TNC Drivers

Drivers must follow these standards of conduct:

• You must have a valid for-hire driver's permit and valid driver's license while operating the vehicle. You must display an enlargement of the for-hire permit in a frame inside the vehicle.
• You must carry proof of commercial insurance in your vehicle while operating it.
• You must not operate a taxicab, for-hire vehicle or TNC vehicle when its license has been suspended or revoked.
• You must not be in control of a taxicab, TNC vehicle or for-hire vehicle for more than 14 hours in any 24-hour period. After that, you must not drive any for-hire vehicle until 10 consecutive hours have passed. Hours driven in for-hire vehicles in other platforms (taxicabs, for-hire vehicles) are aggregated.
• You must check after each trip for items left behind by passengers and report and return such items to the company or association's lost-and-found.
• You must operate your vehicles with due regard for the safety, comfort and convenience of passengers.
• You must report records of trips and other required information each week.
• No alcohol. You must not drink any alcoholic beverage while on duty or less than eight hours prior to going on duty; you may not possess an open or unsealed container of alcoholic beverages while on duty.
• You must not use your vehicle for solicitation of prostitution or for the solicitation, transportation, sale or any activity related to illegal drugs.
• No littering.
• You must not smoke in the vehicle.
• You must not use offensive language, expressions or gestures to any person while driving, operating, picking up customers or in control of a taxicab, transportation network company vehicle or for-hire vehicle.
• Carry a map of Seattle and the region, published within the past two years, and display the map to passengers when requested.
• You must not use a mobile phone unless it is in hands-free mode.
• You must report accidents that occur while operating a taxicab, for-hire vehicle or transportation network vehicle within three days to both the state of Washington, as required, and to the director of the Department of Finance and Administrative Services.

Drivers must follow these customer relations standards:

• You must provide customers with professional and courteous service at all times.
• You must not refuse to transport any passenger's wheelchair if it can be folded and placed in the passenger, driver or trunk compartment of the vehicle.
• You must not refuse to transport a service animal or guide dog that is assisting a customer with a disability.
• You must not refuse to transport groceries, packages or luggage when accompanied by a passenger.
• You must help passengers by placing luggage or packages that weigh less than 50 pounds in and out of the vehicle.
• You must provide each passenger with an electronic or paper receipt upon payment of the fare.
• You must use the most direct available route on all trips unless the passenger specifically requests to change the route.
• You must not refuse to transport any person except when:
  • You have already been dispatched on another call.
  • The passenger is acting in a disorderly or threatening manner.
  • The passenger is otherwise acting in a way that would cause a reasonable person to be concerned for the health and safety of the driver or others.
  • The passenger refuses to state a specific destination upon entering the vehicle.
• You must not make any discriminatory charges or rebates to any person.
• You must be clean and neat in dress and person and present a professional appearance to the public.

Drivers of TNC-endorsed vehicles may not solicit passengers, cruise for passengers or pick up passengers in a taxi zone.

Transportation network companies must maintain insurance coverage, in compliance with RCW 46.72B.180 for all TNC-affiliated vehicles at any time they are active on a TNC’s online dispatch application.

During the period before a passenger requests a ride (period 1), the insurance coverage must include:

• Liability coverage in amounts no less than $50,000 per person for bodily injury, $100,000 per accident for bodily injury of all persons, and $30,000 for property damage.
• Underinsured motorist coverage to the extent required under RCW 48.22.030.
• Personal injury protection coverage to the extent required under RCW 48.22.085 and RCW 48.22.095.

During the period from when the passenger requests a ride until the passenger exits the TNC-affiliated vehicle (period 2), the insurance coverage must include:

• Combined single limit liability coverage in the amount of $1 million for death, personal injury, and property damage.
• Personal injury protection coverage to the extent required under RCW 48.22.085 and RCW 48.22.095.

During the period when the passenger enters the TNC-affiliated vehicle until the passenger exits the vehicle (period 3), the insurance coverage must include:

• Underinsured motorist coverage in the amount of $100,000 per person, $300,000 per accident.

Alternatively, the insurance coverage requirements can be met by securing 24-hour coverage in the following amounts:

• $100,000 for any recovery for death or personal injury.
• $300,000 for all persons killed or receiving personal injury.
• $25,000 for property damage.
• $100,000 per person and $300,000 per accident in underinsured motorist coverage.
• Additionally, the insurance policy must:
  • Name the City of Seattle as an additional insured.
  • Be issued by an admitted carrier with an A.M. Best Rating of not less than B (VII) unless an exemption has been met for the use of a surplus line insurer.
  • Provide that the insurer will send a 30-day non-renewal or cancellation notice.
  • Not include aggregate limits or named driver exclusions.

