Gas Surcharge (Taxi Lease): What It Means

On this page (5)

Quick facts
Where drivers see it
Not to be confused with
FAQ
Sources

A gas surcharge is an extra amount a taxi owner or fleet may add to your lease when the fleet pays for all your gasoline for the shift. It is optional for the owner, but the amount is not. TLC Rule 58-21(c)(6) sets it from a table tied to New York City gas prices. It ranges from $13 to $31 per shift, or $78 to $186 per week (Chapter 58, updated February 27, 2026).

Quick facts

Condition
Gasoline must be provided 'for the entire shift at no additional cost to the lessee' (58-21(c)(6)(i)).
Which leases
Daily and weekly leases of a medallion and vehicle (58-21(c)(1) and (c)(2)). Not medallion-only leases (58-21(c)(3)(v)) and not DOV leases (58-21(c)(4)(vi)).
Amount
From the table in 58-21(c)(6)(vii): lower for hybrid electric and diesel taxis ($13–$28 a shift), higher for other taxis ($16–$31 a shift).
Reset
Calculated June 30 and November 30, posted by TLC by July 15 and December 15, effective July 31 and December 31. If nothing new is posted, the old amount stays.
In writing
The lease must list the gasoline surcharge as its own item with the rule that allows it (58-21(i)(2)-(3)).

The index is the trailing 6-month average of the U.S. Energy Information Administration's New York City Gasoline Price Index (eia.gov). When we reviewed this page on 2026-10-12, we could not find TLC's currently posted amount on its website. Ask your fleet which posted amount and period it uses.

Example (fictional): if the posted index for the period is between $3.00 and $3.49, a fleet that fuels a non-hybrid taxi for the whole shift may add up to $21 per shift, or $126 for a weekly lease. For a hybrid taxi in the same period the most it may add is $18 per shift, or $108 a week.

Where drivers see it

In the lease, next to the shift or weekly price.
On the fleet Driver Bill of Rights poster, under "Permitted charges" ("Gasoline surcharge") and in the list of items a lease must show.
On your receipts. Each payment needs the date, amount, purpose and rule section (58-21(g)).

Not to be confused with

The credit card surcharge — the other lease surcharge, $7 a shift or $49 a week.
Passenger surcharges such as the night surcharge or the $1 improvement surcharge. These go on the meter, not the lease.
Buying gas from the garage. An owner may sell you gasoline separately from the lease, if the sales are recorded (58-21(c)(6)(viii)). That is a purchase, not a surcharge.
A DOV lease, where the gas surcharge option is not available at all.

The full table, a worked example and the reset calendar are in the taxi lease gas surcharge guide. For the security deposit and every other allowed add-on, see extra charges a fleet can add. More pay topics are on the money hub.

Frequently asked questions

Is the gas surcharge something passengers pay?

No. It is a charge from the fleet to the lease driver. Passengers pay meter surcharges such as the overnight, rush-hour and improvement surcharges, which are different.

Can every fleet charge it?

Only a fleet that leases a medallion and vehicle by the shift or week, and only if it gives you gasoline for the entire shift at no extra cost. It is not allowed on medallion-only or DOV leases.

Who decides the amount?

TLC's rule. A table in Rule 58-21(c)(6)(vii) sets the amount from a 6-month average of an EIA New York City gasoline price index, recalculated on June 30 and November 30 each year.

Sources

Last reviewed against the official sources on Oct 12, 2026.

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.