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TLC insurance stands for The Taxi & Limousine Commission (TLC).

The New York Taxi and Limousine Commission (TLC) is the New York City-based agency that legally regulates commercial vehicle rental (Relief Society), including companies like (Uber, Lift, and Via), medallion taxis, Yellow cab, travelers, and licenses.

There are exponential types of Society services based in New York City, including black cars, shotguns, lux sedans, yellow taxis or a yellow cab, eco-green taxis and accessories were also known as community cars.

Each TLC vehicle has a unique set of TLC insurance requirements to sign up and regulated by the authorities.

If you are having any planning on registering or driving the vehicle for hire under TLC insurance, you then must apply for the appropriate TLC Driver’s License.

Do You Need TLC Insurance in NYC?

Yes without any doubt. Every vehicle with TLC license number plates needs to abide by the TLC’s insurance requirements which means you should have regulated this service.



Each TLC vehicle has a unique set of TLC insurance requirements which are different with few details.

How To Get Vehicle License

Yellow Taxicabs

In New York city Yellow taxis are iconic because with yellow vehicles you have the right to pick up street passengers anywhere in New York City.

Yellow taxis can also be shipped from companies authorized by TLC.

By law, there are a huge number of taxis in New York, and a medallion must be attached to each taxi required by the authorities.

Vehicles or cars can be owned by drivers or rented in recognized garages by the authorities.

Funding can be provided for wheelchair-accessible taxis for special or handicapped.

2.       Paratransit Vehicles

Paratransit vehicles are those vehicles that provide non-emergency transportation of any sort for passengers with disabilities or special needs.

Paratransit vehicles are dispatched by paratransit bases which are based in NYC multiple locations.

3.       Commuter Vans

Commuter vans are or also known as comms vehicles are those vehicles that transport between 9 and 20 passengers in preapproved zones for a flat rate but depends on kind of vehicle and the journey.

Commuter vans are operated by Commuter Van Authorities again located on multiple locations in NYC.

For-Hire Vehicles (FHVs)

There are companies that are regulated to provide For-Hire Vehicles and they provide pre-arranged service anywhere in New York City depending on location and are dispatched by TLC-licensed FHV bases located on multiple locations in NYC.

Again For-Hire Vehicles must be affiliated or legalized with a single FHV base, but may or may not accept dispatches from any base if they have a place in the vehicle to fill in.

Nowadays the TLC will only accept a new FHV application by individuals if the vehicle is wheelchair accessible or is electrically operated, or if the driver has a lease-to-own contract.

If you do not have a fresh FHV license than “Get a For-Hire Vehicle License” which is very easy to get and to learn if you are eligible to apply for a new FHV vehicle license based in New York.

In 2020, green cabs or Street-Hail Liveries (SHLs) are only for the license of For-Hire Vehicles that are permitted to accept street-hails.

Which in return goes by, Street-Hail Liveries which may not operate in the Hail Exclusionary Zone, south of West 110th St and East 96th St.

The only Street-Hail Livery License is a license that is attached to or for a For-Hire Vehicle License.

Legally grant funding is available for new wheelchair accessible SHLs supported by the government.

Vehicle Inspections

For the NYC Yellow Cabs, Green Cabs, and For-Hire Vehicles always and previously as well inspected by TLC at TLC’s Woodside Inspection Facility.


Here are a few details you might also be interested in to know.

Yellow Cab Inspection Requirements

NYC Yellow cabs must pass 3 inspections every year in order to keep the operations running.

The very 1st inspection each calendar year will not be completed at TLC’s Woodside Inspection Facility where they are normally checked.

NYC Yellow Cab owners must take their vehicle(s) for inspection at any NYS DMV Inspection Station based in New York City during the same month that the inspection sticker on the vehicle expires but not after it is expired already.

The very second and third vehicle inspection each calendar year will occur at TLC’s Woodside Inspection facility which is common of all locations for these tests.

Yellow Cabs inspected by TLC by any means must pass the TLC Inspection for the second and third time.

