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"Group ride" is a label in TLC's yellow taxi trip data: rate code 6, "Group ride." It is the final rate code a taxi's meter system reports at the end of a trip (TLC yellow data dictionary). TLC's definitions chapter, Chapter 51, does not define it, and we found no group-ride fare in the current taxi rules. In daily driving, it almost never comes up.
In one sentence: "group ride" is a rarely used taxi rate code, not a way for drivers to fill a cab with strangers.
Official definition
The only official wording we found is the data dictionary's list of rate codes: 1 = Standard rate, 2 = JFK, 3 = Newark, 4 = Nassau or Westchester, 5 = Negotiated fare, 6 = Group ride, 99 = Null/unknown. TLC gives no longer explanation there.
Where drivers meet the term
- On the meter screen and trip record, as a rate code. TLC's fare page tells riders to check the on-screen rate message, for example "Rate #01 – Standard City Rate" (TLC Taxi Fare).
- In data and news about taxi trips.
- Not on summonses. The summons codes about extra passengers are rule numbers such as 80-19(a)(3), not "group ride."
Why it matters to you: for a normal trip inside the city, the screen should show Rate #01. If a rider sees a different rate on the screen, they may think you set the meter wrong and call 311. Charging above the approved rate is overcharging under rule 80-17(a)(1), which carries mandatory penalties. Check the rate message at the start of every trip.
What the rules say about more than one party
The NYS congestion surcharge is lower for shared trips: $0.75 for "any shared ride," against $2.50 for a yellow taxi trip (TLC taxi fare page; TLC Help rates file as of Oct 12, 2026). More on surcharges: congestion pricing for TLC drivers.
Related terms
- Street hail and off duty: when you may take a passenger at all.
- Roof light: what riders see when you are available.
- Party size limits: how many passengers can ride in a NYC taxi?
- Changing plans mid-trip: can a passenger change the destination?
- Full answer on adding riders: can a taxi pick up another passenger mid-trip?
- Paratransit riders: do I have to take Access-A-Ride taxi trips?
Frequently asked questions
Is "group ride" defined in TLC's rules?
Not in Chapter 51, TLC's definitions chapter (updated October 17, 2025), and we found no group-ride fare in the current Chapter 58 taxi rules. The term appears in TLC's yellow taxi trip data dictionary as rate code 6.
How often is the group ride code used?
Almost never. In yellow taxi trip records from September 2025 to August 2026, 33 trips ended with rate code 6, out of 45,694,842 trips.
Can I make a group ride by adding passengers?
No. You may add a passenger during a trip only at the passenger's request, and you must not suggest it (80-19(a)(2)-(3)). That is still one metered trip, with no extra charge per passenger.
Is a group ride the same as a shared Uber or Lyft ride?
No. App shared rides are trips where riders booked a shared option and were matched. TLC rule 80-19(c)(3) says an FHV driver must not require a rider to share.
Sources
Last reviewed against the official sources on .
- TLC data dictionary: Yellow Taxi Trip Records (Mar 18, 2025) nyc.gov
- TLC Rules Chapter 51: Definitions nyc.gov
- TLC Rules, Chapter 80 (80-19) nyc.gov
- TLC: Taxi Fare nyc.gov
- TLC: Yellow Taxi Passenger Bill of Rights 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.