Coronavirus (COVID-19) Alert

Protect yourself and others. All Taxi and Limousine Commission (TLC) drivers and passengers must wear a face covering. You can use a homemade mask, bandana, or a scarf.

Need something else?

You can learn about:

  • Taxi fares
  • Green Boro taxis (also known as Street Hail Livery cabs and Boro Taxis)
  • The Taxi of Tomorrow

You can also submit feedback about the Yellow Taxi E-Hail program.

Upon entering the taxi, you will be charged the standard City fare rate of $3.30, which includes a 50-cent State surcharge and a 30-cent Improvement surcharge. 

Additional charges also apply:

  • 50 cents for every fifth of a mile
  • 50 cents for every minute the taxi traveled less than 12 miles per hour
  • 50 cents night surcharge for travel from 8 PM to 6 AM
  • $1 for travel from 4 PM to 8 PM on weekdays only

Plus, there is now a New York State Congestion Surcharge of $2.50 for all trips that begin, end, or pass through Manhattan south of 96th Street.

Trips to and from local airports and trips outside the City are charged different rates.

You can pay by credit or debit cards in yellow taxis with no extra charge. 

Learn more about taxi rates and fares.

Rate Codes

The driver is required to turn on the meter for every taxicab ride. There is a rate code for each type of taxi trip. Passengers can see the rate code charge on the passenger information screen, as well as the taxi receipt. 

  • Rate Code 1: Standard City rate
  • Rate Code 2: Trips between Manhattan and JFK Airport
  • Rate Code 3: Trips to Newark-Liberty International Airport
  • Rate Code 4: Trips to Westchester and Nassau Counties
  • Rate Code 5: Trips on an agreed flat fare that go beyond the City, Newark-Liberty International Airport, JFK Airport, and the counties of Westchester and Nassau

Airport Fares

JFK Airport

  • To or from Manhattan:
    • "Flat Fare" program for trips to and from JFK Airport and Manhattan. The flat fare is $52, plus a 50-cent State surcharge and any tolls (one-way only). On weekdays (excluding legal holidays), from 4 PM to 8 PM, there is also a $4.50 rush hour surcharge.
    • If passengers request multiple stops, the flat rate of $52 will be registered at the first stop in either Manhattan or JFK Airport, and the meter will be restarted at the standard city rate for the remainder of the trip. The metered fare should be collected at the last stop from the last passenger.
    • There is a New York State Congestion Surcharge of $2.50 for all trips that begin, end, or pass through Manhattan south of 96th Street.
  • To or from ​other boroughs: 
    • There is no set fare to or from JFK Airport and the Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens, or Staten Island. Standard meter rates apply. Tolls (one-way only) must be paid by the passenger. Fares vary depending on traffic, weather, and other unforeseen conditions.

Laguardia Airport

  • To or from all boroughs:
    • There is no set fare to or from LaGuardia Airport. The standard meter rates apply. Tolls (one-way only) must be paid by the passenger. The estimated fare from LaGuardia to Manhattan is $19-$22, plus tolls.
    • There is now a New York State Congestion Surcharge of $2.50 for all trips that begin, end, or pass through Manhattan south of 96th Street.
    • Actual fares vary, depending on traffic, weather, and other unforeseen conditions.

Newark Liberty International Airport 

  • From all boroughs:
    • The fare from NYC to Newark Airport is the meter rate, plus a $17.50 surcharge and round-trip tolls.
      • There is an additional surcharge because Newark Liberty International Airport is outside of NYC's jurisdiction and TLC taxi drivers are not allowed to pick up passengers for a return trip. Taxi drivers are only allowed to drop off passengers. There is no 50-cent State surcharge for this trip.

Trips Outside the City, Excluding Newark Airport

  • To Nassau or Westchester: 
    • The fare is the amount shown on the taxi meter for the part of the trip that is inside New York City limits, plus twice the amount on the meter outside the City. All tolls to and from the destination must be paid by the passenger.
  • To other locations outside the City, excluding Newark Airport: 
    • The fare is a flat rate agreed upon by the driver and passenger at the start of the trip.