View the inspection schedule on Yellow Cab Inspection Schedule (Open data) available online as well.

The brand new vehicles must pass a Hack-up inspection before they can be licensed as a yellow cab to start work in NYC.

Once all of the required documents have been processed by the authority, a full hack-up inspection will be performed at TLC’s Woodside Inspection facility by the experts and you are good to go.

Green Cab Inspection Requirements

New York City Green Cab Inspections are also done at TLC inspects Green cabs every 6 months to make sure that vehicles are in good shape.

The schedule on Green Cab Inspection Schedule open data is also available online.

TLC needs to inspect hacked-up Green Cabs with full details before they can be a licensed Green Cab for NYC.

Finally, as all required documents have been processed, a full hack-up inspection will be performed at TLC’s Woodside Inspection Facility and once the vehicle is cleared you are good to drive that car anytime.

Commuter Van Inspection Requirements

NYC Commuter vans or vehicles can be inspected by NYS DOT, and once cleared can receive an MC300 sticker before coming to TLC’s Woodside Inspection Facility to receive a TLC Visual Inspection which will be checked by professionals at the facility.

For-Hire Vehicle Inspection Requirements

For New Hire Vehicle License all applicants are required to be inspected their all vehicles at the TLC’s Woodside Inspection Facility as the final and last step of the vehicle license process to start the businesses.

The type of inspections is dependent on the mileage and the condition of the vehicle.

If the vehicle has 500 or more miles, you will receive a Full NYS DMV inspection appointment with professionals.

If the vehicle has less than overall 500 miles than you will receive just a visual inspection appointment which is also known as (VIA).

Renewing Your For-Hire Vehicle License with the TLC inspects For-Hire Vehicle almost every 2 years.

Once you have fulfilled all the required documents requested by the authorities and have been processed and approved, TLC’s Licensing Division will then e-mail you an inspection appointment with date and time.

The inspection will take place at the TLC’s Woodside Inspection Facility as always.

The inspection is dependent on mileage and condition.



If the vehicle has 500 miles or more, you will receive a Full NYS DMV inspection appointment for a physical check.

If the vehicle has less than 500 miles on it, than you will receive a visual inspection appointment to pass the test.

For-Hire Vehicle License Transfers

Once in for all when you have completed a Vehicle License Transfer, TLC’s Licensing Division will give you an inspection appointment to check the vehicle may be visually or physically depending on mileage and condition.

The inspection will take place at the TLC’s Woodside Inspection Facility again.

If the vehicle has 500 miles or more, you will receive a Full NYS DMV inspection appointment but if the vehicle has less than 500 miles, you will receive a visual inspection appointment.

For-Hire Vehicle Base and Plate Transfers

Once completing a Base and/or Plate Transfer process at TLC’s Licensing Division, then you will receive a Visual Inspection Appointment at TLC’s Woodside Inspection Facility officially.

For-Hire Vehicles that seat 10 or more passengers

Those vehicles with a seating capacity of 10 or more people must be inspected by the NYS DOT process by experts and will receive an MC300 sticker before coming to TLC’s Woodside Inspection Facility to receive a TLC Visual Inspection at the inspection location.

Commuter Van Inspection Requirements

The Commuter van or vehicle must be inspected by NYS DOT, and receive an MC300 sticker before coming to TLC’s Woodside Inspection Facility to receive a TLC Visual Inspection.

Paratransit Inspection Requirements

New or Transferring or Renewing a Paratransit must be inspected by NYS DOT, and then you will receive an MC300 sticker before coming to TLC’s Woodside Inspection Facility to receive a TLC Visual Inspection again on the same terms.

Cost of Inspection of your vehicle

Always new and renewing vehicle licensing inspection fees are included in the application fee when submitted.

Reinspection Fees

➡ $35 Yellow and Green Cabs

➡ $27 FHV DMV Emissions inspection

➡ $10 FHV DMV Safety inspection

Only when reinspection fee is owed if a vehicle fails its initial inspection by the experts and is brought back to you and reinspected after making the necessary repairs by you on the vehicle.

