High-Volume For-Hire Services- TLC

Taxi & Limousine Commission


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High Volume For-Hire Services

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High-Volume For-Hire Services

On August 14, 2018, Mayor de Blasio signed Local Law 149 of 2018, creating a new license category for TLC-licensed FHV bases that dispatch more than 10,000 trips per day, referred to as High-Volume For-Hire Services (HVFHS). TLC adopted HVFHS rules (PDF) to regulate these two-year licenses, which are required in addition to existing TLC licenses for for-hire vehicle bases.

In June 2021, the TLC amended the rules governing High-Volume For-Hire Service licenses, creating the HVFHS base license. These rules make the HVFHS license a type of base license, and no longer requires an additional base license to dispatch trips.

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HVFHS License application requirements

Pay the licensing feeensing fee;

Submit a business plan, which includes the business’s past and anticipated vehicle count, trip volume, service areas, and compliance with the TLC’s accessibility requirements

Submit an analysis of the impact of the business on traffic congestion, local transportation, and noise

Provide a description of all deductions the business proposes to charge for-hire vehicle owners or drivers as well as estimates of gross hourly earnings of drivers

Provide detailed trip and revenue data on an ongoing basis

Apply for a license

High-Volume For-Hire Service Application and Checklist (PDF)

Appendices for High-Volume For-Hire Service Application (xls)

For guidance on using Taxi Zones in Application Appendix data submission, find maps and tables in Trip Record Data.

Email the completed application and all required documents, in PDF format, to businessmr@tlc.nyc.gov. 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. Once you have submitted your application, schedule a fingerprint appointment. Read Identogo - Fingerprint Request (PDF).

Renew a license

High-Volume For-Hire Service Renewal Application and Checklist (PDF)

Appendices for High-Volume For-Hire Service Application (xls)

For guidance on using Taxi Zones in Application Appendix data submission, find maps and tables in Trip Record Data.

Email the completed application and all required documents, in PDF format, to businessmr@tlc.nyc.gov. 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.

Data submission requirements

High-Volume For-Hire Services (HVFHS) are required to regularly submit data to TLC via TLC-hosted SFTP. For-Hire Services are required to submit 5-10 different files.

Download HVFHS Data Specifications (xls)

Submission frequency and naming convention for each file are as follows:

File

Required For

Frequency

Naming Convention

Trips

All HVFHS licensees

biweekly (deliver by Thursday following second week

HV0000_trip_YYYYMMDD_YYYYMMDD.csv

Requests

HVFHS licensees which are also Accessible Vehicle Dispatchers

monthly (deliver by first Thursday after 1st of the month)

HV0000_request_YYYYMMDD_YYYYMMDD.csv

Shared Rides

HVFHS licensees that provide shared rides

biweekly (deliver by Thursday following second week)

HV0000_shared_YYYYMMDD_YYYYMMDD.csv

Hourly

HVFHS licensees that pay drivers hourly

biweekly (deliver by Thursday following second week

HV0000_hourly_YYYYMMDD_YYYYMMDD.csv

Driver Payments

All HVFHS licensees

biweekly (deliver by Thursday following second week)

HV0000_pay_YYYYMMDD_YYYYMMDD.csv

Corrective Payments

HVFHS licensees making corrective driver payments in compliance with driver pay rules

biweekly (deliver by Thursday following second week)

HV0000_policypay_YYYYMMDD_YYYYMMDD.csv

Sessions

All HVFHS licensees

biweekly (deliver by Thursday following second week)

HV0000_session_YYYYMMDD_YYYYMMDD.csv

Breadcrumbs

All HVFHS licensees

biweekly (deliver by Thursday following second week)

HV0000_breadcrumb_YYYYMMDD_YYYYMMDD.csv

Congestion

All HVFHS licensees

biweekly (deliver by Thursday following second week)

HV0000_congestion_YYYYMMDD_YYYYMMDD.csv

Drivers

All HVFHS licensees

monthly (deliver by first Thursday after 1st of the month)

HV0000_driver_YYYYMMDD_YYYYMMDD.csv

Frequently Asked Questions

Which companies are required to apply for an HVFHS license?

Businesses that currently dispatch or plan to dispatch more than 10,000 FHV trips in New York City per day under a single brand, trade, or operating name must apply for the High-Volume For-Hire Service license.

Is this new license optional?

This license is required for all companies that meet the eligibility standards in the approved rules, read Notice of Public Hearing and Opportunity to Comment on Proposed Rules (PDF) and the subsequent 2021 rule amendments, Notice of Promulgation and Statement of Basis and Purpose (PDF)

What is the period of licensure?

The HVFHS license is valid for two years from approval.

Is the HVFHS license a base license? Did that change?

Yes, the HVFHS license is a type of base license. The HVFHS license is required for all businesses that meet the standards set in the law for the number of dispatches done per day

Yes, it recently changed. The HVFHS license is, now a type of base license and does not require an additional base license to dispatch trips.

What kinds of information will TLC require companies to produce to obtain the license?

The general outline of the requirements can be found in the Local Law of The City of New York 2018 No. 149 (PDF) and Notice of Public Hearing and Opportunity to Comment on Proposed Rules (PDF) and the 2021 HVFHS Amendments - Notice of Promulgation and Statement of Basis and Purpose (PDF).

TLC will ask for each applicant’s business plan, an analysis of their environmental and transit impacts on the city, a mitigation plan for negative impacts, and additional data related to fares, driver income, and other aspects of operation.TLC will ask for each applicant’s business plan, an analysis of their environmental and transit impacts on the city, a mitigation plan for negative impacts, and additional data related to fares, driver income, and other aspects of operation.

The TLC application contains more specifics for each component. The application is available on the TLC website, with application deadlines provided.

How much does the license application cost?

The license application currently costs $380,000 for a two-year license for each High-Volume For-Hire Service application. This fee will not be refunded if the Commission denies the application.

What is the process for HVFHS license renewal?

License renewals take place every two years. A renewing applicant must file a completed application for renewal at least 60 days before the expiration date of the license.

Related Information:

Approved HVFHS Rules - Notice of Public Hearing and Opportunity to Comment on Proposed Rules (PDF). Adopted 2021 HVFHS Amendments - Notice of Promulgation and Statement of Basis and Purpose (PDF).