Tolls

On trips within New York City, tolls to the destination must be paid by the passenger. Return tolls shall not be charged except for trips over the 

  • Cross Bay Veterans Bridge
  • Marine Parkway-Gil Hodges Memorial Bridge
  • Verrazano Narrows Bridge

On trips beyond New York City, all tolls to and from the destination must be paid by the passenger.

E-Z Pass Discount

An E-Z Pass tag entitles the user to a discount off the cash toll at all Port Authority facilities and at MTA bridges and tunnels. This discount is to be passed on to the taxi passenger. You cannot be charged more than the E-Z Pass charge when passing through a toll.

Multiple Stops

For most taxi trips, multiple stops may be requested. There is no limit on how many stops are allowed, but the meter must remain on for the entire length of the trip. The meter cannot be turned off and started again after each stop. The full fare is paid at the last stop. 

These rules do not apply to trips between Manhattan and JFK Airport. Those trips have a flat fare. The meter is turned on for the entire time for trips between JFK Airport and Manhattan in either direction, to register the $52 fare, plus a 50-cent State surcharge. 

In addition, there is a New York State Congestion Surcharge of $2.50 for all trips that begin, end, or pass through Manhattan south of 96th Street.

If additional stops are requested, then the meter is restarted at the standard city rate after the first stop in Manhattan or at JFK Airport.

Credit Card Machine Broken

A taxi driver must not pick up a passenger if the credit or debit card machine is not working, unless they tell the passenger about the machine before turning on the meter. If the passenger agrees to pay the fare with cash, the ride can begin.

  • If the credit or debit card machine does not work, the customer must still pay the fare.
  • If the machine is temporarily not working because the wireless payment system cannot communicate with its network, the driver can drive to a location where there is reception for the network.
  • If the machine is not working for another reason, the passenger should pay the fare using cash. If the passenger does not have cash, the driver can offer to drive to an ATM.

Animals

A taxicab or car service driver may refuse service to a person with an animal that is not properly or adequately secured in a kennel case or another suitable container. Animals accompanying people with disabilities do not require a container.

Maximum Number of Passengers

The maximum number of passengers allowed in a yellow taxicab by law is 4 in a 4-passenger taxicab or 5 in a 5-passenger taxicab.  There is an exception that an additional passenger must be accepted if that passenger is under age 7 and is held on the lap of an adult passenger seated in the rear seat. 

If a passenger is unable to fit or ride in the back seat of the taxicab, they may occupy the front seat alongside the driver.

Green Boro taxis, also called Street Hail Livery cabs and Boro Taxis, serve areas in the City not commonly served by yellow taxi cabs. They are green and can also be dispatched by local car service companies to pick you up.

Green Boro taxis can pick up street hails in:  

  • Brooklyn
  • Queens (street hails cannot be picked up at JFK and LaGuardia airports)
  • Bronx
  • Staten Island
  • Manhattan above East 96th Street and above West 110th Street. 

In areas where Green Boro taxis cannot pick up street hails, you can also:

  • Call a car service company to pre-arrange a pickup
  • Hail yellow taxis

Learn more about Green Boro taxis.

The standard City fare rate for a hailed green taxi is $3.30 upon entry, which includes a 50-cent State surcharge and a 30-cent Improvement surcharge.

Additional charges are:

  • 50 cents for every fifth of a mile
  • 50 cents for every minute spent traveling less than 12 miles per hour
  • A night surcharge of 50 cents is added from 8 PM to 6 AM everyday
  • A $1 surcharge is added from 4 PM to 8 PM on weekdays only
  • A New York State Congestion Surcharge of $2.75 for all trips that begin, end, or pass through Manhattan south of 96th Street

Credit or debit cards are accepted in green taxis at no extra charge.

Prearranged Trip Fares

Fares for prearranged trips in a boro taxi will be determined by the car service and agreed upon by you before the trip begins.  This quoted price may not include the price of tolls.

In addition, there is now a New York State Congestion Surcharge of $2.75 (or 75 cents for a shared ride) for all trips that begin, end, or pass through Manhattan south of 96th Street. 

