Any person who operates a motor vehicle for hire to transport people must obtain a license from the Department of Excise and Licenses.
Motor vehicles for hire to transport people include taxi cabs, vans and limousines. Taxi cabs are passenger automobiles that have been issued a certificate by the State of Colorado Public Utilities Commission. Vans are vehicles that have a seating capacity of more than five (5) persons, not including the driver. Limousines are vehicles that have been issued a certificate by the State of Colorado Public Utilities Commission.
Motor vehicles for hire do not include:
--buses (motor vehicles for the transport of people with a minimum capacity of 16 passengers)
--no-charge hotel courtesy vans to the airport
--buses or vans that transport passengers from the airport to a location outside of Denver without stopping in Denver.
Operators of Super Shuttle Services that pick people up in various Denver locations to go to the airport, and charge a flat rate based on the location of pick-up, must be licensed. Those drivers, however, take the limousine test rather than the taxi/limo test (see below).
You may apply either in person or by mail.
If you apply in person, you may be able to complete the process while you wait if there are no problems with your paperwork or your background check.
If you apply by mail, you will still need to come in to the office to finalize the process -- pick up the license, take the taxi/limo test (see below).
PREREQUISITES
(1) Current Head Tax Receipt, also known as Denver's Occupational Privilege Tax. This can be obtained at the Treasurer's Office in the McNichols building at 144 W. Colfax Avenue.
(2) Current Motor Vehicle Driving Record (less than 90 days old). You can obtain your driving record by going to the Colorado Department of Motor Vehicles, click here. [If you go to the motor vehicle web site, you will be leaving this website. To return here, you must use the “Back” key.] You can order your driving record by mail, which has a 10-14 day turnaround time. You may obtain the driving record more quickly by visiting a Colorado Motor Vehicle office, which are listed on the link above.
APPLICATION FORMS
Taxi or Limo Driver Application (“General Questionnaire”), click here.
Criminal History form, click here.
Affidavit of Lawful Presence, click here. If you apply by mail, you must submit a notarized Affidavit of Lawful Presence and a notarized copy of a photo ID.
A CBI background check must be submitted. You can do this two ways:
-- You can pay $6.85 for a Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI) Name Check, which will be done while you wait. or
-- You can order your CBI Name Check yourself by going to the CBI web site, click here. (To return to this site, please use your "Back" button).
FEES
Application fee: $50.00
Annual License fee: $25.00
TAXI or LIMO TEST REQUIREMENT
All taxi drivers and limousine drivers must pass a test that is administered by the Department of Excise and Licenses at:
Wellington Webb Building
201 W. Colfax Avenue, Dept. 206
Denver, CO 80202
TAXI or LIMO TESTS WILL ONLY BE ADMINISTERED ON MONDAYS THROUGH THURSDAYS at 9:00 a.m., 11:00 a.m., and 2:00 p.m. No testing will be conducted on Fridays.
All Applications must be completed prior to the testing time, without exception. The application process takes approximately 30 minutes to complete. Please schedule your arrival accordingly.
The Department will provide a Denver Map Guide for use in taking the test. Applicants may not take their own map book into the testing room. No other materials will be permitted into the testing room. Cell phones are not allowed in the testing room.
RE-TESTING
-- After the first failure, an applicant may retest after six (6) days (i.e., on the 7th day after failure).
-- After the second failure, an applicant may retest after thirty (30) days (i.e., on the 31st day).
-- After the third failure, an applicant may reapply and retest one (1) year after the application date. A new application fee will be required.
CHEATING
-- Any applicant who is found cheating on the test will not be eligible to reapply for a taxi/limo license for six (6) months. A new application and fee will be required.
-- Any applicant who cheats a second time on the test will not be eligible to retest for two (2) years from the date of the cheating incident. A new application and fee will be required.
-- Any applicant who cheats a third time will not be permitted to take the test again for five (5) years. A new application and fee will be required.