The maximum number of New York City taxi medallions is 13,587.
A medallion is the city-issued license attached to a yellow taxicab. By law, each medallion authorizes one taxi to accept street-hailing passengers throughout New York’s five boroughs. The fixed supply is why “medallion” and “yellow cab” are closely linked in New York.
The system began under the 1937 Haas Act, which limited the number of taxis after years of disorder and intense competition. The original total changed over time: the postwar number was 11,787, and later city auctions increased the supply. The present legal cap is 13,587.
This figure describes authorized yellow medallion taxis, not every vehicle that can carry passengers. Green boro taxis, black cars, liveries, and app-based for-hire vehicles operate under different licenses. Another common mistake is confusing the legal maximum with the number of cabs actively working on a particular day; vehicles can be stored, inactive, or temporarily out of service while their medallions remain part of the capped system.