What Is TLC Insurance in NYC?

Last Updated on October 26, 2026 by James Shaffer · Reviewed for accuracy by Daniel Major, licensed insurance agent (NPN 14733759)

If you drive a taxi, black car, livery vehicle, limousine, or rideshare vehicle in New York City, you may need commercial auto insurance that meets New York City Taxi & Limousine Commission (TLC) requirements. This is commonly called TLC insurance.

For drivers working with Uber or Lyft in New York City, the rules are different from the rideshare insurance rules that apply elsewhere in New York State. Vehicles picking up passengers in New York City generally must comply with TLC licensing and insurance requirements rather than relying on an ordinary personal auto policy or the state’s standard transportation network company insurance framework.

What Is TLC Insurance?

TLC insurance is the common name for commercial auto insurance that meets the coverage requirements imposed on vehicles licensed by the New York City Taxi & Limousine Commission.

The TLC regulates taxis and several types of for-hire transportation in New York City. Depending on the operation, this can include yellow taxis, green taxis, black cars, livery vehicles, luxury limousines, commuter vans, paratransit vehicles, and for-hire vehicles used with rideshare platforms.

TLC requires licensed vehicle owners to maintain a current liability insurance policy that satisfies applicable TLC rules and New York State law. TLC-licensed vehicles must also have current proof of insurance on file with the Commission.

This coverage is substantially different from the ordinary personal auto policy you might buy for commuting or family use. If you are driving passengers for compensation, you should make sure your insurer knows exactly how the vehicle will be used.

Who Needs TLC Insurance in New York City?

TLC insurance requirements generally apply to vehicles that must be licensed by the TLC to provide regulated passenger transportation in New York City.

• Black cars
• Livery vehicles
• Yellow taxis
• Green taxis, also known as street-hail liveries
• Luxury limousines
• Many vehicles used for Uber or Lyft trips originating in New York City
• Commuter vans
• Paratransit vehicles

The exact licensing and insurance requirements depend on the type of operation. For example, a standard black car and a large luxury limousine do not have identical minimum insurance limits.

If you are considering traditional taxi work, see our guide to New York City taxi costs for additional background.

Do Uber and Lyft Drivers Need TLC Insurance in NYC?

If you are using a vehicle to provide Uber or Lyft trips that originate in New York City, the city’s TLC system applies. New York State’s standard transportation network company rules under Vehicle and Traffic Law Article 44-B do not apply to a prearranged trip that originates in New York City.

New York State’s Department of Financial Services rideshare guidance specifically distinguishes New York City trips from TNC trips elsewhere in the state. A vehicle picking up a passenger in New York City must comply with the applicable state and New York City requirements.

For an NYC for-hire vehicle, TLC currently requires a current For-Hire Insurance Certificate, commonly called an FH-1, as well as a certificate of liability insurance showing that the vehicle meets the applicable coverage limits.

This is different from driving for a rideshare service elsewhere in New York State. Our guide to insurance requirements for Uber and Lyft drivers in New York explains the broader statewide rules.

Current NYC TLC Insurance Requirements

TLC minimum insurance limits vary by vehicle class and seating capacity. The NYC Taxi & Limousine Commission publishes the current requirements.

As of 2026, some of the most common TLC vehicle requirements include:

Vehicle Type	Seating Capacity	Minimum Insurance Requirements
Livery Vehicle / Black Car	1–7 passengers	$100,000 per person; $300,000 per occurrence; $10,000 property damage; $100,000 PIP
Livery Vehicle / Black Car	8–15 passengers	$1.5 million per occurrence combined single limit; $100,000 PIP
Livery Vehicle / Black Car	16–20 passengers	$5 million per occurrence combined single limit; $100,000 PIP
Luxury Limousine	1–7 passengers	$500,000 per person; $1 million per occurrence; $100,000 PIP
Luxury Limousine	8–15 passengers	$1.5 million per occurrence combined single limit; $100,000 PIP
Luxury Limousine	16–20 passengers	$5 million per occurrence combined single limit; $100,000 PIP
Medallion Taxi	1–7 passengers	$100,000 per person; $300,000 per occurrence; $10,000 property damage; $100,000 PIP
Commuter Van	1–7 passengers	$100,000 per person; $300,000 per occurrence; $50,000 property damage; $50,000 PIP

Larger commuter vans and paratransit vehicles are subject to different requirements. Always verify the limits for your exact vehicle class and seating capacity before purchasing coverage.

