Vehicle for Hire (Taxi)

A Vehicle for Hire (Taxi) endorsement is required for any business that transports passengers for a fee in for-hire vehicles, including:

• taxicabs, which are motor vehicles that transport people for a fee and do not have a fixed route or fixed starting and ending points
• cabulances that transport riders confined to a wheelchair or otherwise physically restricted so they cannot be safely transported by public mass transportation, taxicabs, or automobiles
  • Riders transported by cabulance must:
    • be stable
    • not be incapacitated from medications
    • not need oxygen or medical attention en route
• any other vehicles used for transporting passengers for payment

Endorsement exemptions

Businesses that operate the following types of vehicles do not need a for hire endorsement:

• auto stages
• school buses operating exclusively under a contract to a school district
• ride-sharing vehicles
• licensed limousine carriers
• vehicles used by nonprofit organizations to transport the elderly or people with disabilities and their attendants
• vehicles used by auto transportation companies
• vehicles used to provide courtesy transportation at no charge to and from parking lots, hotels, and rental offices
• vehicles licensed as excursion service carriers and charter carriers of passengers

Requirements

• The owner name and firm/trade name must be the same on the Business License Application, Vehicle Registration Certificate, and insurance.
• The use class on the Vehicle Registration Certificate must be “F/H” or “CAB”.
• The insurance information must:
  • include your policy number
  • have policy effective and expiration dates that show current coverage
  • display the name of the insurance company
  • show minimum combined single limit coverage of $325,000 or split limit coverage of $300,000/$100,000/$25,000
  • show year, make and complete VIN number of each car, which must match Vehicle Registration Certificate
  • list the certificate of holder as - State of Washington, Department of Licensing, PO Box 9039, Olympia, WA 98507-9039