Not For Hire:

These Cars are Marked as Taxicabs, but don't really perform that service.

Ford Crown Victoria

Brooklyn Bridge Downtown, on the set of "Pelham 1 2 3" (the remake)

This car has been outfitted only for the movies. I've seen worse taxi impostors, and I've seen better. Here are all the differences between this car and a real N.Y.C. taxicab.

1. The letter X in the medallion number, 3X33-- There are no N.Y.C. taxicabs with the letter being I,O,Q,R,S,U,X,Y,Z. Correct me if I'm wrong.
2. The passenger door is too short-- All N.Y.C. Ford Crown Victoria taxicabs have only extended rear doors.
3. That door has both the new taxicab pricing sticker, and the older "N.Y.C. TAXI" stamp, it can't have both. All current taxicabs only have the new stickers.

Toyota Sienna

of "The Cash Cab": A television game show

Seen on the Discovery Channel, this Toyota Sienna, which now carries a different medallion number, is less of a real taxicab, but it plays a role as supporting actor for the game show host and licensed cabbie as it picks up contestants for the show. It is questionable weather the contestants on the street are actually picked up at random.

The cab is totally official... err... well.. The Taxi and Limousine Commission approved it despite having a completely eccentric meter, flashing lights in the roof, tinted windows that wouldn't even pass inspection on a normal civilian vehicle, and a trunk loaded with video and audio recording and transmitting equipment. Not to mention that Ben readily tells all the viewers that he won't take you out to Brooklyn. The meter clicks for every question you get right, so you can't answer too many questions, otherwise the producers would loose too much money.