ReachableGetting around Victoria when travel is hard
A bus pass that costs nothing, a bus that comes to your door, half price on the ferry, and up to $500 a year back on fuel. Almost none of it is automatic. Every one of these needs a phone call or a form.
Checked on 3 September 2026
At a glance
- What you get
- A yearly bus pass that is free on disability assistance or $45 a year for low-income seniors, door-to-door handyDART rides for a normal bus fare, half-price BC Ferries passenger fares, an accessible parking permit, and up to $500 a year back on fuel tax.
- Who it is for
- People with the PWD designation on B.C. disability assistance, low-income seniors, and anyone whose disability makes a regular bus hard or unsafe to use.
- What it costs
- The bus pass is free on PWD, or $45 for the year for a low-income senior. The parking permit is $31, and that fee is waived if you ask. handyDART costs the same as a regular bus.
- How long it takes
- One phone call to start the bus pass, then up to 6 weeks for it to arrive. The parking permit takes 2 to 3 weeks. handyDART needs a registration form before your first ride.
The BC Bus Pass — start here
This is the cheapest big win on the page, and the one most people have never heard of.
The BC Bus Pass is a yearly pass good on public transit anywhere in the province that BC Transit or TransLink runs. That includes every Victoria bus.
Good news
If you have the PWD designation and get disability assistance, the pass costs you nothing. If you are a senior on the Guaranteed Income Supplement, it is $45 — not $45 a month, $45 for the whole year.
Who can get it
People with disabilities: you have the PWD designation and you get disability assistance or hardship assistance from the ministry. Getting CPP Disability on its own does not count.
Low-income seniors, if any one of these is true:
- You are 65 or older and get Old Age Security plus the Guaranteed Income Supplement.
- You get the federal Allowance or Allowance for the Survivor (ages 60 to 64).
- You are 65 or older and would qualify for the Guaranteed Income Supplement, but you have not lived in Canada 10 years.
- You are 60 or older and on income assistance.
- You are 60 or older and the spouse of someone with PWD on disability assistance.
- You are 60 or older, live on a First Nations reserve, and get assistance from your band office.
What you pay
| Your situation | What the pass costs | The other choice |
|---|---|---|
| PWD, on disability assistance | Free | Take $52 a month in cash instead as a transportation supplement, and buy your own fares |
| Low-income senior | $45 for the year, billed by invoice | No cash option |
You can switch between the pass and the $52 cash either way. Tell the ministry before the 5th of the month.
How to ask for it
- Ask by the 5th of the month so it starts with next month's payment.
- The fastest way is online: My Self Serve, then the Service Request tab, or the form at myselfserve.gov.bc.ca/BusPass.
- Or phone. Have your name, date of birth, address and Social Insurance Number ready.
- Seniors get an invoice for the $45 in the mail. Pay it when it comes.
- Allow up to 6 weeks for the pass to arrive. Use the same form to change your address or replace a lost pass.
BC Bus Pass Program — Monday to Friday, 9 am to 4 pm
What to say when you call
"I'd like to apply for the BC Bus Pass. I get disability assistance and I have the PWD designation." Or: "I'm a senior, I get Old Age Security and the Guaranteed Income Supplement, and I'd like the $45 bus pass. Can you send me the invoice?"
Victoria buses: seniors' fares and free helpers
BC Transit runs the buses in Greater Victoria. Every bus is low-floor or lift-equipped, and they kneel down at the curb to make the step smaller.
Three things save money on the regular bus, and you have to ask for all three:
- Seniors pay less. Age 65 and up, with ID.
- Children 12 and under ride free.
- One helper rides free with you if you use a wheelchair or a scooter, if you are a handyDART rider, or if you have a CNIB pass. The helper has to get on and off at the same stop as you and actually help you. There is no form and no application — they just board with you.
| Fare | Price |
|---|---|
| Seniors, single ride | $3 |
| DayPASS | $6 |
| Concession 30-day pass | $45 |
| Adult 30-day pass | $85 |
Compare those two $45s
A concession 30-day pass costs $45 a month. The BC Bus Pass costs $45 a year. If you qualify for the BC Bus Pass, buying monthly passes costs you about $495 more each year for the same rides.
