Luxury Limousine Bases

To apply for a TLC luxury limousine base license, follow these instructions: 

Step 1: Pay & clear all outstanding fines.

• All fines, suspensions, judgments, and tickets owed to TLC, Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), Department of Finance (DOF), or other City / State agency must be cleared.
• Outstanding judgments, fines, or suspension(s) on an existing or prior TLC license must all be cleared and paid before an application can be submitted.

Step 2: Complete & submit the Business Name Reservation request.

• The Business name reservation request form must be submitted (and approved by TLC) before submitting the TLC base license application.  

• Email the completed form to Name-Reservation@tlc.nyc.gov.

• Once approved, the base name is reserved for use by the base for forty-five (45) days.  If the TLC base license application is not submitted after 45 days, the name reservation request form must be resubmitted and reapproved by TLC.

Step 3: Collect & complete the below listed luxury limousine base application requirements.

1. Complete the TLC Application for a Luxury Limousine Base License;
2. Obtain a surety bond of five thousand dollars ($5,000.00) made to the benefit of the City of New York;
   • Bond must be current and maintained at all times.
3. Valid government issued photo ID for all owners, principals, members, and managers;
   
4. Proof of membership in the New York Black Car Operators’ Injury Compensation Fund, Inc. if the base owns less than fifty percent (50%) of the vehicles it dispatches; or Certificate of Workers’ Compensation Insurance, if the base owns fifty percent (50%) or more of the vehicles it dispatches;
5. Proof of EIN / SSN. Corporations, partnerships, and sole proprietors must submit proof of EIN / SSN (IRS issued CP-575 Notice or a 147-c letter); 
6. Business records disclosing all partners, owners, members, officers, and principles; and the number of shares (or percent) owned:
   • Corporations submit a certificate of incorporation, NYS filing receipt, and meeting minutes specifying the names and shared (or percent) owned.
   • LLCs submit articles of organization, NYS filing receipt, operating agreement, and list of all owners/members and the shares (or percent) owned.
   • Partnerships submit a partnership certificate, NYS filing receipt, and a list of all partners and shares (or percent) owned.
   • Sole proprietors submit a Business Certificate.
7. Business Lease Affirmation;
   • TLC may request the base obtain a letter of no objection from the NYC Department of Buildings (DOB) for confirmation.
8. Zone rate schedule map, or rate of fare book, whichever appropriate;
9. Information security and use of personal information policy (link to form, complete and submit);
10. Dispatch App disclosure (link to form, complete and submit);
11. Copy of the base’s most recent phone bill, showing base phone number, name, and address; and
12. Base’s compliance with the requirement to affiliate at least ten (10) vehicles, or five (5) vehicles if one (1) of the five (5) is a Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle (WAV).

Step 4: Email the completed base application and all documents to NewBusinessApp@tlc.nyc.gov. 

• All documents must be attached in the email as a PDF or JPG format. Linked documents cannot be accessed. Please clearly and accurately label or name all attachments.  
• TLC will review your submissions electronically; once TLC confirms your application is complete, you will be contacted to make an appointment to submit licensing fees in person.
• New base license applications are active for ninety (90) days.  Please submit all application requirements within ninety (90) days to avoid processing delays.

Step 5: Fingerprint. 

• All owners, stockholders, and members must be fingerprinted when submitting a TLC base license application.  To schedule a fingerprint appointment, visit  IdentoGo.

• Click here for IdentoGo fingerprint instructions.
• Note: use the ORI code, “156GQS” and your TLC application number to log into the IdentoGo website and schedule your appointment.

TLC will review the application, including any person named on the application, to determine fitness to hold a TLC base license.

Once the review is complete and application fees paid, the base will be required to attach a minimum of ten (10) vehicles, or five (5) vehicles if one vehicle is wheelchair accessible.

After the vehicle requirement is met, the record will be final-approved; the TLC base license will be issued and sent by certified mail to the base address provided.

