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Taxi licensing

How to open a TLC base in New York City

To open a for-hire base in New York City you apply to the TLC for a black car, livery or luxury limousine base license: reserve the business name, post a $5,000 surety bond, show workers' compensation or fund membership and ownership records, get fingerprinted, win Commission approval and affiliate at least 10 vehicles. A livery base license is $1,500 for 3 years.

Last updated 4 official sourcesTaxiDex team

Key facts

Base types
Black car, livery, luxury limousine[1]
License fee (livery base)
$1,500 for 3 years[4]
Fingerprinting
$75 per person holding 10% or more[4]
Surety bond
$5,000 to the City of New York, kept current[1]
Minimum vehicles
10, or 5 if one is wheelchair accessible[2]
Application window
New applications stay active for 90 days[2]

The TLC's steps for a new base

  1. 1

    Clear all fines

    Any fines, judgments or suspensions owed to TLC, the DMV, the Department of Finance or another city or state agency must be paid first.[1][2]

  2. 2

    Reserve the business name

    Submit TLC's business name reservation request before the application.[1][2]

  3. 3

    Collect the documents

    The application form, a $5,000 surety bond, photo ID for every owner and manager, workers' compensation or fund membership, proof of EIN, ownership records and, for black car bases, franchise or cooperative agreements.[1][2]

  4. 4

    Email the application

    TLC reviews the documents electronically, then books you in to pay the fees in person.[2]

  5. 5

    Fingerprints

    Owners and principals are fingerprinted and checked for fitness to hold a license.[2][4]

  6. 6

    Commission approval and vehicles

    Once approved, the base must affiliate at least 10 vehicles, or 5 if one is wheelchair accessible.[2]

What is the difference between black car, livery and luxury limousine bases?

Black car bases are central dispatch facilities that dispatch all trips on a pre-arranged basis, with more than 90% of their business paid other than in cash. Livery bases dispatch cars carrying fewer than six passengers on pre-arranged trips priced by flat rate, time, mileage or zone. Luxury limousine bases have their own TLC license.[1][4][3]

What does a base need to show about its drivers' cover?

A livery base shows workers' compensation insurance or membership of the Independent Livery Drivers Benefit Fund. A black car base shows membership of the New York Black Car Operators' Injury Compensation Fund if it owns less than half the vehicles it dispatches, or workers' compensation insurance.[2][1]

What does a base have to run day to day?

Dispatching only pre-arranged trips to TLC-licensed drivers and vehicles affiliated with the base, and keeping the business records TLC asks for. Dispatch software that logs every booking with time, pickup, drop-off, driver and vehicle keeps those records as a by-product of normal work.

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to open a TLC base?

The livery base license fee is $1,500 for 3 years, plus $75 fingerprinting per person holding 10% or more and a $5,000 surety bond; insurance and office costs are on top.

How many cars do I need to open a base in NYC?

At least 10 affiliated vehicles, or 5 if at least one of the five is wheelchair accessible.

Can I transfer a TLC base license?

No. TLC licenses are non-transferable and fees are non-refundable.

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. [1] NYC TLC: Black car bases (read 2 Nov 2026)
  2. [2] NYC TLC: Livery bases (read 2 Nov 2026)
  3. [3] NYC TLC: Luxury limousine bases (read 2 Nov 2026)
  4. [4] NYC Business: Livery car base license (fees) (read 2 Nov 2026)

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