You can pay cash on the bus, or load fares onto a reloadable Umo card or the Umo app. For help with an Umo card, call 1-877-380-8181.
One thing to watch: only stops marked with the blue-and-white accessibility decal allow wheelchair and scooter boarding. If you are planning a trip, check which stops those are before you set out. BC Transit's accessibility team answers questions by email at bctransitaccessibility@bctransit.com.
handyDART: a bus that comes to your door
handyDART is BC Transit's door-to-door shared ride service in Greater Victoria. A driver picks you up at your door, helps you on, and helps you off at the other end. It is for people whose disability makes using a regular bus hard.
You do not have to use a wheelchair to qualify. handyDART also serves people with vision loss, dementia, heart or lung conditions, and other disabilities nobody can see from the outside.
What it costs
The same as a regular BC Transit bus. Day passes, ticket books, monthly passes and the seniors' monthly pass all work on handyDART. The province's own bus pass page says the BC Bus Pass covers handyDART; BC Transit's pages do not say so either way, so ask about your BC Bus Pass when you register rather than assuming.
How to register and book
- Fill in the Victoria handyDART Application Form, which you can download from bctransit.com/victoria. There is an optional Medical Verification of Eligibility form as well. It is optional, but sending it can help.
- Return the form as it directs. Once you are registered you get a handyPASS number.
- Book each ride by phone at 250-727-7811, then press 0. Booking hours are Sunday to Thursday 8 am to 10 pm, and Friday and Saturday 8 am to midnight.
- Book ahead. You can book a trip up to 14 days in advance, and popular times fill up. If you go somewhere on a schedule — dialysis, day programme, a standing appointment — ask for a standing booking so you do not have to phone every week.
Rides run Monday to Thursday 7 am to 10 pm, Friday 7 am to midnight, Saturday 8 am to midnight, and Sunday and holidays 8 am to 10 pm.
What to say when you phone to register or book
"I'd like to register for handyDART. My disability makes it hard for me to use the regular bus. Can you send me the application form, and tell me whether I should also send the medical verification form?"
Once you are registered: "This is [your name], handyPASS number [your number]. I'd like to book a ride from [address] to [address] on [date], arriving by [time]. I need to be picked up again at [time]."
Taxi Saver: half-price taxi coupons
When handyDART cannot cover a trip, registered riders can buy taxi coupons at half price. One package a month: $80 worth of coupons for $40.
You must be a permanently registered handyDART customer, be 12 or older, and have a handyPASS. To buy a package, mail your handyPASS number, your return address and a $40 cheque payable to BC Transit to:
Taxi Saver Program, 520 Gorge Road East, PO Box 9861, Victoria BC V8W 9T5
Or call 250-995-5618, or email taxisaver@bctransit.com.
Watch out
Taxi drivers do not give change for coupons. Bring small coupons so you are not handing over $20 for a $9 ride.
The accessible parking permit
The blue-and-white placard comes from SPARC BC — the Social Planning and Research Council of B.C. It does not come from ICBC or the city, which is why people go to the wrong counter and give up.
The permit belongs to you, not to a car. You do not need to own a vehicle. You can use it in any car you are riding in, and it is recognised across Canada and in many other countries.
Who qualifies
A medical professional with a valid MSP number has to confirm one or more of these:
- You cannot walk any distance without the help of another person or a mobility aid.
- You cannot walk 100 metres without risk to your health.
- You have a disability that affects your ability to walk.
- You are blind or Deaf, or there is a safety concern.
It is not a wheelchair permit. Heart, lung, joint and pain conditions that limit walking all count.
What it costs and how long it lasts
| Type | How long it lasts | Can you renew it? |
|---|---|---|
| Permanent | Three years | Yes |
| Temporary | One to twelve months | No |
| Conditional | Three years | No |
The fee is $31 for each permit, whether it is new, a renewal or a replacement.
If you cannot afford the $31
SPARC gives hardship assistance on request. You just have to ask. Say "I can't afford the processing fee — can I have the hardship waiver?" when you send the form or when you call 1-888-718-7794.
