FAQs

Effective August 16, 2021, all fares for Route Taxis, Rural Stage Carriage and Hackney Carriage will be calculated using the formulas below: 

Calculation: Base Rate + (distance travelled in km x rate per km). Each fare once calculated is rounded to the nearest $5 

The Base Rate and Rate per km for each licence type can be found below: 

Route Taxi 

Rates: Base Rate (First km): $95 

Rate for each additional km (Rate per km): $5.50 

Calculation: Base Rate + (distance travelled in km x rate per km) 

Example: A passenger is travelling for 15km, the calculation would be:  

$95 + (15 x $5.50) = $177.50. The fare rounded to the nearest $5 would be $180 

Rural Stage Carriage 

Rates: Base Rate (First km): $38 

Rate for each additional km (Rate per km):$5 

Calculation: Base Rate + (distance travelled in km x rate per km) 

Example: A passenger is travelling for 76 km, the calculation would be:  

$38 + (76 x $5) = $418. The fare rounded to the nearest $5 would be $420 

Hackney Carriage 

Rates: Base Rate (First km): $270 

Rate for each additional km (Rate per km): $54 

Waiting Time per 5mins: $28 

Long term rate to hire per hour: $862.50 

Calculation: Base Rate + (distance travelled in km x rate per km) 

Example: A passenger is travelling for 5 km, the calculation would be:  

$270 + (5 x $54) = $540. If the Taxi must wait, then $28 is added to the $540 for each five minutes.

Once you have determined the type of road licence you would like to apply for, you need to get the relevant application form, as well as requirement sheet from any of the Transport Authority offices or download it from our website at www.ta.org.jm. This should be filled out and submitted with the relevant documents and fee for the applicable type of licence. Applications may be submitted in office or on-line.

Persons who want to apply for Route Taxi licences should visit their respective Route Taxi Associations.

No, the Transport Authority has made the provision for all road licences to be renewed before the expiration date. The licensing renewal period usually begins in Mid-February of each year and your road licence will be valid until the following year March 31st. For information on the specific date for renewals each year, please contact us at 876-926-8912.

Back year charges apply when a licence holder has been operating without renewing the road licence. Whenever a road licence is not currently in use, it is required that the licence be surrendered, otherwise one will be required to pay all fees for the amount of years the licence was expired if you wish to renew said licence. However, for Public Passenger vehicle licences there are restrictions on renewals after the licence has expired in excess of a year. Contact our office for details.

No, the renewal process is not the same as the new application process. There are certain documents that are required for the submission of a new application, that are not required when submitting a renewal application.

Other Fees

You are required to obtain a requirement sheet, as well as the relevant forms from any of the Transport Authority offices, island-wide; or you may download the forms from the Authority’s website (www.ta.org.jm). Once you have completed the form and satisfied all the requirements, you may then submit the application for Addition of Name to the nearest Transport Authority’s office.

For Route Taxi applicants seeking this service, please contact your Taxi Association Representative before making your application.

You are required to obtain a requirement sheet, as well as the relevant forms from any of the Transport Authority offices, island-wide; or you may download the forms from the Authority’s website (www.ta.org.jm). Once you have completed the form and satisfied all the requirements, you may then submit the application for Removal of Name to the nearest Transport Authority’s office.

For Route Taxi applicants seeking this service, please contact your Taxi Association Representative before making your application.

Yes, this request is called a Takeover Service and is applicable to all Public Passenger Vehicle licence types.

You are required to obtain a requirement sheet, as well as the relevant forms from any of the Transport Authority offices, island-wide; or you may download the forms from the Authority’s website (www.ta.org.jm). Once you have completed the form and satisfied all the requirements, you may then submit the application for Takeover service to the nearest Transport Authority’s office.

For Route Taxi Takeover Service, please contact your Taxi Association Representative before making your application.

Of the processing fee for applications, the application fee is non-refundable. After this amount is deducted from the processing fees, the balance is then refunded to the customer.

No. The sale of any Road Licence issued by the Transport Authority is strictly prohibited. If you are no longer interested in having a Road Licence, you may surrender your Road Licence.

Yes, in the case that you are a Public Passenger Vehicle applicant. 

Those are the processing charges based on the company’s policy. 

No, the system is not so designed to facilitate this request. Cheque payments are normally done to persons whose refund requests have been approved. Customers may also submit their banking information so that refund payments can be uploaded to their accounts. Following this, a new transaction will have to be made at the Transport Authority.

No there is not a specific vehicle age requirement for new or renewal of road licences, however, motor vehicles 15 years and older (cars); 20 years and older (buses); 25 years and older (coaches) should obtain a Preliminary Inspection at the Transport Authority before being taken to the Examination Depot to obtain a Structural Safety Report.

*A Structural Safety Report is done every two (2) years.

Persons who need a road licence to transport goods should apply for a Commercial Carriers licence. There are two types of Commercial Carriers licences:

• Public Carriers
• Private Carriers

The following charges apply:

NB: Storage fees may be paid using Paymaster, Bill Express, Credit Card or Debit Card. No Cash transaction is permitted.

Persons who need a road licence to transport students to and from school, as well as persons who provide transportation on the basis of a contractual arrangement should apply for a Contract Carriage licence. You may download a requirement sheet for this licence type from the Transport Authority’s website at www.ta.org.jm.

Public and Private Carriers are the two types of commercial licences issued by the Transport Authority. A Private Carrier’s licence is used for the carriage of goods for or in connection with any trade or business carried on by the owner. A Public Carrier’s licence is used for the carriage of goods for hire or reward.

