Vehicle For Hire

All operators of rental cars with chauffeurs or non-motorized vehicle for hire businesses must apply and obtain a Vehicle for Hire permit with the Transportation and Mobility Department prior to operating.

Application Instructions:

• Complete the Vehicle for Hire permit application and submit to the Transportation and Mobility Department via email to transportation@fortlauderdale.gov. All applications should be checked for completion and should include, at minimum:
  • Copy/copies of all Vehicle Registration(s)
  • Copy/copies of all Chauffeur Registration(s)
  • Photos of the vehicle(s) taken from all sides, labeled and identified per Vehicle Registration
  • If the service is operating on a fixed route or within a specific service area, an aerial map, including the starting location, turn arounds, and end point (for fixed routes) or highlighted service area with street name boundaries labeled (for service areas)
  • A copy of the Certificate of Insurance (COI) with the City of Fort Lauderdale listed as additional insured
  • List of complaints or violations received related to the operation of a vehicle for hire business or service, if applicable
  • Acknowledgment of Operational Requirements and Standards, signed and notarized:
    • Acknowledgement of Operational Requirements - Individual Applicants(PDF, 240KB)
    • Acknowledgement of Operational Requirements - Business Entities(PDF, 240KB)
  • A new or renewal application fee must be paid to the City of Fort Lauderdale prior to application review.
    • Payments can be made by cash, check, money order, or credit card in-person, Monday through Friday between the hours of 8:30 AM - 4:00 PM, at the Parking Services Lobby, located at 290 NE 3rd Avenue, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301.
    • Checks or money orders must be made payable to the City of Fort Lauderdale and may also be sent via mail to the same address.
  • Completed applications will be reviewed by the Transportation and Mobility Department and Risk Management Division for COI compliance.
  • Once approved, but prior to permit issuance, applicants must obtain a valid Business Tax Receipt from the City's Business Tax Division.
    •  Business Tax Receipts can be applied for online through the City's permitting portal, LauderBuild. Click here to access the LauderBuild website.

Renewal Applications:

All permit holders are required to submit a Vehicle for Hire application, including all required documents, to the Transportation and Mobility Department by September 30th of each year to maintain permit compliance status.

Application & Permit Fees:

Rental Car with Chauffeur/Sightseeing Vehicle: $151 - New Application / $100 - Renewal

Non-Motorized Vehicle for Hire: $150 - New Application / $150 - Renewal

Permit fees are collected by the Business Tax Division through the Business Tax Receipt:

Rental Car with Chauffeur/Sightseeing Vehicle (Per Vehicle):

• Up to five (5) passengers: $32.55
• Six (6) - Nine (9) passengers: $45.15
• Ten (10) or more passengers: $125.00
• Fifteen (15) or more passengers: $131.25
• Franchise Bus (per bus): $105.00

Non-Motorized Vehicle (Per Vehicle):

• Permit Fee per Vehicle: $5.00
• Replacement Fee: $10.00

Before a permit can be issued to any person or corporation to operate as a Vehicle for Hire, the applicant shall submit a certificate of insurance (COI) to the Transportation and Mobility Department as proof of automobile liability insurance for each vehicle operated. 

Providing proof and maintaining insurance coverage is required. All insurance policies shall be through insurers authorized or eligible to write policies in the State of Florida and possess an A.M. Best rating of B or better. The City of Fort Lauderdale must be listed as additional insured.

Insurance Requirements

Rental Car with Chauffeur and Sightseeing Vehicles:

• Bodily Injury and Property Damage coverage in an amount not less than $150,000 per person, $300,000 per accident, and $100,000 for property damage

Non-Motorized Vehicles:

• Commercial General Liability policy with limits not less than:
  • $1,000,000 each occurrence and $2,000,000 aggregate for Bodily Injury, Property Damage, and Personal and Advertising Injury
  • $1,000,000 each occurrence and $2,000,000 aggregate for Products and Completed Operations
  • $25,000 per person no-fault medical payment policy/coverage

All Vehicle for Hire businesses are required to operate under the provisions and operational requirements identified in Ordinance No. C-25-52 Code of Ordinances of the City of Fort Lauderdale, as well as any other applicable city, county, state and federal laws, rules, ordinances, and statutes. Failure to do so may result in additional enforcement or citations pursuant to Section 1-6 of Code of Ordinances or the suspension, revocation, or both, of a permit or permits issued to operate. 

Vehicle for Hire Operational Requirements

• Any Rental Car with Chauffeur, Sightseeing service, or non-motorized vehicle for hire service wishing to operate with the city limits of the City of Fort Lauderdale must obtain permits prior to operating.
  • There is a maximum permit capacity of one hundred (100) permits allowed to be issued per fiscal year (October 1st through September 30th) for the operators of Rental Cars with Chauffeurs/Sightseeing vehicles.
• Parking, stopping, and standing according to Chapter 26, Article IV of the Code of Ordinances of the City of Fort Lauderdale.
• The operation of radios or other mechanical or electronic sound making devices or instruments in vehicles pursuant to § 316.3045, Fla. Stat. (2025).
• All vehicles for hire must visibly display a notification advising passengers that seatbelts must be worn at all times, while the vehicle is in motion.
• Drivers and passengers must adhere to all local and state traffic safety rules and requirements including, but not limited to, the correct use of seatbelts, obeying traffic signs, signals, and pavement markings, and other provisions as required pursuant to Ch. 316, Fla. Stat. (2025) and Ch. 322, Fla. Stat. (2025).
• Owner-identification signs or business identification signs must be displayed and contain, at minimum, the name of the business or operator, business phone number, and fare or rate schedule.
  • It shall be unlawful for any person to display any obscene or indecent matter upon any sign or advertising structure. No sign shall display any statement, word, character, or illustration of an obscene nature as identified by Ch. 847, Fla. Stat. (2025).
  • No operator shall advertise in a manner that might confuse the public by imitating the name of a competitor or indicating that the operator carries on a taxicab service.
• Operators may not solicit business at any taxicab stands or public transportation stations, such as public transit or bus stations.
• When not in operation, all vehicles shall be stored at the permanent storage location as indicated within the Vehicle for Hire permit application.
• All rates and fares, including operating for gratuity, shall be readily available and visible for all passengers at all times.
• All drivers of vehicle for hire services must carry valid Chauffeur Registration.
• All insurance requirements must be met, and insurances kept in full force and effect at all times.
• Permits may not be transferred, leased, or sold.

Exceptions - Application and Permits

Any vehicle for hire service, including, but not limited to, taxicabs, luxury vehicles, courtesy vehicles, or similar, which is duly licensed or permitted to operate a vehicle for hire service by another county or municipality located in the State of Florida, and has not had a license or permit to operate such a service suspended or revoked within the immediately preceding five (5) years, is authorized to operate within the city limit pursuant to § 320.0603, Fla. Stat. (2024).

Any business operating as a vehicle for hire service licensed by another county or municipality must have all permits displayed and readily available at all times. 

• Broward County Chauffeur Registration
• Vehicle For Hire Ordinance No. C-25-52
• City of Fort Lauderdale Business Tax Division
• LauderBuild - City of Fort Lauderdale Permit Portal (Business Tax)
• Vehicle For Hire Application(PDF, 343KB)

Taxicabs, luxury transportation vehicles, and non-emergency medical transportation services are permitted to operate as Vehicle for Hire services through the Broward County Consumer Protection Division. Please visit their website at www.Broward.org/Consumer.