Which TLC License Do I Need? Answer 3 Questions

On this page (7)

How to use it
The three TLC driver licenses
What each answer means
Common mix-ups
Where to go next
FAQ
Sources

Most people need just one license: the TLC Driver License. It covers yellow taxis, green taxis, black cars, livery cars, luxury limousines and Uber/Lyft trips. You need a different driver license only to drive a paratransit vehicle (ambulette) or a commuter van. If you want to own the vehicle, you also need a vehicle license — and today a new for-hire vehicle license is available only for wheelchair accessible vehicles (WAVs).

Answer the questions below to see exactly which licenses apply to you.

Which TLC license(s) do I need?

Answer a few questions · general information, not legal advice

Question 1What do you want to do?

What do you want to do?

Drive passengers (Uber, Lyft, yellow cab, green cab, black car, livery)
Whose car will you drive?
- A car I rent or lease that already has TLC plates
  Good to know: What this means for you
  You need: a TLC Driver License. The owner holds the vehicle license (plates). You need age 19+, a chauffeur's license (NY Class E or CDL A/B/C), and a valid Social Security number. Start with how to get a TLC license and check the real costs of renting a TLC car.
- My own car, which I want to put TLC plates on
  Is your car a wheelchair accessible vehicle (WAV) on TLC's approved list?
  - Yes
    Good to know: What this means for you
    You need: a TLC Driver License + a For-Hire Vehicle (FHV) license + base affiliation. New FHV licenses go only to WAVs, and the license stays WAV-only: any replacement car must also be a WAV. Steps and costs: new TLC plates for a WAV.
  - No, it's a regular car
    Watch out: What this means for you
    You can't get new TLC plates for a non-accessible car today. TLC accepts new FHV vehicle applications only for wheelchair accessible vehicles. Your options: drive a car that already has plates (rent or lease) with a TLC Driver License, or buy an approved WAV. Read new TLC plates in 2026.
- A yellow cab (medallion taxi)
  Good to know: What this means for you
  You need: a TLC Driver License. The medallion owner or garage holds the medallion and the taxi's vehicle license. If you want to buy or operate your own medallion, also read how to start driving a yellow taxi.
- A green cab (street hail livery)
  Good to know: What this means for you
  You need: a TLC Driver License (or a Paratransit Driver License, but then only for an accessible green cab — rule 80-05). The car's owner holds an FHV vehicle license with a Street Hail Livery permit attached. See the green cab permit guide.
Drive a paratransit vehicle (ambulette) for a paratransit base
Do you hold a commercial license (CDL Class A, B or C) and active 19-A status through your employer?
- Yes
  Good to know: What this means for you
  You need: a TLC Paratransit Driver License. Age 18+, CDL A/B/C, active 19-A, valid SSN. No 24-hour course, WAV training or TLC exam. TLC lists a total of $367.25 (as of 2026-10-12). Details: paratransit drivers.
- No / not sure
  Watch out: What this means for you
  First get the DMV side done. A Paratransit Driver License needs a commercial license (A, B or C) — Class E is not listed — and active 19-A status, which your employer keeps up with the DMV. Then apply to TLC. See paratransit drivers.
Drive a commuter van
Do you hold a commercial license (CDL Class A, B or C) and active 19-A status?
- Yes
  Good to know: What this means for you
  You need: a TLC Commuter Van Driver License. Age 18+, CDL A/B/C, active 19-A, valid SSN; no 24-hour course or exam. TLC lists a total of $367.25 (as of 2026-10-12). Details: commuter van drivers.
- No / not sure
  Watch out: What this means for you
  First get a CDL (A, B or C) and active 19-A status. TLC's commuter van driver license page lists both as requirements. Then apply in LARS. See commuter van drivers.
Own vehicles or run a business, but not drive
What kind of business?
- Own a for-hire car that someone else drives
  Is the car a wheelchair accessible vehicle (WAV) on TLC's approved list?
  - Yes
    Good to know: What this means for you
    You need: an FHV vehicle license + base affiliation. You don't need a driver license if you never drive for hire; whoever drives needs a TLC Driver License. Read new TLC plates for a WAV.
  - No
    Watch out: What this means for you
    You can't get new TLC plates for a non-accessible car today. TLC accepts new FHV vehicle applications only for wheelchair accessible vehicles. Your options: drive a car that already has plates (rent or lease) with a TLC Driver License, or buy an approved WAV. Read new TLC plates in 2026.
- Dispatch trips to for-hire cars (a base)
  Note: What this means for you
  You need: an FHV base license (black car, livery or luxury limousine; separate licenses exist for paratransit bases and commuter van authorities). See every TLC license type explained.
- Own a yellow cab medallion
  Note: What this means for you
  Owning a medallion is its own process with TLC, separate from the driver license — and anyone who drives the taxi needs a TLC Driver License. Start with how to start driving a yellow taxi and hack-up step by step.

