Manitoba

At a glanceRequirements at a glance

Safety Fitness Certificate Required

Yes

Yes, where the mover operates its own vehicles. Operators of a regulated vehicle (a truck or tractor registered at 4,500 kg GVW or more, or a vehicle seating 11 or more people including the driver) must hold a valid SFC issued by Manitoba Transportation and Infrastructure before registering the vehicle. Where a mover subcontracts the transport, the carrier operating the vehicles holds the SFC for the transport it performs.

Out-of-Province Vehicles

As of September 1, 2025, US-based carriers must obtain a Manitoba SFC and NSC number to operate legally in the province. Manitoba’s treatment of carriers based in other Canadian provinces should be confirmed directly, as requirements have tightened recently.

Application Fee

$200 for a new SFC application.

Insurance Required

Yes, where the mover operates its own vehicles. Minimum $1 million third-party liability for commercial operations that operate for compensation or outside Manitoba; higher minimums apply for passenger vehicles and dangerous goods transport.

Safety Rating

Manitoba assigns one of four ratings (satisfactory, satisfactory unaudited, conditional, or unsatisfactory), tracked through the Carrier Profile and published Carrier Snapshot; new carriers start at “satisfactory unaudited” until their first audit.

Vehicle Marking

Required where the mover operates its own regulated vehicles. As of August 1, 2025, regulated vehicles must display the registered owner’s National Safety Code number, in addition to the company name or logo already required.

Consumer Contract Rules

Yes. Moving agreements with consumers are subject to Manitoba’s Consumer Protection Act and Business Practices Act, both administered by the Consumer Protection Office.

Consumer Complaints

Manitoba Consumer Protection Office

OverviewOverview & Scope

Manitoba does not issue a moving-industry-specific license. Operators of regulated vehicles must hold a Safety Fitness Certificate, administered by Manitoba Transportation and Infrastructure’s Motor Carrier Division under the Highway Traffic Act and the federal Motor Vehicle Transport Act, which functions as the carrier’s operating authority and tracks its safety rating and National Safety Code number. These obligations attach to whichever company operates the vehicles; where a mover subcontracts the transport, the carrier’s own SFC covers the transport it performs, and the mover should use carriers that hold it. Manitoba has tightened its treatment of out-of-province carriers recently (vehicle-marking rules and a new SFC requirement for US carriers both took effect in 2025), so ITMs operating across the Manitoba border should confirm current requirements rather than assume prior practice still applies. Separately, the consumer-facing side of a move is governed by Manitoba’s Consumer Protection Act and Business Practices Act, both enforced by the Consumer Protection Office, which mediates and investigates complaints directly.

RegistrationRegistration & Compliance Essentials

Vehicles and drivers (where the mover operates its own vehicles)

1. Obtain a Safety Fitness Certificate through Manitoba Transportation and Infrastructure before registering a regulated vehicle (4,500 kg GVW or more, or seating 11 or more).
2. Confirm current requirements for out-of-province vehicles, since Manitoba tightened its rules for US-based carriers in September 2025; carriers based in other Canadian provinces should verify their status directly given the recent changes.
3. Provide proof of insurance meeting Manitoba’s minimums: $1 million third-party liability for compensated or extraprovincial operations, with higher minimums for passenger vehicles and dangerous goods.
4. Provide proof of a valid Periodic Mandatory Vehicle Inspection (PMVI) for each regulated vehicle at application and renewal.
5. Display the carrier’s National Safety Code number on regulated vehicles, alongside the company name or logo, as required since August 2025.
6. Renew the SFC annually, before regulated vehicle registrations are renewed; carriers with a strong safety record may qualify for reduced-frequency renewal review.

Subcontracted transport

7. Where transport is subcontracted, use carriers that hold the licences required for the transport they perform.

Customer practices

8. Provide contracts and estimates that comply with the Consumer Protection Act and Business Practices Act, avoiding false, misleading, or unfair practices.

ChecklistCompliance checklist

Subcontracted transport

• Where transport is subcontracted, the mover uses carriers that hold the licences required for the transport they performWhere applicableVerified by AffirmationRequired

Vehicles and drivers (where the mover operates its own vehicles)

• Valid Manitoba Safety Fitness Certificate, renewed annually (or on a reduced-frequency schedule if qualified)Where applicable (mover operates its own regulated vehicles, 4,500 kg GVW or more)Verified by DocumentRequired
• Third-party liability insurance meeting Manitoba minimums ($1 million for compensated or extraprovincial operations)Where applicable (mover operates its own vehicles)Verified by DocumentRequired
• Valid PMVI certificate for each regulated vehicleWhere applicable (mover operates its own vehicles)Verified by DocumentRequired
• Regulated vehicles marked with the NSC number and company name or logoWhere applicable (mover operates its own vehicles)Verified by AffirmationRequired

Customer practices

• Contracts and estimates comply with the Consumer Protection Act and Business Practices ActVerified by AffirmationRequired