# Hillsborough County Vehicle for Hire Permit: Handicab Rules for Tampa Wheelchair and Stretcher Vans

Canonical URL: https://nemtguide.com/states/florida/hillsborough-county/ · Updated 2026-09-30

A Hillsborough County vehicle for hire permit comes from the Tax Collector, which licenses wheelchair and stretcher vans as handicabs. As of September 2026 you need a $300 business certificate, a $150 permit for each van after a yearly ASE mechanic inspection, $300,000 of combined liability insurance, and a $65 driver identification badge for every driver. Stretcher vans need two badged attendants.

- Hillsborough calls a wheelchair or stretcher van a handicab, and the Tax Collector licenses the company, each van, and each driver.
- The county rules reach Tampa, Temple Terrace, and Plant City too, unless a city ordinance conflicts.
- Every stretcher handicab needs two attendants, and both must hold county driver badges.
- Get each van inspected by an ASE certified mechanic before you apply, and again every year.
- Sunshine Line drives its own riders and coordinates with agencies that carry their own clients, so Medicaid brokers and private pay are the main work for a new company.

## Hillsborough County NEMT at a glance

| Fact | Details |
| --- | --- |
| The rule | Chapter 10, article XVI of the county code, the Vehicle for Hire Ordinance (Ord. 17-22, effective October 1, 2017) |
| Who licenses | Hillsborough County Tax Collector, North Tampa office, 3011 University Center Drive, Suite 150, Tampa, 813-635-5200 |
| Fees | $300 business certificate and $150 per vehicle permit, both renewed every year, plus $65 per driver badge, as of September 2026 |
| Insurance | $300,000 combined single limit per vehicle, or $125,000 per person, $250,000 per accident, and $50,000 property damage |
| Vehicles | A yearly inspection by an ASE certified mechanic or licensed shop, an extra restraint check past 10 model years, and 56 inches of headroom in wheelchair vans |
| Drivers | A badge for each driver, with Level 2 fingerprints and a 7-year driving record, plus first aid, CPR, and defensive driving within 30 days |
| Private-pay rates | The county commission sets them. As of September 2026 the Tax Collector lists an $18 minimum pickup and $2 a mile for handicabs. |
| Medicaid plan members | 203,257 in the main health plans on August 31, 2026, third most of any county. Region D. MTM Health books members outside a plan. |
| Sunshine Line | The county commission has been coordinator since 1990, with Sunshine Line as its operator. In 2024-25 no trips went to transportation operators; 13 coordination contractors gave 518,000. |

## Who arranges rides here

- [Hillsborough County Tax Collector, Vehicle for Hire](https://www.hillstaxfl.gov/other-services/vehicle-for-hire/business-information/): Issues handicab certificates, vehicle permits, and driver identification badges. (813) 635-5200
- [Hillsborough County Sunshine Line](https://hcfl.gov/departments/sunshine-line): Community Transportation Coordinator; drives its own door-to-door vans. (813) 272-7272
- [MTM Health, Florida Medicaid fee-for-service](https://www.mtm-inc.net/floridaffs/): Books rides for Region D Medicaid members who are not in a health plan. (844) 239-5974

In Hillsborough County a wheelchair or stretcher van is a handicab, and the Tax Collector licenses it. The Vehicle for Hire Ordinance took effect October 1, 2017 and moved licensing from the old Public Transportation Commission to the Tax Collector. You need three things from that one office: a certificate for the business, a permit for each van, and a badge for each driver. Florida's statewide steps, Medicaid enrollment with AHCA and Level 2 screening for owners, are on the [Florida guide](https://nemtguide.com/states/florida/), and the [Florida NEMT license guide](https://nemtguide.com/guides/florida-nemt-license/) compares the counties that license vans.

## What counts as a handicab in Hillsborough County

Section 10-578 defines a handicab as a vehicle for riders with non-emergency conditions who need no medical help on the way. It covers wheelchair and stretcher service, and also riders who cannot comfortably use a standard vehicle or cannot get in and out without extensive help. In every case the driver also serves as attendant, door to door or bed to bed. So an assisted door-to-door sedan company may fall under the rule too.

The ordinance applies in unincorporated Hillsborough and in Tampa, Temple Terrace, and Plant City, except where a city ordinance conflicts (sec. 10-600). It leaves out:

- ambulances licensed by the state
- vehicles owned or controlled by a government agency
- vehicles seating more than 15 people, counting the driver
- transportation network companies and their drivers

The Tax Collector issues nothing for ambulances or emergency medical transportation providers. Those questions go to the county's Emergency Medical Planning Council and the Florida Department of Health.

