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Glossary termMedallions & ownership

Independent Medallion (NYC Taxi)

An independent medallion is a NYC taxi license whose owner may hold only one medallion. TLC's rule, who can buy one, and the special rules that come with it.

  • Reviewed
  • 2 min read
  • 5 official sources

Definition

Independent Medallion

A NYC taxi medallion class whose owner may hold only that one medallion and no interest in any other taxi.

On this page (6)
  1. The one-medallion limit today
  2. A short history
  3. Where you'll meet the term
  4. How many are there?
  5. FAQ
  6. Sources

An independent medallion is a NYC taxi medallion that its owner must hold on its own. TLC's rules define it as "a class of Medallion Taxicab License, the owner of which may only own one Medallion" (35 RCNY 51-03). It is the one-owner, one-cab side of the system; the other side is the corporate (minifleet) medallion.

The one-medallion limit today

The limit is enforced when a medallion changes hands (rule 58-44(d)):

  1. Buyer owns no other medallion

    An independent medallion can only be transferred to an approved person or business that does not own an interest in any other medallion.

  2. No financial interest in another taxi

    The owner must not hold an ownership interest, or a pledge or security interest, in any other taxicab.

  3. TLC approves the transfer

    Every transfer, even a partial one, needs Commission approval (58-05(a)). A licensed broker can help but is optional.

A short history

The Haas Act of 1937 created the independent class and limited each buyer to one. In 2017 TLC said independent medallions "historically have sold for less than corporate medallions" because only people with no other medallion could buy them (TLC testimony, Feb 27, 2017). Owners of independents once had to drive a minimum number of hours a year. Those owner-must-drive rules began in 1990, were eased in 2011 and 2015, and were repealed in February 2016, the same testimony says.

Where you'll meet the term

  • Buying or inheriting a cab. The class decides who is allowed to buy it. See buying a NYC taxi medallion.
  • Keeping the car. When an independent medallion is sold together with the car the seller drove on it, the car can stay on that medallion until its scheduled retirement date if it keeps passing inspection (67-06(d)(3)). That is one of the few allowed re-hacks.
  • Retirement extensions. The one-time hardship extension of up to six months is only for an owner who owns no more than one medallion (67-18(d)(4)). See scheduled retirement date.
  • Yearly paperwork. TLC's Office of Financial Stability lists "independent medallion owners" first among those who must file the annual financial disclosure.
  • Relief programs. The closed Medallion Relief Program was built for small owners with six or fewer medallions, so independent owners were its core group.

How many are there?

TLC does not publish a current count of independent medallions. Its vehicle list labels each authorized cab Owner Must Drive or Named Driver, and its data dictionary says the field shows "whether single (independent) or multiple (fleet)". Our reading, not TLC's statement, is that Owner Must Drive marks the single (independent) medallions: 4,003 vehicles on October 12, 2026, out of 10,236 authorized medallion cabs. The full breakdown is on named driver medallion.

Related: taxi medallion types explained · medallion · medallions hub.

Frequently asked questions

What is an independent medallion?

TLC's rules define it as 'a class of Medallion Taxicab License, the owner of which may only own one Medallion' (35 RCNY 51-03).

Do I still have to drive my independent medallion myself?

TLC told City Council in 2017 that the owner-must-drive minimum-hours rule for independent medallions was repealed in February 2016. TLC's vehicle list still shows an 'Owner Must Drive' label, so if a sale or estate depends on it, ask TLC in writing.

Can a company own an independent medallion?

Rule 58-44(d) allows a transfer to an approved individual or business entity, as long as it does not own an interest in any other medallion.

If I buy an independent medallion, can I keep the seller's car?

Yes, if you buy the car together with the medallion, the seller drove it on that medallion, and it keeps passing inspection. Rule 67-06(d)(3) lets it stay until its scheduled retirement date.

Sources

Last reviewed against the official sources on .

  1. TLC Rule Book, Chapter 51 (Definitions: Independent Medallion) nyc.gov
  2. TLC Rule Book, Chapter 58 (58-44(d)) nyc.gov
  3. TLC Rules Chapter 67 (67-06(d)(3), 67-18(d)) nyc.gov
  4. TLC testimony on medallion history (Feb 27, 2017) nyc.gov
  5. TLC: Office of Financial Stability nyc.gov

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.

Related

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