On this page (6)
FHV stands for For-Hire Vehicle. In TLC rules it is "a motor Vehicle licensed by the Commission to carry Passengers for-hire in the City" that (1) seats 20 or fewer passengers, (2) has three or more doors, and (3) is not a taxicab, a commuter van, or an authorized bus (TLC Chapter 51). Every FHV works through a base, and every FHV trip must be pre-arranged.
The kinds of FHV
An FHV takes its type from the base it is affiliated with. Chapter 51 lists four kinds of for-hire base: black car, livery, luxury limousine, and High-Volume For-Hire Service. So in everyday terms:
- Black car — includes most cars doing Uber and Lyft trips.
- Livery — the neighborhood car service.
- Luxury limousine.
- App trips through a High-Volume For-Hire Service.
How many are licensed
FHVs far outnumber yellow taxis: TLC's lists showed about ten FHV vehicle licenses for every authorized medallion taxi on the snapshot date (NYC Open Data).
FHV vs. taxi: the rules that differ
Sources: Chapter 80 and Chapter 59.
Drivers don't need a separate FHV license. Chapter 80 says "License" means a TLC License to drive a Taxicab, Street Hail Livery and For-Hire Vehicle, and older taxi and for-hire driver licenses were converted into one TLC Driver License (§80-03, §80-28). Vehicle owners, though, have their own duties under Chapter 59A, such as keeping a current FH-1 insurance certificate on file and passing inspections.
Owner or driver?
Many FHV summonses are written to the vehicle owner, not the driver, even when the owner drives the car. Owner charges come from Chapter 59A — for example, missed inspections or insurance problems — while driver charges come from Chapter 80. The rule code on the summons tells you which: a code starting with 59A is an owner charge, a code starting with 80 is a driver charge. If you both own and drive the car, you can get either kind. Our summons decoder reads the code for you.
If you drive for an app, start with our Uber and Lyft driver hub. If you were charged with a street pickup, see §80-19(c)(1).
Frequently asked questions
What does FHV stand for?
For-Hire Vehicle. TLC Chapter 51 defines it as a motor vehicle licensed by TLC to carry passengers for hire in the City that seats 20 or fewer passengers, has three or more doors, and is not a taxicab, commuter van or authorized bus.
Is an Uber or Lyft car an FHV?
Yes. App trips in NYC are done in TLC-licensed FHVs, generally affiliated with black car bases, through a High-Volume For-Hire Service.
Do I need a different TLC license to drive an FHV than a taxi?
No. TLC Chapter 80 says 'License' means a TLC license to drive a Taxicab, Street Hail Livery and For-Hire Vehicle. Older separate taxi and FHV driver licenses were converted into a single TLC Driver License.
Can an FHV pick up street hails?
No. FHV drivers may only pick up by prearrangement through a licensed base of the right class (§80-19(c)(1)), with higher penalties in the Manhattan hail zone and at airports (§80-19(c)(2)).
Sources
Last reviewed against the official sources on .
- TLC Rule Book, Chapter 51 (Definitions) nyc.gov
- TLC Rule Book, Chapter 80 (§80-03, §80-19, §80-28) nyc.gov
- TLC Rule Book, Chapter 59 (For-Hire Vehicles) nyc.gov
- NYC Open Data: TLC active license lists data.cityofnewyork.us
- NYC Open Data: For Hire Vehicles (FHV) – Active data.cityofnewyork.us
Spotted something out of date? Tell us and we'll check it against the official source.
TLC Help is not a law firm and is not affiliated with the NYC Taxi & Limousine Commission or OATH. Explanations on this site are general information, not legal advice. Legal representation is provided by independent attorneys and OATH-registered representatives in our network.