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247 Lincoln MKTs held TLC licenses on October 12, 2026, all as for-hire vehicles (FHVs). It is the 54th most common TLC model. Every one is gas-powered, and none is newer than model year 2019, because the EPA lists no MKT after 2019.
Two things set the MKT apart: it is an aging fleet with no new cars coming, and it is unusually common at livery and luxury limousine bases. If you are thinking of buying a used one for TLC work, this page shows what the numbers say.
Where these counts come from
TLC publishes lists of active FHVs and authorized medallion taxis with VINs but no model names. TLC Help ran the VINs through NHTSA's vPIC decoder to get make, model and fuel type. The counts are a one-day snapshot and change daily.
A fleet that stopped in 2019
The two final model years are the biggest. 78 MKTs are 2019s and 55 are 2018s, so more than half the fleet (53.8%) comes from the last two years Lincoln built it. For comparison, model year 2019 makes up only 4.5% of all FHVs in TLC's model-year data.
At the old end, 89 MKTs (36.0%) are model year 2016 or older, including one 2011. Across all FHVs that share is about 10%. The other Lincolns on TLC plates are much newer: the Navigator L and Aviator have a median model year of 2024, and the Nautilus 2025. The MKT's median is 2018.
What does age mean for your license? TLC's current FHV rules set no fixed retirement age. Instead, an FHV must be inspected three times a year, at least once every four months (rule 59A-26(a), chapter 59). With an older car, passing those inspections is the real test. See TLC vehicle retirement age and TLC vehicle inspection.
Gas only, and thirsty
No hybrid MKT was ever listed by the EPA. The ratings for the 2018 model, the year with the second-most TLC cars:
Sources: EPA labels for the FWD, Livery AWD and AWD. The gallons column is simple math from the mpg rating.
The EPA also lists separate MKT Livery and MKT Limo versions, built for commercial service. A used MKT could be one of those or a regular retail model, so check the window sticker or a VIN decode. These are test-cycle ratings for new cars; an older car in city traffic will usually do worse. Put your own fuel costs into the lease-vs-buy tool.
Livery and limousine work
194 MKTs (78.5%) are at black car bases, the base type app trips run through. But 37 (15.0%) are at livery bases and 16 (6.5%) at luxury limousine bases. Across all 104,845 FHVs, livery is 2.0% and luxury limousine 1.3%. Among the 60 most common TLC models, only the Toyota Prius v (36.5%) and Toyota Prius (20.4%) have a bigger livery share. If you drive for a community car service rather than the apps, see livery drivers. No MKT is marked wheelchair accessible.
Getting plates on an MKT
New FHV licenses are only issued for vehicles that meet TLC's accessible vehicle criteria (TLC). The MKT is not a WAV, so the only route is to move an existing, non-WAV-restricted license onto it. The owner files the transfer within 15 days of registering the car with the DMV, and it is not approved until the car passes TLC inspection (rule 59A-09(a)). Details: TLC plates for FHVs.
The Cadillac XTS is the MKT's closest match in the data: also gas-only and also last built for 2019. See also the Ford Explorer, Kia Sorento and the full ranking in 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.
- Lincoln MKT: licensed TLC vehicles by model year — Active FHVs and authorized medallion taxis that are a Lincoln MKT, 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.
- Lincoln MKT in the TLC fleet: hybrid, electric or gas — Licensed Lincoln MKT 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
- Lincoln MKT: where it is licensed (FHV base type vs medallion taxi) — Licensed Lincoln MKT 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, 0 PILOT. App-based (high-volume) work generally runs through black car bases.
Frequently asked questions
How many Lincoln MKTs are licensed by the TLC?
247 on October 12, 2026, all for-hire vehicles and none as yellow taxis. That is 0.21% of TLC vehicles. TLC Help counted them by decoding each vehicle's VIN with NHTSA's vPIC decoder.
Is the Lincoln MKT still made?
The EPA's fuel economy listings show MKT versions for model year 2019 and none for 2020. The newest MKT on TLC plates is a 2019, so every licensed MKT is now at least about seven model years old.
Can I still put a Lincoln MKT on TLC plates?
Only by moving an existing FHV license that is not WAV-restricted onto it. New FHV licenses go only to approved wheelchair accessible vehicles, and the MKT is not on TLC's approved list. TLC's current FHV rules set no fixed age limit, but the car must pass three inspections a year.
Why are so many MKTs at livery and limousine bases?
The data shows where they are, not why. 37 MKTs (15.0%) are at livery bases and 16 (6.5%) at luxury limousine bases, compared with 2.0% and 1.3% of all FHVs. Lincoln also sold MKT Livery and Limo versions, which the EPA lists separately.
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
- fueleconomy.gov: 2018 Lincoln MKT FWD fueleconomy.gov
- fueleconomy.gov: 2018 Lincoln MKT AWD fueleconomy.gov
- fueleconomy.gov: 2018 Lincoln MKT Livery AWD fueleconomy.gov
- fueleconomy.gov: Find a Car (model listings by year) fueleconomy.gov
- TLC: Get a For-Hire Vehicle License nyc.gov
- TLC Rule Book Chapter 59 (For-Hire Vehicles) 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.