Commuter Van Base | City of New York

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Before you submit your application

The applicant must submit statements and business records to show all individuals, partners, officers, principals, and stockholders. Please make sure that the number of shares per person is provided. The applicant may bring in meeting minutes but they must be notarized.

The applicant must submit Certificate of Workers Compensation Insurance Authorities are required to maintain Workers' Compensation Insurance Coverage. A Certificate must be submitted to the Taxi and Limousine Commission. This can be obtained through the New York State Insurance Fund.

List of Permit Fees. More info

Fingerprinting Fee of $75 - Any individual that holds 10% or more of the shares must be fingerprinted. If you are using a money order to pay the fee it must be made payable to: NYC TLC.
All licenses are non-transferable and all fees are non-refundable.

List of accepted payment methods. More info

Money Order
Visa
MasterCard
American Express
Discover

The applicant must satisfy the requirements listed below before visiting one of the TLC facilities listed under Contact Information.

The applicant must be prepared to provide proof of Active Status with the N.Y. Department of State. This is needed to prove that The applicant's business is registered with the DOT and is not dissolved. The applicant may verify his or her status via the NYS Department of State website. Please attach a copy of the on screen print-out.

The applicant must submit proof of business status. If the owners are a corporation, the applicant must produce a Certificate of Incorporation and a filing receipt. If a partnership, the applicant must produce a Partnership Certificate. If a sole proprietor, the applicant must produce a Business Certificate. To get original copies of a Certificate of Incorporation, Filing Receipt or Business Certificate contact the NYS Division of Corporations.

Ready to Apply?

Apply in Person

Steps to apply in person:

The applicant must comply with all prerequisites and process steps listed below. They can then visit one of the TLC facilities listed under Contact Information.

The applicant must submit a completed Application to Operate a Commuter Van Authority License. Please see the Application to Operate a Commuter Van Authority License, Checklist for a New Commuter Van Authority License, and Instructions for Filing an Application for a New Commuter Van Authority License links above.

The applicant must present two forms of identification for each person listed on the application (one valid government issued identification and a social security card).

The applicant must present a valid and original social security card with application. Copies will not be accepted.

The applicant must submit proof of mailing address for the Commuter Van Authority - Lease or statement by a landlord to lease office space or Utility Bill.

The applicant must submit a copy of the most recent phone bill for the van authority telephone number. Please make sure the address on the phone bill is the same address as the one listed for the van authority.

The applicant must submit a completed DOT Application. This application will allow an individual to apply for a New Commuter Van Authority License for the NYC Department of Transportation with the DOT.

The applicant must submit maps for the area the commuter van vehicle will work in as required by the DOT. The applicant must submit a Zone Rate Schedule Map or Rate of Fare Book. The applicant must mark copies of city maps to show the territory the vehicles will be working in. The applicant can get the maps from the Department of City Planning.

The applicant must submit statements of Approval from their City Council Member (CM), Community Board (CB) and Local Police Precinct OR a copy of the letters to these agencies seeking a letter of no objection to the commuter van authority's request to do business in the area described. Return-receipts or certified mail receipts for each of the three letters is required. Please note the letters sent to the City Council and Community Board must also include a copy of a completed application form. In addition, the letter must inform the CM or CB that if they want additional documents (such as a copy of a lease) that they can request them if they are needed.

The applicant must submit support statements from the public. These are statements by persons or organizations that agree with the commuter van authority's request to do business in the area described. The statements should explain why the current mass transit system does not meet the needs of each of the individuals supporting the application.

All fees must be submitted along with the application form as identified below.

When the application package is complete all of the documents listed above will be submitted by the TLC to the Department of Transportation (DOT) for review and approval.

The TLC will then take the applicants fingerprints and conduct a background check.

The DOT will hold a public hearing and the applicant will be allowed to speak at the hearing if they want to. DOT will then decide on whether or not to approve the applicant's territory as indicated on the maps. The public hearing meetings are held in the borough in which the van authority will be working. (Example: authority located in Queens and his territory runs from Queens into Manhattan. - He will have a hearing in Queens and Manhattan). The locations for each borough are as follows:

Queens: Queens Borough Hall, 120-55 Queens Blvd., RM 213, Part 2 Kew Gardens, NY 11424
Brooklyn: 209 Joralemon Street Community Room, Brooklyn, NY 11201
Bronx: 851 Grand Concourse Veterans Memorial Hall, 1st Floor, Bronx, NY 10451
Manhattan: One Centre Street, 19th Floor South Bronx, NY 10007

Once the DOT provides final approval, the commuter van authority will need to make sure to have at least one vehicle registered with the TLC.

The applicant will need to renew approval status with the DOT in six years.

The TLC will then issue the commuter van authority a 2 year license, which will need to be renewed after two years.

After approval of the base application by the NYC TLC and NYC DOT the applicant must submit Form E Uniform Motor Carrier Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability -A copy of a written arrangement and/or a lease agreement that applicant has with the operator of a Wheelchair Accessible Van, which the operator will supply for compliance with the American with Disabilities Act. To get a copy of Form E, contact the DOT.

After approval of the base application by the NYC TLC and NYC DOT the applicant must submit a description of how the commuter van authority provides service to persons with disabilities. Be sure to identify the wheelchair accessible vehicles, if any, utilized by commuter van service.

After approval of the base application by the NYC TLC and NYC DOT the applicant must submit a completed Internet Affidavit with working E-mail address for the proposed commuter van authority. Each commuter van authority is required to maintain a working E-mail address on file at TLC. If approved, the commuter van authority will receive a password, which can be used to access information relative to the business online at the TLC's website. Please see the Internet Affidavit link above.

The applicant must submit a copy of a written arrangement and or a lease agreement that the applicant has with the operator of a wheelchair accessible van, which the operator will supply for compliance. The applicant must also submit a description of how the commuter van authority provides service to persons with disabilities. Be sure to identify the wheelchair accessible vehicles, if any used by the commuter van service.