Key facts
Which taxi licence do I need in Jamaica?
It depends on how the vehicle earns. A hackney carriage stands or plies for hire on public roads and places, carrying no more than four passengers. A route taxi has ten seats or fewer and carries passengers paying separate fares along a designated route, stopping to pick up and set down. A contract carriage is hired as a whole under a contract for an agreed sum and must not stand or ply for hire.[1]
How do I apply for a route taxi licence?
The Transport Authority directs route taxi applicants to their respective route taxi associations.[1]
What documents does the Transport Authority ask for?
It publishes a requirement sheet for each licence (new hackney carriage, contract carriage, route taxi and their renewals) and for driver and conductor badges; download the sheet for your licence before you apply.[2]
Which model suits a booking business?
Pre-booked transfers and corporate work fit the contract carriage model, hired as a whole at an agreed rate; street and stand work fits the hackney carriage. Check with the Authority which applies to your plan before buying a vehicle.[1]
Frequently asked questions
Can a contract carriage pick up passengers on the street in Jamaica?
No. A contract carriage is hired as a whole under a contract and must not stand or ply for hire.
Do Jamaican taxi drivers need a badge?
Yes; the Transport Authority issues driver and conductor badges, with their own requirement sheets for new badges and renewals.
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] Transport Authority of Jamaica: Licence types (read 3 Nov 2026)
- [2] Transport Authority of Jamaica: Licence requirements (read 3 Nov 2026)