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FHV license cap (also "license pause"): the limit TLC puts on new for-hire vehicle (FHV) licenses, the vehicle licenses drivers call "TLC plates." It began on August 14, 2018. As of TLC's February 2026 review, "the only for-hire vehicle licenses available are those restricted to wheelchair accessible vehicles (WAVs)."
What it means in practice
The cap does not touch existing licenses. If you already hold an FHV license, you can renew it every two years. What you can't do is get a new license for an ordinary car. So drivers who want a car with plates either rent or lease one that is already licensed, or buy a wheelchair accessible vehicle and apply under the WAV exception.
Example: You want to put your own Toyota Camry on Uber. TLC will not accept a new FHV application for it, because a Camry is not a WAV. Your options are to lease a car that already has a license, or buy an approved WAV and apply for a WAV-restricted license.
Rule citation
- Local Law 147 of 2018 gave TLC the power to regulate the number of FHV licenses (portions codified as NYC Admin Code §19-550), per TLC's February 2026 review.
- TLC rule §59A-06(a)(1)–(2): starting February 2023, TLC reviews the number of licenses and decides how many, if any, to issue in the next twelve months. Under §59A-06(a)(2), TLC "will continue to issue new Licenses" to wheelchair accessible vehicles. A lease-to-own exception ended August 13, 2023.
The current number
TLC counted 103,618 FHVs in good standing in February 2026. That is 14% below the 120,126 licensed when the pause was extended in August 2019. Of 1,241 new licenses issued from February 2025 to January 2026, 1,206 were WAV-restricted. More: FHV license cap statistics.
Where you will see this term
TLC's yearly "FHV License Review" reports; the WAV-only notice on TLC's FHV license page; rental ads for "TLC plates"; and storage decisions, since a license lost to non-use or expiry can't simply be replaced.
Related terms
WAV-restricted license · FHV · the cap explained · when will TLC lift the cap? · can I pause my plates while abroad? · new plates with a WAV · vehicles hub
Frequently asked questions
Is the FHV license cap the same as the license pause?
Yes. TLC's reports call it a license 'pause' or 'moratorium'; drivers usually say 'the cap.' Both mean TLC's limit on new for-hire vehicle licenses.
Does the cap affect my TLC driver license?
No. It limits vehicle licenses (plates) only. TLC still issues and renews driver licenses.
Does the cap stop me renewing my plates?
No. Renewals are not limited by the cap. But if your license expires past the 60-day late window, you can't renew it, and a new license would have to be WAV-restricted.
Sources
Last reviewed against the official sources on .
- TLC: FHV License Review, February 2026 nyc.gov
- TLC Rules Chapter 59 (§59A-06(a)), updated Feb 27, 2026 nyc.gov
- TLC: FHV Wheelchair Accessibility Owner/Driver Information nyc.gov
- TLC: Get a For-Hire Vehicle License nyc.gov
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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.