed

Duty of driver at accident

False statements, misuse of number plates, licence, identification card or permit

Use of another's licence or permit; failure to permit inspection

Production of motor vehicle licences

Transporting animals

Failing to stop and state name

Alteration and use of fictitious number plates or documents

General offence

No suspended sentence where minimum punishment

Application of fines

Limitation of actions

Arrest without warrant

Onus of proof of licence

Evidence of licence or permit

Records and proof

82.1

Electronic records

82.2

eCertificates of service

Liability of owner for contravention of Act

83.1

Liability of owner for speeding and traffic light violations

83.2

Certificate as evidence

Duty to give information

Offence

Responsibility of owner or borrower in certain cases

Liability of partners

Liability of owners for offences of employees, etc.

Part 2 — Suspensions of Licences and Prohibitions from Driving

Deemed suspension

Suspension and cancellation of vehicle licences, etc.

90.1-90.2

Not in force. Repealed.

90.3

12-hour suspension

90.4

Driving while suspended

Prohibition against driving if there is an unsatisfied judgment

Prohibition against driving relating to fitness or ability to drive

Prohibition against driving by superintendent

93.1

Access to driving records

93.2

Notification by superintendent of prohibition action

Appeal of prohibition against driving

94.1

Notice of driving prohibition

94.2

Effect of notice of driving prohibition

94.3

Duties of peace officer

94.4

Review of driving prohibition

94.5

Considerations

94.6

Decision of the superintendent

Driving while prohibited

Driver to surrender licence

Notice of prohibition

97.1

Driver's licence forwarded to the Insurance Corporation of British Columbia

97.2

Amount payable to reinstate driver's licence

Court prohibition against driving

Automatic prohibition against driving on conviction

Prohibition against driving for failing to stop

Stay of prohibition against driving

Driving while prohibited by court order or operation of law

Deemed prior convictions

Reporting conviction or judgment

104.1-

105.95

Repealed

Proof of financial responsibility

Service of unlicensed insurer

Notice to insurer

Implied covenant

Default of insurer

Issue of financial responsibility card

Cancellation of financial responsibility card

Garage and sales agency policy

Return of security given in proof

Information to be furnished by Insurance Corporation of British Columbia

Certified abstract

116.1

Director of Commercial Vehicle Safety and staff

Superintendent may delegate

117.1

Application of Administrative Tribunals Act to decisions of the superintendent

Appointment of superintendent and staff

Part 2.1 — Appeals and Show Cause Hearings

118.1

Definitions

118.2

Superintendent may assign appeal officers

118.3

Jurisdiction

118.4

Right to show cause to the superintendent against certain proposed actions

118.5

Show cause procedure

118.6

Show cause hearing decisions

118.7

Right of appeal — certain other decisions

118.8

Appeal procedure

118.9

Written submissions

118.91

Powers of superintendent on an appeal

118.92

Regulations

118.93

Repealed

Part 2.2 — Show Cause Hearings and Reconsiderations about Commercial Motor Vehicles

