Standard Metered Fare
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
- $2.50 New York State Congestion Surcharge 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. Actual fares vary, depending on traffic, weather, and other unforeseen conditions.
You can pay by credit or debit cards in yellow taxis at 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
John F. Kennedy Airport (JFK)
- To or from Manhattan:
- $52 "Flat Fare." For 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.
- Tolls (one-way only).
- 50-cent State surcharge.
- 30-cent Improvement surcharge
- $4.50 rush hour surcharge from 4 PM to 8 PM on weekdays (excluding legal holidays)
- $2.50 New York State Congestion Surcharge for all trips that begin, end, or pass through Manhattan south of 96th Street.
- $1.25 Airport Access Fee for pickups only.
- To or from other boroughs:
- Standard meter rates; there is no set fare to or from JFK Airport and the Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens, or Staten Island.
- Tolls (one-way only)
- $1.25 Airport Access Fee for pickups only.
Laguardia Airport (LGA)
- To or from all boroughs:
- Standard meter rates
- Tolls (one-way only)
- $1.25 Airport Access Fee for pickups only
The estimated fare from LGA to Manhattan is $19-$22, plus tolls. Actual fares vary, depending on traffic, weather, and other unforeseen conditions.
Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR)
- From all boroughs:
- Standard meter rates
- Round-trip tolls.
- $17.50 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.
- 30-cent Improvement surcharge
- $1.25 Airport Access Fee for pickups only.
There is no 50-cent State surcharge for these trips.
Trips Outside the City, Excluding Newark Airport
- To Nassau or Westchester:
- The fare is the amount shown on the 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.
