The NYC TLC’s LARS portal — License Applications, Renewals and Summonses — is the online system where TLC-licensed drivers, vehicle owners, medallion holders, agents, SHL permit holders, and bases handle most of their licensing business with the Taxi and Limousine Commission.1NYC Taxi & Limousine Commission. License Applications, Renewals and Summonses – TLC You use it to pay your renewal fee, start a new license application, resolve certain summonses, pay other licensing fees, and update your personal information. Even someone without a TLC license can use LARS to pay a TLC-issued summons by entering the summons number.
What LARS Handles
The portal covers five core transactions:2New York City Taxi & Limousine Commission. License Applications, Renewals, and Summonses
- Making a license renewal payment by credit card, debit card, or e-check.
- Applying for a new license.
- Pleading guilty and paying a summons or settlement, but only when the summons does not require a personal appearance. If the “Personal Appearance Required” box is checked, LARS cannot resolve it.
- Paying other applicable licensing fees.
- Updating personal information such as your mailing address.
All TLC fees paid through the portal are nonrefundable.
License Types You Can Apply For
When you begin a new driver application, LARS asks you to pick one of three categories:2New York City Taxi & Limousine Commission. License Applications, Renewals, and Summonses
- TLC Driver’s License, which covers medallion taxi drivers, for-hire vehicle drivers including app-based rideshare, and street hail livery drivers. This is what most applicants need.
- Paratransit Driver, for drivers serving passengers with disabilities.
- Commuter Van Driver.
Vehicle owners also use LARS to apply for or renew a vehicle license. A vehicle application requires you to enter a base affiliation name and TLC base license number before you can submit it.
Renewing a TLC Driver License on LARS
Renewal is the most common reason drivers log in. TLC driver licenses run for three-year terms, and the commission’s rules require you to file a completed renewal application at least 30 days before your license expires.3American Legal Publishing Code Library. NYC Rules 80-06 Licensing – Term of License Your license is not valid after the expiration date until the TLC approves your renewal, and driving in the meantime counts as unlicensed activity.
Before you can pay the fee in LARS, two off-portal requirements have to be finished:4NYC Taxi & Limousine Commission. Renew a TLC Drivers License
- A drug test within 90 days before your expiration date. The TLC uses LabCorp, and the test costs $34.
- A six-hour Defensive Driving Course, required for all TLC drivers since January 2022. TLC-approved providers charge $150, and you should complete it at least 90 days before expiration. The TLC will not renew your license without it.
Once those are done, you log into LARS and pay the $252 TLC renewal processing fee.4NYC Taxi & Limousine Commission. Renew a TLC Drivers License Adding the drug test and the course, a typical driver renewal runs roughly $386 to $436 out of pocket. Payment goes through by credit card, debit card, or e-check.
Vehicle License Renewal Fees
Vehicle renewals are more expensive. The base fee is $550 for non-wheelchair-accessible vehicles, plus a $75 inspection fee for vehicles with 500 or more miles. Vehicles registered outside New York City also owe an $800 commercial motor vehicle tax, which can push the total past $1,000. Wheelchair-accessible vehicles may qualify for reduced or waived fees. A $25 late fee applies if you renew after expiration.
When to Use TLC-UP Instead
LARS is not the only TLC online system, and knowing which portal does what saves time. The TLC Upload Portal, TLC-UP, is separate.5Taxi & Limousine Commission. NYC Taxi and Limousine Commission – TLC Upload Portal Use TLC-UP to:
- Check your license status, expiration date, and upcoming deadlines.
- See any missing requirements on a pending application.
- Submit documents to the TLC, such as medical forms, insurance certificates, and drug test results.
To log into TLC-UP you need your TLC license number or application number, your mailing zip code, the last five digits of your SSN or EIN, and your email address.5Taxi & Limousine Commission. NYC Taxi and Limousine Commission – TLC Upload Portal After you pay through LARS, TLC-UP is where you track the application and see whether the commission still needs anything from you.
Insurance Updates Do Not Go Through LARS
Every TLC vehicle must carry a current for-hire insurance certificate, the FH-1 form, issued in the vehicle owner’s name.6New York State Department of Motor Vehicles. For-Hire Insurance Requirements To update your insurance records with the TLC, you email TLCinsurance@tlc.nyc.gov with your current FH-1 and the insurance declaration page showing your coverage dates.7NYC Taxi & Limousine Commission. Vehicle Insurance – TLC Insurance goes through that email channel, not through LARS or TLC-UP.
If Your License Expires
A lapsed TLC license is a legal problem, not just a paperwork one. Under TLC rules, driving a for-hire vehicle on a suspended, revoked, or expired license qualifies as unlicensed activity.8American Legal Publishing Code Library. NYC Rules 80-02 Penalties The TLC can seize and potentially forfeit the vehicle involved. That applies to the driver with the expired license and to the vehicle owner who let a vehicle license expire.
The commission does allow a 180-day late renewal window, but driving during that period before the renewal is approved still counts as unlicensed activity. A $25 late fee applies on top of the standard costs. The safer path is to start on the drug test and Defensive Driving Course at least 90 days out, so the LARS payment is the last step rather than a scramble at the deadline.