How to apply
- Get the application from sparc.bc.ca/parking-permits, or use the online service at online.sparc.bc.ca.
- Fill in your part. A medical professional with a valid MSP number fills in the medical part.
- Send it with the $31 fee — or the waiver request — to SPARC BC, 4445 Norfolk Street, Burnaby BC V5G 0A7.
- Allow 2 to 3 weeks from the day SPARC receives it. Questions: 1-888-718-7794, 604-718-7744, or permits@sparc.bc.ca.
Renewals need the form again. Put a note in your calendar three months before your permit expires.
Half price on BC Ferries
BC Ferries gives half-price passenger fares to B.C. residents with a permanent disability. The card used to be called the "Disabled Card". It is now the Accessible Fare Identification card, or AFI card — search for "AFI card" on the website, because the old name will not find it.
If you need someone with you, one attendant aged 12 or older also gets 50% off.
The discount is on people, not cars
The vehicle fare is not discounted. If you drive on, you pay full price for the car and half price for yourself and one attendant.
How to get the card
- Get the AFI application form at bcferries.com/accessibility, or call 1-888-223-3779 and ask for one.
- If you get PWD or CPP Disability, proof of that is enough — you do not need to bother your doctor. Otherwise a doctor or nurse practitioner fills in Section C.
- Send the form back as the form directs, and wait for the card.
- Show the card to the ticket agent every time you sail. Renew it every two years, or the discount stops.
If you have a CNIB card, you get the same discount without applying for an AFI card at all.
Money back on fuel tax, and 25% off ICBC
If you have a disability and there is a vehicle in your name, B.C. will refund up to $500 each calendar year of the provincial fuel tax you paid, and give you 25% off your basic ICBC Autoplan insurance. Electric vehicles get the insurance discount too.
This one is run by the Ministry of Finance, not the disability assistance office, which is why nobody at the ministry ever mentions it.
Who qualifies
You must own or lease a vehicle, or have an ownership interest in one, and prove your disability with one of these:
- B.C. Disability Assistance certification (the ministry can confirm your PWD status).
- A letter from the British Columbia Aboriginal Network on Disability Society confirming enrolment in its Social Assistance for Persons with Disability program.
- A Veterans Affairs Canada letter confirming a 100% disability pension.
- A CNIB letter confirming permanent sight impairment.
- A medical certificate for: loss of a limb; permanent dependence on a wheelchair; complete loss of use of the lower limbs; a permanent movement impairment that makes using public transit hazardous; a permanent mental disability that makes using public transit hazardous; or permanent sight impairment that prevents you holding a driver's licence.
You do not have to be the driver. If the vehicle is registered to you and used to get you around, it can still count.
How to apply
- Register once with form FIN 119, the Fuel Tax Refund Program Registration, and attach your proof of disability.
- Once you are registered, keep every original fuel receipt. This is where most people lose the money.
- The program sends you the refund application form after your registration is approved. Fill it in and mail it with the receipts.
- Claims have to arrive within four years of the date you paid the tax.
- Show your registration to ICBC or your Autoplan broker to get the 25% insurance discount. It is separate from renewing your insurance, so bring it up yourself.
Questions: 1-877-388-4440 toll-free, or 250-410-0373, Monday to Friday 8:30 am to 4:30 pm.
Travelling out of town for medical care
Victoria does not have every specialist. When you are sent to Vancouver, three separate programs can help, and they cover different things.
TAP BC — discounts on the way there
The Travel Assistance Program gives discounts from ferries, airlines, buses and VIA Rail when a doctor or nurse practitioner has referred you to a non-emergency service you cannot get in your own community. BC Ferries waives the fare for the patient, an approved escort, and a regular passenger car.
Ask the clinic that referred you for the TAP form — they fill in most of it. Then call 1-800-661-2668, open 24 hours, with your Personal Health Number to get a confirmation number. Show the form when you book or board.
TAP pays nothing back afterwards
Get the form before you travel. TAP BC gives no refunds for a trip you have already taken, and it does not cover meals, hotels, mileage, taxis or local buses. An adult escort is only covered if you cannot travel alone for medical reasons.
