Medallions

Medallion Renewal

The 2024 medallion renewal period begins April 1, 2023 and ends June 30, 2023. Late renewal fees will be waived during the two week grace period ending July 15, 2023. This waiver only applies for new renewals (those which expire June 30, 2023). Late medallion renewal fees still apply for previous renewal seasons. Renewed medallions expire June 30, 2024. Please read the information below carefully, as we have made changes to our medallion renewal processes.

Medallion renewal information on this page is also available in translated versions – Amharic (አማርኛ), Oromo (Afaan Oromoo), Somali (Af-Sooomaali), Tigrinya (ትግሪኛ) and Punjabi (ਪੰਜਾਬੀ).

How to Renew

Renew Online

• Create a Seattle Services Portal account if you do not already have one.
• Use the Portal’s self-service option to complete your renewal
• Pay online using a credit card – no phone call or office visit necessary.
   

Request Assistance

• Email a picture of your vehicle registration, including the medallion number in the subject line, to taxicab@seattle.gov.
• Ensure the vehicle associated with the medallion has passed a safety inspection performed within the past 12 months by a City approved mechanic.
• Verify that your insurance broker has sent your active insurance policy/binder to vehicleinsurance@seattle.gov.
• Beginning April 3, you can schedule a virtual appointment for assistance over the telephone.
   

Attend a Workshop

• Beginning mid-May, City representatives will host in-person workshops to assist medallion owners with the online renewals. Workshop timeslots will be filled by appointment only.
• Appointments may be made online for the location and date you prefer. You will receive a confirmation email with the appointment details.
• Have your email address and ID (driver's license or passport) available if you have not already created a Seattle Services Portal account.

Temporary Suspension of Taxi and For-Hire Vehicle Age Limit

Temporary suspension of the 10-year vehicle age limit remains in place while the City and County propose legislation that would establish a new 15-year vehicle age limit for taxicabs and for-hire vehicles. The City and County hope to have the new age limit in place before December 31, 2023.

Ownership Transfers

Ownership transfers done at the time of the renewal will require the voluntary medallion transfer form to be completed and emailed to taxicab@seattle.gov. Transfers cannot be completed using the Seattle Services Portal. There is no transfer fee when a transfer takes place during the medallion renewal. 

Medallion Holders with Inactive Medallions

A deposited medallion (or an inactive medallion) may be renewed now or when the medallion’s owner is ready to activate the medallion. If the medallion remains inactive, it does not require a vehicle safety inspection, an active insurance policy or a vehicle registration. A deposited/inactive medallion is not required to be affiliated with a Taxicab Association or a For-Hire Vehicle Company.

Medallion Renewal Fees

The Consumer Protection Division (CPD) has extended rule (FOR-HIRE-TRANSPORTATION-2021-02) to reduce the City's medallion and related fees for the 2024 medallion year (beginning April 1, 2023 and ending June 30, 2023).  The rule:

1. Reduces the annual medallion (license) fee from $500 to $300,
2. Reduces the late fee (medallion (license) renewal) from $60 to $30,
3. Reduces the change of vehicle medallion owner (licensee) July - December fee from $500 to $300,
4. Reduces the change of vehicle medallion owner (licensee) January - June (half year) fee from $250 to $150,
5. Reduces the taxicab association annual fee from $1,000 to $100, and
6. Reduces the for-hire driver's annual license fee from $50 to $25.

Wheelchair Accessible Services Fees

The Consumer Protection Division (CPD) has extended rule (FOR-HIRE-TRANSPORTATION-2021-03) to reduce the annual estimated Wheelchair Accessible Services (WAS) surcharge by 80 percent for the period beginning April 1, 2022 (paid during the medallion renewal process for the 2024 licensing year). The rule:

1. Reduces the estimated WAS Surcharge for City-only and dual (City and County) taxi medallions from $145 to $29 per year, and
2. Reduces the estimated WAS Surcharge for County-only taxi medallions and all for-hire vehicle medallions from $85 to $17 per year.

Medallion Exchange

King County and Seattle medallion owners can now list their medallions for sale, for lease, or for a shift lease on a new website. Also, anyone can post that they are interested in buying or leasing a medallion. There are no fees to use the site. The website gives visibility to the medallion market and is a place for interested parties to voluntarily share their information. There is no obligation to use the site.

Visit kingcounty.gov/medallion to browse listings or submit one of your own. If you see a listing you are interested in, click the “Send my contact info” button or the envelope icon to share your contact information (name, phone number, and email address) with the person who submitted the listing. When you decide to proceed with a transfer or lease, follow the applicable steps with the City of Seattle to complete the transaction.

Medallion Lease

Download the medallion lease summary form.

All proposed medallion transfers shall be listed in the table below within two days of submission to the Consumer Protection. By rule, a temporary medallion will be issued. If you would like to receive notice of updates to this list, click this link to subscribe to the data set via email or RSS feed.