Meters are not turned on for prearranged trips.

Bridge and Tunnel Tolls

You are responsible for paying all bridge and tunnel tolls driving to your destination, in addition to the metered fare. 

You must also pay tolls for the driver's return trip if you are traveling over the following bridges:

  • The Cross Bay Veterans Bridge
  • The Marine Parkway - Gil Hodges Memorial Bridge

Aiport Fares

John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK)

Boro Taxis may make prearranged trips to and from JFK Airport.

Hailing a Boro Taxi at JFK Airport is not permitted.  Fares will be determined by the car service you call and agreed upon by you before the trip begins.

When hailing a Boro taxi the following rates apply: 

  • From Manhattan:
    • The Taxi and Limousine Commission (TLC) has established a "Flat Fare" program for trips to and from JFK and Manhattan. The flat fare is $52, plus a 50-cent State surcharge and any tolls (one-way only). On weekdays (excluding legal holidays), from 4 PM to 8 PM, there is also a $4.50 rush hour surcharge.
    • In addition, there is now a New York State Congestion Surcharge of $2.75 for all trips that begin, end, or pass through Manhattan south of 96th Street.
    • If passengers request multiple stops, the flat rate of $52 will be registered at the first stop in either Manhattan or JFK, and the meter will be restarted at the standard city rate for the remainder of the trip. The metered fare should be collected at the last stop from the last passenger.
  • From the Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens, Staten Island:
    • There is no set fare to or from JFK and the Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens, or Staten Island. The standard meter rates apply.
    • Tolls (one-way only) must be paid by the passenger.
    • Actual fares vary, depending on traffic, weather, and other unforeseen conditions.

LaGuardia International Airport

Boro Taxis may make prearranged trips to and from LaGuardia.

Hailing a Boro Taxi at LaGuardia Airport is not permitted.  Fares will be determined by the car service you call and agreed upon by you before the trip begins.

When hailing a Boro taxi:

  • Standard meter rates apply; there is no set fare to or from LaGuardia Airport.
  • The estimated fare from LaGuardia to Manhattan is $19 to $22, plus tolls. Actual fares vary, depending on traffic, weather, and other unforeseen conditions.
  • Tolls (one-way only) must be paid by the passenger.

Newark Liberty International Airport

Boro taxis may not hail or make prearranged trips from Newark Airport, but they can make prearranged trips to Newark Airport.

The fare from New York City to Newark Airport is the meter rate, a $17.50 surcharge, and round-trip tolls.

There is an additional surcharge because the airport is outside of New York City's jurisdiction and TLC taxi drivers are not allowed to pick up passengers for a return trip. Taxi drivers are only allowed to drop off passengers. There is no 50-cent NY State surcharge for this trip.

The Taxi and Limousine Commission (TLC) E-Hail program allows people to hail a yellow taxi by using a smartphone. All E-Hail applications licensed through TLC are privately owned and managed by individual companies.

Complaints about the functioning of an E-Hail application itself should be made directly to the E-Hail company. If you have a specific complaint about a taxi or driver, file a Taxi Complaint instead.

You can make a general complaint or compliment to TLC about its E-Hail program.

Online

Email the Taxi and Limousine Commission.

By Phone

Call 311 for assistance.

The Nissan NV200, also known as the Taxi of Tomorrow, is on the streets of New York as one of four available vehicles approved for use as a taxi.

The Taxi of Tomorrow is the only vehicle that was actually designed, built, and tested for use as a New York City taxi. 

Learn more about the Taxi of Tomorrow.

On November 1, 2020, a new seat belt law went into effect in New York State. All drivers and passengers must buckle up regardless of age or where they sit in the vehicle.

Wearing a seatbelt is required in personal cars and when riding in a taxi or for-hire vehicle (FHV), including on app-based trips.

The penalty for a seat belt violation is a fine of up to $50 for the passenger and up to $100 and 3 points for the driver if a child under 16 is not properly buckled.

If you are riding with a child in a taxi or for-hire vehicle, you are encouraged to bring your own car seat. The driver must allow you to install your car seat.

  Was this information helpful?   Yes    No