Vehicle Inspections - TLC

Taxi & Limousine Commission


Get a Vehicle LicenseLicensed VehiclesVehicle Inspections


Vehicle Inspections

Prepare and pass your next inspection by avoiding these common issues.

Yellow Taxis, Green Taxis, and For-Hire Vehicles are fully inspected by the TLC at its Safety and Emissions Inspection Facility in Woodside, Queens. The New York State-licensed inspection facility tests brakes, seatbelts, lights, suspension components, and emissions systems. A successful vehicle inspection is required for TLC-Licensed Vehicles to transport passengers for-hire.

The Safety and Emissions Inspection facility is located at 24-55 B.Q.E. West, Woodside, NY 11377.

For information on your next inspection date, please visit TLC UP. Please make any reinspection payments at License Applications, Renewals & Summonses (LARS) system.

Please call 718-267-4559 if you need additional Vehicle Inspection assistance, or email inspections@tlc.nyc.gov.

Lights Tips for Vehicle Inspections

Windshield Tips for Vehicle Inspection

Brakes Tips for Vehicle Inspection

Seat Belt Tips for Vehicle Inspection

Engine Tips for Vehicle Inspection

Tire Tips for Vehicle Inspection

Mirror Tips for Vehicle Inspection

Expand AllCollapse All

Yellow Cab Inspection Requirements

Yellow Cab Inspections – Yellow cabs must pass 3 inspections every year.

The 1st inspection each calendar year will not be completed at TLC's Woodside Inspection Facility. Yellow Cab owners must take their vehicle(s) for inspection at any NYS DMV Inspection Station during the same month that the inspection sticker on the vehicle expires.

The 2nd and 3rd inspection each calendar year will occur at TLC's Woodside Inspection facility.

Yellow Cabs inspected by TLC must pass the TLC Inspection.

View the inspection schedule on Yellow Cab Inspection Schedule (Opendata)

Hacked-Up Inspections - New vehicles must pass a Hack-up inspection before they can be licensed as a yellow cab.

Once all required documents have been processed, a full hack-up inspection will be performed at TLC's Woodside Inspection facility. Visit Medallion Owners and Agents to see requirements.

Green Cab Inspection Requirements

Green Cab Inspections - TLC inspects Green cabs every 6 months.

View the schedule on Green Cab Inspection Schedule (Opendata)

Hacked-Up Green Cabs – TLC needs to inspect hacked-up Green Cabs before they can be a licensed Green Cab.

Once all required documents have been processed, a full hack-up inspection will be performed at TLC's Woodside Inspection Facility. Visit Green Cab to see requirements.

For-Hire Vehicle Inspection Requirements

New For-Hire Vehicle License Applicant

New For-Hire Vehicle License applicants are required to be inspected at the TLC's Woodside Inspection Facility as the final step of the vehicle license process. Type of inspection is dependent on mileage. If vehicle has 500 miles or more, you will receive a Full NYS DMV inspection appointment. If the vehicle has fewer than 500 miles, you will receive a Visual Inspection Appointment.

Renewing a For-Hire Vehicle License - TLC inspects For-Hire Vehicle every 2 years.

Once all required documents have been processed and approved, TLC's Licensing Division will e-mail you an inspection appointment. The inspection will take place at the TLC’s Woodside Inspection Facility. Visit Renew a For-Hire Vehicle License to see requirements. Type of inspection is dependent on mileage. If vehicle has 500 miles or more, you will receive a Full NYS DMV inspection appointment. If the vehicle has fewer than 500 miles, you will receive a Visual Inspection Appointment.

For-Hire Vehicle License Transfers

After completing a Vehicle License Transfer, TLC's Licensing Division will give you an inspection appointment. The inspection will take place at the TLC’s Woodside Inspection Facility.

If the vehicle has 500 miles or more, you will receive a Full NYS DMV inspection appointment. If the vehicle has fewer than 500 miles, you will receive a Visual Inspection Appointment.

For-Hire Vehicle Base and Plate Transfers

After completing a Base and/or Plate Transfer at TLC's Licensing Division, you will receive a Visual Inspection Appointment at TLC's Woodside Inspection Facility.

