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Driver questionPassengers & service rules

Can a Taxi Pick Up Another Passenger Mid-Trip?

Only if your passenger asks. Taxi and green cab drivers can't add riders or even suggest it ($100 / $50 fines). App drivers can't force a shared ride.

  • Reviewed
  • 2 min read
  • 5 official sources
On this page (6)
  1. The rules side by side
  2. How the fare works
  3. What to do next
  4. Related rules and exceptions
  5. FAQ
  6. Sources

Only if the passenger already in your cab asks for it. TLC rule 80-19(a)(2) says a taxi driver "must not pick up additional Passengers during a trip except at the Passenger's request," and rule 80-19(a)(3) says you must not even suggest it (TLC Rules, Chapter 80). Green cabs follow the same rules. App drivers may not force anyone to share a ride.

The rules side by side

Adding a passenger during a trip (TLC Chapter 80)

SituationRuleFineHearing
Taxi driver picks up an extra passenger the rider did not ask for80-19(a)(2)$100Appearance not required
Taxi driver suggests adding a passenger80-19(a)(3)$50Appearance not required
Green cab driver picks up an extra passenger the rider did not ask for80-19(b)(3)$100Appearance not required
Green cab driver suggests adding a passenger80-19(b)(4)$50Appearance not required
FHV (app, black car, livery) driver requires a rider to share80-19(c)(3)$100Appearance not required

Two details matter:

  • Who starts it. Your passenger can say "My friend is on the next corner, can we pick her up?" That is allowed. If you say "Do you mind if I take this other person too?", you have broken 80-19(a)(3) even if the passenger agrees.
  • What riders are promised. The green cab Passenger Bill of Rights says riders can "not share a ride, unless you want to" (TLC).

How the fare works

The meter keeps running as one trip. TLC's taxi fare page says: "There is no charge for extra passengers, luggage or bags, or paying by credit card." So you can't add a fee for the extra rider. The riders decide among themselves how to split it.

The one written exception is the JFK to Manhattan flat fare with several stops (58-26(b)(2)):

  1. First Manhattan stop

    The flat fare is paid there, plus the MTA tax and any tolls or surcharges.

  2. Meter restarts

    You turn the taximeter on as if for a new trip.

  3. Middle stops

    No fare is due when other passengers get out between the first and last stop.

  4. Last stop

    The last passenger pays the new metered fare plus any surcharge.

The current flat fare amount is on the JFK flat fare page. If the new rider asks for a different drop-off, that is a route change: see can a passenger change the destination?. Tolls on the way are handled as usual: who pays tolls on taxi trips.

What to do next

  • Ask, don't offer. If a hail flags you while you have a passenger, keep driving unless your passenger tells you to stop.
  • Count seats. You still must follow the passenger limits and seatbelt rules: how many passengers can ride in a NYC taxi?
  • Got a summons? Read the code on it. The violation pages explain each one: 80-19(a)(2) and 80-19(a)(3).

Frequently asked questions

Can I stop for another passenger while someone is already in my taxi?

Only if the passenger in your cab asks you to. TLC rule 80-19(a)(2) says a taxi driver must not pick up additional passengers during a trip except at the passenger's request. The fine is $100.

Can I ask my passenger if they mind sharing?

No. Rule 80-19(a)(3) says you must not suggest to a current passenger that another person be accepted. The fine is $50. The idea has to come from the passenger.

Does the same rule apply to green cabs?

Yes. Rules 80-19(b)(3) and (b)(4) copy the taxi rules for street hail liveries, with the same $100 and $50 fines.

Can an Uber or Lyft driver add a rider?

App drivers take only trips dispatched by their base or app. Rule 80-19(c)(3) says an FHV driver must not require a prospective passenger to share a ride ($100 fine). Shared rides happen only when the rider chose that option in the app.

Do I charge extra for the second passenger?

No. TLC's taxi fare page says there is no charge for extra passengers. The meter keeps running as one trip, except for the special JFK-to-Manhattan multiple-stop rule.

Sources

Last reviewed against the official sources on .

  1. TLC Rules, Chapter 80 (80-19 Passenger Solicitation and Engagement) nyc.gov
  2. TLC Rules, Chapter 58 (58-26(b)(2) multiple stops from JFK) nyc.gov
  3. TLC: Taxi Fare nyc.gov
  4. TLC: Green Taxi Passenger Bill of Rights nyc.gov
  5. 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.

Related

§80-19(a)(2)Adding Passengers Mid-Trip$100.§80-19(a)(3)Suggesting a Shared Ride$50.Group Ride (Taxi)A yellow taxi trip-record rate code (6) for a group ride; TLC's current rules give it no separate definition or fare, and it is almost never used.Driver questionCan a Passenger Change the Destination Mid-Trip?Yes. TLC rule 80-16(b) says drivers must accept a new destination or early stop unless it is impossible or unsafe. How the fare works for taxis and FHVs.Read GuideWho Pays Tolls on a NYC Taxi or Green Cab Trip?The passenger pays the toll, but only the actual E-ZPass amount. Every taxi and green cab case: city trips, return tolls, JFK, Newark, Westchester.Read TopicPassenger Rules & Complaints for TLC Drivers: HubRefusals, overcharges, accessibility, courtesy and lost property: the passenger rules with mandatory penalties and how complaints become TLC summonses.Read