Tow Truck Company License Application Checklist

COVID-19 ALERT

For health and safety reasons, the Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP) Licensing Center and NYC Small Business Support Center cannot serve walk-ins, but you can schedule an appointment to submit your license application in person. See Application Filing Process section.

Note: As in-person service is limited, we encourage you to use our online service which is available 24/7.

Who Must Have a Tow Truck Company License?

Quick List of Requirements to Apply for a Tow Truck Company License

• Basic License Application
• Business Certificate
• Sales Tax Identification Number OR Application Confirmation Number
• Roster of Vehicles
• New York State Commercial Truck Registrations
• Department of Buildings Document
• One Current Color Passport-size Photograph of License Applicant
• Business Information
• Repair Shop Registration (if applicable)
• Proof of Workers’ Compensation Insurance (OR proof not required to maintain this coverage)
• Personal and Property Liability Insurance for Tow Trucks
• DCA Trust Fund Enrollment or Copy of Surety Bond (or Third Party Bond), properly signed
• Proof of Right to Use Premises
• Roster of Employees
• Granting Authority to Act Affirmation (if applicable)
• Fingerprints and Processing Fee
• Inspection of Your Premises and Trucks and $50 Inspection Fee per Truck
• License Fee

Additional City or State Permits/Licenses/Clearances You May Need

Important Message about Business Certificate

You must have the applicable Business Certificate based on your business’s legal structure.

Sole proprietors operating under a name other than your own must have a Business/Assumed Name Certificate.

Partnerships must have a Partnership Certificate and, if applicable, an Assumed Name Certificate for your business.

Corporations, Limited Partnerships, Limited Liability Companies, or Limited Liability Partnerships must register and remain active with the New York State Division of Corporations. You can check your status at dos.ny.gov/corps.

Requirements

DCWP will deny your application if you do not submit these required documents and information:

• Basic License Application.
  Online submission: After reviewing the requirements, please click the Apply Online link at the bottom of the page to submit your application.
  In-person submission: Download the Basic License Application.

• Business Certificate (see description above).

• Sales Tax Identification Number OR Application Confirmation Number.
  To apply for a Certificate of Authority in order to collect sales tax, visit businessexpress.ny.gov.

• Roster of Vehicles.

• New York State Commercial Truck Registrations.
  Submit a copy of the current New York State Commercial Truck Registration for each vehicle listed on the Roster of Vehicles. The address on your registrations must match the address provided on your license application.

• Department of Buildings Document.
  You must submit a copy of the Certificate of Occupancy, Temporary Certificate of Occupancy (expiring no less than 30 days from date of application submission), OR Letter of No Objection from the Department of Buildings (DOB) confirming that your premises is suitable to operate your business. If you submit a Certificate of Occupancy or Temporary Certificate of Occupancy, it must be the most current version and show approval of the premises for “M1,” “M2,” “M3,” and/or “C8” Zoning and/or “Use Group 16” with a designation of “Auto Wrecking,” “Storage Garage,” “Dead Vehicle Storage,” “Vehicle Laundry/Car Wash,” “Vehicle Service,” or “Vehicle Repair.”

• One Current Color Passport-size Photograph of License Applicant.
  Each individual named on the license application must submit one current color passport-size photograph of themselves.
  
  In person: DCWP will photograph license applicants at no cost in the DCWP Licensing Center or Small Business Support Center. Applicants can also submit a current color passport-size photograph.
  
  Online: License applicants can upload an image file of digital passport photo quality. A digital camera with a resolution of 1 mega-pixel is adequate.

• Business Information.
  Applicants for a Tow Truck Company license must indicate which credit cards the business will accept and confirm whether or not the business will repair vehicles.

• Repair Shop Registration.
  If you indicated on the Business Information form that your business will repair vehicles, submit a copy of your business’ current Repair Shop Registration from the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles.

• Workers’ Compensation Insurance.
  Provide a copy of ONE of the following documents as proof of workers’ compensation insurance:
  • C-105.2: Certificate of Workers’ Compensation Insurance OR
  • U-26.3: State Insurance Fund Certificate of Workers’ Compensation Insurance OR
  • Equivalent or successor form used by the New York State Workers’ Compensation Board
  
  If you are not required by law to maintain workers’ compensation insurance, you must submit form CE-200: Certificate of Attestation of Exemption. For more information, visit New York State Workers’ Compensation Board at www.wcb.ny.gov.

