Taxi Vehicle Owners

The City of Seattle passed an ordinance in 2014 regulating the ownership of taxicabs. Key provisions of the ordinance that apply to owners and licensees of taxis are:

  • Taxicabs owned or represented by an association must use the same color scheme, trade name and dispatch services.
  • Vehicles must be equipped with a monitored silent alarm system and a monitored global positioning system. 
  • The 10-year vehicle age limit will not be enforced until the vehicle medallion is renewed in calendar year 2024.

Vehicle licensing

To renew your vehicle medallion, you must submit all necessary forms and documents and pay the required fees. Renew your Seattle taxicab vehicle medallion during the open period for renewals, from May 1 through June 30 each year. Vehicle medallions expire on June 30 each year.

All vehicle medallion renewals require:

Additional forms may be required if you are operating as a corporation or limited liability company, or if you are filing for a vehicle change or change of owner. Contact us if this is the case for you.

Vehicle lease

Vehicle lease summary form.

Medallions

See the medallions page for information.

Transportation network companies must maintain insurance coverage, in compliance with RCW 46.72B.180 for all TNC-affiliated vehicles at any time they are active on a TNC’s online dispatch application.

During the period before a passenger requests a ride (period 1), the insurance coverage must include:

  • Liability coverage in amounts no less than $50,000 per person for bodily injury, $100,000 per accident for bodily injury of all persons, and $30,000 for property damage.
  • Underinsured motorist coverage to the extent required under RCW 48.22.030.
  • Personal injury protection coverage to the extent required under RCW 48.22.085 and RCW 48.22.095.

During the period from when the passenger requests a ride until the passenger exits the TNC-affiliated vehicle (period 2), the insurance coverage must include:

  • Combined single limit liability coverage in the amount of $1 million for death, personal injury, and property damage.
  • Personal injury protection coverage to the extent required under RCW 48.22.085 and RCW 48.22.095.

During the period when the passenger enters the TNC-affiliated vehicle until the passenger exits the vehicle (period 3), the insurance coverage must include:

  • Underinsured motorist coverage in the amount of $100,000 per person, $300,000 per accident.

 Alternatively, the insurance coverage requirements can be met by securing 24-hour coverage in the following amounts:

  • $100,000 for any recovery for death or personal injury.
  • $300,000 for all persons killed or receiving personal injury.
  • $25,000 for property damage.
  • $100,000 per person and $300,000 per accident in underinsured motorist coverage.
  • Additionally, the insurance policy must:
    • Name the City of Seattle as an additional insured.
    • Be issued by an admitted carrier with an A.M. Best Rating of not less than B (VII) unless an exemption has been met for the use of a surplus line insurer.
    • Provide that the insurer will send a 30-day non-renewal or cancellation notice.
    • Not include aggregate limits or named driver exclusions.

A transportation network company must file evidence of insurance with the director of the Department of Finance and Administrative Services as part of its annual licensing.

Drivers must keep proof of commercial insurance in their vehicles while operating them. If you are a TNC driver, you must also maintain your own auto insurance policy to provide coverage when your vehicle is not being used to transport passengers.

Transportation network companies must provide a written insurance disclosure of the following statements to prospective TNC drivers in prospective drivers’ terms of service:

“WHILE OPERATING ON THE DIGITAL NETWORK OR SOFTWARE APPLICATION OF THE COMMERCIAL TRANSPORTATION SERVICES PROVIDER, YOUR PRIVATE PASSENGER AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE POLICY MIGHT NOT AFFORD LIABILITY, UNDERINSURED MOTORIST, PERSONAL INJURY PROTECTION, COMPREHENSIVE, OR COLLISION COVERAGE, DEPENDING ON THE TERMS OF THE POLICY.

IF THE VEHICLE THAT YOU PLAN TO USE TO PROVIDE COMMERCIAL TRANSPORTATION SERVICES FOR OUR COMPANY HAS A LIEN AGAINST IT, YOU MUST NOTIFY THE LIENHOLDER THAT YOU WILL BE USING THE VEHICLE FOR COMMERCIAL TRANSPORTATION SERVICES THAT MAY VIOLATE THE TERMS OF YOUR CONTRACT WITH THE LIENHOLDER.”

All TNC affiliated vehicles must undergo an annual vehicle safety inspection before they can be used to serve passengers. This inspection covers all major components of the vehicle, as well as vehicle features that aid the driver and keep the passenger comfortable. Inspections certify that the vehicle is mechanically sound and fit for driving and will note that all plates, decals and notices required and supplied by the City are legible and properly displayed.

The inspection must be performed by a mechanic approved by the director of the Department of Finance and Administrative Services. See the list of City-approved vehicle safety inspection mechanics.

The TNC has responsibility to require that each affiliated vehicle passes an inspection and to maintain inspection records for all affiliated vehicles

All drivers affiliated with a transportation network company must consent to an annual criminal background check. TNCs must review the background checks and maintain records of them.

The background checks may be conducted by fingerprinting the driver, with prints forwarded to the FBI or Washington State Patrol for investigation. They may also be conducted by a third-party vendor approved by the director of the Department of Finance and Administrative Services.

Companies also must report criminal offenses by drivers that affect the driver’s fitness to operate a TNC affiliated vehicle. These criminal offenses include but are not limited to:

  • Fraud
  • Theft
  • Robbery
  • Burglary
  • Assault
  • Sex crimes
  • Alcohol or drug offenses
  • Prostitution