For-Hire Vehicles that seat 10 or more passengers

Vehicles with a seating capacity of 10 or more must be inspected by the NYS DOT, and receive an MC300 sticker before coming to TLC's Woodside Inspection Facility to receive a TLC Visual Inspection.

Commuter Van Inspection Requirements

New, Transferring, or Renewing a Commuter Van - must be inspected by NYS DOT, and receive an MC300 sticker before coming to TLC's Woodside Inspection Facility to receive a TLC Visual Inspection.

Paratransit Inspection Requirements

New, Transferring, or Renewing a Paratransit - must be inspected by NYS DOT, and receive an MC300 sticker before coming to TLC’s Woodside Inspection Facility to receive a TLC Visual Inspection.

Inspection Cost

New and renewing vehicle licensing inspection fees are included in the application fee.

Reinspection Fees

$35 Yellow and Green Cabs

$27 FHV DMV Emissions inspection

$10 FHV DMV Safety inspection

A reinspection fee is only owed if a vehicle fails its initial inspection and is brought back and reinspected after making the necessary repairs. No reinspection fee is owed if a vehicle passes its initial inspection.

Beginning November 12, 2019, vehicle owners will no longer need to pay in advance for vehicle reinspections at TLC’s Woodside Inspection facility. Reinspection fees must be paid online after the reinspection at nyc.gov/lars.

View step-by-step instructions on how to pay your reinspection fees.

Failing a New and Renewal Vehicle Inspection

Woodside Inspection Facility

Green and Yellow Cabs - Cabs have up to the compliance date listed on the Vehicle Inspection Report (VIR) to bring the vehicle in for a reinspection with no penalty. No appointment is needed for a reinspection. The VIR lists the hours when you can return to the TLC Woodside Inspection Facility for reinspection.

For-Hire Vehicles - For-Hire Vehicles have 4 attempts to pass the required licensure inspection, before the compliance date listed on the Vehicle Inspection Report (VIR). No appointment is needed for a reinspection. You can go to the Woodside inspection facility for your reinspection without an appointment during the times listed for reinspections on the VIR.

You cannot transport passengers in your vehicle until it has passed inspection.

A reinspection fee is only owed if a vehicle fails its initial inspection and is brought back and reinspected after making the necessary repairs. No reinspection fee is owed if a vehicle passes its initial inspection.

Beginning November 12, 2019, vehicle owners will no longer need to pay in advance for vehicle reinspections at TLC’s Woodside Inspection facility. Reinspection fees must be paid online after the reinspection at nyc.gov/lars.

View step-by-step instructions on how to pay your reinspection fees.

Vehicle Retirements (Only Yellow Cabs)

Yellow cabs must be removed 7 years after initial hack-up from service.

Owners experiencing financial hardship can request a retirement date extension, visit Hardship Vehicle Retirement Extension to learn more.

Approved Vehicle Markings

View TLC Authorized Printers List

Green Cab Markings: SHL Hackup and Inspection Requirements

Yellow Cab Markings: Yellow Cab Markings

Accessible and Clean Air Vehicle Markings: Accessible and Clean Air Vehicles

Accessible Vehicle Requirements

An original letter from an approved vehicle modifier indicating that the modifications done to the vehicle have been done so, in accordance with ADA regulations and specifications, and that the vehicle is considered a wheel chair accessible vehicle in compliance with all applicable ADA specifications and requirements.

OR

Proof of DOT Authority to operate as a provider of Wheelchair Accessible Transportation Services.

THE VEHICLE MUST:

Be free of all markings indicating the vehicle is especially designated for the transportation of disabled or seriously ill persons. Such as words like:

Ambulette

Invalid Coach

Para-transit - This includes signs like Wheel Chair Insignia

Download the full list of ADA/TLC specifications.

Related Information:

Pulsar Instruction for Roof Light (PDF)

Approved Cameras List (PDF)

FHV Inspection Guide

Arabic / العربية

Bengali / বাংলা

French / français

English

Haitian-Creole / Kreyòl ayisyen

Korean / 한국어

Polish / polski

Russian / Русский язык

Chinese (Simplified) / 简化字

Spanish / Español

Urdu / اردو

For more information email inspections@tlc.nyc.gov.