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United States

New York

Yellow cabs thread the skyscraper canyons. The subway runs 24 hours a day, every day of the year.

Taxis & ride-hailing (Yellow Cab, Uber, Lyft)

Hailed on the street, a taxi runs a meter set by law - lawful surcharges mean a total above the meter is normal. Booked by app, even a taxi is priced by company quote instead. Anyone offering you a ride is illegal.

Updated on August 2, 2026

How to ride

  1. 1
    Hail a yellow cab on the street
    A lit roof number means it's free. Yellow cabs are the only ones licensed to take street hails anywhere in the city.
  2. 2
    Above 96th St and in the outer boroughs, look for green
    Green Boro Taxis take street hails only above E 96th St / W 110th St and in the outer boroughs.
  3. 3
    Pick the right app for the job
    Uber and Lyft lock the price in before you book. Curb and Arro dispatch licensed taxis, also on a fixed quote with no meter.
  4. 4
    Never take a ride from someone who approaches you
    Anyone offering you a ride is operating illegally - common at airports, stations and theatres. Use the taxi line or an app only.
  5. 5
    On a street hail, check the meter is running
    Once you set off, look for a rate code such as "Rate #01" on the screen. If the meter is off, get out.
  6. 6
    Pay at the back-seat screen
    Cash or card is your choice, and so is whether and how much to tip. Always take the receipt as you get out.

Typical costs

Fixed-price routes1

JFK-Manhattan taxi flat fare
Flat in both directions, plus $5.00 during weekday rush 4-8pm, with tolls and tip on top.
70 USD ≈ $70

How the meter adds up7

Taxi initial charge (metered)
Then 70 cents per 1/5 mile above 12mph, or per 60 seconds in slow traffic or when stopped.
3 USD ≈ $3
Fixed surcharges on every trip
50c MTA State Surcharge plus $1.00 Improvement Surcharge; bags, extra riders and card payment cost nothing.
1.5 USD ≈ $2
Time-of-day surcharge
$1.00 overnight from 8pm to 6am; $2.50 on weekdays from 4pm to 8pm, holidays excluded.
1〜2.5 USD ≈ $1–3
NY State congestion surcharge (south of 96th St)
$2.50 yellow, $2.75 green cabs and app rides, $0.75 shared; it applies even if you only pass through.
0.75〜2.75 USD ≈ $0.8–3
MTA congestion toll (60th St and below)
$0.75 per trip in a taxi, $1.50 in Uber and Lyft, charged on each trip into the zone.
0.75〜1.5 USD ≈ $0.8–2
LaGuardia airport surcharge
On top of the metered fare; picking up at JFK or LGA also adds a $2.00 airport access fee.
5 USD ≈ $5
Newark airport surcharge
On top of the metered fare, and you also pay the tolls for the driver's return trip.
20 USD ≈ $20

Estimates use exchange rates as of November 3, 2026

Payment

Tap to ride Unverified
DiscoverVISAMastercardAmex
Cards always work at the terminal; no official word on tap
App tickets
Uber and Lyft charge in-app; Curb and Arro dispatch licensed taxis
Cash
In a taxi, cash or card is the passenger's own choice

Quick facts

Fares from
70 USD+

Heads-up

  • Rides offered by drivers who approach you are illegal

    Never take a ride from anyone who walks up and offers you one. Even TLC-licensed drivers are banned from soliciting, so accepting puts you in an off-the-books trip with no protections and a fare no one can trace - and if the car is unlicensed it is uninsured and uninspected as well. They cluster at airports, stations, theatres and hotel doors - use the taxi line or an app only.

  • Pedicabs charge by the minute - check the posted rate

    Pedicabs in tourist areas - around Central Park and Battery Park - charge by the minute. The per-minute rate must be posted on both sides of the cab and behind the seat, so read it and agree out loud on the rate and the length of the ride before you climb in. City investigators have caught drivers covering that sign up. Any extra fee - for passengers or bags - is illegal.

Timetable

Typical duration Both time and cost ride on the traffic - within Manhattan they swing a lot by hour
Check the official site for the latest times and service status
Editor Naotaka