What color are New York City's traditional taxicabs?

New York City’s traditional taxicabs are yellow.

The familiar yellow vehicles are medallion taxicabs, named for the official license medallion issued by New York City’s Taxi and Limousine Commission. They can pick up passengers by street hail throughout the city’s five boroughs, making their color an instantly recognizable part of New York’s visual identity.

New York’s yellow-cab tradition developed before the city formally standardized the color. In the early 20th century, operator Harry N. Allen painted his taxis yellow so they would be easier to see from a distance. In 1967, New York City required medallion taxis to use yellow paint, helping passengers distinguish licensed street-hail cabs from unlicensed or prearranged car services.

A frequent mix-up involves the city’s newer green taxis. Apple-green boro taxis began operating in 2013 and serve outer boroughs and northern Manhattan under different street-hail rules. They do not replace the traditional medallion cabs: the classic New York City taxi remains yellow.