How TLC's minimum pay for Uber and Lyft drivers works

Per Mile Rate. For each mile a Driver transports a Passenger in the City on a trip dispatched by the High-Volume For-Hire Service, the High-Volume For-Hire Service must pay the Driver no less than $0.850 per mile for a trip dispatched to a Vehicle that is not an Accessible Vehicle and $1.061 for a trip dispatched to an Accessible Vehicle, divided by the High-Volume For-Hire Service's Utilization Rate, and for trips that begin in the City but end outside of the City, the Base must pay the Driver no less than $1.700 per mile for a trip dispatched to a vehicle that is not an Accessible Vehicle and no less than $2.122 per mile for a trip dispatched to an Accessible Vehicle for each mile a Driver transports a Passenger outside of the City

Beginning January 1, 2019, for each minute a Driver transports a Passenger in the City on a trip dispatched by the High-Volume For-Hire Service, the High-Volume For-Hire Service must pay the Driver no less than $0.287 per minute, divided by the High-Volume For-Hire Service's Utilization Rate, and for each minute a Driver transports a Passenger outside of the City on a trip dispatched by the High-Volume For-Hire Service that began in the City and ended outside of the City, the High-Volume For-Hire Service must pay the Driver no less than $0.574 per minute.

Two base rates, one for miles and one for minutes, both stated before dividing by the utilization rate below. A trip pays the sum of both rates together.

Applied Utilization Rate. The applied Utilization Rate for purposes of calculating the per-minute rate for all High-Volume For-Hire Services will be 53.3%. The applied Utilization Rate for purposes of calculating the per-mile rate for all High-Volume For-Hire Services will be 68.5%.

Utilization is roughly the share of a driver's logged-in time actually spent carrying a paying passenger rather than waiting or driving to a pickup. Fixing it citywide, rather than letting each company report its own, is what keeps the formula from becoming a number the company controls.

Rates effective March 1, 2026: Non-WAV trips: - $1.283 per mile - $0.681 per minute WAV trips: - $1.601 per mile - $0.681 per minute Out-of-town trips Standard rates apply within city limits. Outside of New York City, these rates apply: - $1.757 per mile (non-WAV) - $2.193 per mile (WAV) - $0.725 per minute

WAV is a wheelchair-accessible vehicle, which carries a higher minimum throughout. A minute rate stays the same, whether the trip stays in the city or crosses the line; only the mileage rate changes outside city limits.

Consumer Price Index Adjustments. Beginning March 1, 2024 and continuing each calendar year thereafter, the dollar amounts in the per mile rates and per minute rates contained in this subdivision will be adjusted using the percent increases, if any, in the annual average Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers for the NY-NJ-PA metro area between the previous calendar year and two calendar years prior.

The minimum high-volume for-hire service driver pay rates will increase in accordance with the 2025 annual average increase in the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W). Pursuant to TLC Rule § 59D-22(a)(4), a 3.36% increase in the minimum per-mile and per-minute rates will be effective beginning March 1, 2026, for all trips dispatched by high-volume for-hire services, currently Lyft and Uber.

Uber and Lyft are named because they are, as of this notice, the only two companies that meet TLC's threshold for a high-volume for-hire service. The rule is written for the category; today that category has two members.

Fine: $500 per instance of under payment. In addition to the penalty payable to the Commission, the Hearing Officer must order the High-Volume For-Hire Service to pay restitution to the Driver, equal to the amount not paid to the Driver in violation of this rule.