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430 Lexus RXs were TLC-licensed on October 12, 2026, all as for-hire vehicles (FHVs). It ranks 33rd among TLC models and is the second most common Lexus, after the TX and ahead of the GX and ES.
The RX fleet is a mix: about one in three decodes as hybrid, and its model years are spread more evenly than most luxury SUVs, from 2010 all the way to 2026. No single year has more than 84 cars. If you're shopping for a used RX, you will find many versions, so knowing which one you are looking at matters.
About the numbers — and the "RX" name
The models come from decoding every VIN in TLC's FHV list and medallion list with NHTSA's vPIC. The dataset notes say vPIC sometimes reports a trim family like "RX" rather than "RX 350h". So this page counts every RX version together: gas, hybrid and the longer RX L. The split between gas and hybrid comes from vPIC's fuel fields and may misclassify a few model years.
Model years: an even spread
2022 is the largest year with 84 cars. Every year from 2015 to 2021 has between 22 and 41, and 2023 to 2026 have 16 to 29 each. 70 RXs (16.3%) are 2016 or older, compared with about 10% of all FHVs, and 69 (16.0%) are 2024 or newer, compared with about 31%. Read TLC vehicle retirement age before buying one of the older ones.
Hybrid or gas: check before you buy
For the 2022 model year, fueleconomy.gov rates the RX 450h AWD hybrid at 30 mpg combined (31 city, 28 highway) and lists premium fuel. The RX 350 gas version is rated 23 mpg combined (20 city, 27 highway) on regular fuel, and the AWD RX 350 is rated 22. The longer RX 350 L and RX 450h L are each rated about 1 mpg lower.
So the hybrid uses less fuel, but per EPA it wants a more expensive grade. Two cars that look the same can cost very different amounts to run. Ask for the exact trim, confirm it on the registration or by decoding the VIN, and compare costs in the lease-vs-buy tool.
Base types
408 (94.9%) are at black car bases, 18 at luxury limousine bases and 4 at livery bases. None are marked "WAV"; TLC's list marks 2 as "PILOT", which the dataset doesn't define.
Plates and inspection for an RX
- No new plates for an RX. Since July 20, 2024, new FHV licenses are only for wheelchair accessible vehicles on TLC's approved list (TLC), and no Lexus is on it. Use a vehicle transfer from a license you already hold; see TLC plates for FHVs.
- Inspection timing. After a transfer, TLC won't approve it until the car passes inspection (rule 59A-09(a), chapter 59). After that, the RX needs three inspections a year. See TLC vehicle inspection.
The table shows where new Lexus cars on TLC plates are going. Every one of the 1,119 Lexus TXs is model-year 2024 or newer, against only 69 of the 430 RXs. The RX fleet is older and changing slowly, while the TX is the newer arrival. The data shows only what is licensed, not why owners chose each model.
Compare with the Lexus TX, Lexus GX, Lexus ES, Toyota Venza, Acura MDX, Lincoln Navigator L and TLC fleet by make and model.
More in the vehicles topic.
Data on this page
Aggregates of public data. They describe trips and vehicles, never individual people.
TLC's vehicle lists have no make/model column, so TLC Help decoded the VIN of every licensed vehicle with NHTSA's vPIC decoder (one representative VIN per manufacturer + model-descriptor + model-year pattern) and published only counts. 5 of 115,081 vehicles (0%) could not be decoded to a model and are left out. vPIC sometimes reports trim-family names (e.g. 'RX' not 'RX 350h'); powertrain comes from vPIC's electrification/fuel fields and may misclassify a few model years. Snapshot lists change daily.
- Lexus RX: licensed TLC vehicles by model year — Active FHVs and authorized medallion taxis that are a Lexus RX, by model year.NYC Open Data: FHV - Active (8wbx-tsch) and Medallion Vehicles - Authorized (rhe8-mgbb), VINs decoded with NHTSA vPIC · pulled Oct 12, 2026Model year from TLC's vehicle_year / model_year columns. Age limits for TLC vehicles come from TLC rules, not this chart.
- Lexus RX in the TLC fleet: hybrid, electric or gas — Licensed Lexus RX vehicles by powertrain (from decoded VINs).NYC Open Data: FHV - Active (8wbx-tsch) and Medallion Vehicles - Authorized (rhe8-mgbb), VINs decoded with NHTSA vPIC · pulled Oct 12, 2026
- Lexus RX: where it is licensed (FHV base type vs medallion taxi) — Licensed Lexus RX vehicles by fleet: FHVs by the type of base they are affiliated with, and medallion taxis.NYC Open Data: FHV - Active (8wbx-tsch) and Medallion Vehicles - Authorized (rhe8-mgbb), VINs decoded with NHTSA vPIC · pulled Oct 12, 2026Wheelchair-accessible (FHV list): 0 WAV, 2 PILOT. App-based (high-volume) work generally runs through black car bases.
Frequently asked questions
How many Lexus RXs are licensed by the TLC?
430 on October 12, 2026, all for-hire vehicles and 0.37% of all TLC vehicles. TLC Help counted them by decoding each VIN with NHTSA's vPIC decoder.
Does this count include the RX 350, RX 450h and three-row RX L?
Probably yes. vPIC often reports the family name 'RX' instead of the exact trim, so different RX versions are grouped together. Use the powertrain chart to see hybrid vs gas.
How many TLC Lexus RXs are hybrids?
142 decode as hybrid (33.0%), 287 as gas and 1 as plug-in hybrid.
Does the RX 450h use premium fuel?
For the 2022 model year, fueleconomy.gov lists premium fuel for the RX 450h AWD (30 mpg combined) and regular fuel for the RX 350 (22–23 mpg combined). Check your own car's manual.
Sources
Last reviewed against the official sources on .
- NYC Open Data: For Hire Vehicles (FHV) – Active (8wbx-tsch) data.cityofnewyork.us
- NYC Open Data: Medallion Vehicles – Authorized (rhe8-mgbb) data.cityofnewyork.us
- NHTSA vPIC VIN decoder API vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov
- TLC Rule Book Chapter 59 (For-Hire Vehicles), updated Feb 27, 2026 nyc.gov
- TLC: Accessible Vehicle Requirements nyc.gov
- fueleconomy.gov: 2022 Lexus RX 450h AWD fueleconomy.gov
- fueleconomy.gov: 2022 Lexus RX 350 fueleconomy.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.