Download Basic License Application

Apply Online! Review requirements and click the link at the bottom of the page to submit your application.

Download the Car Wash Self-Certification form.

To apply for a Certificate of Authority in order to collect sales tax, visit www.businessexpress.ny.gov.

The bond amount is $150,000* and must cover the licensing period. The copy of the bond must name the City of New York as the Certificate Holder. Your corporate name, Doing-Business-As (DBA) name (if any), and premises address must be exactly the same on all documents. You must also submit a copy of the bond receipt showing that the bond has been paid in full and does not expire before the end of the licensing period.

*Exception:
The bond amount is $30,000 IF:

• You are a party to a current collective bargaining agreement (CBA)** that provides for the timely payment of wages and a quick process for resolving disputes about nonpayment and underpayment of wages. OR
• You entered into a settlement with a state or federal government agency and are covered by an active monitoring agreement*** that:

1. 1. Requires you to pay at least the minimum wage. AND
   2. Subjects you to at least monthly monitoring by an independent monitor. AND
   3. Provides for a quick process for resolving disputes about wage violations.

**IF YOU ARE A PARTY TO A CURRENT CBA, you must submit with your license application:

1. A complete copy of the current CBA AND
2. ONE of the following:

1. 1. A copy of the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) certification of the labor organization as the exclusive bargaining representative of the employees OR
   2. Documentation establishing recognition of the labor organization as the exclusive bargaining representative of the employees

***IF YOU ARE COVERED BY AN ACTIVE MONITORING AGREEMENT, you must submit with your license application:

1. A copy of the agreement

Depending on your submission, DCWP may request additional information.

You may obtain a surety bond from a bonding company. Download a list of bonding companies. Note: The list is not exhaustive, and DCWP does not endorse or recommend any particular bonding company.

The bond must comply with the requirements of the Car Wash Accountability Law. As shown in DCWP’s Surety Bond template, the bond must:

• Comply with the Car Wash Accountability Law and Rules (NYC Administrative Code, subchapter 33, and Title 6 of the Rules of the City of NY, subchapter HH). AND
• Be conditioned upon the satisfaction of any fine or debt owed to New York City within 30 days. AND
• Be conditioned upon the satisfaction of any judgment against you for damage to a car within 30 days. AND
• Be conditioned upon the satisfaction of any judgment owed to an employee for nonpayment or underpayment of wages within 30 days. AND
• Name the City of New York as the Obligee. AND
• Include the same corporate name, Doing-Business-As (DBA) name (if any), and premises address as your license application. AND
• Cover the licensing period.

Provide a copy of ONE of the following documents as proof of workers’ compensation insurance:

• C-105.2: Certificate of Workers’ Compensation Insurance OR
• U-26.3: State Insurance Fund Certificate of Workers’ Compensation Insurance OR
• Equivalent or successor form used by the New York State Workers’ Compensation Board
  

If you are not required by law to maintain workers’ compensation insurance, you must submit form CE-200: Certificate of Attestation of Exemption. For more information, visit New York State Workers’ Compensation Board at www.wcb.ny.gov.

Provide a copy of ONE of the following documents as proof of disability benefits insurance:

• DB-120.1: Certificate of Insurance Coverage under the New York State Disability Benefits Law OR
• Equivalent or successor form used by the New York State Workers’ Compensation Board
  

If you are not required by law to maintain disability benefits insurance, you must submit form CE-200: Certificate of Attestation of Exemption. For more information, visit New York State Workers’ Compensation Board at www.wcb.ny.gov.

Your insurance policy must provide coverage that is at least as broad as the most recently issued edition of Insurance Services (ISO) Form CG 0001 and must be “occurrence” based. The Insurance Company that issues the policy must have ONE of the following ratings:

• A.M. Best rating of at least A- / “VII”
• Standard & Poor’s rating of at least A
• Moody’s Investors Service rating of at least A3
• Fitch Ratings rating of at least A-

Provide the following documents as proof of commercial general liability insurance:

• Your Certificate of Insurance must:
  
  
  • Name the City of New York as the certificate holder.
  • Be executed by an insurance broker or agent and list the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) Number.
  • Identify the insurance company that issued the insurance policy.
  • Identify the policy number, limits of insurance, and expiration date.
  • Include the same business name and address as all documents.
  • State The City of New York is an “Additional Insured” in the description box.
  • State coverage is “occurrence” based.
  • Have the following minimum amounts of coverage:
    • $1,000,000 per occurrence
    • $2,000,000 aggregate
      
• Additional Insured Endorsement.


• 
  
  • DCWP accepts the following Additional Insured Endorsements:
    • ISO Form CG 20 26
    • ISO Form CG 20 12
    • An endorsement that provides coverage at least as broad as the most recent edition ISO Form CG 20 26 or CG 20 12
      
    
    
  • If you are providing a Scheduled Additional Insured Endorsement that lists the additional insured name (i.e., ISO Forms CG 20 26 or CG 20 12), the endorsement must include either of the following phrases:
    • “The City of New York including its officials and employees” OR
    • “The City of New York together with its officials and employees”
      
    
    
  • If you are providing a Blanket Additional Insured Endorsement, an Automatic Additional Insured Endorsement, or a provision from your insurance policy that automatically grants additional insured status to an organization that the named insured is required by contract to add as an insured, confirm that the coverage is at least as broad as the most recent edition of ISO Form CG 20 26 or CG 20 12 before you submit the form.
  
  
• Notarized Certification by Insurance Broker or Agent
  Your insurance broker or agent must complete the Certification.

• Provide a copy of the determination letter you received from the New York State Department of Labor when you registered for unemployment insurance
• If you have not registered your business for unemployment insurance, you can register online at www.labor.ny.gov or by calling the New York State Department of Labor at (518) 457-4179 or (833) 230-8650. You will need to have a federal Employer Identification Number (EIN) in order to register your business for unemployment insurance. You can get an EIN from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) online at www.irs.gov/businesses or by calling the IRS at (800) 829-3676.

Important Information about Insurance Policies
You must notify DCWP within 14 days if your insurance policy is cancelled, expired, or was terminated for any reason. Notification must be in writing and submitted in person OR by mail to DCWP Licensing Center, 42 Broadway, New York, NY 10004.

Required if someone other than the license applicant will prepare and submit this application. The applicant must sign the license application and all related forms. Download Granting Authority to Act Affirmation.

License Period: 2 years

Expiration Date: October 31 in odd years

If You File Your Application Between These Dates:

• From November 1 in an odd year to April 30 in an even year:
  
  • Pay $550 for a license expiring October 31 of the next odd year. (Valid for at most
    24 months.)
• From May 1 in an even year to October 31 in an even year:
  • Pay $412.50 for a license expiring October 31 of the following year. (Valid for at most
    18 months.)
• From November 1 in an even year to April 30 in an odd year:
  • Pay $275 for a license expiring October 31 of the soonest odd year. (Valid for at most
    12 months.)
• From May 1 in an odd year to October 31 in an odd year:
  
  • Option 1: Pay $137.50 for a license expiring October 31 of the same year. (Valid for at most 6 months.)
  • Option 2: Pay $687.50 for a license expiring October 31 of the next odd year. (Valid for at most 30 months.)

Pay by:

• Credit card (Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Discover Card only) (Online or in person)
  You will be charged a nonrefundable 2% Convenience Fee.
• eCheck (Online)
• Check or money order payable to DCWP (In person or by mail)