Dealer's Guide to Pleasure Craft Licensing

This guide is intended to provide detailed information on the Pleasure Craft Licensing System to boat dealers.

• Background
  
  
• Improvements to Pleasure Craft Licensing
  
  
• Forms
  
  
• Recommended Best Practice
  
  
• Frequently Asked Questions
  
  

Background

In November 2005, Transport Canada announced that the administration of the Pleasure Craft Licensing System would be transferred from the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) to Service Canada on April 1^st, 2006. This announcement caused some concerns among pleasure craft dealers since at the time of the announcement it was unclear what changes would be made and how these changes would impact the pleasure craft business. This guide will attempt to address most of the outstanding concerns regarding this transfer.

Improvements to Pleasure Craft Licensing

Now, there are almost three times the number of offices that issue pleasure craft licences. For the location nearest you, visit Services Where You Live or call 1 800 O-Canada.

Dealers across the country are now able to fax their licence transactions to the Pleasure Craft Licensing Centre at (506) 462-5322. Previously, only certain offices accepted faxes and the level of service varied significantly from office to office.

In the case of an emergency, Search and Rescue authorities now have access to licence information 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. In the past, this information was only available during regular business hours. Since most boating happens on weekends, this change is a significant improvement for the safety of boaters.

Forms

You will need the following forms to successfully complete most licensing transactions.

An Application for Pleasure Craft Licence is required for all transactions.

A Third Party Authorization letter* is required when the person who is requesting the transaction is not the person whose name will appear on the licence.

A Declaration Under Oath* is required either if the original licence (in the case of previously licensed boats) and/or if a document showing transfer of ownership such as a bill of sale is not available.

*It is not mandatory to use the sample forms provided as long as all of the required information is present.

Recommended Best Practice

This section presents dealers with an option that will allow them to process their licensing transactions in a fast and efficient way.

We recommend that you licence every boat as soon as you take delivery of the product. This practice allows you to apply for licences at your convenience without having to rush when a boat is sold. It will also give you plenty of time to mark the boats properly.

Whenever you sell a boat, you will simply need to transfer the licence to the new owner. To do this, you will need:

• To sign the back of the licence over to the new owner and have the new owner complete the appropriate section.
  
  
• A completed Application for Pleasure Craft Licence.
  
  
• A completed Third Party Authorization letter.
  
  
• A signed photocopy of both sides of the new owner's identification (e.g. driver's licence).
  
  
• A bill of sale showing the transfer of ownership.
  
  

Important note: To avoid any delays, make sure that the documents are correctly filled out, signed and dated as required. As faxes are not accepted from the general public, any submission received without a proper Third Party Authorization letter will be rejected unless the pleasure craft is being licensed to a dealership.

Once you have all of the information listed above, you will need to submit it to Service Canada. You can submit your information in one of the following three ways:

1. In person at a Service Canada Centre. A licence in the name of the new owner will be issued on the spot.
   
   
2. By fax. A licence in the name of the new owner will be faxed to the dealer within 5 business days. This is done as a courtesy to dealers so they can provide the new owner with a confirmation that the transfer has taken place when the pleasure craft is picked up. The "official" licence will be mailed directly to the new owner within 5 business days*.
   
   
3. By mail. A licence in the name of the new owner will be mailed directly to the new owner within 5 business days*.
   
   

*Normal mailing delays not included.

Dealers are not required to follow these recommendations. Dealers may choose not to licence boats in their name and only licence a boat in the name of their client once they sell a boat.

However, due to the delays associated with the faxing and mailing options, they may not be able to mark the boat with the licence number before the client takes possession.

Licences will be issued on the spot to those who apply in person at a Service Canada Centre, allowing for plenty of time for the marking of the boat. However, it may not be practical for certain dealers to visit a Service Canada Centre each time a boat is sold.

Frequently Asked Questions

I want to send my applications by fax. Do I fax them to my closest Service Canada Centre?

No. All faxes must be sent to the Pleasure Craft Licensing Centre at: (506) 462-5322. Any faxes sent to a Service Canada Centre will be sent back with a note asking to send it to the Pleasure Craft Licensing Centre.

Is Service Canada doing anything to address dealers specifically?

Yes. Service Canada is aware of the important role that dealers play in the licensing of pleasure crafts and is eager to work with you to find ways to better serve your needs.

In the past, my local Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) office issued our dealership a block of licence numbers every year. Why is this service no longer available?

Previously, a few CBSA offices issued blocks of numbers to certain dealers. However, to maintain the integrity of the Pleasure Craft Licensing program, this service is no longer available.

Can a dealer, marine surveyor or bank access the information to determine ownership or a lien?

A pleasure craft licence is not a title document and does not establish ownership of a pleasure craft. Also, pleasure craft licensing information is personal information protected under the Privacy Act. Anyone wishing to access the information can apply through Access to Information and Privacy with Service Canada or Transport Canada.

As of April 01, 2006 pleasure craft licensing information will be available to safety and security agencies in an emergency 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. This availability will increase search and rescue capabilities improving the safety of licensed pleasure craft operators.

Can dealers go on-line to process an application?

Not at this time. Licensing services for dealers are available through the 320 Service Canada Centres, by fax and by mail. Future additional developments to the new licensing database will be considered and examined through consultation with stakeholders and the exploration of available technology.

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