How Many Yellow Taxis Are on NYC Streets Today?

Short answer: NYC has 13,587 taxi medallions, but far fewer yellow cabs are working. As of October 2026, 10,236 vehicles are authorized on a medallion, about 10,000 different taxis make trips in a month (10,062 in July 2026), and on an average day about 8,500 are on the street (8,494 in July 2026). Each number counts something different.

Four numbers, four meanings

1. Licensed medallions (13,587). The medallion is the license itself, a numbered plate on the hood. The count has hardly moved for years: TLC gave the same 13,587 figure to City Council in 2017.
2. Authorized vehicles (10,236). A car is actually attached to the medallion and allowed to work. Of these, 6,385 are listed as wheelchair accessible.
3. Unique vehicles per month (about 10,000). Taxis that made at least one trip that month, from trip records.
4. Vehicles per day (about 8,500). Taxis working on a typical day. Cars are off for maintenance, inspections, days off and empty shifts.

The last 12 months

Where the other medallions are

The gap between 13,587 medallions and about 10,000 working taxis is mostly medallions with no car on them:

• Storage. OFS counted 3,885 medallions in storage at the end of 2024, down from 4,298 in January 2024. An owner can put a medallion in storage, but TLC can start revocation after 60 days of non-use. See medallion storage.
• Suspensions and other holds. TLC's inactive list gives other reasons too, using its own labels such as "Licensing unit" and "ALJ temporary suspension". Counts by reason are on medallion transfers, foreclosures and storage.
• In the middle of a change. A medallion being sold, foreclosed or switched to a new car is briefly off the road. Since October 2024 every replacement car must be accessible; see can my taxi be a non-accessible car?

What the numbers don't mean

• Not the number of drivers. 13,038 different people drove a yellow taxi in July 2026. Several drivers can share one medallion through shift leases.
• Not the number of owners. One owner can hold many medallions; 5,659 medallions were managed by agents in 2024 (OFS).
• Not the same as green cabs. Green cabs (street hail liveries) are a separate, much smaller fleet: 652 at the end of 2025 (2025 Annual Report).

What to do next

• Which cars these taxis are: yellow taxi fleet by model.
• All TLC vehicles, app cars included: TLC licensed vehicles statistics and how many Ubers and taxis are on the road each day.
• Want to drive one? How to start driving a yellow taxi. Where taxis may pick up: can yellow taxis pick up in the outer boroughs?
• The medallion itself: medallion and the medallions hub.