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In TLC rules, a Luxury Limousine is simply "a For-Hire Vehicle that is affiliated with a Luxury Limousine Base" (TLC Chapter 51). The car could be a sedan, an SUV or a stretch limo; what makes it a "luxury limousine" is the class of base it works for. That class decides some of the owner's rules, like insurance amounts and where the TLC decal goes.
The official definition
Chapter 51 defines a Luxury Limousine Base as a for-hire base that operates as follows:
- "All Luxury Limousines are dispatched from the Base by pre-arrangement;"
- "Luxury Limousine Vehicles have a seating capacity of 20 or fewer Passengers;"
- "More than ninety percent (90%) of its business is on a payment basis other than direct cash payment by a Passenger;"
- "Passengers are charged 'garage to garage' service on the basis of a flat rate, time or mileage."
Chapter 51 does not define "garage to garage" further. In plain terms it usually means the charge can run from when the car leaves its garage until it returns, not only while the passenger is in the car; check the base's rate terms.
Where drivers and owners meet the term
- On TLC's vehicle lists. Every FHV is tagged with its base type. TLC's 2025 Annual Report counts 1,450 luxury limousine vehicles (of 21,486 FHVs not affiliated with Uber or Lyft) and 81 luxury limousine bases as of December 31, 2025.
- Insurance. For 1–7 passengers, §59A-12(c)(3) requires at least $100,000 per person for no-fault expenses, $500,000 per accident where one person is hurt and $1,000,000 per accident for everyone hurt — higher than the $100,000/$300,000 minimum for a black car or livery. At 8 seats and up, all three classes use the same tiers ($1.5 million, then $5 million).
- Decals. Most FHVs carry TLC decals on more than one window; §59A-29(a)(3) lets a luxury limousine use "a single Commission Decal affixed to the lower right side of the front windshield."
- Large and stretched vehicles. Stretch limousines need NYS DOT operating authority and drivers with active 19-A status. See stretch limos, vans and modified FHVs.
- On a summons. Your summons names the rule, not the class, but some rules (like the decal and insurance rules above) have luxury-limousine versions.
Related terms
FHV · Black car · Livery · Base · Pre-arranged trip · Street hail · Rate of fare · Roof light (FHVs generally may not have one) · Taximeter · Passenger Information Monitor
Frequently asked questions
What is a Luxury Limousine under TLC rules?
TLC's Chapter 51 says: "A Luxury Limousine is a For-Hire Vehicle that is affiliated with a Luxury Limousine Base." So the label comes from the base the car is affiliated with, not from the car's size or brand.
What makes a base a Luxury Limousine Base?
Chapter 51 lists four tests: all trips dispatched by pre-arrangement; vehicles seat 20 or fewer passengers; more than 90% of business is paid other than in direct cash by a passenger; and passengers are charged 'garage to garage' on a flat rate, time or mileage.
How many luxury limousines does TLC license?
TLC's 2025 Annual Report lists 1,450 luxury limousine vehicles and 81 luxury limousine bases as of December 31, 2025. TLC's active FHV list showed 1,383 vehicles with base type 'LUXURY' on October 12, 2026.
Is luxury limousine insurance different?
Yes, for 1–7 passengers it is higher: $500,000 per person and $1 million per accident, plus $100,000 personal injury protection, compared with $100,000/$300,000 for a black car or livery of the same size (59A-12(c)).
Sources
Last reviewed against the official sources on .
- TLC Rules Chapter 51: Definitions (Luxury Limousine, Luxury Limousine Base, Black Car Base, Livery Base) nyc.gov
- TLC Rules Chapter 59, §59A-12(c), §59A-29(a) (updated Feb 27, 2026) nyc.gov
- TLC 2025 Annual Report (license counts as of Dec 31, 2025) nyc.gov
- TLC: Get a For-Hire Vehicle License 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.