• Personal and Property Liability Insurance for Tow Trucks.
  You must submit a copy of the Insurance Certificate for your tow trucks. Your Insurance Certificate must name the City of New York as the Certificate Holder and must show the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) of all trucks covered by the policy. Minimum amounts of coverage are:
  • $200,000 for injury or death per person
  • $500,000 for injury or death per accident
  • $50,000 for property damage per accident
  • $25,000 for damage to a vehicle in the care, custody, and control of the tow company
  
  Note: You must notify DCWP within 10 days if your insurance policy is cancelled, expired, or was terminated for any reason.

• DCA Trust Fund Enrollment OR Copy of Surety Bond (or Third Party Bond), properly signed.
  
  • If you want to enroll your business in the Trust Fund, complete the Trust Fund Enrollment Form. The fee for joining the Trust Fund is $200.
  • If you do not enroll your business in the Trust Fund, you must submit a copy of a $5,000 Surety Bond (or Third Party Bond), properly signed. The copy of the bond must name the City of New York as the Certificate Holder. Your corporate name, Doing-Business-As (DBA) name (if any), and premises address must be exactly the same on all documents. The bond must not expire before the end of the licensing period.
    
    Download a list of bonding companies. Note: The list is not exhaustive, and DCWP does not endorse or recommend any particular bonding company.

• Proof of Right to Use Premises
  Submit ONE of the following documents as proof of right to use premises for your business:
  • A copy of your deed or bill of sale OR
  • A copy of your current lease (If you submit a sublease, you must also submit the original lease.)

• Roster of Employees.

• Granting Authority to Act Affirmation, if applicable.
  Required if someone other than the license applicant will prepare and submit this application. Note: The applicant must sign the license application and all related forms.

• Fingerprints and Processing Fee.
  All sole proprietors, general partners, corporate officers, principals, directors, members, and all shareholders owning more than 10% of company stock must schedule an appointment with IdentoGO to be fingerprinted:
  • Visit uenroll.identogo.com
  • Enter:
    • Service Code. Enter 1585N7
    • Agency ID. Enter numbers only from Record ID Number. Record ID Number is on your receipt or confirmation letter when you apply online. (Example: For Record ID Number 12345-2021-AHIC, enter only 123452021 as Agency ID.)
  • Follow the instructions and pay the required fee(s).
   
  IMPORTANT: Anyone required to be fingerprinted should schedule an appointment as soon as possible to complete this requirement.

• Inspection of Your Premises and Trucks and $50 Inspection Fee per Truck.
  DCA must inspect your business premises and tow trucks before your business can operate. DCWP will contact you to schedule the inspection. See Inspection Checklist: Tow Truck

• License Fee.
  License Period: 2 years. Expiration Date: April 30, Even Years. License Fee: $600 for 2 years. Inspection Fee: $50 per truck

• Check or money order payable to DCWP . (In person)


• Credit card (Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Discover Card only). You will be charged a nonrefundable Convenience Fee. (In person or online)

Application Filing Process

File Online

1. Review requirements and gather all materials before clicking the button below. The online service is available using a laptop or desktop computer only.
2. If you haven’t registered an account with the City of New York, you will need to register an account before you can proceed to the online application.
3. After you submit the online application, follow the instructions on the confirmation page. DCWP cannot process incomplete applications.
4. Important: If you need to file another license application, return to the Apply for a DCWP License page to read requirements and proceed to the next online application.

OR

File In Person
Schedule an appointment to file in person at the DCWP Licensing Center or NYC Small Business Support Center

 
By Email: LicensingAppointments@dca.nyc.gov
By Phone*: Call (212) 436-0441. (Monday - Friday, 8 a.m. - 4 p.m.)

*This number is to schedule an appointment for in-person service only. For general questions, email onlineappsdocs@dca.nyc.gov.

Free Interpretation Services are available on-site. To request a disability-related accommodation, please email DCWP’s Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Coordinator at humancapital@dca.nyc.gov or visit our Accommodations page.

Additional Resources for Tow Truck Companies

• For the laws and rules that may affect your business, visit our Laws page.

• Inspection Checklist: Tow Truck Companies and Drivers

• For resources to help your business open, operate, and grow, visit nyc.gov/business

• After holding a Tow Truck Company license for more than one year, you may apply for acceptance in the Directed Accident Towing Program (DARP) and Rotation Tow Program (ROTOW). For more information, please call 311 and ask to be transferred to DCWP with a question about your existing license.