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Do WAV Owners Pay TLC Vehicle License Fees?

TLC lists a $0 license fee for wheelchair accessible FHVs versus $550 to renew other cars. The $75 inspection, $800 CMVT and $25 transfer fees still apply.

  • Reviewed
  • 2 min read
  • 5 official sources
On this page (7)
  1. WAV and non-WAV costs side by side
  2. Why the rule book shows a fee anyway
  3. What WAV owners still pay
  4. The trade-off
  5. What to do next
  6. FAQ
  7. Sources

Short answer: No license fee, but not zero cost. TLC's own pages charge no FHV license fee for a wheelchair accessible vehicle (WAV), while other cars pay a $550 renewal fee every two years. A WAV owner still pays the $75 inspection fee (if the car has 500 miles or more) and, for some out-of-area registrations, an $800 Commercial Motor Vehicle Tax (CMVT). That is why TLC lists the total for a WAV as "$0 to $875" (as of 2026-10-12).

WAV and non-WAV costs side by side

FHV vehicle license costs listed by TLC (checked 2026-10-12)

CostWAVNon-WAVNotes
License fee, new$0Not availableNew FHV licenses are only issued to WAVs under the license cap
License fee, renewal (2 years)$0$550TLC's renewal page: "$550 – Vehicle Renewal Fee (non-WAV only)"
TLC inspection$75$75Only if the vehicle has 500 miles or more; SHL permit holder pays it for a car under an SHL
CMVT$800$800New-license page: cars registered in NJ, PA or CT. Renewal page: cars registered outside New York City
Total listed by TLC$0 to $875$550 to $1,425Renewal page totals

Sources: TLC's Get a For-Hire Vehicle License and Renew a For-Hire Vehicle License pages. The $875 is the $75 inspection plus the $800 CMVT; the $1,425 adds the $550 renewal fee (our arithmetic). All TLC fees are non-refundable. If you pay by card in LARS, the City adds a 2% fee; e-check has no fee.

Why the rule book shows a fee anyway

TLC's rule §59A-07(a) still says the FHV license fee is $275 a year (that is the $550 for a two-year term) and doesn't mention a WAV exception. TLC's accessibility FAQ points to its August 14, 2018 announcement of "WAV license fee changes," and TLC's current cost lists show $0 for WAVs. Go by what LARS charges you when you pay. If LARS asks a WAV owner for the $550, ask TLC before you pay.

What WAV owners still pay

  • Inspection: $75, set by rule §59A-04(e)(7) and charged with the application or renewal if the car has 500+ miles. For a new license, a car with fewer than 500 miles gets a visual-only inspection (§59A-04(e)(6)).
  • CMVT: $800 where TLC's pages list it. Note the two pages word it differently (NJ/PA/CT on the new-license page, "outside of New York City" on the renewal page). If your car is registered in New York State but outside the city, confirm with TLC.
  • $25 fees, the same as for any FHV: base transfer, vehicle transfer, plate transfer, replacement license or decal, and late renewal (transfers page; §59A-07). Each type of transfer is charged separately.
  • Everything outside TLC: the car and its accessibility conversion, insurance, DMV registration and plates.

The trade-off

The fee savings come with a permanent condition: a license issued under the WAV exception can only be used with a WAV, and any replacement vehicle must also be a WAV (TLC's FHV license page). Since July 20, 2024, the WAV must be on TLC's approved list (approved WAVs). Compare the full cost of an approved WAV, not only the fee. Our fee list has every other TLC fee.

What to do next

  1. Check the car is on the approved list before you buy.
  2. Follow the steps for new plates with a WAV, including the 45-day deadline.
  3. At renewal time, use renewing TLC plates and the inspection guide.
  4. Ask your base about WAV trips. Under rule §59B-17, bases have accessibility duties; see the base WAV trip mandate.
  5. Read about life as a WAV driver, or browse the vehicles hub.

Frequently asked questions

Is the FHV license fee waived for a WAV?

TLC's application and renewal pages list no license fee for wheelchair accessible vehicles. The $550 renewal fee is marked 'non-WAV only'. TLC lists the total cost for a WAV as $0 to $875 (as of 2026-10-12).

What does a WAV owner still pay?

The $75 inspection fee if the vehicle has 500 miles or more, the $800 Commercial Motor Vehicle Tax that TLC lists for out-of-area registrations, and the same $25 fees as other owners for transfers, replacements and late renewal.

Does TLC give FHV WAV owners a grant?

No. TLC's FHV accessibility FAQ says it 'does not provide any financial incentives to own or drive FHV WAVs.' Grants exist for accessible yellow and green cabs, not regular FHVs.

If I replace my WAV with a regular car, do I start paying the fee?

You can't make that switch on a WAV-restricted license. TLC says a license issued under the WAV exception may only be used with a wheelchair accessible vehicle, and a replacement must also be a WAV.

Sources

Last reviewed against the official sources on .

  1. TLC: Get a For-Hire Vehicle License (costs) nyc.gov
  2. TLC: Renew a For-Hire Vehicle License (costs) nyc.gov
  3. TLC: FHV Wheelchair Accessibility Owner/Driver Information nyc.gov
  4. TLC: Vehicle, Plate and Base Transfers (fees) nyc.gov
  5. TLC Rules Chapter 59 (§59A-04(e)(7), §59A-07), updated Feb 27, 2026 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.

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