How to use it

Pick your goal first (drive, drive a special vehicle, or own/run a business). The tool then asks one or two questions about the car and your DMV license. Each answer names the license, the key requirements and the page that explains the next steps. Go back and try another branch if you are choosing between options — for example, renting a TLC car versus buying a WAV.

The three TLC driver licenses

TLC's Driver License FAQ lists three driver licenses. The 2025 Annual Report shows how many people held each at the end of 2025:

TLC driver licenses side by side (TLC pages, read 2026-10-12)

Row label	TLC Driver License	Paratransit Driver	Commuter Van Driver
What you can drive	Yellow taxi, green taxi, black car, livery, luxury limo, app trips	Paratransit vehicles; also an accessible green cab (rule 80-05)	Commuter vans
Minimum age	19	18	18
DMV license	NY Class E or CDL A/B/C	CDL A/B/C	CDL A/B/C
19-A status	Not required	Must be active	Must be active
24-hour course, WAV training, TLC exam	Required	Not required	Not required
TLC drug test	Required (and every year after)	Not tested by TLC	Not tested by TLC
Fees TLC lists, added up	$745.25–$875.25 (one exam attempt; medical exam extra)	$367.25 (TLC's stated total)	$367.25 (TLC's stated total)

What each answer means

"Driver license only." The most common path. Renting or leasing a car with TLC plates means the owner holds the vehicle license, insurance and base affiliation. Your job is to get and keep the driver license.
"WAV-only plates." Since TLC limited new for-hire vehicle licenses, a new FHV license is available only for wheelchair accessible vehicles on TLC's approved list. The license is restricted to WAVs permanently — TLC's page warns that a future replacement car must also be a WAV.
"Commercial license first." Paratransit and commuter van licenses depend on your DMV commercial license and 19-A status. TLC can't fix those; your employer and the DMV can.
Two licenses at once. Many drivers hold both a driver license and a vehicle license. TLC's Language Access Plan notes that drivers often own the vehicles they drive and hold both.

Common mix-ups

"TLC license" can mean two things. People say "TLC license" for the driver license and also for the vehicle license (the plates). They are separate applications with separate fees and renewal dates. The cost page shows both.
A Class D license is not enough. For the TLC Driver License you need New York Class E or a commercial A, B or C. Upgrading is a DMV step: see the Class E chauffeur license guide.
Age. The DMV issues Class E at 18, but TLC's driver license starts at 19 (rule 80-04(a)).

Where to go next

All license types, including business licenses: every TLC license type explained.
Not sure you need TLC at all for app driving? Do I need a TLC license to drive for Uber in NYC.
Language worries: do I need English for a TLC license.
Child support issues can hold up an application: child support clearance.
Forms for each step: TLC forms directory.
Leaving instead of joining? Leaving the TLC industry checklist.

Frequently asked questions

Is one TLC license enough for Uber, Lyft, yellow and green cabs?

For the driver, yes. TLC's Driver License lets you drive a yellow taxi, a green taxi and for-hire vehicles (black car, livery, luxury limousine and app trips). The car you drive must also be licensed, but if you rent or lease a TLC car, the owner holds that vehicle license.

How many kinds of TLC driver license are there?

Three, according to TLC's Driver License FAQ: the TLC Driver License, the Commuter Van Driver License and the Paratransit Driver License.

Can I get TLC plates for my own car?

Only if it is a wheelchair accessible vehicle (WAV) on TLC's approved list. TLC's Get a For-Hire Vehicle License page says only WAV owners may apply for a new FHV vehicle license, and that license stays restricted to WAVs for good.

Can a paratransit driver drive a green cab?

Only an accessible one. TLC rule 80-05 lets a Paratransit Driver License holder drive an accessible street hail livery (green cab), and no other green cab.

Do I need a TLC license to drive my own car for personal use?

No TLC driver license is needed to drive any car for personal use. You need TLC licenses when you carry passengers for hire in New York City.

Sources

Last reviewed against the official sources on Oct 12, 2026.

TLC: Get a Driver's License FAQ (three driver license types) nyc.gov
TLC: Get a Vehicle License nyc.gov
TLC: Get a For-Hire Vehicle License nyc.gov
TLC: Get a Paratransit Driver's License nyc.gov
TLC: Get a Commuter Van Driver's License nyc.gov
TLC 2025 Annual Report (license counts, p.5) nyc.gov
TLC Rules, Chapter 80 (Drivers) — §80-04(a), §80-05 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.