A transportation network company must file evidence of insurance with the director of the Department of Finance and Administrative Services as part of its annual licensing.

Drivers must keep proof of commercial insurance in their vehicles while operating them. If you are a TNC driver, you must also maintain your own auto insurance policy to provide coverage when your vehicle is not being used to transport passengers.

Transportation network companies must provide a written insurance disclosure of the following statements to prospective TNC drivers in prospective drivers’ terms of service:

“WHILE OPERATING ON THE DIGITAL NETWORK OR SOFTWARE APPLICATION OF THE COMMERCIAL TRANSPORTATION SERVICES PROVIDER, YOUR PRIVATE PASSENGER AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE POLICY MIGHT NOT AFFORD LIABILITY, UNDERINSURED MOTORIST, PERSONAL INJURY PROTECTION, COMPREHENSIVE, OR COLLISION COVERAGE, DEPENDING ON THE TERMS OF THE POLICY.

IF THE VEHICLE THAT YOU PLAN TO USE TO PROVIDE COMMERCIAL TRANSPORTATION SERVICES FOR OUR COMPANY HAS A LIEN AGAINST IT, YOU MUST NOTIFY THE LIENHOLDER THAT YOU WILL BE USING THE VEHICLE FOR COMMERCIAL TRANSPORTATION SERVICES THAT MAY VIOLATE THE TERMS OF YOUR CONTRACT WITH THE LIENHOLDER.”

Drivers must complete driver’s education and be tested before obtaining a for-hire driver’s permit. The training must include completion of the National Safety Council's Defensive Driving Course and at least one additional driving training program approved by the director of the Department of Finance and Administrative Services.

Transportation network companies may provide their own driver training programs, which must include the following topics:

• Defensive driving,
• Use of emergency equipment,
• Procedures for driver safety,
• Risk factors for crimes against drivers,
• Passenger relations and
• Standards of professional conduct.

Required testing may be administered by the City of Seattle, jointly by the City and King County, or by a licensed TNC or a third-party vendor. Examinations must test the driver's:

• Knowledge of requirements and laws for operating TNC affiliated vehicles;
• Ability to speak and read English well enough to fulfill the duties of a driver;
• Knowledge of vehicle safety requirements;
• Knowledge of the geography of Seattle, King County and the surrounding region;
• Knowledge of local public and tourist destinations and attractions and
• Knowledge of risk factors for crimes against drivers, of emergency procedures and of personal safety equipment.

Exam procedures and content must be approved by the director of the Department of Finance and Administrative Services.

All drivers affiliated with a transportation network company must consent to an annual criminal background check. TNCs must review the background checks and maintain records of them.

The background checks may be conducted by fingerprinting the driver, with prints forwarded to the FBI or Washington State Patrol for investigation. They may also be conducted by a third-party vendor approved by the director of the Department of Finance and Administrative Services.

Companies also must report criminal offenses by drivers that affect the driver’s fitness to operate a TNC affiliated vehicle. These criminal offenses include but are not limited to:

• Fraud
• Theft
• Robbery
• Burglary
• Assault
• Sex crimes
• Alcohol or drug offenses
• Prostitution

All TNC affiliated vehicles must undergo an annual vehicle safety inspection before they can be used to serve passengers. This inspection covers all major components of the vehicle, as well as vehicle features that aid the driver and keep the passenger comfortable. Inspections certify that the vehicle is mechanically sound and fit for driving and will note that all plates, decals and notices required and supplied by the City are legible and properly displayed.

The inspection must be performed by a mechanic approved by the director of the Department of Finance and Administrative Services. See the list of City-approved vehicle safety inspection mechanics.

The TNC has responsibility to require that each affiliated vehicle passes an inspection and to maintain inspection records for all affiliated vehicles

City inspectors enforce the regulations affecting drivers and vehicles affiliated with TNCs. Inspectors ride announced in TNC affiliated vehicles to ensure operating standards are met. Please contact us if you have questions about driver or vehicle operating standards.

You have 10 days to request a hearing if you receive a violation, suspension or revocation. Instructions for requesting a hearing will be on the reverse side of the notice of violation or license action form, or you may contact us.

If you receive a notice of infraction, you must respond within 15 days. Instructions for responding will be on the reverse side of the notice of infraction. Payments or requests for hearings are processed by Seattle Municipal Court.

You must pay any fines within 30 days of the issue date. Failure to pay could result in the loss of your license. This table list Seattle fines for TNC affiliated drivers and vehicles:

A TNC is subject to monetary penalties for violations incurred by its affiliated drivers and vehicles and for revocation of its annual license for violations outlined in SMC 6.310.610.C.