How Much Does an FHV License Cost in NYC?
A NYC TLC For-Hire Vehicle (FHV) license costs $275 per year on a two-year term. Each vehicle must be affiliated with exactly one TLC base, and changing a vehicle's base affiliation costs $25 (RCNY §59A).
What does the FHV license cost?
$275 per year, issued on a two-year term, one license per VIN. A vehicle can be affiliated with only one TLC base at a time, and a base change is a $25 fee.
What else does an FHV need?
- TLC inspection — three times a year, $75 each (stretch and 10+ seat vehicles are inspected twice a year by NYS DOT instead).
- New York State commercial registration.
- Commercial liability insurance.
FHV license vs. base license vs. driver license
NYC stacks three separate credentials — an operator needs all three:
| Credential | What it licenses | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| TLC base license | The company (dispatch base) | $1,500 / 3 years |
| FHV license | The vehicle | $275 / year (2-yr term) |
| TLC driver license | The driver | $252 / 3 years |
Common questions
How much does an FHV license cost in NYC?
A NYC TLC For-Hire Vehicle (FHV) license costs $275 per year on a two-year term. Each vehicle must be affiliated with exactly one TLC base, and changing a vehicle's base affiliation costs $25 (RCNY §59A).
What else does an FHV need besides the license?
TLC inspection three times a year at $75 each, New York State commercial registration, and commercial liability insurance. Stretch and 10-or-more-seat vehicles are inspected twice a year by NYS DOT instead of the TLC.
What's the difference between an FHV license, a base license, and a driver license?
They're three separate NYC credentials: the base license is the company's operating authority ($1,500 / 3 years), the FHV license is the vehicle's license ($275/year), and the TLC driver license is the driver's ($252 / 3 years). An operator needs all three.
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VettyFleet tracks every license, filing, inspection, medical card, and DOT test your fleet answers to — federal, state, and city — warns you before anything expires, and prints audit packets on demand.
General information, not legal advice — verify against current federal (FMCSA/DOT), state, and local sources, or counsel, before relying on it. Fees and rules change; confirm current amounts with the agency.