For-Hire Vehicle Drivers

You can now renew or apply for a for-hire driver's license online through the Seattle Services Portal. You can follow these step-by-step instructions for using the Portal. If you have questions about the renewal or application process, please contact King County licensing services.

The City of Seattle passed an ordinance in 2014 regulating for-hire vehicle drivers. Key provisions of the ordinance that apply to drivers of for-hire vehicles are:

• Drivers must have a valid for-hire driver's license.
• Drivers must allow the City to inspect vehicles without notice.
• Drivers must keep accurate daily trip records and report required records.

In order to operate a for-hire vehicle, you must have a valid Washington driver's license and a valid for-hire driver's license. The City of Seattle partners with King County to perform the licensing of taxi and for-hire drivers working in Seattle.

Standards for conduct

Drivers must follow these standards of conduct:

• You must have a valid for-hire driver's permit and valid driver's license while operating the vehicle. You must display an enlargement of the for-hire permit in a frame inside the vehicle.
• You must carry proof of commercial insurance in your vehicle while operating it.
• You must not operate a taxicab, for-hire vehicle or TNC vehicle when its license has been suspended or revoked.
• You must not be in control of a taxicab, TNC vehicle or for-hire vehicle for more than 14 hours in any 24-hour period. After that, you must not drive any for-hire vehicle until 10 consecutive hours have passed. Hours driven in for-hire vehicles in other platforms (taxicabs, for-hire vehicles) are aggregated.
• You must check after each trip for items left behind by passengers and report and return such items to the company or association's lost-and-found.
• You must operate your vehicles with due regard for the safety, comfort and convenience of passengers.
• You must report records of trips and other required information each week.
• No alcohol. You must not drink any alcoholic beverage while on duty or less than eight hours prior to going on duty; you may not possess an open or unsealed container of alcoholic beverages while on duty.
• You must not use your vehicle for solicitation of prostitution or for the solicitation, transportation, sale or any activity related to illegal drugs.
• No littering.
• You must not smoke in the vehicle.
• You must not use offensive language, expressions or gestures to any person while driving, operating, picking up customers or in control of a taxicab, transportation network company vehicle or for-hire vehicle.
• Carry a map of Seattle and the region, published within the past two years, and display the map to passengers when requested.
• You must not use a mobile phone unless it is in hands-free mode.
• You must report accidents that occur while operating a taxicab, for-hire vehicle or transportation network vehicle within three days to both the state of Washington, as required, and to the director of the Department of Finance and Administrative Services.

Standards for customer relations

Drivers must follow these customer relations standards:

• You must provide customers with professional and courteous service at all times.
• Taxicab drivers must not refuse a request for service because of your position in line at a taxicab zone; a passenger may select any taxicab in line.
• You must not refuse to transport any passenger's wheelchair if it can be folded and placed in the passenger, driver or trunk compartment of the vehicle.
• You must not refuse to transport a service animal or guide dog that is assisting a customer with a disability.
• You must not refuse to transport groceries, packages or luggage when accompanied by a passenger.
• You must help passengers by placing luggage or packages that weigh less than 50 pounds in and out of the vehicle.
• You must provide each passenger with an electronic or paper receipt upon payment of the fare.
• You must use the most direct available route on all trips unless the passenger specifically requests to change the route.
• You must not refuse to transport any person except when:
  • You have already been dispatched on another call.
  • The passenger is acting in a disorderly or threatening manner.
  • The passenger is otherwise acting in a way that would cause a reasonable person to be concerned for the health and safety of the driver or others.
  • The passenger cannot, upon request, show ability to pay the fare.
  • The passenger refuses to state a specific destination upon entering the vehicle.

  Standards for cruising

  Drivers of for-hire vehicles must follow these cruising standards:

  • You may solicit passengers only from the driver's seat or within 12 feet of the vehicle and only when the vehicle is safely and legally parked.
  • You must not use any other person to solicit passengers.
  • You may not pick up passengers in a designated taxi zone, including any taxi zone located in front of a hotel.

  Driver training and testing

  Drivers must complete driver’s education and be tested before obtaining a for-hire driver’s permit. The training must include completion of the National Safety Council's Defensive Driving Course and at least one additional driving training program approved by the director of the Department of Finance and Administrative Services.

  Transportation network companies may provide their own driver training programs, which must include the following topics:

  • Defensive driving,
  • Use of emergency equipment,
  • Procedures for driver safety,
  • Risk factors for crimes against drivers,
  • Passenger relations and
  • Standards of professional conduct.

  Required testing may be administered by the City of Seattle, jointly by the City and King County, or by a licensed TNC or a third-party vendor. Examinations must test the driver's:

  • Knowledge of requirements and laws for operating TNC affiliated vehicles;
  • Ability to speak and read English well enough to fulfill the duties of a driver;
  • Knowledge of vehicle safety requirements;
  • Knowledge of the geography of Seattle, King County and the surrounding region;
  • Knowledge of local public and tourist destinations and attractions and
  • Knowledge of risk factors for crimes against drivers, of emergency procedures and of personal safety equipment.

  Exam procedures and content must be approved by the director of the Department of Finance and Administrative Services.

  Background checks

  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

  Penalties and appeals

  City inspectors enforce the regulations affecting drivers and vehicles affiliated with TNCs. Inspectors ride announced in TNC affiliated vehicles to ensure operating standards are met. Please contact us if you have questions about driver or vehicle operating standards.

  You have 10 days to request a hearing if you receive a violation, suspension or revocation. Instructions for requesting a hearing will be on the reverse side of the notice of violation or license action form, or you may contact us.

  If you receive a notice of infraction, you must respond within 15 days. Instructions for responding will be on the reverse side of the notice of infraction. Payments or requests for hearings are processed by Seattle Municipal Court.

  You must pay any fines within 30 days of the issue date. Failure to pay could result in the loss of your license. This table list Seattle fines for TNC affiliated drivers and vehicles:

  Offense	Class	Amount	Points
  1st	A	$35	2
  2nd	A	$70	3
  3rd	A	$120	4
  1st	B	$70	4
  2nd	B	$175	7
  3rd	B	$300	10
  All	C	$1,000	20

  A TNC is subject to monetary penalties for violations incurred by its affiliated drivers and vehicles and for revocation of its annual license for violations outlined in SMC 6.310.610.C.