Black Car Base - TLC

Taxi & Limousine Commission


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Livery Base

Black Car Base

Luxury Limousine Base

High Volume For-Hire Services

In-Vehicle Advertising Technology


Black Car Bases

Black car bases, also known as central dispatch facilities, are TLC licensed bases that dispatch all trips on a pre-arranged basis. More than ninety percent (90%) of each base's business is on a payment basis other than direct cash payment by passengers, and all of the base's vehicles are owned by franchisees of the base or are members of a cooperative that operates the base.

Read below to learn more about applying for, renewing, and changing the information related to a black car base license.

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Get a Black Car Base License

Apply for a Black Car Base License

To apply for a TLC black car 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 requestform 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 black car base application requirements.

Complete the TLC Application for a Black Car Base License;

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.

Valid government issued photo ID for all owners, principals, members, and managers;

A resume for each owner, principal, member, and manager along with a cover letter demonstrating each's ability to manage a base station;

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;

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);

Business records disclosing all partners, owners, members, officers, and principles; and the number of shares (or percent) owned:

Corporations submit a certificate of incorporation, the NYS filing receipt, and meeting minutes specifying the names and shares (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.

Business Lease Affirmation;

TLC will review whether the proposed location is appropriately zoned for a base; TLC may request the base obtain a letter of no objection from the NYC Department of Buildings (DOB) for confirmation.

Zone rate schedule map, or rate of fare book, whichever appropriate;

Information security and use of personal information policy;

Dispatch App disclosure;

Copy of the base's most recent phone bill, showing base phone number, name, and address;

Franchise agreement approval from the NY Attorney General's office

or

a copy of the base's cooperative agreement/contract; and

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 document must be submitted in PDF format. 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 applications requirements within ninety (90) days to avoid processing delays.

Step 5: Fingerprint.

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

Download the 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. Once 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.

Costs

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.

Street Hail Livery Base Endorsement

A Street Hail Livery (SHL) endorsement is a TLC licensed for-hire base that is permitted to dispatch SHL vehicles. An SHL base that also holds a TLC livery base license may also affiliate and dispatch non-SHL, TLC licensed, for-hire vehicles.

To apply for an SHL endorsement, complete the SHL endorsement application. Download the SHL endorsement requirements.

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.

Documents, Affirmation, & Forms

Livery Base Off Street Parking Affirmation

Business Lease Affirmation

Dispatch App Disclosure

Name Reservation Request

Information Security and Use of Personal Information Policy affirmation

Comprehensive Operating Plan Instructions

SHL Endorsement Application

Environment Assessment Statement

Renew a Black Car Base Base License

When to apply for renewal

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.

Black car base licenses must be renewed every three (3) years.

How to apply for renewal

To renew a black car 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 black car base renewal requirements:

Surety bond of five thousand dollars ($5,000.00) made to the benefit of the City of New York;

Valid government issued photo ID for all owners, principals, members, and managers;

Certificate of Workers' Compensation Insurance, or proof of membership in the New York Black Car Operators' Injury Compensation Fund;

Business Lease Affirmation;

Zone rate schedule map, or rate of fare book, whichever appropriate;

Information security and use of personal information policy;

Dispatch App disclosure;

Copy of the base's most recent phone bill, showing base phone number, name, and address; and

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 submitted in PDF format. 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.

Costs

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. Download 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.

Changing a Base's Status

Changing contact information & status of a black car base

To change the name, physical location, or ownership of a TLC licensed black car base, a base change of status application must be completed and submitted to TLC. Please read all instructions before submitting this application.

Email the completed base status change application, in PDF format, to BusinessMR@tlc.nyc.gov. TLC will review the application electronically and will contact the base to make an appointment to submit application fees in person.

Documents:

Application to change base owner, location, or name

Instructions for a change of corporate name or D/B/A of a Base Station

Terminating Affiliation

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.

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

Step 3: Complete the Termination of Affiliation form.

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

Related Information:

FHV Accessibility

FHV License Pause Guide

Trip Record Submissions

Current Community Car Service Bases - Sorted by TLC License Number (xls)

Current Black Car Bases - sorted by TLC License Number (xls)

Current Luxury Limousine Bases - Sorted by TLC License Number (xls)

For-Hire Vehicles (FHVs) (Open Data)

Current Bases (Open Data)