TLC PIP Requirements Changed in 2026

An important recent change affects personal injury protection coverage. For years, many TLC-licensed vehicles were required to maintain $200,000 in PIP.

New York City changed that requirement effective March 1, 2026. Required PIP for taxis, for-hire vehicles, luxury limousines, and street-hail liveries was reduced from $200,000 to $100,000 per person.

The change followed Local Law 90 of 2025, which limited the TLC’s PIP requirement to no more than twice the New York State minimum. TLC adopted the $100,000 amount permitted by the law.

Because these rules can change, drivers should verify current requirements with TLC and their insurer when buying or renewing a policy.

What Does TLC Insurance Cover?

The exact coverage in a TLC policy depends on the policy and type of vehicle, but required and commonly included protections can include liability coverage, personal injury protection, and other coverage required under New York law.

Bodily Injury Liability

Bodily injury liability coverage can pay covered claims when the insured driver is legally responsible for injuries or death caused to other people in an accident, subject to the policy limits and terms.

TLC requires substantially higher liability limits for many for-hire vehicles than the minimum limits required for an ordinary private passenger vehicle in New York.

Property Damage Liability

Property damage liability coverage pays covered claims for damage you are legally responsible for causing to another person’s property.

For example, the current minimum for a 1–7 passenger black car or livery vehicle includes $10,000 in property damage liability coverage. Other vehicle classes can have different limits.

Personal Injury Protection

Personal injury protection, or PIP, is part of New York’s no-fault insurance system. It can pay eligible accident-related economic losses regardless of fault, subject to applicable limits and rules.

Eligible benefits can include certain medical expenses, a portion of lost earnings, and qualifying rehabilitation costs.

Uninsured Motorist Coverage

New York automobile liability policies are also subject to state uninsured motorist requirements. Uninsured motorist coverage can provide protection for qualifying bodily injury claims involving an uninsured or hit-and-run driver, subject to the policy and New York law.

Collision and Comprehensive Coverage

The TLC minimum insurance chart focuses primarily on required liability and PIP limits. It does not mean your own vehicle is automatically protected against collision, theft, vandalism, or other physical damage.

If you own or finance the vehicle, ask whether your policy includes collision and comprehensive coverage and what deductibles apply. A lender or lessor may also require physical damage coverage even when it is not part of the TLC minimum.

Why Personal Auto Insurance Usually Is Not Enough

A standard personal auto policy is designed primarily for personal use rather than carrying paying passengers as a commercial operation. Policy exclusions and underwriting rules can restrict coverage when a vehicle is used as a taxi, livery vehicle, limousine, or other public or for-hire conveyance.

That is why NYC TLC vehicle owners generally need commercial for-hire insurance designed to satisfy the city’s requirements.

This distinction is particularly important for rideshare drivers. New York’s TNC insurance system outside New York City works differently from the TLC framework inside the city. A driver should never assume a personal policy, rideshare endorsement, or platform-provided policy satisfies NYC TLC licensing requirements without verifying it.

How Much Does TLC Insurance Cost in NYC?

There is no reliable universal monthly price for TLC insurance. Commercial for-hire premiums can vary substantially, and the TLC does not publish a single representative rate that every driver should expect to pay.

TLC insurance generally functions as a form of commercial auto insurance, and pricing can depend on factors such as:

• Your driving and accident history
• Prior insurance history
• The type of TLC operation
• Vehicle make, model, value, and seating capacity
• The number and experience of covered drivers
• Annual mileage and commercial use
• Liability limits
• Collision and comprehensive coverage selections
• Deductibles
• Claims history
• The insurer’s approved rating and underwriting rules

For that reason, an advertised premium from another driver or an old online estimate may have little relevance to your own policy.

