Common Carrier - Regular Routes

Type of Operation

Common Carrier - Regular Routes

Description

A person who transports the general public for individual fees over specific routes.

Authority Document

Certificate

Required Documents

Operating Requirements

  • This certificate authorizes your operations only in Virginia.
  • You must provide services to the general public without discrimination.
  • You may not refuse service without good cause.
  • You are limited to:
    • operating only on the routes listed on the certificate.
    • operating only on the time schedule on file with the Virginia DMV.
    • charging no more for your services than the rates on file with the Virginia DMV.
  • You must have written approval from the Virginia DMV to discontinue operating on any or all of the service routes.
    • This type of certificate may be transferred (whole or in part) by filing a certificate application (Form OA 141) with DMV, to be completed by both the transferor and transferee. The certificate must be in an active status.
  • Before you can change your time schedules, you must:
    • post the changes in a public place at least 10 days before you wish to make the change, and
    • notify the Virginia DMV at least 10 days before you wish to make the change, and
    • receive written approval from the Virginia DMV.
  • Before you can change your rates, you must:
    • make the changes available for public inspection, and
    • notify the Virginia DMV at least 30 days before you wish to make the change, and
    • receive approval from the Virginia DMV.
  • You may occasionally deviate from your routes after you request and receive written approval from the Virginia DMV for each occasion.
  • You or your agent may publish a joint tariff with another carrier(s) if a power of attorney or notice of concurrence is filed with the Virginia DMV. You must send written notification to DMV, at least 60 days in advance, before you can revoke the power of attorney or notice of concurrence.
  • You must notify the Virginia DMV of all interruptions of service that may last more than 24 hours. Interruptions due to an act of God need not be reported unless the interruption continues for more than 72 hours. All interruptions must be promptly reported to your agents on the affected routes.
  • The number of this certificate must appear in any advertisement for this service.
  • Advertisements for your services may not contain untrue, misleading or deceptive information.

Tariff and Time Schedule Requirements

Tariff: You must file a tariff that includes all of your rates and any rules, policies or guidelines you will impose on your customers (example: refund policy). See Form OA 449, Sample Tariff and Time Schedule for Common Carriers Over Regular Routes.

Time Schedule: You are also required to file a time schedule.

Insurance Requirements

Bodily Injury and Property Damage:

  • $350,000 - 1 to 6 passengers (including driver)
  • $1,500,000 - 7 to 15 passengers (including driver)
  • $5,000,000 - 16 or more passengers (including driver)

Bond Requirements:

You must keep a $25,000 surety bond or letter of credit on file with DMV's Motor Carrier Services for three years from the date your operating authority certificate is issued. Refer to Passenger Carrier and Passenger Broker Bond (Form OA 435) or the Passenger Irrevocable Letter of Credit (Form OA 447).

Registration and License Plate Requirements

To find out more, view Registration and License Plate Requirements

License Plates: For-Hire license plates

Vehicle Registration: Must be registered as for-hire

Operating Authority Registration:

  • Non-apportioned (not IRP registered) Vehicles - The operating authority information will be displayed on the vehicle registration card when the for-hire license plates are issued.

Fees

$50 filing fee 
$3 Operating Authority Registration fee per vehicle 
$3 for a duplicate certificate

Miscellaneous Requirements

Address Change - You must report any new address to DMV's Motor Carriers Services within 30 days.

Discontinuing Service - If you go out of business or stop providing the service authorized, you must notify DMV in writing within 30 days.