• A Street Hail Livery (SHL) endorsement is a TLC licensed base that is permitted to dispatch SHL vehicles. An SHL base that also holds a TLC FHV base license may also affiliate and dispatch non-SHL, TLC licensed, FHV vehicles.
• To apply for an SHL endorsement, complete the SHL endorsement application. 
• Collect & complete the below listed SHL Endorsement application requirements:
• Pay & clear all outstanding fines.
• Rate Schedule - Please provide a copy of your most current rate schedule.
• Original Surety Bond of $5000 for the benefit of the City of New York.
• Dispatch App Disclosure
• Privacy and Security Policies
• Email the completed SHL endorsement application and all requirements, in PDF format, to NewBusinessApp@tlc.nyc.gov. TLC will review the documents electronically and will contact applicants to make an appointment to submit licensing fees in person.

• Fifteen hundred dollars ($1500.00) for a three (3) year FHV base license.
• If also applying for a Street Hail Livery (SHL) endorsement, applications must be submitted by email to NewBusinessApp@tlc.nyc.gov.
  • There is an additional three thousand-dollar ($3000.00) fee for a three (3) year SHL Endorsed base, submitted in person, by appointment only.
    

• Business Lease Affirmation
• Dispatch App Disclosure
• Name Reservation Request
• Information Security and Use of Personal Information Policy affirmation
• SHL Endorsement Application

TLC base license renewal applications and required documents must be submitted by the expiration date of the base license.  If all requirements are not met by the license expiration date, the license will not be renewed.  Renewal requirements and payment can be submitted early to avoid delays.

Luxury limousine base licenses must be renewed every three (3) years. 

To renew a luxury limousine base license, follow these instructions:

Step 1: Pay & clear all outstanding fines.

• All fines, suspensions, judgments, and tickets owed to TLC, Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), Department of Finance (DOF), or other City / State agency must be cleared before renewal can be completed.

Step 2: Make all renewal application payments online, using LARS.

Step 3: Collect and complete the below listed luxury limousine base renewal requirements:

1. Surety bond of five thousand dollars ($5,000.00) made to the benefit of the City of New York;
2. Valid government issued photo ID for all owners, principals, members, and managers;
3. Certificate of Workers’ Compensation Insurance, or proof of membership in the New York Black Car Operators’ Injury Compensation Fund;
4. Business Lease Affirmation;
5. Zone rate schedule map, or rate of fare book, whichever appropriate;
6. Information security and use of personal information policy;
7. Dispatch App disclosure;
8. Copy of the base’s most recent phone bill, showing base phone number, name, and address; and
9. Base’s compliance with the requirement to maintain affiliation of ten (10) vehicles, or five (5) vehicles if one is a WAV (Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle).

Step 4: Email all required documents to BusinessMR@tlc.nyc.gov. 

• All documents must be attached in the email as a PDF or JPG format. Linked documents cannot be accessed. Please clearly and accurately label or name all attachments. 
• TLC will review your submissions electronically; upon completion of the renewal application review, the base application will be submitted at a TLC Commission hearing for approval.  If approved, the renewal license will be issued and sent by certified mail to the base address.   

• Fifteen hundred dollars ($1500.00) to renew a three (3) year FHV base license.
• Street Hail Livery (SHL) endorsement renewals must be submitted by email to BusinessMR@tlc.nyc.gov.  Click here for the SHL endorsement renewal application. 
• There is an additional three thousand-dollar ($3000.00) fee to renew an SHL endorsed base; the fee is submitted in person, by appointment only.

Step 1: Pay & clear all outstanding fines.

• All fines, suspensions, judgments, and tickets owed to TLC, Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), Department of Finance (DOF), or other City / State agency must be cleared.
• Outstanding judgments, fines, or suspension(s) on an existing or prior TLC license must all be cleared and paid before an application can be submitted.

Step 2: Collect & complete the below listed application requirements.

• Application to change base owner, location, or name must be filled out completely & signed.
• Email the completed change in information application and all documents to BusinessMR@tlc.nyc.gov.

• All documents must be attached in the email as a PDF or JPG format. Linked documents cannot be accessed. Please clearly and accurately label or name all attachments.

• TLC will review your submissions electronically; once TLC confirms your application is complete, you will be contacted to make an appointment to submit fees in person.

Step 3: Pay Application fee of $500 in person via appointment – Appointment will be made by TLC staff to come in and make payment.

