New Brunswick

At a glanceRequirements at a glance

Safety Fitness Certificate Required

Yes

Not yet implemented as a standalone certificate — New Brunswick has not yet issued physical safety fitness certificates. Currently, having the carrier’s National Safety Code (NSC) number printed on the vehicle’s registration certificate satisfies the requirement; New Brunswick has indicated it intends to move to a certificate system in the future.

Who Needs an NSC Number

Carriers responsible for a commercial vehicle (truck, tractor, trailer, or combination) registered at 4,500 kg gross weight or more, or a bus seating more than 10 people including the driver, used for goods or passenger transport (excluding personal use).

Intra- vs. Extra-Provincial Carrier

Defined directly by New Brunswick — an intra-provincial carrier operates entirely within the province; an extra-provincial carrier has vehicles that cross provincial borders during normal business operation.

Insurance Required

Yes

Yes — Liability insurance appropriate to vehicle class; lack of insurance can result in cancellation of the NSC registration, consistent with other National Safety Code jurisdictions.

Consumer Contract Rules

In transition — New Brunswick does not currently have a single overarching Consumer Protection Act. A new Consumer Protection Act (Bill 16) received Royal Assent and will consolidate the province’s previously separate consumer-protection statutes (covering direct sellers, cost of credit disclosure, gift cards, and more) along with new rules on unfair practices and internet sales contracts, but as of this writing no in-force date had been confirmed. Confirm current status with the FCNB before publishing.

Consumer Complaints

Financial and Consumer Services Commission (FCNB)

OverviewOverview & Scope

New Brunswick does not issue a moving-industry-specific license, and its carrier-safety framework is genuinely a step behind most other provinces: rather than issuing a standalone Safety Fitness Certificate document, New Brunswick currently treats an NSC number printed directly on the vehicle’s registration certificate as equivalent, under the Motor Vehicle Act and Carrier Profile and Compliance Regulation administered by the Motor Vehicle Branch. New Brunswick has stated an intention to move to a certificate system in the future, so ITMs operating here should watch for that change. On the consumer side, New Brunswick has historically relied on a patchwork of narrower statutes (covering things like direct sellers and cost of credit) rather than a single Consumer Protection Act — a new consolidated Act has passed the legislature and received Royal Assent, but its in-force date was not yet confirmed as of this writing, so the applicable consumer-protection rules for a given move should be checked directly with the FCNB.

RegistrationRegistration & Compliance Essentials

Movers must:

1. Obtain an NSC number for any qualifying commercial vehicle (4,500 kg GVW or more, or seating more than 10) through the Motor Vehicle Branch, and ensure it is printed on the vehicle’s registration certificate.
2. Determine intra- vs. extra-provincial carrier status, since New Brunswick’s own definitions distinguish carriers that operate entirely within the province from those whose vehicles cross provincial borders.
3. Confirm home-jurisdiction coverage for vehicles registered and safety-certified in another Canadian province — generally accepted for occasional trips into New Brunswick.
4. Carry proof of liability insurance appropriate to the vehicle class, since a lapse can result in cancellation of the NSC registration.
5. Maintain driver and vehicle profiles, including maintenance records, insurance documents, provincial inspection certificates, and CVSA inspection reports, retained per the schedule set out in New Brunswick’s National Safety Code guidance.
6. Confirm current consumer-protection requirements with the FCNB before finalizing contract or estimate language, given the transition toward a new consolidated Consumer Protection Act.
7. Retain safety, maintenance, and insurance records as required for Carrier Profile compliance and any facility audit.

ChecklistCompliance checklist

• Valid NSC number obtained and printed on vehicle registrationRequired
• Intra- vs. extra-provincial carrier status determinedRequired
• Liability Insurance in forceRequired
• Driver and vehicle profiles maintained per required retention scheduleRequired
• Current consumer-protection requirements confirmed with FCNBRequired
• Safety, maintenance, and insurance records retainedRequired