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It depends on who dispatches the trip. The Black Car Fund (BCF) covers drivers on jobs from its member bases: Uber, Lyft and other high-volume services, traditional black car and luxury limousine bases, and non-emergency medical transportation. Yellow cabs, green cabs and livery (car service) bases are not member bases, so that work is not covered. Coverage also comes in two layers: workers' comp is automatic on member-base jobs, but the free Drivers Benefits need you to enroll and drive at least 20 passenger hours a month.
General information, not legal or insurance advice. Rules as of 2026-10-12.
Your license type and the Fund
Sources: BCF FAQ for the member categories and the rule that non-member jobs and street hails are not covered; Workers' Compensation Board for livery bases.
Check your own situation
Member bases only, job by job
Bases join the Fund, not drivers. The BCF FAQ says you are covered "for an injury that occurred on a job while dispatched by ANY Member Base." If you take a job from a base that is not a member, "such as a livery base," you are not covered on that job, even if your car is affiliated with a member base. If you mix work, check each job.
The hours and income rule for Drivers Benefits
From the eligibility page, effective April 9, 2026:
- TLC-licensed drivers: at least 20 hours of passenger service in the past 30 days to start, then an average of 20 hours a month over a rolling six months, based on TLC data. Hours run from when a passenger gets in until they get out.
- Drivers not licensed by TLC: at least $4,000 gross income from passenger service in New York in the most recent available quarter (as reported on your 1099).
If you fall below, benefits end. You get an email and the chance to appeal. The Fund can change the rules with 30 days' notice.
Most NYC trips are on member-base apps
In 2025, high-volume app services averaged 667,537 trips a day, far more than any other industry in TLC's data (yellow taxis: 131,133). Black car bases added 30,886 a day and luxury limousines 1,177. So the Fund touches a large share of NYC for-hire work. Taxi and livery drivers need to look elsewhere.
Livery drivers: the ILDBF
Since January 1, 2010, a livery base must show TLC either a workers' comp policy or a certificate of membership in the Independent Livery Driver Benefit Fund. That fund covers only serious injuries and crimes against drivers. See the ILDBF definition and the livery workers' comp guide.
Related: Black Car Fund driver benefits, enroll before you get hurt, street hails, yellow taxi drivers, member base, livery, taxi vs FHV rules and the money topic.
Frequently asked questions
I drive for Uber or Lyft in NYC. Am I covered?
Yes for workers' comp on trips Uber or Lyft dispatches, because high-volume bases are Black Car Fund member bases. For the free Drivers Benefits you must also enroll and have at least 20 hours of passenger time in the past 30 days, then average 20 hours a month.
I drive a yellow or green cab. Am I covered?
Not for taxi work. Yellow and green cabs are not on the Fund's list of member base categories, and the Fund says street hails are not covered. Ask the medallion owner or base about its workers' comp coverage, or contact the NYS Workers' Compensation Board.
I drive for a livery (car service) base. Am I covered?
No, not by the Black Car Fund. The Fund's FAQ says jobs from a non-member base, such as a livery base, are not covered. Livery bases must show TLC either a workers' comp policy or membership in the Independent Livery Driver Benefit Fund.
How do I check if my base is a member?
Look it up on the Black Car Fund's member base list at nybcf.org/members, or call the Fund at 212-269-4800.
What if I lose eligibility for Drivers Benefits?
You get an email and a chance to appeal. Unless the termination was a mistake, you can't keep using the benefits until you meet the hours or income rule again.
Sources
Last reviewed against the official sources on .
- Black Car Fund: F.A.Q.s nybcf.org
- Black Car Fund: History (About Us) nybcf.org
- Drivers Benefits: Eligibility Requirements (effective April 9, 2026) ny.driversbenefits.org
- NYS Workers' Compensation Board: Independent Livery Driver Benefit Fund wcb.ny.gov
- TLC: Daily & Weekly Taxicab Driver Bill of Rights (fleet poster, PDF) nyc.gov
- NYC Open Data: TLC Industry Indicators (v6kb-cqej) data.cityofnewyork.us
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.