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In short: In a for-hire vehicle, your TLC Driver License must be displayed in a protective holder on the back of the driver's seat, so passengers can see it. Not doing so breaks rule 80-24(a)(2): $150 if you plead guilty before a hearing, $200 if found guilty after. Black cars and luxury limousines get an exception from the seat-back holder only — the license must still be clearly visible from the passenger seat.
What the rule says
Rule 80-24(a) in the TLC Chapter 80 rule book says a driver must not operate a for-hire vehicle without certain items. Item (2) is:
"The Driver's TLC Driver License displayed in a protective holder attached to the back of the driver's seat in the Vehicle."
The exception, 80-24(a)(2)(i): "Black Cars and Luxury Limousines will not be required to have the protective holder mounted to the back of the driver's seat… However, the Driver's TLC Driver License must be displayed in the Vehicle in a way so as to be clearly visible from the Passenger seat and available for inspection by the Passenger upon request."
Penalty: $150 plead guilty / $200 after a hearing. Appearance NOT REQUIRED.
Which vehicles need what
TLC's vehicle lists show that vehicles used for app-based trips are generally affiliated with black car bases, so the black car exception often applies to them — but only if the license is still clearly visible from the back. A license in your wallet or in the glove box does not meet that test.
Related rules a summons may also cite
- 80-24(a)(1): registration and insurance card (or legible copies) on the right visor, the right side of the dashboard, or in the glove compartment. $150 / $200.
- 80-24(c): you must not block a passenger's view of your TLC license (and, in a livery, the Livery Passengers' Bill of Rights). $100 / $150.
- 80-16(g): on a passenger's reasonable request, give your name, TLC license number and the vehicle's license number. $100 / $200, appearance required.
How often it is charged
This is one of the most common chapter 80 charges written against FHV drivers: 4,470 summonses in 2017, and 1,711 in 2025. In 2026 so far, 594 have been filed.
Common situations
- The holder fell off or broke, and the license is on the dashboard or in a pocket.
- A new car, and the holder was never installed.
- A black car driver keeps the license in a sun visor that passengers cannot see.
- The license is in the holder but covered by a headrest screen, bag, or tablet (80-24(c) is the separate blocking rule).
Why the display rule matters to TLC
The display rules let passengers know who is driving them. Passengers can use the license number to file a complaint or to find lost property, and the rules on passenger requests say you must give your name and license number when asked (rule 80-16(g)). A missing license is easy to fix, but the fine is not small: $150 is the same as a missing registration or insurance card under 80-24(a)(1).
If you plead guilty, the fine is due within 30 days. If it is not paid, TLC can notify you that your license will be suspended in 10 business days until you pay (rule 80-02(c)). If you want to contest, the hearing is generally by phone or written online defense — see what to expect at an OATH phone hearing. Photos showing your display setup are easy evidence to send in a written defense.
What to do now
- Fix it today. Install a holder or place the license where passengers can clearly see it. Take dated photos.
- Read the code on the summons. (a)(1), (a)(2) and (c) are different rules.
- Check your vehicle type. If the car is a black car or luxury limousine, the seat-back holder is not required — what matters is whether the license was clearly visible.
- Decide. Use our fight-or-pay tool and fine lookup. If you plead guilty, payment is due within 30 days or TLC can suspend your license after notice (rule 80-02(c)).
Points to discuss with your lawyer
- Was the vehicle a black car or luxury limousine, and was the license visible from the passenger seat?
- Do photos or the inspector's notes show where the license actually was?
- Was the license displayed but partly blocked, which may be a different rule?
Taxi drivers have a parallel rule — see 80-23(a)(2). For the documents that help at any hearing, see documents for a TLC hearing.
Frequently asked questions
What is the fine for 80-24(a)(2)?
$150 if you plead guilty before a hearing, or $200 if you are found guilty after a hearing. Appearance is not required.
Where must my TLC license be displayed in an FHV?
In a protective holder attached to the back of the driver's seat. Black cars and luxury limousines don't need the seat-back holder, but the license must still be clearly visible from the passenger seat and available for the passenger to inspect on request.
Is a photo of my license on my phone enough?
The rule speaks of the driver's TLC Driver License displayed in the vehicle. It does not mention a phone image. Ask TLC or a lawyer before relying on anything other than the physical license.
What about the registration and insurance card?
That is a separate rule, 80-24(a)(1): the registration (or a legible copy) and insurance card (or a legible copy) must be on the right visor, on top of the right side of the dashboard, or in the glove compartment. The fine is also $150 / $200.
Are there points for this violation?
No TLC points are listed for 80-24(a)(2) in the current rule book.
Sources
Last reviewed against the official sources on .
- TLC Rules, Chapter 80 – Drivers (updated June 6, 2025) nyc.gov
- NYC Open Data: OATH Hearings Division Case Status data.cityofnewyork.us
- TLC: Respond to a Summons 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.