Taxicabs are the only vehicles that have the right to pick up street-hailing and prearranged passengers anywhere in New York City. By law, there are 13,587 taxis in New York City and each taxi must have a medallion affixed to it.

New Yorkers almost exclusively refer to taxis as "cabs" or "yellow cabs." While the official term is "taxicab," you will rarely hear a local use the full word in casual conversation. The drivers themselves are commonly referred to as "cabbies." There is also a distinction between the iconic "Yellow Cabs," which have medallions and can pick up street hails anywhere in the city, and the "Boro Taxis" (which are apple green) that are restricted to picking up passengers in the outer boroughs and Upper Manhattan. Despite the rise of ride-sharing apps like Uber and Lyft, the act of "hailing a cab" remains a quintessential New York experience. You might also hear the term "livery cab" or "car service" used to describe pre-arranged, non-medallion black cars that operate primarily in the boroughs outside of Manhattan.