Renewing a Taxi Medallion: Dates, Fees, Documents

In short: A NYC taxi medallion renews every two years. The expiration year is printed on your rate card, and the renewal must be done by May 30/31 of that year. Right now TLC charges $370 ($360 inspection fee + $10 tin fee); the $1,100 renewal fee "is not currently being charged". Before you pay, clear TLC tickets and TIF surcharge in LARS, and pay parking and traffic tickets, CMVT, MTA tax and congestion surcharges. Then email updated insurance to medallionrenewals@tlc.nyc.gov. Late renewals add a $25 fee, and the rules carry a $1,000 fine for not filing by April 30.

TLC's web page and its rule book don't say exactly the same thing on dates and fees. This guide shows both, so you can plan to the stricter one.

Key dates

Why two dates? TLC's web page says the medallion's expiration date is May 30th of the renewal year. Rule 58-06 says the term "expires on May 31st" and a renewing applicant "must file a completed application by no later than May 31", yet its penalty line reads "failure to file by April 30". The safest plan is to file by April 30.

What TLC charges

TLC doesn't explain how the $360 inspection fee relates to the rule's $90 per inspection, so pay what LARS shows. The $1,100 equals two years at $550; TLC is not charging it now, and it could return. Check LARS before each renewal.

Step by step

Plan it backwards from April 30

Renewal problems usually start months earlier, with a debt you forgot or a document that takes time. A simple plan for the renewal year:

• January–February: log into LARS and look up the medallion. Pay any TLC tickets and TIF surcharge balance. Check NYC Finance for parking and camera tickets and any CMVT notice. If an old summons is still open, deal with it now: ten or more unpaid TLC fines, or ten or more unexcused missed hearings, are grounds to deny a renewal (58-08(d)(8)).
• March: ask your insurance broker for a fresh FH-1 and certificate in the exact name on the medallion (company name for a corporation or LLC). Gather your rate card and ID. Agents: list every medallion due and book Bulk appointments.
• By April 30: pay the renewal fee in LARS and email the insurance documents. That beats the rule's April 30 penalty date and leaves a month before expiry for TLC to process.
• May: watch your email for missing-requirement notices and answer quickly; three failures to respond to official TLC communications can count against a renewal (58-08(d)(6)).

What a renewal doesn't cover. Renewing keeps the medallion license alive for two more years. It doesn't renew anyone's TLC Driver License, doesn't replace the taxi's inspection every four months (rule 58-29(b)), and doesn't change the car. Each of those has its own date and its own penalties, so put all of them in one calendar alongside the renewal year.

Company, partnership and estate medallions

Rule 58-05(d) adds work for business owners. At each renewal, every officer and shareholder of a corporate owner, and every member of an LLC owner, must disclose every medallion in which they have any interest. New officers or LLC members need TLC's approval before they take the role; appointing one without approval is a rule violation. Everyone renewing (and each business-entity person) must be at least 18 (58-04(b)).

If the owner has died or become incompetent, rule 58-48 lets an agent keep operating for a limited period and an administrator apply to operate the medallion (TLC form OS-3). The renewal still comes due on the rate-card date, so the family or administrator should contact TLC early.

Insurance for renewal

TLC asks for a current For-Hire Insurance Certificate (FH-1) in the renewal applicant's name. Medallion taxis need $100,000 per person / $300,000 per occurrence liability. TLC's medallion page still mentions $200,000 personal injury protection (PIP), but TLC lowered the required PIP for taxis to $100,000 effective March 1, 2026 under Local Law 90 of 2025 (2025 Annual Report). Ask your insurance broker to issue the certificate TLC currently requires. Report any change of carrier to TLC within 72 hours (58-13(c)).

Why renewals get denied

Rule 58-08 lets TLC deny a renewal for:

• Unpaid CMVT. A renewal filed while CMVT is unpaid "is deemed not to have" been submitted on time and can bring the April 30 penalty (58-08(i)(3)). See CMVT for TLC vehicles.
• Missing requirements or a material change you didn't report (58-08(a), (b)).
• Certain violations in the past two years, such as three failures to respond to an official TLC communication, three or more safety violations for the same taxi, or ten or more unpaid TLC fines or unexcused missed hearings (58-08(d)).
• Hiding an owner of the medallion (58-08(b)(3)).

TLC must tell you in writing why it denied an application. A denial or a suspension can be challenged; documents for a TLC hearing and our hearing document checklist help you prepare.

If your medallion is suspended or in storage

A suspended medallion still has to be renewed on time if you want to keep it, and it can't be used until the suspension ends even if you filed (58-06(d)). A medallion in storage also keeps its renewal date. If you are changing cars at the same time, do the hack-up steps with your renewal so you only queue once.

Other renewals to keep in sync

• Your TLC Driver License has its own cycle; see how to get a TLC license.
• If you also own FHVs, their renewal works differently: FHV vehicle license renewal.
• The annual financial disclosure is a separate yearly filing: how to file.
• Thinking of selling instead? See what a medallion is worth and the price history.

More on the medallions hub.