Vehicles – Miscellaneous Requirements.
35 RCNY § 59B-28
in effect§ 59B-28 Vehicles – Miscellaneous Requirements.
(a) Post-Manufacture Alteration.
(1) No For-Hire Vehicle License can be altered after manufacture:
(i) To increase its length, width, weight or seating capacity, or
(ii) To modify its chassis and/or body design.
(2) Exception for all types of Vehicles. A For-Hire Vehicle can also be altered, after manufacture, provided that the Vehicle, as modified, meets all of the following:
(i) The modification has been made under a program approved in advance by the original vehicle manufacturer, and
(ii) The alteration has been performed by an entity approved and certified by the vehicle manufacturer to perform such alterations.
(iii) An original, unaltered, approved vehicle modifier's certification sticker must be affixed to the Vehicle attached to the left center post or hinge post.
(3) Exception for Vehicles seating 10 or more passengers and NOT exempt from NYS DOT Requirements. A For-Hire Vehicle can be altered, after manufacture, provided that the Vehicle, as modified, meets all of the following:
(i) The Vehicle, as modified, has been approved by the NYS Commissioner of Motor Vehicles under Section 401(1)(b) of the NYS Vehicle and Traffic Law.
(ii) The Vehicle has passed inspection by the NYS Department of Transportation under 17 NYCRR § 720.
(iii) For such modified For-Hire Vehicles, the inspections required by 35 RCNY § 59A-04(e) and (f) and 35 RCNY § 59A-26(a) and the requirement to meet safety standards set forth in 35 RCNY § 59A-27, will be inspections of, and determinations by, the NYS Department of Transportation.
(iv) A modified For-Hire Vehicle must still pass a visual inspection at the Commission's Safety and Emissions Division at application and renewal as required by 35 RCNY § 59A-04(e) and (f).
(v) The For-Hire Vehicle must be properly registered with the NYS Department of Motor Vehicles and must have been re-registered after completion of the modification.
(vi) The Vehicle must carry the modifier's sticker certifying that the modification was conducted in accordance with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards.
(vii) The modifier of the Vehicle must certify that it is registered with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
(viii) The modifier of the Vehicle must provide a warranty that the vehicle will be free from defects in material and workmanship, including that the chassis and frame will be free from defects for a period of 3 years or 60,000 miles, whichever comes first.
(ix) The modifier of the Vehicle must maintain a General Liability Insurance Policy in a minimum amount of $5,000,000.
(4) Exception for Vehicles seating 10 or more passengers (including the driver) and exempt from NYS DOT Requirements. A For-Hire Vehicle can be altered, after manufacture, provided that the Vehicle, as modified, meets all of the following:
(i) The For-Hire Vehicle must be properly registered with the NYS Department of Motor Vehicles and must have been re-registered after completion of the modification.
(ii) The Vehicle must carry the modifier's sticker certifying that the modification was conducted in accordance with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards.
(iii) The modifier of the Vehicle must certify that it is registered with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
(iv) The modifier of the Vehicle must provide a warranty that the vehicle will be free from defects in material and workmanship, including that the chassis and frame will be free from defects for a period of 3 years or 60,000 miles, whichever comes first.
(v) The modifier of the Vehicle must maintain a General Liability Insurance Policy in a minimum amount of $5,000,000.
(5) Exception for modified Vehicles seating 9 or fewer and exempt from NYS DOT inspection and operating authority requirements. A For-Hire Vehicle can be altered, after manufacture, even if the original vehicle manufacturer has not approved the program, provided that the Vehicle, as modified, meets all of the following:
(i) The For-Hire Vehicle must be properly registered with the NYS Department of Motor Vehicles and must have been re-registered after completion of the modification.
(ii) The Vehicle must carry the modifier's sticker certifying that the modification was conducted in accordance with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards.
(iii) The modifier of the Vehicle must certify that it is registered with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
(iv) The modifier of the Vehicle must provide a warranty that the vehicle will be free from defects in material and workmanship, including that the chassis and frame will be free from defects for a period of 3 years or 60,000 miles, whichever comes first.
(v) The modifier of the Vehicle must maintain a General Liability Insurance Policy in a minimum amount of $5,000,000.
(6) Exception for modified Vehicles seating 9 or fewer and NOT exempt from NYS DOT inspection and operating authority requirements. A For-Hire Vehicle can be altered, after manufacture, even if the original vehicle manufacturer has not approved the program, provided that the Vehicle, as modified, meets all of the following:
(i) The Vehicle, as modified, has been approved by the NYS Commissioner of Motor Vehicles under Section 401(1)(b) of the NYS Vehicle and Traffic Law.
(ii) The Vehicle has passed inspection by the NYS Department of Transportation under 17 NYCRR § 720.
(iii) For such modified For-Hire Vehicles, the inspections required by 35 RCNY § 59A-04(e) and (f) and 35 RCNY § 59A-26(a) and the requirement to meet safety standards set forth in 35 RCNY § 59A-27, will be inspections of, and determinations by, the NYS Department of Transportation.
(iv) A modified For-Hire Vehicle must still pass a visual inspection at the Commission's Safety and Emissions Division at application and renewal as required by 35 RCNY § 59A-04(e) and (f).
(v) The For-Hire Vehicle must be properly registered with the NYS Department of Motor Vehicles and must have been re-registered after completion of the modification.
(vi) The Vehicle must carry the modifier's sticker certifying that the modification was conducted in accordance with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards.
(vii) The modifier of the Vehicle must certify that it is registered with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
(viii) The modifier of the Vehicle must provide a warranty that the vehicle will be free from defects in material and workmanship, including that the chassis and frame will be free from defects for a period of 3 years or 60,000 miles, whichever comes first.
(ix) The modifier of the Vehicle must maintain a General Liability Insurance Policy in a minimum amount of $5,000,000.
35 RCNY § 59B-28(a) Base Owner Fine: $1,000 Appearance REQUIRED
(b) Proper Vehicle Identification Required. A Base Owner must not dispatch a Vehicle unless the Vehicle complies with the following requirements:
(1) License Plate Number Matches. The license plate number on the motor vehicle tax stamp, on the state registration certificate, and on the Commission Decals must match each other and must match the number on the license plates affixed to the Vehicle.
35 RCNY § 59B-28(b)(1) Fine: $100 Appearance NOT REQUIRED
(2) Vehicle Identification Number Matches. The last six digits of the vehicle identification number (VIN) on the Commission Decals must match the last six digits of the VIN on the state registration, and the VIN on the Vehicle.
35 RCNY § 59B-28(b)(2) Fine: $100 Appearance NOT REQUIRED
(3) T & LC License Plates. A For-Hire Vehicle that is registered in New York must have official "T & LC" license plates.
35 RCNY § 59B-28(b)(3) Fine: $100 – $350 and Suspension until compliance Appearance NOT REQUIRED
(4) License Plates for Street Hail Liveries. A Street Hail Livery must be registered in New York and must have license plates issued by the NYS DMV and embossed with the legend "T & LC". No "vanity" plates are permitted for Street Hail Liveries.
35 RCNY § 59B-28(b)(4) Fine: $100 - $350 and Suspension until compliance Appearance REQUIRED
Source: City of New York, Charter, Administrative Code and Rules (American Legal Publishing XML export, codelibrary.amlegal.com)URL: https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/newyorkcity/latest/NYCrules/0-0-0-69374Fetched: 10/24/2026