TLC Decals, Stickers & Trade Dress: What Goes Where

In short: "Trade dress" is the look that tells passengers and inspectors what kind of TLC vehicle they are seeing. A for-hire vehicle (FHV) must carry three TLC decals put on by TLC staff, a valid registration and inspection sticker, and several safety stickers inside. It must not be taxi yellow, apple green (unless it is a green cab) or have a roof light. Yellow taxis follow a separate, longer list. Most missing-marking fines are small, but missing TLC decals on an FHV can cost $500 to $1,000.

This page lists what goes where and what each item costs you if it is missing. It is based on the current rule book. Exact designs come from TLC and its authorized printers, listed on TLC's inspections page.

FHV: the required outside markings

New decals are put on by TLC's Safety and Emissions Division when you renew, replace the vehicle, change affiliation or change plates (59A-29(a)(2)). TLC's transfer page notes that the base name is no longer printed on decals, so a base change alone doesn't need an inspection. See FHV base affiliation and TLC plates.

Matching numbers. The plate number on the decals must match your registration and plates ($200 plea / $300 after a hearing), and the last six digits of the VIN on the decals must match the registration and the car ($100) under rule 59A-28(b).

Care of decals. You can't write on, change or deface a decal: $350 for a first violation, $500 for a second in 24 months, revocation for a third in 36 months (59A-10(a)). An unreadable decal must be surrendered for replacement right away ($25 fine, 59A-10(b)). A lost or stolen decal must be reported to TLC immediately ($50 fine, 59A-10(c)). Each replacement decal costs $25 (59A-07(e)).

FHV: what's banned on the outside

FHVs also can't have a taximeter, except wheelchair accessible liveries in the accessible dispatch program and street hail liveries (59A-31(c), $50).

FHV: inside the car

Optional items you may add: the "The choices you make behind the wheel matter" bumper sticker and the outside driver-assault warning sticker on a rear window (59A-29(k), (m)).

Three situations that cause marking summonses

1. A new windshield. Two of your required items, the front TLC decal and the DMV stickers, live on the windshield. When glass is replaced, they go with it. The rules treat a destroyed decal like a lost one: tell TLC right away and get a replacement, because only TLC staff may put decals on. Ask the glass shop for a dated invoice; it shows when and why the decal disappeared if you are stopped before the replacement is on.

2. A car with a past life. A vehicle that used to be a yellow cab or a green cab can't be used as an FHV in those colors. Rule 59A-29(d) bans any shade of taxi yellow on an FHV, and apple green unless it is a licensed street hail livery. Old roof-light mounts, meters and taxi logos must go too (59A-31(b), (c)). Repaint or rewrap before the TLC inspection, not after.

3. A base or plate change. A livery that moves to another livery base still shows the old base's name and phone on its doors until you change them, which is a $25 summons. New plates mean the plate number on your decals no longer matches, which can be a $200–$300 summons until TLC replaces the decals. Plan the decal visit as part of the transfer.

Yellow taxis: the trade dress

A taxi's look is set by chapter 67 and rule 58-32:

• Color: the body must be painted taxi yellow (Dupont M6284 or equivalent), except trim (67-07(a)).
• Required outside markings (58-32(i)): taxi logo decals on both front doors; the medallion number on the front and rear of the roof light (2¾"–3" high); medallion number decals on both rear quarter panels; and, if a camera is installed, the camera-security decals on rear windows.
• Required inside: medallion number on the back of the front seat (at least 3" high); passenger information sign; Braille plaque and raised-lettering plaque with the medallion number, "COMPLAINTS" and "212 NYC TAXI" (58-32(g)); the "drivers are not allowed to use cell phones" decal; the "Turning? People are Crossing." sticker; the driver-assault warning; and cyclist-awareness decals.
• Emblems: only for the owner, an owner association, a drivers' union or the manufacturer; no more than two of the same (58-32(b): $200).
• Tax stamp: a current NYC commercial-use tax stamp on the lower right of the windshield (58-32(e): $200).

Missing approved exterior markings is $75 (58-32(a)); markings must be kept in good condition ($75, 58-32(d)). The medallion number on the roof light must be clean and visible (58-31(f)).

Green cabs must be painted apple green and carry two street hail livery logo decals, two rate-of-fare decals and two license number decals (82-33(a), $75 if missing). See our green cab drivers hub.

The driver's part

Most marking rules bind the owner. But drivers have their own duties under chapter 80:

• Keep all required outside markings clean and unobstructed during your shift ($50, 80-22(d)).
• In taxis and green cabs, don't add signs or equipment not listed in the rules without TLC's written OK ($25 for signs, 80-22(i); $100 plea / $150 for equipment, 80-22(e)). That includes some cameras: see dashcams in TLC vehicles.
• Don't block a passenger's view of your TLC license (FHV: 80-24(c)).

Fixing a marking summons

Many marking problems are cheap to fix and easy to prove. Some rules even waive the penalty: no penalty for missing cyclist decals if fixed within 10 days, and none for a missing taxi raised-lettering plaque fixed within 48 hours. Take dated photos of the corrected car and keep the receipt for any replacement decal. For inspection-related charges, see TLC vehicle inspection and vehicle and equipment summonses. If you aren't sure the summons is worth fighting, try our fight-or-pay tool.