Medallion system
Seattle Mun. Code § 6.311.190
in effect6.311.190 - Medallion system
A. As of January 29, 2024, every valid taxicab and for-hire vehicle medallion issued by King County shall be issued a City medallion reciprocity endorsement. The medallion and medallion reciprocity endorsement shall be inseparable. A medallion cannot be issued, renewed, transferred, or temporarily deactivated separately from the medallion reciprocity endorsement. Any restriction imposed on a medallion through a license action applies with equal force to the corresponding medallion reciprocity endorsement. Any restriction imposed on a medallion reciprocity endorsement through a license action applies with equal force to the corresponding medallion.
B. Effective September 1, 2024, an existing medallion issued by the City and an existing medallion issued by King County, and that were previously required to be used with the same vehicle, may be separated to be used with different vehicles or to be transferred. Such medallions used with the same vehicle in both the City of Seattle and King County may be separated at any time by requesting such separation on a form or in a format established by the Director. This provision applies to all medallion types.
C. The owner of a taxicab or for-hire vehicle medallion may use the medallion as collateral to secure a loan from a bank or any other financial institution. Medallion owners shall file with the Director the name of any and all lienholders, on forms furnished by the Director. The collateral shall be described as "City of Seattle taxicab medallion" or, until March 31, 2026, "City of Seattle for-hire vehicle medallion," and shall include the medallion number. Within 30 days of the date of creation of the pledge, lien, or security interest, the party that holds the pledge, lien, or security interest, shall record the same as required by state law and provide a copy of the recording to the Director.
D. The interest of a medallion owner may be suspended or revoked for any reason enumerated in this Chapter 6.311 for the suspension or revocation of a medallion.
E. Upon a final order of medallion revocation, when all appellate proceedings, if any, have been concluded, the medallion may only be transferred as prescribed by this Section 6.311.190, Section 6.311.230, and as prescribed by the Director by rule.
F. In accepting a medallion, medallion owners waive any and all liability, claims, actions, suits, loss, costs, expense judgments, attorneys' fees, or damages of every kind and description resulting directly or indirectly from any act or omission of the City, its officials, officers, employees, and agents regarding the valuation or devaluation of the medallion.
G. The City assumes no liability for any devaluation of the medallion, including, but not limited to, any devaluation due to regulatory action or market forces.
H. Except for an owner awarded a new taxicab or for-hire vehicle medallion that is required to meet the minimum operating requirements in subsection 6.311.200.G, a medallion owner may voluntarily transfer or sell a medallion in accordance with this Section 6.311.190, Section 6.311.230, and as prescribed by the Director by rule.
I. Medallion owners may lease an interest in the medallion as prescribed by Director's rule. A leased medallion shall not be subleased to another party.
(Ord. 126977, § 1, 2023.)
Source: City of Seattle, Seattle Municipal Code and City Charter (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/wa/seattle/codes/municipal_code?nodeId=TIT6BURE_SUBTITLE_IVNELICO_CH6.311FRETRAXFREVEDR_6.311.190MESYFetched: 11/1/2026