Application Requirements

Applicants must:

• Be at least 19 years of age
• Have a current chauffeur license or New York State class A, B, C, or E issued by the Department of Motor Vehicles, or equivalent from any other state. Holders of Non-New York State Department of Motor Vehicles licenses must submit a certified state driving record from their state no more than 90 days before filing the application. 
• Owe no debts to the Taxi and Limousine Commission, the Department of Motor Vehicles, or the Department of Finance
• Have a valid Social Security number
• Complete taxi school
• Complete the wheelchair accessible class
• Complete a Department of Motor Vehicles-certified defensive driving class no more than 3 years before filing the application
• Submit a medical history (Form B) form signed by a doctor, attesting to medical fitness to drive a taxi
• Pay applicable fees

Fees

Initial application fees are $252, and drug test fees are $26.

Additional fees are charged for the chauffeur license, defensive driving course, wheelchair accessible course, and taxi school.

Fees are payable by credit card, debit card, or e-check. If you are paying a drug test fee with a money order, make it payable to LabCorp.

Timeframe

Timeframes to receive a license vary, based on the completeness of the application and the fulfillment of the requirements. Each application and its processing time will depend on the individual's fingerprint response report, any prior Taxi and Limousine Commission (TLC) license revocations, and outstanding requirements or clearances from the Department of Motor Vehicles, Department of Finance, and TLC. A general timeframe cannot be provided.

Once you have completed and submitted all TLC requirements, your application will be thoroughly reviewed. You will either receive your license by mail, or you will receive a letter requesting additional necessary information to continue the application process. 

For faster processing, you are encouraged to take your drug test and to register for and attend taxi school as soon as your application has been submitted to the TLC.  

If you do not complete all the licensing requirements within 90 days, your application will be denied. All application fees are non-refundable.

The Taxi and Limousine Commission (TLC) requires drug testing for all driver licenses, except for commuter vans and ambulettes.

Learn more about TLC's drug testing requirements.

To make an appointment for a drug test, you should call LabCorp.

After filing a TLC license application online, you must schedule an appointment to have your fingerprints and photo taken. You can get more information and schedule the appointment online.

To log in, you will need to provide:

• Your TLC license number
• Your DMV license number
• ORI code “TAXI”

Learn more and schedule an appointment.

For-Hire Vehicles (FHVs) provide prearranged service through TLC-licensed bases.
  
The following types of vehicles are considered for-hire:

• Ambulettes (also known as paratransit vehicles)
• Black cars
• Car service cars
• Commuter vans
• Limousines

One Year FHV License Pause

As of 5:00 PM, Tuesday August 14, 2018, FHV vehicle licenses will only be issued to Wheelchair Accessible Vehicles (WAVs) for one year.  If you are an applicant for a new FHV license you will be impacted. The one-year pause does NOT impact current FHV vehicle owners, current TLC driver license holders, applicants for yellow taxis, paratransit vehicles or commuter vans.

Bases can submit a Base Affirmation for a new FHV Wav Vehicle license beginning August 23, 2018, following changes the Taxi and Limousine Commission will make as a result of the new law. 

In certain limited circumstances, Taxi and Limousine Commission will issue a new FHV license to a non-accessible vehicle if the driver has a long-term lease with the option to purchase the vehicle AND the driver has decided to purchase the vehicle. This exception will be decided on a case-by-case basis and drivers will be required to submit documents to TLC demonstrating that they are eligible for this exception.