How to Buy TLC Insurance

TLC insurance is commonly purchased through insurers, agents, or brokers that write commercial for-hire auto coverage in New York.

For a new NYC for-hire vehicle license, TLC currently requires a current For-Hire Insurance Certificate (FH-1) in the applicant’s name and a certificate of liability insurance directly from the insurance company showing that the policy meets the applicable minimum limits.

TLC also requires for-hire vehicles to be affiliated with an appropriate TLC-licensed base. The TLC’s for-hire vehicle licensing instructions explain the documents and steps required for a vehicle application.

Compare More Than the Premium

When comparing TLC insurance, check:

• Whether the insurer and policy satisfy current TLC requirements
• The bodily injury and property damage liability limits
• PIP limits
• Physical damage coverage for your own vehicle
• Deductibles
• Excluded drivers or uses
• Payment terms
• Cancellation provisions
• Claims reporting procedures

Our guide to the insurance options for Uber and Lyft drivers in New York provides additional information for rideshare drivers.

Keeping Your TLC Insurance Active

TLC requires licensed vehicle owners to maintain continuous qualifying insurance. If a policy expires, terminates, is canceled, or changes, the owner is responsible for providing TLC with proof of replacement coverage effective when the previous coverage ended.

A new, renewal, or transfer application for a TLC vehicle license will not be approved if the insurance on file is expired or does not meet the required minimum coverage levels.

TLC says owners can update insurance records by providing a current FH-1 and the insurance declaration page showing the policy’s effective dates. Owners can also view insurance information associated with their TLC vehicle through TLC UP.

Does a TLC Policy Have to Come From a New York-Authorized Insurer?

New TLC insurance rules that took effect January 1, 2026 require applicable policies to be issued by insurance companies authorized to do business in New York State by the Superintendent of Financial Services.

The 2026 rules also allow qualifying primary and excess policies to be combined to satisfy TLC minimum coverage requirements in certain circumstances, rather than requiring all coverage to come from one primary policy.

When shopping for coverage, verify that the insurer, policy structure, and limits will be accepted by TLC before relying on the policy for a vehicle license or renewal.

TLC Insurance vs. Regular New York Rideshare Insurance

The distinction between New York City and the rest of New York State is important.

Situation	General Insurance Framework
Uber or Lyft trip originates in New York City	NYC TLC and other applicable state/local for-hire rules apply.
Uber or Lyft trip originates elsewhere in New York State	New York VTL Article 44-B TNC insurance requirements generally apply.
Passenger is picked up outside NYC and dropped off in NYC	Article 44-B still applies because the trip originated outside New York City.
Taxi, livery, black car, limousine, or other traditional for-hire vehicle	These vehicles are excluded from the Article 44-B definition of a TNC vehicle and follow the applicable commercial and local requirements.

This distinction is one reason drivers should avoid assuming that general New York rideshare insurance information automatically applies to New York City operations.

The Bottom Line

If you operate a TLC-licensed vehicle in New York City, you need insurance that satisfies the requirements for your specific vehicle class and operation. For a typical 1–7 passenger black car or livery vehicle, current TLC minimums include $100,000 per person and $300,000 per occurrence in liability coverage, $10,000 in property damage coverage, and $100,000 in PIP.

Do not rely on old TLC insurance guides showing a $200,000 PIP minimum. That requirement changed effective March 1, 2026 for taxis, FHVs, luxury limousines, and street-hail liveries.

Insurance requirements also vary for larger vehicles, luxury limousines, commuter vans, and paratransit vehicles. Before buying or renewing a policy, verify the current limits with the NYC Taxi & Limousine Commission and make sure the insurer understands exactly how the vehicle will be used.

FAQs on TLC Insurance in New York City