Before you apply

Commercial vehicles such as a buses, trucks or tow trucks require a valid CVOR certificate before they can be operated in Ontario. Before you apply, check whether your new or used vehicle needs a CVOR certificate.

To get a new CVOR certificate you must:

  1. Apply online or submit an application form by mail or fax.
  2. Pay a $255 fee.
  3. Complete a knowledge test (for Ontario-based applicants only).

Depending on how your operation is structured, you may need to submit more than one application. Be sure to carefully read the instructions on this page before you start the application process.

Determine your type of application

There are three types of applications:

  • Individual – applying for an original CVOR certificate under the owner’s personal name, or the name on your driver’s licence or supporting documents
  • Corporation – applying for an original CVOR certificate under the legal business name (name on the incorporation documents)
  • General/joint partnership – applying for an original CVOR certificate under the name of the general/joint partnership

An individual is:

  • a sole proprietorship or an unincorporated business
  • owned by only one person

A corporation is:

  • identified as an incorporated business in legal documents such as Articles/Certificates of Incorporation
  • a separate legal entity than the individual(s) who own the corporation
  • one with a business name that may end with Inc. (Incorporated), Ltd. (Limited), Corp. (Corporation), LP (Limited Partnership), LLC (Limited Liability Corporation) or ULC (Unlimited Liability Corporation)

A general/joint partnership is:

  • an association or relationship between two or more individuals, corporations, trusts or partnerships that work together to run a business or work a trade

General/joint partnership applicants can only include two partners on the title for the CVOR certificate and must mail or fax 3 separate applications:

  • an application for partner 1 (either individual or corporation depending on the partner being represented)
  • an application for partner 2 (either individual or corporation depending on the partner being represented)
  • a corporation application in the general/joint partnership’s legal business name

Step 1: Gather supporting documents

When applying for a CVOR certificate, you will need different information and supporting documents depending on if you are applying as an individual or corporation.

Individual applications

You need:

  • your Ontario driver’s licence number or a copy of your driver’s licence if it is from somewhere other than Ontario
  • If you do not have a driver’s licence, you must provide a copy of one of the following forms of identification:
    • Passport
    • Ontario Photo Card
    • Canadian Permanent Residence card (with signature)
    • Canadian citizenship card with photo (issued prior to February 1, 2012)
    • Canadian birth certificate or Proof of Birth document issued by a U.S. jurisdiction
  • a completed copy of the Consent and Authorization form
  • estimated fleet size for the upcoming year of operation
    • For the first year of operation, every operator will be assigned a fixed kilometric value of 50,000 km/vehicle. This value will be re-assessed when you renew.
  • information about your type of business operation

Corporation applications

You need:

  • the Ontario driver’s licence number of each corporate officer, or a copy of their driver’s licence if it is from somewhere other than Ontario
  • If a corporate officer does not have a driver’s licence, they must provide a copy of one of the following forms of identification:
    • Passport
    • Ontario Photo Card
    • Canadian Permanent Residence card (with signature)
    • Canadian citizenship card with photo (issued prior to February 1, 2012)
    • Canadian birth certificate or Proof of Birth document issued by a U.S. jurisdiction
  • a copy of all applicable corporate history documents:
    • Articles/Certificate of Incorporation, or incorporation documents issued by your province, territory or state
    • Articles of Amalgamation, or equivalent
    • Articles of Amendment, or equivalent
    • Master Business Licence or equivalent (Doing Business As certificate for United States-based operators)
  • a completed copy of the Consent and Authorization form
  • to identify and provide information on all corporate officers. Make sure your business information you have on file with Ontario is up to date before you submit your application
  • estimated fleet size for the upcoming year of operation
    • For the first year of operation, every operator will be assigned a fixed kilometric value of 50,000 km/vehicle. This value will be re-assessed when you renew.
  • information about your type of business operation

Step 2: Apply

Apply online

You can submit an application online in:

  • your own name as a sole proprietor (individual)
  • the corporation’s legal business name (corporation)

By clicking "apply/resume application", you confirm you have read and understand the information on this page.

Mail or fax your application

You must mail or fax your application if you are:

  • applying as a general/joint partnership (multiple parties operating a business together)
  • a service provider or company representative applying on behalf of the general/joint partnership applicant
  • applying to re-enter the CVOR program after your CVOR certificate has expired for more than a year. Email CVOR@ontario.ca to request a re-entry application.

Follow these steps to submit a printed version of the application by mail or fax:

  1. Download the fillable application form.
  2. Mail or fax the completed application, payment and supporting documents to:

    Ministry of Transportation
    CVOR Processing Unit
    Licensing, Permits and Support Office
    301 St. Paul Street, 3rd Floor
    St. Catharines, Ontario
    L2R 7R4

    Fax: 1-905-704-3033

If you need help or require more information, contact:

Carrier Sanctions and Investigation Office
Toll-free: 1-800-387-7736 ext. 6302
Tel: 416-246-7166 ext. 6302

Step 3: Pay the fee

The fee for a CVOR certificate is $255.00 (HST included).

Payments are non-refundable. Please make sure you select the correct type of application. We will not issue a refund if you complete the wrong application type and the CVOR certificate is issued incorrectly.

Pay online

If you are applying online, you can pay with:

  • credit card (Visa or Mastercard)
  • Visa debit or debit Mastercard

You will be sent to a secure third-party website to pay the fee. Once you have completed the payment process, you will be redirected back to your application where you can get a receipt.

Pay by mail

If you are applying by mail, you can pay with:

  • Visa
  • Mastercard
  • cheque, bank draft, money order or certified cheque made payable to the “Minister of Finance/MTO”

Step 4: Complete the knowledge test

You must pass the CVOR knowledge test before you can get your certificate if you are:

  • based in Ontario and applying for the first time
  • your CVOR certificate has been expired for more than 3 years

The Ministry of Transportation will send you a “CVOR test required” letter after we review your application. You will have 6 months to pass the test.

Bring the letter and identification to a DriveTest Centre to complete the test in person.

The fee for the test is $32 per attempt. This fee can change without notice.

The CVOR knowledge test consists of 30 multiple-choice questions based on the content of the Commercial Vehicle Operators’ Safety Manual. You must score at least 80% to pass the test. To prepare for the test, you can complete a CVOR practice test (PDF).

If you do not pass the knowledge test within six months, you must restart the application process.

Step 5: Receive your CVOR certificate

After you complete all of the application requirements, we will email or mail your CVOR certificate to you, depending on which method of communication you selected when you applied.

You must put a copy of the certificate in each of the vehicles operating under that CVOR.

Renew and update your certificate

You must renew your CVOR certificate every year or every two years depending on your carrier safety rating.

Learn how you can renew, update or replace a lost or stolen certificate.