No reinspection fee is owed to you if a vehicle passes its initial inspection.

At the very beginning of November 12, 2019, all vehicle owners will no longer need to pay in advance for vehicle inspections at TLC’s Woodside Inspection facility at all. 

Nowadays reinspection fees must be paid online after the reinspection at the testing or inspection facility.

What If You Fail a New and Renewal Vehicle Inspection

There are multiple facilities in NYC that have capabilities to get this test completed which we will now discuss below.

Woodside Inspection Facility

Green and Yellow Cabs: Both green and yellow cabs in NYC have up to the compliance date listed on the Vehicle Inspection Report (VIR) to get and bring the vehicle in for a reinspection with no penalty which is by any means necessary to keep your service active because of the fact that NYC regulatory bodies are very keen to keep the people safe at all cost.

No appointment is needed for a reinspection every time.

The VIR lists the hours and exact time when you can return to the TLC Woodside Inspection Facility for reinspection of your vehicle.

➡ For-Hire Vehicles: For-hire vehicles system has 4 attempts to pass the required licensure inspection at any cost before the compliance date listed on the Vehicle Inspection Report (VIR) expires.

No appointment is needed for a reinspection

You can always go to the Woodside inspection facility for your reinspection without an appointment by any time during the times listed for re-inspections on the VIR and pay the cost to get your vehicle tested again in the first four attempts.

Staten Island Facility

Scheduled Vehicles: By any means, if you by any chance fail to get your vehicle scheduled inspection, you must return to the same DMV facility that was listed on your original Staten Island Inspection Authorization Form and to complete the vehicle inspection process within the specified time.

All necessary repairs should be done before you go for the reinspection.

It is specifically quoted by the authorities for all transports that


“Nobody can transport passengers in their vehicles until unless they have passed their inspection with the authorities”

Only if a reinspection fee is owed to you when a vehicle fails its initial inspection and is brought back by the experts and reinspected after making the necessary repairs on the said vehicle.



None of the reinspection fees is owed if a vehicle passes its initial inspection applies to all vehicles and appointments.

Accessible Vehicle Requirements

All the issued letter from a legal and approved vehicle modifier always indicates that the modifications fully done to the vehicle have been done so, in accordance with ADA regulations and specifications and all modifications are authorized and legal, and that the vehicle is considered a wheelchair accessible vehicle in compliance with all applicable ADA specifications and requirements for the special and disabled people.

THE VEHICLE MUST HAVE

To be free of all markings indicating and the vehicle is specially designated for the transportation of disabled or seriously ill persons only and not for anyone else. Such as words like:

➡Ambulette

➡Invalid Coach

➡Para-transit

When and How to Apply for an FHV Vehicle or Base Transfer

Vehicle transfer is done when an individual who is licensee/applicant changes the vehicle associated with the current vehicle license/application to another name or individual or company.

The base transfer is done when the licensed vehicle needs to change from one base to another base or change from one base company to another base company.

Documents Required In the Process:

This process remains the same in all categories.


➡Transfer application: Must be printed and filled out by the individual itself who is applying.


➡Identification: Vehicle owner’s government-issued photo ID (driver’s license, passport).


➡Insurance Certificate: Only if the vehicle is changing (vehicle transfer) than the current For-Hire Insurance Certificate (FH-1) in the name of the vehicle licensee at any time.

DMV Registration – Only if the vehicle is changing (vehicle transfer) on some other name or company.

How to Get a TLC Driver’s License in NYC for 2020

Defensive Driving Course (DDC) Information

A regulated defensive driving course is a New York is issued by a State Department of Motor Vehicles authorized (MVA) course providing basic and technical knowledge and techniques for the safe operation of a motor vehicle in all conditions.



And TLC requires all new drivers’ applicants and existing drivers to complete a Defensive Driving Course. 



Drivers may always complete a defensive driving course to drastically reduce the number of critical driver points on their license as well as improve their skills overall to keep themselves safe and secure on the front line.

