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COVID-19 Livery Vehicle Recovery Act License

Beginning April 15, 2025, former Livery Vehicle owners whose licenses expired between March 7, 2020, and September 12, 2022 (the COVID-19 Pandemic) are eligible to apply to have their licenses reinstated under the COVID-19 Livery Vehicle Recovery Act.

Applications will be open for one year, until April 15, 2026. To reinstate your license, you must meet the following qualifications and follow all restrictions:

Restrictions:

  • If your license was suspended or revoked at the time it expired, you may not be eligible.
  • These licenses will carry the same restrictions they had when they expired. For example, a license that was restricted to an electric vehicle may only renew as an electric vehicle, and a license restricted to a wheelchair accessible vehicle may only renew as a wheelchair accessible vehicle. 
  • Although the original license must have been affiliated to a livery base, licenses renewed under the Act can also be affiliated to black car and luxury bases. However, they may NOT be transferred to a high-volume for-hire base (Uber/Lyft).

If you are deemed eligible, you will be able pay a vehicle license renewal fee and upload the necessary documents online via LARS and TLCUp.

For related questions, please email licensinginquiries@tlc.nyc.gov 

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Am I eligible?

  • You may be eligible to renew your For-Hire Vehicle (FHV) license if:
    • Your FHV license expired between March 7, 2020, and September 12, 2022, and;
    • Your FHV license was affiliated with a Livery base
    • You must have the same Social Security Number /Employee Identification Number that is on file
  •  You'll need the following information that was on file when your license expired to see if you qualify:
    •  TLC Vehicle license number;
    •  Your zip code;
    •  Your valid SSN (Social Security Number) OR valid EIN (Employee Identification Number (Corporations only)
  • Using the above information, log onto TLCUP to see your expiration date (you will need this to pay in LARS)

How to Apply and Documents Needed

Step 1: Log onto TLCUP to see your vehicle license expiration date (you will need this to pay in LARS)

Step 2: Log onto LARS to pay your vehicle license renewal fee online  

Step 3: Upon request you will need to upload the documents below on TLCUP:  

  • Completed FHV application
  •  Current FHV Insurance  
  • Proof of vehicle – One of the following in the applicant’s name: Current DMV registration, Bill of Sale, Certificate or Origin or Certificate of Title (Front and Back). 
  •  Government issued photo identification

Step 4: Once TLC reviews and processes your application, a DMV plate letter will be emailed to you and posted on TLC UP (if you already have for-hire plates from outside of the NY, NJ, CT, and PA skip to step 7)

Step 5: Take your plate letter/email to a NYS DMV office to receive “TC” (TLC) For-Hire plates and registration

Step 6: Notify TLC of your plate by filing a Plate Notification found on TLCUP using these instructions

Step 7: TLC will email and post on TLC UP your vehicle inspection appointment date. Visit Vehicle Inspections webpage for the For-Hire Vehicle inspection requirements

Step 8: Bring your vehicle to your scheduled inspection appointment. Once the vehicle passes inspection, your vehicle license will be activated within 48 hours

Costs

  • Current renewal fee of $625 (which includes renewal and inspection fees)

Frequently Asked Questions

Please see below for frequently asked questions:  

  1. Don’t remember my EIN? 
    1. Contact the IRS (Internal Revenue Service) for the CP575 or 147C letter for proof of EIN  
    2. Please note, you cannot change EIN
  1. If my corporation is dissolved, am I still eligible to renew my vehicle license?
    1. No, unless you are able to reinstate your corporation with the same EIN that is on file with us.
  1. Why am I not eligible to be reinstated? 
    1. You must meet the eligibility requirements above
  1. I was told I’m not eligible, how can I become eligible? 
    1. You must meet the eligibility requirements above
  1. What other bases are there other than Uber and Lyft? 
    1. Please visit the following link to access the list of active bases
  1. If I have questions, who can I reach out to? 
    1. Email Licensinginquiries@tlc.nyc.gov - Subject: COVID-19 Recovery