Get a license to drive a taxi or livery vehicle

To drive taxis and other livery vehicles in New York State, you must be 18 years of age or older and you must have a driver license that is one of these classes

• Class A commercial driver license (CDL)
• Class B CDL
• Class C CDL
• Class E driver license 

New York now offers 3 types of documents

Document Type	Displayed on document	Used for identification	Fly within U.S., enter Federal facilities**	Enter U.S. by land or sea***
Enhanced (EDL)		Yes	Yes	Yes
Federal REAL ID		Yes	Yes	No
Standard*	NOT FOR FEDERAL PURPOSES	Yes	No	No

* If your license or permit was issued before October 30, 2017 and is not Enhanced, you have a Standard document. 

** Boarding a domestic (U.S.) flight, and entering a Federal Building or Military Base (starting October, 2020)

*** U.S. Border Crossing from Canada, Mexico and some Caribbean countries

Learn more about Enhanced, REAL ID and Standard documents. 

Change from a Class D to a Class E license

Step 1: Complete either an

• Application for Enhanced or REAL ID Permit, Driver License or Non-Driver ID Card (MV-44EDL)
• Application for Standard Permit, Driver License for Non-Driver ID Card (MV-44) 

Step 2: Determine what identification you need to bring to the DMV

• if you want a REAL ID or Enhanced, complete this document guide to know what proofs of identity to bring to an office 

  Find your proofs

  • On the first page, select: Change my existing NY State license/ID to a REAL ID or Enhanced
    
• if you want a Standard that will display "NOT FOR FEDERAL PURPOSES", bring your current NY State license as proof of identity

Step 3: Go to the DMV

• surrender your Class D license.
• apply and pay for your Class E license
• the fee depends on the expiration date of your current driver license - we cannot calculate your fee until you apply
• take the vision test or prove that you meet our vision requirements
  

Step 4: Get your Class E license in the mail

 Allow 2 weeks for your new  license to arrive.

If you do not have New York State driver license

If you do not have a driver license, learn how to apply for your first driver license. Apply for a Class E driver license instead of a Class D driver license. The Class D license and the Class E license both require the same vision, written and road tests.

The New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission (T&LC) regulates taxi drivers and livery drivers in New York City. If you plan to drive a taxi or livery vehicle in New York City, contact the Taxi and Limousine Commission.