Guide Onboarding Documents — Help Guide
What the required onboarding documents are, why we ask for them, and exactly where to get your driver's abstract in every Canadian province and territory.
Guide Onboarding Documents — Help Guide
This page explains the documents you are asked to provide when you onboard as a driver-guide, why each one is needed, and how to obtain them. It is a help guide, not a contract. The terms that govern your use of the platform are in the Platform Terms for Guides, and the separate consent you give for your background check is in the Background Check Consent.
Your documents are collected so the Organization that is onboarding you can confirm you are legally able to drive, that your driving history meets its safety and insurance requirements, and that you have passed the background screening it requires. The Organization that invited you — not Tripshepherd — decides whether your documents meet its requirements.
1. Driver's licence
What we ask for: a clear photo of the front and back of your valid driver's licence.
Tips for a clean upload:
- Use JPG or PNG, up to 10 MB per image.
- Lay the licence on a flat, dark, non-reflective surface in good light.
- Make sure all four corners are visible and every line of text is readable.
- Avoid glare, blur, and shadows. Don't crop off the edges.
- The name on your licence should match the legal name you use elsewhere in onboarding.
Your licence must be valid (not expired) and not suspended. If your licence status changes after you upload it, you must update your profile or tell the Organization.
2. Driver's abstract
What it is: a driver's abstract — also called a driving record, driver record, driver's licence history, or in Quebec a dossier de conduite — is an official summary issued by your provincial or territorial motor vehicle authority. It typically lists your licence status and class, and your driving history (convictions, suspensions, and demerit points) over a set period.
Why we ask for it: the Organization uses it to confirm your driving history meets its safety standards and its insurer's requirements. A photo of your licence shows you are licensed; the abstract shows your record.
What it usually costs: most provinces charge roughly $10–$25 CAD. A few are free (British Columbia) and exact fees vary by province and by the type/length of record you request. Always check the price on the official registry page before paying.
How to get it: you request it yourself from your province or territory's official registry. Many can be downloaded as a PDF within minutes; some are mailed or must be picked up in person. Find your jurisdiction below, request the abstract, save the PDF (or scan the paper copy), and upload it.
Use only official government or public-insurer sources. Do not buy your abstract from a third-party reseller — the Organization may reject a non-official copy, and resellers often charge more for the same document.
Where to obtain your driver's abstract — by province and territory
| Province / Territory | Where to get it | Document name | Approx. cost (CAD) | How |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ontario | ServiceOntario | Driver's Licence History / 3-Year Driver Record | ~$12 uncertified · ~$18 certified | Online (3-year uncertified record is an instant emailed PDF), in person, or by mail |
| British Columbia | ICBC | Driving record / driver's abstract | Free | Online via My ICBC (emailed); also by phone or mail |
| Quebec | SAAQ | Dossier de conduite (driving record) | Check current fee on SAAQ | Online via SAAQclic, in person, or by mail/phone |
| Alberta | Alberta.ca / registry agents | Standard Driver's Abstract | ~$15 at a registry agent (+ service charge) · ~$24 online | Online (verified Alberta.ca account) or in person at a registry agent |
| Manitoba | Manitoba Public Insurance (MPI) | Driver abstract | ~$10 | By form (fax/mail/phone) or in person at an Autopac agent / MPI centre — no instant online download |
| Saskatchewan | SGI | Driver experience history / driver's abstract | ~$15 | Online via MySGI, by phone, or by authorization form |
| Nova Scotia | Service Nova Scotia (RMV) | Driver's abstract | ~$19 | Online, in person at Access Nova Scotia, or by mail/fax |
| New Brunswick | Service New Brunswick | Driver record / driver abstract | ~$20 (confirm on SNB) | Online (~2 business days), in person, or by phone |
| Prince Edward Island | Access PEI | Driver Abstract | ~$25 | Online (holder only), in person at Access PEI, or mailed to your PEI address |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | Motor Registration Division (Service NL) | Driver Record (Abstract) | ~$15 | Online via MyGovNL, in person, or by mail/fax |
| Yukon | Government of Yukon — Motor Vehicles | Driver's abstract | ~$10 | Online (instant download/print), in person, or by mail/fax/email |
| Northwest Territories | GNWT — Driver and Vehicle Services | Driver's abstract / driving record | ~$19 | Online (NWT residents) or in person at a Driver & Vehicle office |
| Nunavut | Government of Nunavut — Motor Vehicles | Driver's Abstract | ~$13 | In person at a Motor Vehicles issuing office or via a local Government Liaison Office — no online download |
Costs and processes are set by each jurisdiction and can change. The figures above are approximate guidance only — confirm the current fee and turnaround on the official page before you pay. If a link has moved, search your province or territory's official government website for "driver's abstract" or "driving record."
3. Background check
What it is: a Canadian criminal record check run through Certn, our background-screening provider.
What to expect:
- It typically takes 24–72 hours to complete.
- You authorize Certn to receive your legal name and date of birth for this purpose by checking the consent box.
- The full terms of what you are authorizing — what is checked, how the result is used, how long it is kept, and how to dispute an inaccurate result — are in the Background Check Consent. Please read it before you consent.
- The Organization that is onboarding you, not Tripshepherd, decides how the result affects your application, subject to applicable law.
You do not need to upload anything for the background check — once you consent, it runs automatically.
4. Submitting your documents
When all required items show as uploaded, tap Submit documents. You can come back and re-upload anything that is rejected or needs to be clearer. If you're unsure whether a document qualifies, ask the Organization that invited you before submitting.
5. Questions
For questions about a specific requirement, what counts as acceptable, or the status of your onboarding, contact the Organization that invited, onboarded, or manages you. For questions about the Tripshepherd platform itself, email info@tripshepherd.com.