Key facts
- Permit
- Vehicle for Hire permit, held by the company (A.R.S. § 28-9503)[1]
- Fee
- $24 per vehicle for a three-year permit[2]
- Driver check
- Criminal background check before the driver is engaged[2]
- Insurance, 2 to 8 seats
- At least $250,000 combined single limit[2]
- Insurance, 9 to 15 seats
- At least $750,000, with $300,000 uninsured motorist cover[2]
Does Arizona license the driver or the company?
The company. ADOT's Vehicle for Hire unit issues the permit to taxi, livery and limousine companies under A.R.S. § 28-9503, and a copy of that permit must be inside each vehicle. ADOT's compliance list for these vehicles names no separate licence for the driver.[1][2]
What checks must a driver pass?
The owner must hold written evidence of a criminal background check for every driver, employee or lessee, completed before the driver is engaged (A.R.S. § 28-9507(A)). The owner must also run a zero-tolerance policy on drugs and alcohol; after a complaint, the driver's access to the vehicle is suspended while it is investigated.[2]
What does the permit cost, and what insurance applies?
The fee is $24 per vehicle for a three-year permit. Vehicles with 2 to 8 seats need a combined single limit of at least $250,000; 9 to 15 seats need at least $750,000 with $300,000 of uninsured motorist cover. Insurance and registration documents stay in the vehicle.[2]
| Seating capacity | Minimum cover |
|---|---|
| 2 to 8 | $250,000 combined single limit |
| 9 to 15 | $750,000 combined single limit, with at least $300,000 of uninsured motorist cover |
Vehicles for more than 8 and fewer than 16 passengers must carry a commercial registration.[2]
What must a taxi display?
Outside, trade dress with the word TAXI or CAB at a minimum. Inside, the permit holder's name and address, the fares and how they are worked out, and the driver's name, on a sign or in the app. A vehicle designed for more than 8 passengers needs a commercial licence plate.[2]
Frequently asked questions
Who pays the $24 Arizona vehicle-for-hire fee?
The company that holds the ADOT Vehicle for Hire permit: $24 per vehicle for each three-year permit.
Sources
Fees and rules change. Each source is the official page we read, with the date we read it; check it before you apply or pay.
- [1] Arizona Department of Transportation: Vehicle for Hire Licensing (read 16 Jun 2026)
- [2] Arizona Department of Transportation: Taxi, livery and limousines, compliance requirements (read 14 Jul 2025)
