How Many Drivers Can Share a Medallion Lease?

Short answer: up to three drivers in total. TLC's rules say a medallion-only lease, and a DOV (driver-owned vehicle) lease, must include "up to 3 drivers on a lease at the request of the drivers, which request cannot be unreasonably denied" (35 RCNY 58-21(c)(3)(iv)(E) and (c)(4)(v)(F), rule book read October 12, 2026). So the lessee plus two more drivers can work the same medallion.

Rule text vs poster wording

TLC's DOV Taxicab Driver Bill of Rights poster lists "Up to 2 additional drivers" as part of a medallion-only lease. That is the same limit said another way: you, plus two others, makes three.

If an owner reads the poster as "2 drivers total", show them the rule. The rule is the binding text; the poster is a summary.

Which leases this covers

• Medallion-only lease (58-21(c)(3)): you bring your own car, the owner leases you the medallion. Cap: $952 a week, or $994 for a hybrid. See medallion-only lease.
• DOV lease (58-21(c)(4)): medallion lease plus a car you are buying from the owner or agent. Cap: the medallion amount plus up to $275 a week for the car. See DOV lease and the full DOV lease guide.

Both caps must already include the extra drivers. There is no "second driver fee" on the list of extra charges the rules allow (58-21(c)(5)). Day and night shift leases of the owner's car work differently: the rules forbid the lessee from subleasing the taxi to anyone else (58-21(a)(2)), and the "up to 3 drivers" line does not appear in those sections. Shift caps are on taxi lease caps.

"Cannot be unreasonably denied"

The drivers make the request, and the owner or agent may refuse only for a good reason. The rules do not list what counts as reasonable. A co-driver must still hold a valid TLC Driver License, because only licensed drivers may operate a taxi. A refusal based only on the owner wanting another fee would be hard to defend, because the cap already includes the drivers.

What to do next

1. Ask the owner or agent, in writing, to add the driver(s) to your lease.
2. If they refuse without a good reason, or try to charge more for it, contact TLC's Driver Protection Unit: 718-391-5539 or driverprotection@tlc.nyc.gov (listed on both Bill of Rights posters). The Unit handles lease overcharges and missing leases or receipts.
3. Starting out? Read how to start driving a yellow taxi. Market context is on medallion transfers and foreclosures and TLC licensed vehicles. Background on the plate itself: medallion. More on the medallions hub.

This page explains TLC rules in general. It is not legal advice about your lease.