As of the Tax Collector's April 2026 list, 20 companies held a handicab certificate. The ordinance caps taxicab permits only (sec. 10-584), so there is no limit on handicab permits.

## How to get a Hillsborough County vehicle for hire permit

Every service happens at the North Tampa office, 3011 University Center Drive, Suite 150, Tampa 33612.

### 1. Set up the company

Register the company on Sunbiz and bring the articles and any fictitious name registration. You also need a Hillsborough business tax receipt, which the Tax Collector can issue with your application.

### 2. Inspect and insure each van

An ASE certified mechanic or a state-licensed commercial repair shop inspects each van on the county's Mechanical Inspection Certification form. The checklist has 19 items, including both brakes, tread depth, lights, mirrors, seat belts, air conditioning, steering, and exhaust. A van older than 10 model years on December 31 needs an added yearly check of its restraints and safety equipment (sec. 10-583(g)).

Insure each van for at least $300,000 combined single limit, or $125,000 per person, $250,000 per accident, and $50,000 for property damage. Vans working on Tampa Port Authority property must name the Port Authority as additional insured and certificate holder.

### 3. File the certificate and permit application

Use the Certificate and Permit Application for Limousines, Vans, and Handicabs. Mark how many handicab permits you want, then attach:

1. A list of every vehicle with year, make, model, and VIN, on the county's form.
2. An insurance certificate (ACORD form) for each vehicle.
3. Each vehicle's registration.
4. The ASE inspection form for each vehicle.
5. A list of every driver with name, address, date of birth, and phone.
6. Your business tax receipt.
7. Your Sunbiz articles.
8. The signed acknowledgment of Ordinance 17-22 and the compliance affidavit.

You can upload the packet to the Tax Collector's secure file drop, mail it, or hand it in.

### 4. Badge every driver

The Tax Collector now issues the public vehicle driver license as a driver identification badge. Each driver applies in person with a Social Security card, a Florida driver license, and a 7-year driving record issued within 30 days. The driver then goes to the Sheriff's Office ID Section at 1238 Tech Boulevard for photos and fingerprints and pays FDLE $37.50. The Tax Collector runs a Level 2 state and FBI check.

A driver must have held a valid license for 12 months (a previous out-of-state license counts), have no suspension or revocation in five years, and have no more than 9 points in the last 12 months. A DUI in five years or reckless driving in three years disqualifies an applicant, and violent felonies and sex crimes disqualify for life (sec. 10-585). Within 30 days of getting a badge, every handicab driver finishes a certified first aid course, a state-certified CPR course, and a defensive driving course. Badges last 12 months.

### What it costs

| Fee, as of September 2026 | Amount |
|---|---|
| Business certificate, new or yearly renewal | $300 |
| Vehicle permit, new or yearly renewal | $150 per vehicle |
| Temporary vehicle permit, up to 7 days | $50 |
| Driver identification badge, new or renewal | $65 |
| State fingerprint processing | $37.50 |
| Replacement badge | $35 |
| Late fee, more than 30 days expired | $25 |

The office takes cash, checks, money orders, and cards, with a convenience fee on cards.

## Handicab vehicle and operating rules

Section 10-583 adds these rules for handicabs:

| Wheelchair handicab | Stretcher handicab |
|---|---|
| A lift or ramp, manual, electric, or hydraulic | A crash-stable, quick-release litter fastener, side or center mount |
| Two positive locks for each wheelchair | Two restraint straps for each stretcher |
| A belt holding each rider in the chair | A smooth floor with few gaps where water can collect |
| Door latches that keep chairs inside | Clean blankets, linens, or disposable sheets for each rider |
| At least 56 inches from floor to ceiling, door opening included | An airtight bin for soiled linen |
| A one-piece floor with no seams, sealed with cove molding | Two attendants, each with a county driver badge |

Measure a used van's floor-to-ceiling height, door opening included, before you buy it. See [stretcher van requirements](https://nemtguide.com/guides/stretcher-van-requirements/) for how the equipment compares elsewhere and [what a stretcher van is](https://nemtguide.com/glossary/stretcher-van/).

