The TLC License is the short form for Taxi and Limousine Commission license. It is the license issued by the State of New York to drivers for hire specifically in the category of taxi drivers, black car drivers, and limousine drivers. This license is proof that such a driver is approved by the government to operate a taxi, a black car, and limousine services. All You Need to Know about Tlc License.
TLC license is the license issued to regulate taxis, cabs, black cars, and limousine drivers. It is one of the requirements needed to become a driver for hire in one of the above vehicles. A driver with a TLC is considered safer to travel with than others without one because one of the tests to pass while applying for the TLC license is the drug test.
Qualification Requirement for a TLC License
How do you qualify to apply for a TLC license? Here is how:
- Age Requirement – applicants for the TLC license must be at least 19 years old to qualify. This age requirement is followed with strict compliance by the NYC agency responsible for issuing the TLC license.
- Applicants must have an existing Chauffer license issued by the DMV. In addition to that, the license has to be valid at the time of application. The chauffeur license can be of either class A, B, C, or E.
- The applicant must submit a valid Social Security Number (SSN).
- Applicant must not owe NYS DMV or TLC or have an outstanding fine yet to pay while applying for a TLC license.
- Fulfill the conditions stated in the “fit to hold a license” handbook of the TLC Agency
How to Apply for a TLC License
Getting a TLC license takes a lot of processes. These processes can be further divided into three stages.
The Application Stage
- Firstly, Upgrade your license to a Class License: this license is used for taxi driving. Visit one of the branches of the DMV, and go with your previous driver’s license to help them easily access your database containing your name, date of birth, etc. You need to get a certificate that shows you passed a vision test from a licensed medical practitioner to prove to them at DMV that you can read small letters from a distance as in the case of road signs. The fee for this upgrade depends on how much time before expiry you have left on your license, but it is usually between $19 and $35.
- See the video on their website: On your license later, it will indicate you have completed the sex trafficking awareness video on TLC’s website. Every TLC-licenced driver is expected to have seen this video.
- Apply for the TLC license directly through LARS: After completing the steps above, you can now apply directly through License Applications, Renewals and Summonses (LARS). Visit their website at https://www.nyc.gov/lars to download the application form and fill it correctly with your information.
- Pay for the application: While you submit your completed application, you are required to make your application fee payment, The application fee costs around $252. This fee is un-refundable so ensure you are ready to complete the remaining stages of the application within the deadline of 90 days.
- Upload Drug test result and Driving classes certificate: These documents have to be uploaded within 90 days of submitting your application. You need to take the driving school courses such as the wheelchair course, driver ed course, fingerprint course, and drug test. These documents will be submitted by the driving school for you. You just need to make you attend the courses and pass them.
Driving School Courses Stage
- The Defensive Driving Course: This is one of the courses you are required to complete. It costs $40 and may be taken online. The duration of the course is 6 hours. After a week of completing the course, you should get a certificate.
- The Wheelchair Course: This course is taken to properly handle wheelchair passenger assistance. The training can be taken at any TLC-approved school with a training fee of $75. When the training is completed, you will receive a certificate to show you can handle passengers with walking disabilities.
- The Driver Education Course: This course lasts for 24 hours. You will be trained in general driver education. You will be taught things like traffic signs meaning, local geography, map reading, road safety rules, etc. The course has to be taken in person at any TLC-approved school. The course costs $175 and the exam fee is taken separately at the same school, it also costs another $75. You have to score 80% in the exam to pass and get certified.
Medical Examination Stage
- Print the driver’s Medical form from TLC’s website.
- Schedule a physical examination with a licensed medical practitioner and have him or her fill out the form with your results from the basic examination conducted.
- Submit yourself for a drug test at any TLC-accredited testing center. This test costs $30.
- Finally, have your fingerprints taken at a TLC-approved scheduling site. This service will cost you $75.
Conclusion
The TLC license will only be issued if you fulfill all the required stages in the application. The entire application costs a lot of money to process, but if you do not obtain the license before working as either a cab, a taxi, or a limousine driver, you will be seriously fined and may face driver’s license suspension.
Frequently Asked Questions
What do I do if I misplace my TLC license?
You need to schedule an appointment with the DMV to get a replacement. The documents used to apply for the original license will be used to process a replacement for you.
Can I get a license with a felony?
Some crimes result in a permanent ban from the TLC license agency while you only get a year to three years ban for some.
