Under British Columbia law, what is the definition of a "taxi"?

A motor vehicle with a seating capacity of no more than 10 persons that is available with its driver for hire ✓
A motor vehicle with a seating capacity of more than 10 persons that is available with its driver for hire
Any motor vehicle that is operated for public transportation
Any motor vehicle that is available with its driver for hire

Answer: A. A motor vehicle with a seating capacity of no more than 10 persons that is available with its driver for hire

A taxi in British Columbia is a motor vehicle designed to carry no more than 10 persons that is available with its driver for hire.

Why this is the answer

The handbook's definitions say a taxi or limousine is built to carry at most 10 people and is offered with a driver for hire; it also says ride-hail use is included in that term. That is exactly the choice with the 10-person cap. The same definitions describe a bus as having seating for more than 10 people, so the passenger limit is what separates the taxi definition from the bus definition.

Why the other answers are wrong

B. A motor vehicle with a seating capacity of more than 10 persons that is available with its driver for hire — This describes a bus in the handbook's definitions, not a taxi; a taxi is limited to no more than 10 persons, while a bus has seating capacity of more than 10.
C. Any motor vehicle that is operated for public transportation — The handbook defines public transportation separately and does not make every vehicle operated for public transportation a taxi; the taxi definition turns on being available with its driver for hire and the 10-person limit.
D. Any motor vehicle that is available with its driver for hire — This leaves out the seating limit; the handbook's taxi definition applies to a vehicle designed to carry no more than 10 persons, so not every hire vehicle with a driver qualifies.

Remember it

Remember the split: taxi means up to 10 people with a driver for hire; more than 10 points you to the bus definition.

Official handbook: ICBC Driving Commercial Vehicles, 6 Skills for driving buses, taxis, limousines and ride-hailing vehicles – Reporting to weigh scales, p. 119

Explanation drafted with AI (deepseek-flash) from the official handbook passage cited above, then checked automatically and by a second model on 2026-10-23. Always confirm with the official handbook.

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