118.94

Definitions

118.95

Suspensions

118.96

Cancellations and restrictions

118.97

Right to show cause and request for reconsideration

118.98

General reconsideration power of the director

118.99

Show cause hearings and reconsiderations

118.991

Direction to cancel commercial vehicle licences and permits

118.992

Power to make regulations

Part 3

Definitions

Application

Construction and maintenance vehicles

Exemption for emergency vehicles

Peace officer and sheriff direction

Municipal powers

124.1

Not in force

124.2

Additional municipal powers

Obeying traffic controls

125.1

Traffic control signals inoperative

Traffic control signals

Green light

Yellow light

Red light

Arrows

Flashing lights

Pedestrian controls

Pedestrian controlled signal

Lane direction control signals

Obstruction of signal prohibited

135.1

Prohibition against obstruction of traffic light safety devices

Commercial advertising

Altering signal

Work in progress

Erection of speed sign

Obedience to speed signs

Obeying flagger

141.1

Obeying traffic control person

Removal of temporary sign

Newly painted lines

Careless driving prohibited

144.1

Additional duty respecting vulnerable road users

Slow driving

Speed limits

146.1

Speed limiters required for certain commercial vehicles

146.2

Enforcement respecting speed limiters

Schools and playgrounds

Excessive speeding

148.1

Fines for speeding offences

148.2

Speeding offences — defence related to signs

Meeting school bus

Driver on right

Driving on laned roadway

151.1

When drivers must not use leftmost lane

High occupancy vehicle lane

Bus lane

153.1

Designated use highway

153.2

Designated use lane

Passing when meeting vehicle

Highway lines

Suspension of sections 151 and 155

Duty when overtaking another vehicle

157.1

Duty when overtaking pedestrians, cyclists or certain other persons

Passing on right

Passing on left

Clear view on passing

Obedience to traffic control devices

Following too closely

Divided highways

Entering controlled access highway

Turning at intersections

Turning left other than at intersection

Turning right other than at intersection

Reverse turn

Starting vehicle

169.1

Yielding to bus

Signals on turning

Means of signalling

Left hand drive signals

Yield signs

Yielding right of way on left turn

Entering through highway

Emerging from alleys

Approach of emergency vehicle

Repealed

Rights of way between vehicle and pedestrian

Crossing at other than crosswalk

Duty of driver

Pedestrians using highways

182.01

Designated personal mobility devices

182.02

Designated micro-utility devices

182.1

Motor assisted cycles

Rights and duties of operator of cycle

Bicycle safety helmets

Railway crossings

Stopping at intersections

Where parking prohibited

Police may move parked vehicle

When vehicle stopping prohibited

Manner of parking

Leaving parked vehicle

Parking on private property

Caution in backing vehicle

Motorcycles

Requirements for moving vehicle

Travelling through canyons

Coasting down grade

Following fire vehicle

Driving over fire hose

Driving on sidewalk

Sign as evidence

Repealed

When opening door prohibited

Depositing articles on highway

Repealed

Transporting explosives

Warning devices

Winter tires and traction devices

Regulations respecting highways

209.1

Ministerial regulations

Power to make regulations

Power to establish forms

211.1

Power to prescribe for electronic information

Regulations respecting safety

212.1

Carrier's duty to provide information

212.2

Regulations respecting vehicles having safety certificates

Evidence of weight of vehicle or load

Signs

Part 3.1 — Use of Electronic Devices while Driving

214.1

Definitions

214.2

Prohibition against use of electronic device while driving

214.3

Exceptions to prohibition — emergency personnel

214.4

Exceptions to prohibition — certain permitted activities

214.41

Exceptions to prohibition — certain permitted activities by persons with full licence

214.5

Exceptions to prohibition — by regulation

214.6

Power to make regulations

Part 4

24-hour prohibition

215.1

Review of driving prohibition

215.2

Considerations

215.3

Decision of the superintendent

215.4

24-hour impoundment of motor vehicle

215.41

Immediate roadside driving prohibition

215.42

Right to second analysis

215.43

Effect of driving prohibition under

section 215.41

215.44

Additional consequences — monetary penalty

215.45

Repealed

215.46

Additional consequences — impoundment of vehicle

215.47

Duties of peace officer related to driving prohibition under

section 215.41

215.48

Review of driving prohibition under

section 215.41

215.49

Considerations on review under

section 215.48

215.5

Decision of superintendent after review under

section 215.48

215.51

Regulations — immediate roadside driving prohibitions

Vehicle inspections

Inspectors, inspection facilities and standards

Standards and approvals

218.1

Driver control programs

Equipment of motor vehicles

219.1

Powers of peace officers in relation to cycles or other devices

Seat belt assembly

Repealed

Sale of motor vehicle contrary to regulations

Canada Safety Standards

224-229

Repealed

Report of health professional

Not in force

231.1

Smoking in motor vehicle prohibited

Part 5

Suspension on conviction for certain offences

Reinstatement of suspended licence

Driving while suspended

Driver to surrender licence

Stay of suspension against driving

Part 6 — Carriers

Definitions

Operating requirements for business vehicles

Power to search business vehicles

Liability for act or omission of employee

Part 7

241-248

Repealed

Part 8 — Police Accident Reports

Accident reports by police officer

Part 9 — Motor Vehicle Impoundment

Definitions

Impoundment of motor vehicle

Liability for impoundment

Period of impoundment

Duties of peace officer

Storage of impounded motor vehicle

Review of impoundment

Considerations for review of impoundment

Decision of superintendent on review of impoundment

Review of driving prohibition

Considerations for review of driving prohibition

Decision of superintendent on review of driving prohibition

Early release of motor vehicle on grounds of economic hardship

Early release of motor vehicle on compassionate grounds

Repealed

Owner's right against driver

Superintendent may indemnify for wrongful impoundment

Appropriation

Power to make regulations — Lieutenant Governor in Council

Power to make regulations — superintendent

Part 10 to 12

270-303

Not in force

Part 12.1 — Automated Vehicles

303.1

Definitions for

Part 12.1

303.2

Prohibitions in relation to automated vehicles

303.3

Regulations respecting automated vehicles

Part 13 — Pilot Projects

Definitions for

Part 13

Regulations establishing pilot projects

Pilot projects within Nisg̱a'a Lands or treaty lands

Opt-in pilot projects in municipalities

Conflict rules for pilot projects within municipalities

Regulations respecting pilot projects

Violation tickets respecting contraventions of pilot project regulations

Section 124 (5) of Act

Regulation under

Part 13 prevails over Act and Commercial Transport Act

Repeal of pilot project regulation

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