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Minimum pay standard: the lowest amount Uber or Lyft may pay you for each trip they dispatch in New York City. It is set per mile and per minute with a passenger in the car, and it has applied since February 1, 2019 (TLC rule 59D-22). TLC says the rules "do not set the passenger fare or establish a minimum wage, instead they regulate the minimum amount the largest FHV companies must pay drivers for each trip" (TLC Driver Pay).
The three parts
TLC describes three components that together aim at "a minimum take-home pay for each trip after covering expenses":
See what utilization means for the math.
Exact figures, as of 2026-10-12
These rates took effect on March 1, 2026 and change each March 1 with inflation (TLC Driver Pay Rates). The out-of-town rates pay for the part of a trip outside the city; TLC says they make up for "time spent returning to the city without a passenger" (TLC Driver Pay for Drivers). Past rates are on minimum pay rate history.
Who it covers
Only trips dispatched by a high-volume for-hire service. TLC's 2026 notice says those are "currently Lyft and Uber". Yellow and green cab drivers, and drivers taking trips from other black car, livery or luxury limousine bases, are paid under other rules and agreements, not this standard. If you drive for both kinds of base, only the Uber and Lyft trips carry the TLC minimum.
Where it shows up for drivers
- On your receipts. Uber and Lyft bases must print the minimum per-mile and per-minute rates for the period on your receipts (§59B-18(f)(5)).
- In complaints. Paying less than the minimum costs the company $500 per instance, and it must pay you the difference (§59D-22(a)).
- In app access. The 2025 rule tied the standard to lockout protections: 72 hours' notice and 16 hours of access (TLC Notice of Promulgation).
- Not in tips or tolls. Tips and tolls are separate duties: see do tips count toward the minimum?
Related terms: CPI-W adjustment. Whether app drivers earn the state minimum wage is a different question, answered in do Uber drivers earn minimum wage?. The full guide is Uber and Lyft minimum pay; check a trip with the minimum pay estimator or visit the Uber and Lyft drivers hub.
Frequently asked questions
What is TLC's minimum pay standard?
The minimum amount a high-volume for-hire service (currently Uber and Lyft) must pay a driver for each dispatched trip, based on the miles and minutes with a passenger. It is set by TLC rule 59D-22 and began on February 1, 2019.
Is it a minimum wage?
No. TLC says the rules 'do not set the passenger fare or establish a minimum wage'; they set a minimum per-trip payment.
Who is covered?
Drivers on trips dispatched by high-volume for-hire services. Yellow and green cab drivers and drivers for other black car, livery or limousine bases are not covered by this standard.
What are the rates now?
From March 1, 2026: $1.283 per mile and $0.681 per minute in the city (non-WAV); $1.601 per mile for WAV trips; $1.757 per mile (WAV $2.193) and $0.725 per minute outside the city on trips that start in it.
Sources
Last reviewed against the official sources on .
- TLC: Driver Pay nyc.gov
- TLC Rule Book, Chapter 59 (§59D-22) nyc.gov
- TLC: Driver Pay Rates nyc.gov
- TLC: Driver Pay for Drivers (FAQ) nyc.gov
- TLC Notice of Promulgation: driver pay rules adopted June 25, 2025 nyc.gov
- TLC Industry Notice #26-03 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.