Buying or leasing a TLC car, and the insurance that comes first
Drivers buy and lease TLC-ready cars from dealers and from fleet and rental companies. The car still needs for-hire insurance, and the insurer still has to file an FH-1, before the car is plated and driven for TLC work. This page does not show a price and does not claim a partnership with any seller.
Dealers and fleets
A driver may buy a car from a dealer or lease one from a fleet or rental company that already works with for-hire drivers. The sale or lease is separate from the TLC base the car will use, and separate from the insurance quote.
MotorTrend reported that in Fisker’s 2024 bankruptcy the court approved a sale of remaining Ocean SUVs to American Lease, a New York ride-share leasing company. That is one public example of a fleet lessor supplying cars to ride-hail drivers. This site is not affiliated with American Lease or Fisker and is not a dealer. The Fisker Ocean page on this site notes parts availability for that model. It does not describe the fleet sale.
Insurance before plating and driving
A personal auto policy does not meet TLC rules for a for-hire vehicle. For a for-hire vehicle with 1–7 seats, TLC lists $100,000 per person / $300,000 per occurrence, with property damage of $10,000. Required PIP is $100,000 per person as of March 1, 2026. Other classes use different published minimums. Those figures are on TLC’s for-hire vehicle license page and vehicle insurance page. The same minimums are explained in the TLC insurance guide.
The insurer files the FH-1. This site does not file it and does not issue the policy. NY DMV’s for-hire insurance requirements describe the FH-1 for for-hire registration. More on the certificate is in the FH-1 guide.
TLC’s for-hire vehicle license page says new for-hire vehicle license applications are limited to wheelchair-accessible vehicles, and the vehicle must be under 7 model years old. Renewal of an existing for-hire plate is not limited to wheelchair-accessible vehicles. A car from a dealer is not automatically eligible for a new TLC plate.
A quote at the point of sale
The driver can start a quote on this site while the purchase or lease is being completed. The quote form asks for the vehicle, then the carrier sets coverage and price. A quote request does not bind coverage, does not file an FH-1, and does not plate the car.
For dealers and fleets
If you sell or lease cars to TLC drivers and want to point a driver to this quote page, use the contact page. There is no referral fee and no referral agreement on this page.
Questions
Does a personal auto policy cover a car that will take TLC trips?
No. A personal auto policy does not meet TLC rules for a for-hire vehicle. The car needs for-hire coverage that meets the published minimums, and the insurer files the FH-1.
Can any car bought from a dealer get a new TLC vehicle license?
No. TLC says new for-hire vehicle license applications are limited to wheelchair-accessible vehicles, and the vehicle must be under 7 model years old. Renewal of an existing for-hire plate is not limited to wheelchair-accessible vehicles.
Is this site a partner of a dealer or fleet?
No. Dealers and fleets sell and lease cars to TLC drivers. This site is not affiliated with them, does not charge a referral fee, and does not offer referral terms.
