Key facts
- Regulator
- NYC Taxi and Limousine Commission (TLC)
- TLC driver license fee
- $252 (3 years), non-refundable[2]
- Driver eligibility
- NYS chauffeur's license (class A, B, C or E), Social Security number, no more than 5 DMV points in 15 months[1]
- Base license fee (livery)
- $1,500 for 3 years, plus $75 fingerprinting per 10%+ owner[4]
- Surety bond for a base
- $5,000 to the City of New York[3]
- Minimum fleet for a new base
- 10 affiliated vehicles, or 5 if one is wheelchair accessible[3]
- Medallion prices (Jan-Sep 2026)
- Mostly $100,000-$200,000 per medallion in priced sales[5]
How a new TLC driver gets licensed
- 1
Hold the right DMV license
A New York State chauffeur's license (commercial class A, B or C, or for-hire class E), with no more than 5 points in 15 months.[1]
- 2
- 3
Medical and drug test
A licensed physician completes TLC's medical form; the drug test is booked with TLC's lab provider.[1]
- 4
Fingerprints and photo
Taken at a TLC-approved fingerprinting location.[1]
- 5
Education
A New York State DMV 6-hour defensive driving course and TLC's other education requirements, all within 90 days of applying.[1]
What is the difference between a medallion cab and a for-hire base?
Yellow cabs, each of which needs a medallion, can be hailed in the street. For-hire vehicles (black cars, livery cars and luxury limousines) may only carry pre-arranged trips dispatched by a TLC-licensed base, which holds its own base license.[3][6]
What does it take to open a for-hire base in New York City?
A TLC base license: a business name reservation, a $5,000 surety bond, workers' compensation cover or membership of the drivers' benefit fund, ownership records, fingerprinting and Commission approval, then at least 10 affiliated vehicles (5 if one is wheelchair accessible). A livery base license costs $1,500 for 3 years.[3][4]
The full process is in how to open a TLC base.
How much does a taxi medallion cost in New York?
In TLC's monthly sales charts for January to September 2026, priced sales of unrestricted medallions mostly ran between $100,000 and $200,000 per medallion, and most were foreclosure sales. See the taxi medallion price guide for each month.[5]
Frequently asked questions
How much is a TLC license in NYC?
The TLC driver license fee is $252 for a 3-year license, paid online and non-refundable; a credit or debit card adds a 2.49% fee, while an e-check is free.
Do I need a different license to drive a yellow cab and an Uber in New York?
No. The TLC issues one driver license for all taxi and for-hire vehicle drivers; paratransit and commuter van drivers need separate licenses.
How long do I have to finish the TLC requirements?
90 days from the date you apply; after that TLC denies the application.
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] NYC TLC: Get a TLC driver's license (read 2 Nov 2026)
- [2] NYC Business: TLC driver license (fee) (read 2 Nov 2026)
- [3] NYC TLC: Black car bases (read 2 Nov 2026)
- [4] NYC Business: Livery car base license (fees) (read 2 Nov 2026)
- [5] NYC TLC: Medallion transfers, monthly medallion sales charts January-September 2026 (read 2 Nov 2026)
- [6] NYC TLC: Livery bases (read 2 Nov 2026)