Uploaded July 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago

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Why Are NYC Taxis Yellow? The History and Rules Behind the Iconic Color

New York City taxis are painted a specific bright yellow for a combination of visibility and regulation. Studies from the early 20th century showed that yellow stands out strongly from a distance and is highly visible against urban backgrounds, making it easier for passengers to spot cabs in busy streets. John Hertz, founder of the Yellow Cab Company, popularized the color after reviewing visibility research, and it quickly became an industry standard.

In 1967–1969, New York City passed a law requiring all medallion taxis (the ones allowed to pick up street hails) to be painted yellow—specifically Dupont M6284 yellow or an equivalent shade. The rule helped passengers quickly distinguish licensed taxis from illegal operators.

Key Facts About NYC Taxis:

There are roughly 13,000 yellow medallion taxis in the city.
Each taxi typically drives about 70,000 miles per year and is retired after 3–5 years of service.
The medallion system was established in 1937 under the Haas Act, limiting the number of legal street-hailing taxis.
Before the yellow mandate, taxis came in various colors including red, green, and orange.
Checker cabs with black-and-white patterns were especially common in the mid-20th century.
Most modern yellow taxis are Toyotas due to their reliability and fuel efficiency.
Yellow cabs complete hundreds of thousands of trips across the city every day.

This color requirement remains in effect today, making the yellow taxi one of New York City's most recognizable symbols.