Once licensed, you:

- Show your company name on the outside of each van and put the two permit stickers on the rear window, driver side, and the windshield, passenger side.
- Accept cash, major credit cards, and debit cards, and give a receipt on request.
- Charge only rates the county commission sets (sec. 10-588). The Tax Collector's rate page lists an $18 minimum pickup and $2 a mile for handicabs. See [private pay NEMT](https://nemtguide.com/guides/private-pay-nemt/) for how that business works.
- Keep records of vehicles, inspections, insurance, and drivers for five years, and report a new address within 10 days.
- Renew the certificate, every permit, and every badge each year.

Drivers wear collared shirts, trousers or hemmed shorts, and closed shoes. They may not smoke with a rider aboard or hold a phone while driving one. Each violation can bring a fine of up to $500 or 60 days in jail, and each day counts separately (sec. 10-594).

## Who sends the rides in Hillsborough County

Hillsborough is in Medicaid Region D with Hardee, Highlands, Manatee, and Polk (section 409.966). Under the state's NEMT waiver for July 1, 2025 to June 30, 2027, [MTM Health](https://nemtguide.com/brokers/mtm-health/) books rides for members who are not in a plan. Its 2025 capacity count listed 53 vehicles here: 36 cab, 16 lift, and 1 stretcher. Plan members ride with their plan's broker. As of August 31, 2026:

| Health plan | Members in Hillsborough | Broker for its rides |
|---|---|---|
| [Sunshine Health](https://nemtguide.com/health-plans/sunshine-health-florida/) | 71,295 | [Alivi](https://nemtguide.com/brokers/alivi/) |
| [Simply Healthcare](https://nemtguide.com/health-plans/simply-healthcare-florida/) | 60,414 | Ride2MD |
| [Humana](https://nemtguide.com/health-plans/humana-healthy-horizons-florida/) | 32,628 | [Modivcare](https://nemtguide.com/brokers/modivcare/) |
| [UnitedHealthcare](https://nemtguide.com/health-plans/unitedhealthcare-community-plan-florida/) | 18,570 | MTM Health, since March 1, 2026 |
| [Aetna Better Health](https://nemtguide.com/health-plans/aetna-better-health-florida/) | 16,822 | Modivcare |
| [Florida Community Care](https://nemtguide.com/health-plans/florida-community-care/) | 3,357 | Ride2MD |

The county's 203,257 plan members trail only Miami-Dade and Broward. Simply has more members here than anywhere but Miami-Dade, so Ride2MD matters as much as Alivi. UnitedHealthcare's switch is covered in [the March 2026 move to MTM Health](https://nemtguide.com/news/uhc-florida-mtm/).

### Sunshine Line and state-funded trips

The county commission has been the [Community Transportation Coordinator](https://nemtguide.com/glossary/community-transportation-coordinator/) since 1990, with Sunshine Line, a county department at 2709 E. Hanna Avenue, as its operator. The state Commission for the Transportation Disadvantaged renewed the designation on April 8, 2026 for July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2031.

Sunshine Line runs door-to-door rides on weekdays from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. for ambulatory and wheelchair riders, and hands out HART bus passes to riders who can use the bus. Riders qualify by age 60 or older, disability, or household income at or below 175% of the federal poverty guidelines, with no other way to travel. The service plan approved August 22, 2025 sets its state-funded rates, effective July 1, 2025, at $36.86 per ambulatory trip and $63.19 per wheelchair trip.

In fiscal 2024-25 the system gave 1,093,731 trips, 111,556 of them medical, with 388 vehicles and 755 drivers. Transportation operators carried none of them. Thirteen coordination contractors, mostly agencies carrying their own clients, such as ACTS, Gracepoint Wellness, Metropolitan Ministries, and Quest, gave 518,000 trips. No other Florida county's coordination contractors carried as many. An agency joins through a standard contract endorsed by the local coordinating board and approved by the county commission.

One opening does use private vans. The Pinellas, Hillsborough, and Pasco coordinators run a same-day, cross-county door-to-door project, led by PSTA and served by taxis, wheelchair vans, and rideshare. It gave 7,180 trips to 333 riders in 2024-25.

## What to do first

1. **Measure your van's headroom.** Anything under 56 inches cannot be permitted as a wheelchair handicab.
2. **Book the ASE inspection and buy the insurance**, then gather the vehicle and driver lists on the county's forms.
3. **Send your drivers for badges early.** Fingerprints and the background check run before the badge is issued, and first aid, CPR, and defensive driving must follow within 30 days.
4. **File the certificate and permit application** with the $300 and $150 per van fees.
5. **Enroll with Florida Medicaid** and apply to Alivi, Ride2MD, Modivcare, and MTM Health, the brokers for the county's plans.
6. **Line up dialysis and discharge work.** Sunshine Line runs weekdays only, and its plan lists only ambulatory and wheelchair service. See [dialysis transportation](https://nemtguide.com/guides/dialysis-transportation/).

