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Credit Card Surcharge (Taxi Lease): What It Means

The credit card surcharge is a fleet's card-processing fee to a lease driver: at most $7 a shift or $49 a week under TLC Rule 58-21. Passengers never pay it.

  • Reviewed
  • 2 min read
  • 6 official sources

Definition

Credit card surcharge (taxi lease)

A fee a taxi owner may charge a lease driver for card processing: up to $7 per shift or $49 per week (TLC Rule 58-21(c)(5)(xi)).

On this page (6)
  1. The limits
  2. What it covers, and what it doesn't
  3. Where you will see it
  4. Related terms
  5. FAQ
  6. Sources

The credit card surcharge is a fee a taxi owner or fleet may charge you, the lease driver, for processing passengers' card payments. TLC Rule 58-21(c)(5)(xi) caps it at $7 per shift for daily leases and $49 per week for weekly leases (rates in the rule book updated February 27, 2026). It is one of the few charges allowed on top of the lease cap. It is never charged to passengers.

The limits

Lease Maximum surcharge Rule
Daily shift lease, medallion + vehicle $7 per shift 58-21(c)(5)(xi)(A)
Weekly lease, medallion + vehicle $49 per week 58-21(c)(5)(xi)(B)
Weekly medallion-only lease $49 per week 58-21(c)(5)(xi)(B)
DOV lease (medallion + vehicle purchase) $49 per week 58-21(c)(5)(xi)(B); DOV Driver Bill of Rights

TLC's Driver Pay for Drivers page explains that the 2018 driver income rules lowered the maximum to "$7 per shift and $49 per week."

What it covers, and what it doesn't

  • It is the whole card cost. An owner who collects it "must ensure that a Driver is not charged any additional credit card charges, or must reimburse the driver." That includes charges from the meter's payment company (Rule 58-26(g)(3)).
  • Your card fares are still yours. The owner must pay you all card fares at no cost to you. It may hold back only listed items, such as the $1 improvement surcharge and the MTA tax if it is the taxpayer (Rule 58-21(f)).
  • Not a passenger fee. "There is no charge for … paying by credit card" (TLC fare page). A driver who adds a mark-up faces $200, then $300, then $500 under Rule 80-17(e)(1)(vi).
  • Not the same as accepting cards. You must still accept a passenger's card (Rule 80-17(e)(1)).

Where you will see it

  1. In your written lease

    Leases must itemize every cost and name the rule that allows it (Rule 58-21(i)(2)-(3)).

  2. On your receipts

    Each charge needs the date, amount, purpose and rule section (Rule 58-21(g)).

  3. On the Driver Bill of Rights poster

    Listed first among permitted charges: 'Up to $7/shift (daily drivers)', 'Up to $49/week (weekly drivers)'.

  4. On your card payout statement

    Check that no extra per-trip card fee is taken on top of the surcharge.

More pay topics are on the money hub.

Frequently asked questions

How much is the taxi credit card surcharge?

At most $7 per shift on a daily lease, or $49 per week on a weekly lease, including medallion-only and DOV leases (TLC Rule 58-21(c)(5)(xi)).

Can the passenger be charged a credit card fee?

No. TLC's fare page says there is no charge for paying by credit card, and Rule 80-17(e)(1)(vi) bars drivers from adding any mark-up for card payments.

Can the fleet take card fees out of each trip as well?

No. An owner who collects the surcharge must make sure you are not charged any other card fees, or pay you back for them (Rule 58-26(g)(3), $500 fine). Withholding card fees from your payout is banned by Rule 58-21(f)(3).

Sources

Last reviewed against the official sources on .

  1. TLC Rule Book, Chapter 58 (§58-21(c)(5)(xi), (f), (i); §58-26(g)), updated Feb 27, 2026 nyc.gov
  2. TLC Rule Book, Chapter 80 (§80-17(e)) nyc.gov
  3. TLC: Driver Pay for Drivers (FAQ) nyc.gov
  4. TLC: Daily & Weekly Taxicab Driver Bill of Rights (poster) nyc.gov
  5. TLC: Taxi DOV Driver Bill of Rights (poster) nyc.gov
  6. TLC: Taxi Fare nyc.gov

Spotted something out of date? Tell us and we'll check it against the official source.

TLC Help is not a law firm and is not affiliated with the NYC Taxi & Limousine Commission or OATH. Explanations on this site are general information, not legal advice. Legal representation is provided by independent attorneys and OATH-registered representatives in our network.

Related

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