How Much Is a Chicago Chauffeur License?
$40 for a two-year term. The Chicago Public Chauffeur License (Municipal Code 9-104, issued by BACP) is required for livery and charter/sightseeing drivers. New applicants must complete a BACP-approved training course and pass a written exam within six months of applying.
Which class do you need?
Livery and charter drivers typically hold a Restricted Public Chauffeur License. Drivers of charter vehicles under 16-passenger capacity qualify with either a CDL with passenger endorsement or the restricted chauffeur license.
What else does it cost to run a Chicago fleet?
The driver license is the cheap part. The vehicle licenses carry the real numbers:
- Livery Vehicle License: $1,200 for a 2-year term ending December 15 (up to 9 seats including the driver).
- Charter/Sightseeing Vehicle License: $1,000 per vehicle per year, July 1 – June 30.
- Plus the semi-annual Illinois Certificate of Safety inspection per vehicle, and the Ground Transportation Tax (city LY plates: flat $98/month since July 1, 2026 — estimate yours here).
Common questions
How much is a Chicago chauffeur license?
$40 for a two-year term. The Chicago Public Chauffeur License (Municipal Code 9-104, issued by BACP) is required for livery and charter/sightseeing drivers.
What do new Chicago chauffeur license applicants have to do?
New applicants must complete a BACP-approved training course and pass a written exam within six months of applying.
What else does a Chicago operator pay besides the chauffeur license?
The driver license is the cheap part. Vehicle costs carry the real numbers: a $1,200 two-year Livery Vehicle License (or $1,000/year charter license), the semi-annual Illinois Certificate of Safety per vehicle, and the Ground Transportation Tax — a flat $98/month for city LY plates since July 1, 2026.
Keep reading
Get an email when the rules change
We watch Chicago and federal regulations for chauffeured fleets and email only when something actually changes. No newsletter.
Stop tracking this by hand
VettyFleet watches every license, med card, inspection, and renewal for your fleet — federal, state, and city — and warns you before anything expires.
General information, not legal advice — verify against current sources before relying on it. See our Terms of Service.