A General Authorization (GA) is a commercial passenger vehicle license class in British Columbia designed for predictable, non-luxury group transportation services. A GA license is typically utilized by sightseeing tour operators, airport shuttle buses, and scheduled regional transit vehicles featuring standard forward-facing seats with a capacity for 12 or more passengers. Unlike the highly scrutinized Special Authorization (SA) required for stretch limos and party buses, a GA license does not require applicants to present rigorous market evidence proving public need to the board. However, vehicles operating under a GA cannot accept spontaneous bookings, cannot utilize perimeter wrap-around seating, and are prohibited from operating as luxury on-demand passenger directed vehicles. Limo operators often hold both licenses if they manage separate divisions for executive tour buses alongside their primary luxury stretch fleet.