Hope Air — free flights, hotels and meals
Hope Air is a charity, not a government programme. It flies people to medical care they cannot reach locally when they cannot afford the trip, and it also covers hotel nights, meal vouchers, and Uber rides from the airport. One medically necessary escort is covered too, and shares your room.
You need a confirmed appointment covered by MSP, and financial need based on your household income, household size and the cost of the trip. Hope Air does not publish one income cut-off — they ask you to apply so they can look at your situation.
Apply online at hopeair.ca before you travel. A family member, friend, social worker or your clinic can apply for you. Questions: 1-877-346-4673, Monday to Friday 6 am to 4:30 pm Pacific.
BC Family Residence Program — a room near your child's hospital
If your child is 18 or under and getting care at BC Children's Hospital, Sunny Hill Health Centre for Children, the BC Women's Hospital neonatal intensive care unit, or BC Cancer in Vancouver, this program pays for a room so your family can stay nearby.
- Up to 21 nights per medical stay, and family income under $80,000 for the year. Both took effect 1 April 2026.
- Victoria families qualify. You have to live outside Metro Vancouver, and Victoria is outside Metro Vancouver.
- Variety pays the hotel or residence directly. Do not pay first and expect to be paid back.
- Only approved places count — partner hotels, Easter Seal House, or Ronald McDonald House for stays of three nights or more. An Airbnb will not be paid.
Email bcfrp@variety.bc.ca for the form, or call 1-800-381-2040 or 604-320-0505. The office is open Monday to Thursday, 9 am to 3 pm, and closed Friday through Sunday — so if nobody answers on a Friday, that is why. Try again Monday.
Which one is for you
| What it is | Who it is for | What it costs you | Who to call |
|---|---|---|---|
| BC Bus Pass | PWD on disability assistance; low-income seniors | Free, or $45 a year | 1-866-866-0800 |
| Seniors' fare and free attendant | 65 and up; riders using a wheelchair, scooter, handyDART or a CNIB pass | $3 a ride; the helper is free | 250-382-6161 |
| handyDART | Anyone whose disability makes the regular bus hard | A normal bus fare | 250-727-7811 |
| Taxi Saver coupons | Registered handyDART riders, 12 and up | $40 for $80 of coupons, once a month | 250-995-5618 |
| Accessible parking permit | Anyone who cannot walk far, confirmed by a medical professional | $31, waived on request | 1-888-718-7794 |
| BC Ferries AFI card | B.C. residents with a permanent disability, plus one attendant | Free card; 50% off passenger fares | 1-888-223-3779 |
| Fuel tax refund | People with a disability who have a vehicle in their name | Free; up to $500 a year back, plus 25% off ICBC basic | 1-877-388-4440 |
Most people qualify for more than one. The bus pass, the parking permit and the ferry card do not cancel each other out.
Why people miss this
- Nobody mentions the bus pass. Seniors on the Guaranteed Income Supplement hear about it from a friend, if at all. Service Canada does not talk about provincial programmes.
- People on CPP Disability assume they qualify for the bus pass. They do not, unless they also get provincial disability assistance. If that is you, the seniors' or concession fares are still there.
- The $52 cash gets taken and forgotten. If you took the transportation supplement in cash and now find you ride the bus a lot, you can switch back to the pass. Just tell the ministry before the 5th.
- "handyDART is for wheelchairs." It is not. Vision loss, dementia, heart and lung conditions all count.
- People give up on handyDART because of the booking. Booking ahead feels like a barrier, but a standing booking for a regular trip means you only arrange it once.
- The parking permit fee stops people who never learn there is a waiver for it.
- The ferry card expires quietly. The two-year renewal is newer than a lot of people's cards, and the discount simply stops.
- Fuel receipts go in the bin. No receipts, no refund. Keep an envelope in the glovebox.
- People travel for medical care first and ask for help after. TAP BC, Hope Air and the BC Family Residence Program all need to be arranged before the trip.
Where to get help in Victoria
handyDART bookings and registration (BC Transit Victoria) — press 0
- BC Transit Victoria — routes, fares, accessibility. 250-382-6161. Open Monday to Friday 6 am to 7 pm, Saturday 7 am to 7 pm, Sunday from 8 am.