Persons who wish to change the route on which they operate should first contact any of the Transport Authority’s Offices, islandwide, or check on-line for the list of available routes, on the Transport Authority’s website at www.ta.org.jm, under Information Desk, to find out what routes are available. They should then complete the prescribed change of route or extension of route forms, obtainable at any of the Transport Authority offices, island-wide. Copies of the vehicle documents, current road licence, proof of address (utility bill or proof of address form obtainable at the Transport Authority) and ID (Driver’s Licence, Voter’s ID or Passport) should then be submitted.

A Hackney carriage is a vehicle used for carrying passengers for hire or reward (charter) and which stands or plies for hire on thoroughfares or places frequented by the public. The vehicle must have a seating accommodation for no more than five (5) persons (including the driver). Vehicles licensed as Hackney Carriages have a yellow and black checkered strip affixed along the sides of the vehicles.

A Route Taxi is a public passenger vehicle which seats no more than ten (10) passengers and which operates as a stage carriage (plies a specific route). Vehicles licensed as Route Taxis have a black and white checkered strip affixed along the sides of the vehicles.

Our opening hours are as follows:  

• Mondays to Thursdays - 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
• Fridays - 8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Persons who wish to know which routes are available should first contact any of the Transport Authority’s Offices, island-wide, or check online for the list of available routes on the Transport Authority’s website at www.ta.org.jm, under Information Desk.

Persons who are no longer interested in having a road licence should write a letter addressed to the Transport Authority or complete the prescribed form, obtainable at any of the Authority’s location island-wide or downloadable from the Authority’s website at www.ta.org.jm, stating that they wish to surrender their road licences. This letter/form, the road licence, as well as a copy of the applicant’s ID, should then be submitted to the Transport Authority. The Transport Authority will then give the individual a letter addressed to the Tax Admin Dept. to make the necessary adjustments to their registration. It must be noted that if the person who has surrendered the licence is interested in getting a road licence at a later date, he/she will be required to re-apply for a licence.

Persons within the Tourism sector with the intention of operating a Contract Carriage/Rural Stage may apply for a concession by writing a letter addressed to the Licensing Manager of the Transport Authority requesting the concession. The relevant application form, contract letter and documents along with a pro- forma invoice giving the description for the vehicle should also be submitted. A fee of $5000 is required for submission of the request. If approved, the applicant is then required to pay the full fee for that road licence.

Persons with a Contract Carriage or Rural Stage carriage Licence may apply for a change of vehicle on a plan prior to acquiring the motor vehicle. The applicant should fill out a change of vehicle form along with a pro forma Invoice: giving the description of the vehicle (make, model/seating capacity) the applicant intends to use in the system. The applicant should then purchase the vehicle and submit the required documents for the processing of new application for approval.

Persons who are no longer interested in getting a road licence after submitting their application may apply for a refund if the road licence has not been printed. A refund form, obtainable at any of the Transport Authority’s offices should be completed and submitted along with the original payment receipt for which the refund is being sought. The processing time for refund is 6 to 8 weeks.

NB: Applicants have 2 years in which they can apply for refund after which the process for refund becomes invalid.

Requirements sheets and application forms may be collected at any Transport Authority office or may be downloaded from the website.

Yes, conditions are attached to all road licences issued by the Transport Authority. These conditions set out the guidelines for the operations of each class of Public Passenger Vehicle. It is the licensee’s responsibility to observe the conditions attached to the road licence. 

As it relates to Rural Stage Carriages, the following apply:

• Condition #2 of the Stage Carriage road licence states that, “the approved stopping points at which passengers may be taken up and/or set down shall be such places as specified by the sign "Bus Stop" or where no signs are provided at such places convenient.” 
• Condition #10 of the Stage Carriage road licence states that the “the licensee shall observe and comply with the condition imposed by section 3, subsection 4 of the Public Passenger Transport (Kingston Metropolitan Transport Region) Act.” 

Under sections 3(3) and 3(4) of the Act, no passenger carried on the [Rural Stage Carriage] service [that is, on any route which is partly within the Kingston Metropolitan Transport Region] shall be taken up at any point within the Kingston Metropolitan Transport Region or not more than 440 yards of the boundary of that area, and set down on the same journey at any other point within that area or not more than 440 yards of the boundary unless the licensee has consented in writing to the taking up and setting down of passengers as aforesaid on such service. In light of the foregoing, the following obtain: 

• Rural Stage Carriages are allowed to take up passengers at the designated bus stops within the KMTR or within the prescribed boundary and set down the same passengers outside the KMTR.
• Rural Stage Carriages are also allowed to take up passengers outside of the KMTR and set down the said passengers at designated bus stops within the KMTR. 
• All passengers taken up by Rural Stage Carriages within the KMTR are to be set down outside of the KMTR. 

You are required to obtain a requirement sheet, from any of the Transport Authority offices, island-wide; or you may download the requirement sheet from the Authority’s website (www.ta.org.jm). Once you have satisfied all the requirements, you may then visit the Transport Authority’s office nearest to you and submit your application.

A PPV Driver’s badge is valid for two (2) years. A temporary badge for six (6) months may be issued to the applicant, initially. Once all the requirements are met, the applicant will be qualified for the 24 months (2 years) badge.

For the processing of applications, a current National Identification (Driver’s Licence, Voter’s ID or Passport) has to be submitted, however, the PPV Driver’s Badge issued by the Transport Authority may be used to pick up licence/documents at any of the Transport Authority’s office locations.