Complete DDC Requirements for NEW APPLICANTS for 2020

All drivers applying for the new applications or all applicants must present an always present an original certificate of completion of a New York State DMV certified Defensive Driving Course authorized by the authorities that are not more than three (3) years old with your application last issued.



Temporary completion certificates will be accepted ONLY if they include the type of the course, date of the course, hours of the instruction, name and the license number of the instructor, official ink stamp from the authority, or seal from delivering agent within the department.

Complete DDC Requirements for CURRENT LICENSEES

It is required by all and complete TLC licensed drivers that they all must attend, complete and pass a Defensive Driving Course at least every three years for them to keep their insurance cost lower as well as keep themselves updated with all new policies and skills.

On every license renewal, driver licensees or applicants must be presented as an original certificate of completion of a New York State DMV certified Defensive Driving Course completed within three (3) years prior to the date of the renewal application which is necessary by all means. 

Also, temporary completion certificates will be accepted with only the exception that if they include the type of course, date, of course, hours of instruction, name and the license number of the instructor, the official ink stamp, or and the seal from delivering agent presented officially.

Why Did They Reducing Points from Your Existing TLC License

All the qualified Licensees who may attend and complete a Defense Driving Course every three years by the authorities to reduce the number of Critical Driver points on their driving license. 



The Defensive Driving Courses will only and only reduce points accumulated by the Licensee or driver as a result of the conviction of violations of law or that occurred within 15 months prior to the date of the completion of the course in reality. 



That the Commission will not reduce total points more or less than once in any 18 months of a period.



TLC’s Critical Driver Program initiated by the regulatory body says, that a driver’s TLC license will be suspended for up to 30 days for real after a driver accumulates 6 or more points in a 15-month period on their driving license.



 Additionally, a driver’s TLC license will be revoked or suspended after a driver accumulates 10 or more points in a 15 month period due to the violation of any law enforced by the authorities. 

New Driver License Design

If you are a resident of New York city than Yes if you have a New York State DMV license than of course.



 In the near future, if you have a DMV driver’s license issued by another state but New York, you will need to go to a New York State DMV office and have your picture taken again in order to be issued a new, renewal, or replacement TLC license along with the designated fee.



TLC will notify you of this new requirement when it goes into effect immediately with the email or SMS service.



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If You Want the New License Design for 2020 Can You Replace with the Current License?

If you are a valid driving license holder and got it legally bypassing the test and inspection than currently, you can keep using your current TLC license.



When you will receive the new license design at your next renewal you can then use that new design for yourself.



Replacements are only available for a driver whose license is lost or stolen.



TLC charges $25.00 (twenty-five dollars) to replace a license officially including local postal charges.

The New York State DMV license holders can always check the photo on their DMV license first if acceptable.



If the photo is up-to-date in the record, make an appointment at TLC’s Licensing facility closest to you to have a new license ordered for you with the cost of $25 renewal charges.



If your DMV photo is not up-to-date, visit an NYS DMV office to retake your photograph first which is very important.



If you hold a DMV driver’s license from another state or other than New York, make an appointment at TLC’s Licensing facility to have a new photograph taken for your TLC license so you can apply for a new design NYC driving license faster.

TLC Online Services and Buy TLC Online

TLC Online is TLC’s new online transactions hub where you now no need to keep going to their office to pay any sort of bills or processing fee. See the below details for the processing. 

LARS – Through the NYC Taxi & Limousine Commission’s License Applications, Renewals & Summonses (LARS) system in case of an event you can plead guilty and pay summons(es), also make a license renewal payment and much more with the portal.

TLC UP – TLC UP allows you to submit your documents online just scan and upload to TLC and gives you an inside look into the status of the items you have submitted live as well as a response once the application is processed.

FHV Trip Records – By any means to drastically improve the safety, accountability, and policymaking, in the system the TLC now requires all FHV bases to electronically submit their trip records so DMV can keep the records in case of any event.