Payment can be in the form of a Money Order, Company Check, Certified Check or Credit Card (Master Card, Visa, AMEX and Discover). Money Orders, Company Checks and Certified Checks are made payable to: NYC Taxi & Limousine Commission.

1. Completed Application to change base owner, location, or name
2. Valid government issued photo ID for all owners, principals, members, and managers listed on the application
3. Bill of Sale –Please note: If applicable, the bill of sale needs to include how many shares were transferred, as well as signature of seller.
4. Fingerprint Receipts:
   1. All owners, stockholders, and members must be fingerprinted when submitting a TLC base ownership change application. To schedule a fingerprint appointment, visit IdentoGo.
   2. Download the IdentoGo fingerprint instructions.
   3. Note: use the ORI code, “156GQS” to log into the IdentoGo website and schedule your appointment.
   4. TLC will review the application, including any person named on the application, to determine fitness to hold a TLC base license.
5. Business records disclosing all partners, owners, members, officers, and principles; and the number of shares (or percent) owned:
   1. Corporations submit a certificate of incorporation, state-issued filing receipt, and meeting minutes specifying the names and their percent of shares owned.
   2. LLCs submit articles of organization, state-issued filing receipt, operating agreement, and list of all owners/members and their percent of ownership in the business.
   3. Partnerships submit a partnership certificate, NYS filing receipt, and a list of all partners and the percent of ownership in the business.
   4. Sole proprietors submit a business certificate.
6. Dispatch App disclosure;-If you use an app (i.e. An iOS/Android app or web page) to dispatch, you will be required to disclose information on that app. (Please see disclosure page attached to the application forms.)
7. Information security and use of personal information policy

1. Completed Application to change base owner, location, or name
2. Name Inquiry / Name Reservation Request Business name reservation request form must be submitted (and approved by TLC) before submitting the TLC base name change application. Email the completed form to name-reservation@tlc.nyc.gov
3. Valid government issued photo ID for all owners, principals, members, and managers.
4. Business records disclosing all partners, owners, members, officers, and principles; and the number of shares (or percent) owned.

1. 1. Corporations submit a certificate of incorporation, state-issued filing receipt, and meeting minutes specifying the names and their percent of shares owned.
   2. LLCs submit articles of organization, state-issued filing receipt, operating agreement, and list of all owners/members and their percent of ownership in the business.
   3. Partnerships submit a partnership certificate, NYS filing receipt, and a list of all partners and the percent of ownership in the business.
   4. Sole proprietors submit a business certificate.

5. Proof of EIN / Social Security No. –If a corporation or partnership, you must submit an IRS issued 145-C letter with the changed name. If a sole proprietor, you must submit proof of social security number.
6. Dispatch App disclosure;-If you use an app (i.e. An iOS/Android app or web page) to dispatch, you will be required to disclose information on that app. (Please see disclosure page attached to the application forms.)

1. Completed Application to change base owner, location, or name
2. Valid government issued photo ID for all owners, principals, members, and managers.
3. Business Lease Affirmation;

• • TLC may request the base obtain a letter of no objection from the NYC Department of Buildings (DOB) for confirmation.
  • Dispatch App disclosure;-If you use an app (i.e. An iOS/Android app or web page) to dispatch, you will be required to disclose information on that app. (Please see disclosure page attached to the application forms.)

To terminate affiliation:

Step 1: Base must notify the vehicle owner and SHL permit holder (if applicable), in writing, that the base is terminating the vehicle’s affiliation.

• Request that vehicle owner sign the Consent of Termination (page 2) of the Termination of Affiliation form (PDF).

Step 2: If the base cannot obtain the vehicle owner’s / SHL permit holder’s consent, the base must provide written notice to the vehicle owner (SHL permit holder), by certified mail, to the address on file with the TLC.  To terminate affiliation, the base must provide the TLC with proof that the notice letter was sent to the vehicle owner and SHL holder (if applicable).  

• Sample letter to terminate vehicle affiliation (PDF)

Step 3: Complete the Termination of Affiliation form (PDF).

Step 4: Email the completed termination of affiliation form (and proof of notice letter terminating vehicle affiliation, if applicable) to Terminate@tlc.nyc.gov.