Important Information Concerning Taxicab Inspections

To All Taxicab Owners and Drivers:

On November 4, 2016, Governor Wolf signed Act 164 into law. This new law made many changes in the regulation of taxicabs. In particular to this message, Act 164 changes the selection process and requirements for taxicab inspections. Bi-annual mechanical safety inspections are no longer required and State and Emission inspections do not have to be solely administered by the Philadelphia Parking Authority’s (“Authority”) Taxicab and Limousine Division (“TLD”). Instead, and in compliance with Act 164, the TLD will only be selecting 25% of the taxicab fleet annually for a safety inspection. Taxicab owners must also be aware that while State inspection and Emission testing are no longer mandated to be done by the Authority, the TLD will, however, continue to offer this service. The fee for a regulatory safety inspection is $25.00, pass or fail. The fee for State and Emissions inspection is $33.65, pass or fail.

As a result of the changes to the inspection process, new TLD inspection stickers will be issued. Unlike the old stickers that indicated when a taxicab is next due for inspection, the new stickers will now indicate when the taxicab last passed an Authority inspection (sample attached here).  It is incumbent upon taxicab owners to keep their vehicles in compliance with State and Authority inspection standards at all times, including displaying valid State inspection stickers.

The TLD anticipates mailing out the first set of inspection notices by December 15, 2016 with implementation of this new process to start on Tuesday, January 3, 2017. Any previously scheduled taxicab inspection is to be disregarded.

If you have any questions, please contact the TLD inspection garage supervisor at (215) 683-9447. Thank you.

William P. Schmid
Deputy Director of the TLD
The Philadelphia Parking Authority
2415 S. Swanson Street
Philadelphia, PA 19148-4113
W: 215.683.9471
F: 215.683.9452
WSchmid@Philapark.org