When you hire a taxi or car service in Westchester County, you may not think about licensing — but you should. Westchester County has a comprehensive regulatory framework for ground transportation, and understanding it can protect your safety and legal rights as a passenger.
What is the WCTLC?
The Westchester County Taxi and Limousine Commission (WCTLC) is the county agency responsible for licensing and regulating taxi and car service operators in Westchester County. The WCTLC sets safety standards, insurance requirements, and operational rules for all licensed ground transportation providers.
Types of WCTLC Licenses
The WCTLC issues several types of licenses:
- Base License: Issued to transportation companies that dispatch vehicles. Ernie's Taxi holds Base License No. TLC WC: 2600666
- Vehicle License: Required for each vehicle operated for hire in Westchester County
- Driver License: Required for each driver operating a vehicle for hire
Why WCTLC Licensing Matters for Passengers
Insurance requirements: Licensed operators are required to carry commercial vehicle insurance at specified minimum levels. Unlicensed operators may have no commercial coverage — leaving you unprotected in an accident.
Driver background checks: WCTLC licensing requires driver background screening. Unlicensed gig workers may not meet these standards.
Safety inspections: Licensed vehicles must meet safety inspection requirements. Unlicensed vehicles have no such accountability.
Legal recourse: If you have a complaint about a licensed operator, the WCTLC provides a formal complaint process. With unlicensed operators, you have no regulatory body to turn to.
Are Rideshare Apps WCTLC Licensed?
This is an important question. Rideshare companies like Uber and Lyft operate under state-level TNC (Transportation Network Company) regulations, not the WCTLC. This means they are not subject to the same local oversight as licensed Westchester car services.
Ernie's Taxi — Fully Licensed and Compliant
Ernie's Taxi and Car Service is a WCTLC Licensed Base Operator (License No. TLC WC: 2600666). We are fully compliant with all Westchester County transportation regulations, carry all required commercial insurance, and employ WCTLC licensed drivers.
When you ride with Ernie's Taxi, you are protected by the full regulatory framework of the Westchester County Taxi and Limousine Commission.
Base, vehicle and driver licenses: what each one means for you
The three WCTLC license types above each protect the passenger in a different way:
| License | Who holds it | What it means for the passenger |
|---|---|---|
| Base license | The company that takes your booking and dispatches the car (ours is TLC WC 2600666) | There is an accountable business behind the ride, carrying the commercial insurance the WCTLC requires |
| Vehicle license | Each vehicle operated for hire in Westchester County | The car is licensed for hire and subject to safety inspection requirements |
| Driver license | Each driver operating a vehicle for hire | The driver has gone through WCTLC background screening |
How to check that your ride is licensed
- Ask for the base license number. A licensed base can tell you its WCTLC number straight away. Ours is TLC WC 2600666; it is printed on every page of this site and in our Terms of Service.
- Book with the company, not with a driver at the curb. A pre-booked ride has a company name, a confirmed pickup time and a phone number to call if anything goes wrong. Someone offering a ride at an airport curb or a station has none of those.
- Get the rate before you ride. A car service that works on flat rates tells you the rate when you book, and the extras that can be added are written down in advance.
- Check that the car matches the booking. Before you get in, confirm the driver has your name and destination; a driver sent by a dispatcher already knows both.
- Keep the dispatch number. Lost items and questions about a trip go to the company first, so save the number before you get in.
Licensed car service, rideshare and unlicensed rides compared
| Licensed car service | Rideshare app | Unlicensed ride | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Who oversees it | Westchester County Taxi and Limousine Commission | State rules for transportation network companies | No one |
| Insurance | Commercial coverage at WCTLC minimums | Set under the state TNC rules | Possibly none that covers paid rides |
| Where a complaint goes | The company, then the WCTLC complaint process | The app company | Nowhere |
| How the price is set | Quoted by the company; ours is a flat rate | Set by the app; can surge | Whatever the driver asks |
What you can expect from us as a passenger
Licensing sets the floor. Our own Terms of Service spell out the rest, and they are short enough to read before you book:
- The quoted flat rate is the rate you pay. The only additions are listed in advance: extra stops, waiting beyond 15 minutes, tolls passed through at cost, airport parking fees and after-hours local service between 10 PM and 6 AM.
- Cancellation. Free more than 2 hours before pickup; later cancellations may be charged 50% of the quoted fare, and a no-show after 15 minutes may be charged in full.
- Payment. Cash or major credit card, due at the end of the ride unless you have a corporate account. Gratuity is not included and is up to you.
- In the car. No smoking, vaping or alcohol in any of our vehicles.
- Lost items. Call (914) 666-7373 as soon as you notice; we make every reasonable effort to return what is found.
If something goes wrong
Call us first at (914) 666-7373; dispatch answers from 6 AM to 10 PM every day, and most problems (a missed pickup, a lost phone, a billing question) are solved on that call. If a complaint about a licensed operator is not resolved, the WCTLC’s formal complaint process exists for exactly that situation. With an unlicensed driver there is no company and no regulator to turn to, which is the practical reason licensing matters.
More about who we are is on our About Ernie’s Taxi page. For everyday rides near our bases, see our local taxi service; for how a licensed local taxi compares with the apps, read local Westchester taxi vs Uber.
Frequently asked questions
Is Ernie’s Taxi licensed in Westchester County?
Yes. Ernie’s Taxi and Car Service is a WCTLC Licensed Base Operator, license TLC WC 2600666, and carries the commercial insurance the WCTLC requires.
Are Uber and Lyft licensed by the WCTLC?
No. Rideshare companies operate under state-level rules for transportation network companies, not under the Westchester County Taxi and Limousine Commission.
What is a WCTLC base license?
It is the license issued to a transportation company that dispatches vehicles. Each vehicle and each driver also needs its own WCTLC license.
Are your drivers background-checked?
Yes. All of our drivers are WCTLC licensed, which includes background screening.
I left something in the car. What should I do?
Call (914) 666-7373 as soon as you notice, with the date, time and pickup address of the ride. We make every reasonable effort to find and return lost items, though recovery cannot be guaranteed.
Is smoking or drinking allowed in the car?
No. Smoking, vaping and alcohol are not allowed in any of our vehicles.
Can the driver charge more than the quoted rate?
Only for the extras listed in our Terms of Service: extra stops, waiting beyond 15 minutes, tolls at cost, airport parking fees and after-hours local service. The base flat rate does not change with traffic or demand.
Book Westchester's Licensed Car Service
Choose licensed, insured, and professionally regulated transportation. Call or text (914) 666-7373 for car service throughout Westchester County.
Need a Ride in Westchester County?
Call or text Ernie's Taxi for immediate car service. Fixed rates, professional drivers, airport rides 24/7 by reservation.
📞 (914) 666-7373