Across the bay, [Pinellas County](https://nemtguide.com/states/florida/pinellas-county/) certifies vans through its EMS Authority at no charge. To the east, [Polk County](https://nemtguide.com/states/florida/polk-county/) sets no county van permit at all, and to the north, Pasco County shares Medicaid Region C with Pinellas.

## Frequently asked questions

### How much is a Hillsborough County vehicle for hire permit?

As of September 2026, the Tax Collector charges $300 for the business certificate and $150 for each vehicle permit. Both renew every year at the same price. Each driver needs a $65 driver identification badge, plus a $37.50 state fingerprint fee. A late fee of $25 applies when a certificate, permit, or badge has been expired more than 30 days.

### Do I need a vehicle for hire permit for a wheelchair van in Tampa?

Yes. Section 10-600 applies the county Vehicle for Hire Ordinance in unincorporated Hillsborough and in every city, Tampa included, except where a city ordinance conflicts. A company carrying riders in wheelchairs or on stretchers for pay is a handicab business and needs a Tax Collector certificate, a permit for each van, and a badge for each driver. State licensed ambulances and vehicles owned by a government agency are exempt.

### What insurance does a handicab need in Hillsborough County?

Each permitted vehicle needs liability insurance of $300,000 combined single limit, or split limits of $125,000 per person, $250,000 per accident, and $50,000 for property damage. You show proof when you apply and again at each yearly renewal. Vans that pick up on Tampa Port Authority property must also name the Port Authority as an additional insured.

### How do I get a driver identification badge in Hillsborough County?

Bring the signed badge application, your Social Security card, your Florida driver license, and a 7-year driving record issued within the last 30 days to the Tax Collector at 3011 University Center Drive in Tampa, and pay $65. You then get photographed and fingerprinted at the Sheriff's Office ID Section, 1238 Tech Boulevard, and pay FDLE $37.50. Call the Tax Collector 4 to 5 business days later.

### Does a stretcher van in Hillsborough County need two people?

Yes. Section 10-583(p) requires every stretcher handicab to carry two attendants, and each must hold a public vehicle driver license, which the Tax Collector now issues as a driver identification badge. The van also needs a quick-release, crash-stable litter fastener, two restraint straps per stretcher, clean linens for each rider, and an airtight bin for soiled linen.

### Can a private NEMT company get Sunshine Line trips?

Not as a subcontractor. The state's 2024-25 report shows no trips carried by transportation operators in Hillsborough. Sunshine Line drives its own vans, and 13 coordination contractors, mostly agencies serving their own clients, carried 518,000 trips. The county signs coordination contracts only after the local coordinating board endorses the agency and the county commission approves.

## Official resources

- [Tax Collector: Open a vehicle for hire business](https://www.hillstaxfl.gov/other-services/vehicle-for-hire/business-information/)
- [Tax Collector: Certificate and permit application for handicabs](https://www.hillstaxfl.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Application-for-Certificate-for-Limos-Vans-and-Handicabs-HCTC.pdf)
- [Tax Collector: Driver identification badge](https://www.hillstaxfl.gov/other-services/vehicle-for-hire/dib-driver/)
- [Tax Collector: Vehicle for hire fees](https://www.hillstaxfl.gov/other-services/vehicle-for-hire/payments-fees/)
- [Tax Collector: Vehicle for hire rates](https://www.hillstaxfl.gov/other-services/vehicle-for-hire/rates/)
- [Hillsborough County Code, chapter 10, article XVI](https://library.municode.com/fl/hillsborough_county/codes/code_of_ordinances_and_laws?nodeId=HICOCOORLA_CH10BU_ARTXVIVEHI)
- [Hillsborough County: Sunshine Line](https://hcfl.gov/departments/sunshine-line)
- [AHCA: Fee-for-service NEMT brokers and provider contacts](https://ahca.myflorida.com/medicaid/medicaid-policy-quality-and-operations/medicaid-policy-and-quality/medicaid-policy/federal-authorities/federal-waivers/fl-1915-b-managed-care-waiver.html)