CVOR Requirements

A CVOR certificate is required to operate commercial motor vehicles that are:

• Plated in Ontario,
• Plated in the U.S.
• Plated in Mexico.

Vehicles that are plated in other Canadian provinces or territories – but not Ontario – do not need a CVOR certificate. They require a safety fitness certificate (NSC number) from the province or territory in which the vehicle is plated, excluding Quebec that require a Numéro d’Identification du Registre (NIR).

Note: For-hire operators of buses, including motor coaches, school buses and school-purpose vehicles, or any other motor vehicle including cars, vans and limos may also require an operating authority under the Ontario Public Vehicles Act and Motor Vehicle Transport Act (Canada). Contact the Ontario Highway Transport Board at (416) 326-6732 for more information.

Exemptions

Operators with certain types of vehicles do not need a CVOR certificate. These vehicles include:

• A truck or bus that is plated in another Canadian jurisdiction
• A truck with a registered gross weight (RGW) and a gross weight of 4,500 kilograms or less, whether towing a trailer or not (see Determining RGW)
• A truck or bus leased by an individual for 30 days or less to move their personal goods, or to carry passengers at no fare
• An ambulance, fire apparatus, hearse, casket wagon, mobile crane or tow truck
• An unladen truck or bus operating under the authority of a dealer plate or service plate
• A bus used for personal purposes without compensation
• A motor home used for personal purposes
• A pickup truck used for personal purposes (for more information on personal use pickup-truck exemptions, refer to: http://www.mto.gov.on.ca/english/trucks/regulations/daily/index.shtml#def06)

Note: For current exemptions, please refer to the Highway Traffic Act.