Ground Transportation

The purpose of the Transportation Division's Ground Transportation Section is to regulate and enforce the City of Austin's City Code regarding vehicles for hire. This section works with all the ground transportation service providers such as taxicab, limousine, charter, shuttle, airport shuttle, pedicab, and horse drawn carriage companies assuring that both the companies and the drivers comply with City Code.

Listed below are various forms needed to start a ground transportation business, a list of permitted ground transportation service providers, and a link to Chapter 13 Section 2 of the City Code.

Helpful Information

• List of permitted ground transportation service providers in Austin (pdf)- 8/11/10
• Want to apply to obtain an operating authority for limousine, charter, shuttle, airport shuttle, pedicab, or horse drawn carriage company? Fill out the Ground Transportation Ordinance Application. (pdf)
• Chauffeur's permit application (pdf)
• Use the New/Replacement Equipment form to add new vehicles or replace existing vehicles to your operating authority (non-taxicab). (pdf)
• Use the Taxi New/Replacement form to add new vehicles or replace existing vehicles to your taxicab franchise. (pdf)
• Use the Temporary Supplemental Vehicle Permit form to add a temporary supplemental vehicle to your limousine company. (pdf)
• Application for a taxicab franchise (pdf)
• Taxi Franchise Criteria (pdf)
• Effective 09/02/2008, the City of Austin has contracted with Groovy Automotive to provide annual mandatory inspections of ground transportation vehicles. Vehicles may be brought to either location: 4011 Red River (phone 450-0951) or 5405 N. Lamar (phone 492-8050).

Send forms/inquiries to:

Vehicles for Hire/Ground Transportation
P.O. Box 1088
Austin, TX 78767-1088
Phone: (512) 974-1551 or 974-1552

Have a complaint about a vehicle for hire? Call 974-1551 or fill out the Ground Transportation Enforcement Complaint online form or download a pdf.

Need to report a pothole? Vegetation covering a stop sign? Sign down? Call 3-1-1 with the location!