How to Renew Your TLC Driver License (Step by Step)
Your TLC driver license is valid for three years. Renewal is done completely online, and you can start up to 90 days before it expires. Miss the deadline and you can’t drive for hire until the TLC approves your late renewal. Here’s exactly what to do and what it costs.
When to renew your TLC driver license
- Earliest: up to 90 days before your license expires.
- Deadline: every requirement must be finished by your expiration date, or the license expires.
- Online only: the TLC does not accept renewal applications, payments or documents in person. Use LARS to pay and TLC UP to upload documents.
TLC driver license renewal steps
- Pay all ticketsPay any outstanding parking, traffic or TLC tickets first.
- Take the drug testWithin 90 days before expiration. LabCorp, $34.
- Take the TLC Driver License Renewal CourseRequired every three years, no exam and no exemptions. About three hours of classroom instruction and about one hour of hands-on wheelchair-accessible vehicle training at a TLC-authorized school.
- Defensive Driving, if neededYour DMV Defensive Driving Course certificate must be no more than three years old at renewal. If it’s older, take a new 6-hour course.
- Watch the Sex Trafficking Awareness videoAbout 10 minutes.
- Confirm your contact details in LARSMake sure your address, phone and email are current.
- Out-of-state licensees onlySubmit a DMV driving abstract dated within 90 days of expiration, and complete the ID-5 step at a NYS DMV office, uploading the FS-6T receipt to TLC UP.
- Pay the renewal fee in LARS$252 for a three-year license.
TLC driver license renewal fees
| Item | Fee |
|---|---|
| TLC renewal fee (3-year license) | $252 |
| Drug test (LabCorp) | $34 |
| Renewal course (TLC-authorized school) | $100–$150 |
| Late fee, if you renew after expiration | $25 |
| Total | $386–$436 |
Source: NYC TLC — Renew a TLC Driver License. All TLC fees are non-refundable.
Late TLC driver license renewal
If your license already expired, you can still renew within 180 days after expiration by completing all requirements and paying a $25 late fee. Your license stays expired — and you cannot work for hire — until the TLC approves the late application.
Your vehicle has separate deadlines. A TLC vehicle (FHV) license renewal should be submitted at least 30 days before it expires, and it can’t be approved without current TLC insurance on file. See our TLC insurance renewal guide and TLC vehicle license guide.
TLC renewal questions
How often do I renew my TLC driver license?
Every three years. You can start the renewal up to 90 days before it expires.
Can I renew my TLC license in person?
No. The TLC says renewals are online only — pay in LARS and upload documents in TLC UP.
Is there a test for the TLC renewal course?
No. The renewal course has no exam, but it is required every three years with no exemptions.
What if my TLC license expired?
You have 180 days after expiration to complete a late renewal with a $25 late fee. You cannot drive for hire until the TLC approves it.
Official sources: TLC Renew a TLC Driver License · TLC Renew an FHV License
Last updated October 2026. Rules and fees change — always confirm with the NYC TLC or NYS DMV before you apply. This guide is general information, not legal advice.
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