Vehicle Requirements

Obtain a Letter of Intent from a Transportation Services Company to use their name and colors. If you plan to open your own Transportation Services Company, visit the For-Hire Transportation Service Company web page to get started.

Using the for-hire vehicle requirements as a guide, prepare the vehicle for operation by completing necessary steps such as painting, obtaining insurance, installing a meter if needed, and obtaining a Certificate of Safety. (See the full list of requirements below.)

Once the vehicle is ready, submit an application and these additional requirements to:

Tax & License
747 Market Street, Room 212
Tacoma, WA 98402

• Completed For-Hire Vehicle License Application

• Copy of the Intent letter (if applicable)

• Copy of the Motor Vehicle Registration

• Copy of Insurance Policy or Certificate of Insurance

• Certificate of Safety

• For-hire vehicle license fee of $75 (per vehicle)

• Meter Inspection fee of $50 (if meter in a vehicle)

If the vehicle is a metered vehicle, a City of Tacoma Tax & License Compliance Officer will contact the for-hire vehicle owner to schedule an inspection of the vehicle. Once the vehicle passes inspection, the license will be approved, and a plate issued.

If the vehicle is not metered a plate will be issued after the application is processed and the license approved.

Vehicle License Renewals

Vehicle licenses are valid from July 1 – June 30.  A renewal notice will be mailed out in June with a due date of July 31st. If you will not be renewing your vehicle license, the plate must be returned to the Tax & License office by June 30.

Age of Vehicle

The age of the vehicle must be no more than ten years old at the time of application.

Certificate of Safety

The Certificate of Safety is required to be completed by an ASE Certified Mechanic and will demonstrate that the vehicle has passed a uniform vehicle safety inspection.

Consumer Complaint Survey

Per Tacoma Code 6B.220.240 every for-hire vehicle shall be equipped with consumer information conspicuously posted in a prominent place within the passenger compartment, on the app used to obtain transportation services, and/or in an electronic receipt.

Consumer information must include, at a minimum, the for-hire vehicle name, number, if applicable, the for-hire driver’s name and for-hire driver’s license number, a consumer survey, and a complaint card and shall include the following notice:

“The driver of this for-hire vehicle is required by Tacoma City Code to give a receipt for services provided to any passenger who requests one. If you have a complaint about a for-hire vehicle or for-hire driver, contact the for-hire transportation services company (insert your business name, address, phone number, and email address) or the Director (747 Market Street, Room 212, Tacoma, WA 98402; (253) 591-5252; forhire@tacoma.gov.)” 

Flat Rate Vehicles

Flat rate-for-hire vehicles transport people for compensation but are different from taxicabs because they charge a flat rate per trip, rather than a metered fare like a taxi. See additional requirements below.

Insurance

Insurance must be issued by an admitted carrier in the State of Washington with an A.M Best’s Rating of not less than A- and not be less than A.M Best’s Financial Size Category VII. Each cab must be listed, and the policy must list the City of Tacoma as an additional insured.

An insurance policy of underinsured motorist coverage indicating 1.) a minimum combined single limit coverage of three hundred thousand dollars ($300,000) or split-level coverage of one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000) per person, three hundred thousand dollars ($300,000) per accident per vehicle.

Rates

Rates, including discounts or special rates, must be displayed in writing or otherwise displayed in an application dispatch service or website explaining the rate structure and is transparent to the rider prior to accepting the ride.

Receipts

The vehicle must be equipped with a properly sealed, working, and accurate receipt-issuing taximeter or receipt-issuing mobile data terminal or receipt-issuing application dispatch service. Receipts may be sent electronically.

Taximeter

The taximeter must be in accurate operating condition, in good working order and sealed.

*If your vehicle will not have a taximeter installed, see additional Flat rate requirements listed below on this web page.