What is Occupational Licensing?
An “occupational license” is, put simply, government permission to work in a particular field. To earn the license, an aspiring worker must clear various hurdles, such as earning a certain amount of education or training or passing an exam. In the 1950s, only one in 20 U.S. workers needed the government’s permission to pursue their chosen occupation. Today, that figure stands at almost one in four.
Taxi Driver/Chauffeur Occupational Licensing
License required in 13 states
61st most burdensome licensing requirements among moderate-income occupations
Average Fee for License:$66
What They Do
Taxi drivers and chauffeurs drive automobiles, vans or limousines to transport passengers and may occasionally carry cargo.
Taxi Driver/Chauffeur Licensing Overview
Thirteen states require a licence to work as a Taxi Driver/Chauffeur. On average, these laws require $66 in fees, 183 days of education and no exams. Taxi Driver/Chauffeur Licenses have the 61st most burdensome requirements of the 102 occupations studied.
Where is a Taxi Driver/Chauffeur the most regulated?
Out of the 13 states that require an occupational license, an occupational license for a Taxi Driver/Chauffeur has the highest burden in Tennessee. Tennessee requires $5 in fees, 1 exams, 2 years experience, and no education.
Where is a Taxi Driver/Chauffeur the least regulated?
Out of the 13 states that require an occupational license, an occupational license for a Taxi Driver/Chauffeur has the lowest burden in New York. New York requires $0 in fees, no exams, no experience, and no education.
Where is a Taxi Driver/Chauffeur license the most expensive?
An occupational license for a Taxi Driver/Chauffeur costs the most in District of Columbia. District of Columbia requires $275 in fees, 1 exams, 1 year experience, and no education.
Where is a Taxi Driver/Chauffeur license the least expensive?
An occupational license for a Taxi Driver/Chauffeur costs the least in New York. New York requires $0 in fees, no exams, no experience, and no education.
Where does it take the longest to obtain a Taxi Driver/Chauffeur license?
An occupational license for a Taxi Driver/Chauffeur takes the longest to obtain in Tennessee. It takes 730 days (2 years). Tennessee requires $5 in fees, 1 exams, 2 years experience, and no education.
Where is it fastest to obtain a Taxi Driver/Chauffeur license?
An occupational license for a Taxi Driver/Chauffeur takes the least time to obtain in New Jersey, Louisiana, Michigan, Connecticut, Iowa, Georgia, New York (0 days).
What states require exams for a Taxi Driver/Chauffeur license?
To obtain an occupational license for a Taxi Driver/Chauffeur there is at least one exam required in: Tennessee, District of Columbia, Indiana, Louisiana, Michigan.
Sixteen states require a special driver’s license for taxi drivers or chauffeurs.1 On average, these laws cost aspiring taxi drivers and chauffeurs $47 in fees and 148 days in education and experience—the 69th most burdensome requirements of the 102 occupations studied here. Also, because relatively few states license taxi drivers and chauffeurs, the occupation ranks as the 76th most widely and onerously licensed.
License requirements vary greatly across states. For example, Tennessee requires two years (730 days) of driving experience, but nine states require no education or experience. Similarly, seven states require an exam, while nine do not. And while 14 states have an age requirement (D.C. and Maryland do not), it varies from 17 to 21 years. Fees range from $3 in Delaware to $275 in D.C.2
States Ranked by Average Licensing Burden for 102 Lower-Income Occupations
More Burdensome Less Burdensome
Based on data released in November 2022| Burden Rank | State | Occupations Licensed | Fees | Estimated Calendar Days Lost | Education | Experience | Exams | Minimum Grade | Minimum Age |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tennessee | 69 | $5 | 730 | None | 2 years | 1 | 0 | 18 |
| 2 | District of Columbia | 61 | $275 | 365 | None | 1 years | 1 | 0 | 18 |
| 3 | Rhode Island | 70 | $33 | 365 | None | 1 years | 0 | 0 | 21 |
| 4 | Indiana | 37 | $19 | 365 | None | 1 years | 1 | 0 | 18 |
| 5 | Delaware | 42 | $68 | 366 | 6 clock hours | 1 years | 0 | 0 | 18 |
| 6 | Maryland | 58 | $53 | 182 | None | 6 months | 0 | 0 | 18 |
| 7 | New Jersey | 54 | $53 | 0 | None | None | 0 | 0 | 21 |
| 8 | Louisiana | 77 | $155 | 0 | None | None | 1 | 0 | 17 |
| 9 | Michigan | 48 | $35 | 0 | None | None | 1 | 0 | 18 |
| 10 | Connecticut | 65 | $88 | 0 | None | None | 0 | 0 | 18 |
| 11 | Iowa | 71 | $64 | 0 | None | None | 0 | 0 | 18 |
| 12 | Georgia | 41 | $15 | 0 | None | None | 0 | 0 | 18 |
| 13 | New York | 41 | $0 | 0 | None | None | 0 | 0 | 18 |
License to Work
The data and information here come from IJ’s License to Work report, released in November 2022.
View Report