Key facts
Who licenses taxis in Ontario?
Each municipality, through its own by-law. Toronto's rules sit in Chapter 546 of the Municipal Code, Licensing of Vehicles-for-Hire, which covers taxicabs, limousines and private transportation companies, insurance, accessible vehicles and driver training.[2]
Which licence does my business need in Toronto?
It depends on what you run: a company that books and arranges taxicabs, a taxicab owner and each taxicab driver must be licensed; limousine owners, service companies and drivers must be licensed; and private transportation companies such as Uber and Lyft, and their drivers, need licences too.[1]
What does Chapter 546 cover?
Beyond licensing, the chapter sets insurance requirements, accessible vehicle service and training, and an accessibility fund programme paid to licensed drivers and owners of accessible vehicles. Read the sections for your licence type before you buy vehicles.[2]
What should I ask my city first?
Which licence your model needs (broker, owner, limousine service or PTC), the vehicle and insurance requirements, current fees, and whether new taxi owner licences are being issued. Rules differ between Toronto, Mississauga, Ottawa and other cities.
Frequently asked questions
Does Uber need a licence in Toronto?
Yes. Toronto licenses private transportation companies such as Uber and Lyft, and their drivers.
Is there one Ontario taxi licence?
No. Taxi and limousine licensing is municipal, so each city sets its own licences and fees.
Sources
Fees and rules change. Each source is the official page we read, with the date we read it; check it before you apply or pay.
- [1] City of Toronto: Vehicle-for-hire licensing (read 3 Nov 2026)
- [2] City of Toronto Municipal Code, Chapter 546: Licensing of Vehicles-for-Hire (read 3 Nov 2026)