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"Named Driver" is one of the two medallion type labels in TLC's public list of authorized yellow taxis. The other is "Owner Must Drive". TLC's rule book does not define a "Named Driver Medallion", so this page sticks to what TLC does publish and flags what it doesn't.
What TLC publishes
In the open data list Medallion Vehicles – Authorized, every cab has a medallion_type. TLC's own description of that column: "Type of medallion whether single (independent) or multiple (fleet)". On October 12, 2026 the split was:
TLC doesn't say which label means single and which means multiple. The history points one way: owner-must-drive rules applied to independent (single) medallions (TLC testimony, Feb 27, 2017). So Named Driver most likely marks corporate (minifleet) medallions, and Owner Must Drive marks independent ones. Treat that as our reading of the data, not a TLC ruling.
The rules behind the word "named"
The rule book uses "Named Drivers" when it talks about who may drive a cab, not about medallion classes:
And "Owner Must Drive"?
Owner-must-drive rules, which made independent owners drive a minimum number of hours each year, started in 1990, were eased in 2011 and 2015, and were repealed in February 2016, according to the same 2017 testimony. The label stayed in the data.
Example
Say you lease a cab and look it up in the open data. It says Named Driver. That does not mean only one named person can drive it, and it changes nothing about your own license. Who may drive that cab depends on what the owner or agent has filed with TLC and on your lease. A medallion-only or DOV lease, for example, must allow up to 3 drivers.
Related terms
Rate card · medallion · independent medallion · corporate medallion. The longer explainer is taxi medallion types explained. Owners file yearly finances under medallion owner financial disclosure. More on the medallions hub.
Frequently asked questions
What is a named driver medallion?
It is a label in TLC's open data list of authorized medallion taxis. The list's medallion_type field has two values, Named Driver and Owner Must Drive. TLC's data dictionary says the field shows whether a medallion is 'single (independent) or multiple (fleet)'. The rule book has no separate definition of 'Named Driver Medallion'.
How many named driver medallions are there?
6,232 authorized vehicles carried the Named Driver label in TLC's open data on October 12, 2026, against 4,003 labeled Owner Must Drive. These count vehicles on the road list, not medallions issued.
Does 'Owner Must Drive' mean the owner has to drive the cab?
TLC told City Council in 2017 that the owner-must-drive minimum-hours rule was repealed in February 2016. The label survives in the data. If it matters for a sale, lease or estate, ask TLC in writing.
Can I drive a cab marked Named Driver if I'm not the owner?
Yes, if you hold a valid TLC Driver License and the owner or agent lets you drive it. TLC's rules let an owner file who will drive: named drivers, a long-term driver, or 'unspecified drivers', meaning any licensed taxi driver whose name or category the owner has filed.
Sources
Last reviewed against the official sources on .
- NYC Open Data: Medallion Vehicles - Authorized (rhe8-mgbb) data.cityofnewyork.us
- TLC Rule Book, Chapter 51 (Definitions: Driver Authorization Statement, Unspecified Driver) nyc.gov
- TLC Rule Book, Chapter 58 (58-03(r) Long Term Driver Affidavit) nyc.gov
- TLC testimony on medallion history (Feb 27, 2017) 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.