- BC Bus Pass Program — 1-866-866-0800, Monday to Friday 9 am to 4 pm.
- Victoria Disability Resource Centre, 817A Fort Street — help with the BC Bus Pass, handyDART registration and the ferry card. 250-595-0044
- Together Against Poverty Society (TAPS), 828 View Street — help with ministry benefits, including the transportation supplement. 250-361-3521
- 211 — dial 211 any time to find someone near you who will help fill in a form.
Or call the Reachable Line and we will work through it with you, out loud, at your pace. If you want, we will sit on the phone while you call the bus pass line.
Related guides
Where these numbers come from
Every figure on this page comes from a government or transit page we read on the date shown. Fares and fees change. If you are reading this long after the date at the top, phone the number for that programme and check.
- Province of B.C., BC Bus Pass Program: gov.bc.ca — bus pass (read 1 September 2026)
- Province of B.C., Bus pass for people with disabilities (the $52 cash choice, the 5th-of-the-month rule, up to 6 weeks): gov.bc.ca — people with disabilities (read 1 September 2026)
- Province of B.C., BC Bus Pass Program policy (full senior and PWD eligibility list): gov.bc.ca — policy manual (read 1 September 2026)
- Province of B.C., General Supplements and Programs Rate Table, effective 1 August 2026 ($45 pass fee, $52 transportation supplement): gov.bc.ca — rate table (read 1 September 2026)
- BC Transit, Victoria fares: bctransit.com — fares (read 1 September 2026)
- BC Transit, Victoria accessibility (attendants ride free, low-floor buses, accessible stops): bctransit.com — accessibility (read 1 September 2026)
- BC Transit, Victoria fare programs (BC Bus Pass, children 12 and under): bctransit.com — fare programs (read 1 September 2026)
- BC Transit, Victoria contact (phone numbers and hours): bctransit.com — contact (read 1 September 2026)
- BC Transit, Victoria handyDART and booking (fares, 250-727-7811 press 0, 14 days ahead, service hours): bctransit.com — handyDART and bctransit.com — booking (read 2 September 2026)
- BC Transit, handyDART registration (application form and optional medical verification): bctransit.com — register (read 2 September 2026)
- BC Transit, Taxi Saver ($80 of coupons for $40, mailing address, 250-995-5618): bctransit.com — Taxi Saver (read 2 September 2026)
- SPARC BC, Parking permits and the frequently asked questions ($31 fee, hardship waiver, permit types, 2 to 3 weeks): sparc.bc.ca — parking permits (read 1 September 2026)
- BC Ferries, Accessibility (AFI card, 50% off, attendant, 1-888-223-3779): bcferries.com — accessibility (read 1 September 2026)
- Disability Alliance BC, Changes to the BC Ferries Accessible Fare Identification Card (PWD and CPP-D proof, Section C, two-year renewal): disabilityalliancebc.org (read 1 September 2026)
- Province of B.C., Fuel tax refund for persons with disabilities ($500 a year, 25% ICBC discount, form FIN 119, four-year limit): gov.bc.ca — fuel tax refund (read 1 September 2026)
- Province of B.C., Travel Assistance Program (TAP BC) (partner discounts, 1-800-661-2668, 90-day form, no refunds): gov.bc.ca — TAP BC (read 1 September 2026)
- Hope Air, Travel support services (flights, hotels, meals, ground transport, 1-877-346-4673): hopeair.ca (read 1 September 2026)
- Province of B.C., BC Family Residence Program: gov.bc.ca — family residence (read 2 September 2026)
- Variety – The Children's Charity, BC Family Residence Program ($80,000 income limit, 21 nights, approved places, office hours): variety.bc.ca (read 2 September 2026)
- Victoria Disability Resource Centre: drcvictoria.com (read 1 September 2026)
- Together Against Poverty Society: tapsbc.ca (read 1 September 2026)
Reachable is not BC Transit, BC Ferries, or the government. This guide explains public programs in plain language so you can go and claim them. It is not advice about your own situation.