How to Get a Taxi Permit in San Francisco
The San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA) is responsible for regulating the taxi industry and other motor vehicles for hire in the city. On March 1, 2009, San Francisco's Taxicab Commission merged with the SFMTA, creating the Division of Administration, Accessible Services and Taxis. The SFMTA issues permits to taxi operators in San Francisco -- a process that takes approximately eight weeks.
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Instructions
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Ensure you meet the requirements to become a taxi driver. Applicants must be a legal resident of the United States, must be clean in dress and person and must be free of any disease, condition, infirmity or addiction that may pose a public health and safety risk or affect the ability to drive safely. Applicants must hold a valid California driver's license, be physically capable of operating a motor vehicle for at least four hours daily, have no prior convictions for a crime that presents a public safety risk, be at least 21 and be able to speak, read and write English. Applicants must also have a letter of intent to hire from a San Francisco cab company.
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Visit the SFMTA Taxi Service office for New Driver Pre-Screening. The SFMTA Taxi Service office is located on the 7th Floor of One South Van Ness Avenue, and is open Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., as of May 2011.
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Complete taxi training. Applicant's for a taxi permit must attend taxi training at an approved taxi school and obtain a Taxi Training Certificate and Sensitivity Training Certificate. A list of approved schools can be found on the SFMTA website.
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Obtain a fingerprint and background check from a Live Scan location. A list of approved locations can be found on the SFMTA website.
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Take one passport-sized photograph. Photographs can be in color or black and white and must show the applicant's full face. Applicants should not wear a hat, scarf or sunglasses in the photograph.
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Obtain a 10-year printout of your driving record. Driving record printouts can be obtained from the California Department of Motor Vehicles and must be dated within 30 days of submitting an application.
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Submit your supporting documents to the SFMTA Taxi Service office. When submitting your documents, you will be asked to complete an application form and a written exam. An application fee must also be paid at the time of submitting your application.
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Receive your temporary permit. A temporary permit is issued after you have completed the taxi training course and have passed the written exam.
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Contact the San Francisco Tax Collector's office eight weeks after you receive your temporary permit. Confirm that your permanent permit, license, A-Card and badge are ready before picking up these items from the Tax Collector's office at San Francisco City Hall.
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Tips & Warnings
Submitting an application and supporting documents and completing the written test takes approximately one hour.
As of May 2011, only money orders are accepted as payment for the application fee.
As policies and processes for applying for a taxi permit may change, always confirm current policies with the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency.
