Owning a Green Cab: SHL Permit Rules, Fees and Renewals

In short: A green cab runs on two licenses: a Street Hail Livery (SHL) permit, which allows street hails outside Manhattan's core, attached to an FHV vehicle license. They have different expiration dates: the permit renews every three years, the FHV license every two. If either lapses, the car can't work. Green cabs are inspected every six months at Woodside. TLC's web page says the permit renewal costs $540, while the rule lists $900, so check before you pay.

This is the owner's guide. For driving rules, fares and where green cabs may pick up, see the green cab statistics page and the SHL glossary entry.

How the two licenses fit together

TLC's green cab page: "The Street-Hail Livery permit is a license that is attached to a For-Hire Vehicle license." Green cabs affiliate with and take dispatches from FHV bases, can take e-hail dispatches, and must have the same equipment as yellow taxis. In exchange for hails, they may not operate in the Hail Exclusionary Zone, south of West 110th Street and East 96th Street.

Under Rule §82-06(b):

• A regular SHL permit may only be used with a TLC-licensed FHV that meets the SHL hack-up requirements.
• A permit restricted to accessible vehicles may be used with an FHV or a paratransit vehicle, if it meets the accessible SHL specifications.
• A new permit must be placed in service within 90 days (180 days for accessible permits), unless TLC extends it for good cause.

How many permits you can hold

Rule §82-06(a): one SHL permit per person or business, counting interests held through companies and their owners. The exception is up to five permits, all restricted to accessible vehicles; someone with accessible permits cannot also have an interest in a non-accessible one. Breaking this rule is listed as revocation. Accessible permits must stay with accessible vehicles; using one with a non-accessible car is $1,000 and suspension, and revocation may be ordered (§82-06(d)).

Two renewals, two calendars

About the $540. TLC's page calls it an inspection fee and says it is the only amount due at renewal. TLC does not explain how it relates to the $900 renewal fee in rule §82-08(b). Pay what LARS shows for your permit, and if it doesn't match either figure, ask TLC before paying, because TLC fees are non-refundable.

Steps for the permit renewal, from TLC's Licensed Green Cab page:

The FHV side is explained in renewing TLC plates. If you are unsure whether you can drive while either renewal is pending, see can I work while my FHV renewal is pending?.

Inspections every six months

Rule §82-30(b): the green cab must be inspected every six months at a TLC facility, at the date TLC sets. TLC posts the schedule on Open Data and in TLC UP. If the inspection is late, the license is summarily suspended, and fines add up:

Reinspection costs $35 only when the car fails the NYS safety/emissions part (§82-08(h)). A late inspection triggers the suspension and fines above. Accessible SHLs that are paratransit vehicles get only a visual accessibility check and a meter test from TLC, plus NYS DOT inspections. See the 82-30(b) violation page.

Storing an SHL permit

The permit has its own storage process, separate from FHV license storage. TLC's page lists the conditions: the permit is not suspended, revoked or expired, and all fines and fees are paid. Then:

1. Make an SHL appointment at TLC's Long Island City facility. The phone number you book with must match the one TLC has on file, or the transaction won't be processed.
2. Bring the completed SHL Storage Form, the SHL rate card and a state ID.
3. You get copies of the form and rate card; the permit shows as inactive/suspended in TLC's system.

The FHV license under the permit follows its own rules; the FHV storage program allows up to 90 days once per term (FHV storage).

Changing car, plates, base or owner

• Vehicle, plate or base changes on the permit are done by appointment at Long Island City ("SHL" service type), and each transfer type is $25 (§82-08(j)).
• Selling or giving the permit goes through §82-44 and §82-45: a TLC application, appearances, clearing all open items, and notice to your technology system provider at least 30 days before (by certified mail, unless the provider waives it). No transfer is effective until TLC approves it in writing. Attempting a transfer outside these rules is $10,000 per entity, per permit, and the transfer is invalid.

Who can drive it

Any TLC driver license holder can drive a green cab. A paratransit driver may drive an accessible green cab only (§80-05). See can a paratransit driver drive a green cab?.

Owner duties that catch people out

• E-ZPass on every car. Rule §82-27 requires every SHL licensee to keep an E-ZPass New York account (directly or through the affiliated SHL base), and either put an MTA Bridges and Tunnels tag on the car or let the driver use a personal tag, with at least one tag available per car and enough balance. Each part is $100 and suspension until compliance. See 82-27(b).
• Pre-arranged trips only through a base. A green cab may carry pre-arranged passengers only through a TLC-licensed base (§82-29(a)). The fine starts at $100 and rises by $100 for each further violation in the license term, up to $10,000.

The fleet is small and shrinking

TLC's daily list showed 603 active SHL permits on October 12, 2026 (dataset tlc-licenses-in-force). Accessible green cabs may qualify for TLC grant programs that FHV WAVs do not; TLC's FHV accessibility FAQ points green taxi owners to its Green Taxi Accessibility page. Trips, drivers and top pickup zones are on green cab statistics. For the pre-arranged-only "P" permits made from returned SHL permits, see SHL pilot "P" cars. More owner topics: vehicles hub.