Can Too Many Cancellations Get Me Locked Out?

Short answer: Yes. TLC's lockout rule protects you from surprise lockouts, but it lets Uber and Lyft restrict you without 72 hours' notice for violating the company's rules, "including misconduct and excessive cancellation or non-acceptance of dispatches." How many is "excessive" is set by the company's policy, not by TLC. Separately, Uber lists causing riders to cancel and accepting trips you don't intend to complete as fraud, which can lead to deactivation.

The rule text

TLC rule 35 RCNY §59D-22(c)(3), in force since August 1, 2025, says:

"A High-Volume For-Hire Service may restrict a Driver's ability to accept dispatches, without 72 hours' notice, for lack of licensing credentials, violation of TLC rules, and violation of the High-Volume For-Hire Service's rules and policies including misconduct and excessive cancellation or non-acceptance of dispatches."

(TLC adopted rule; also in the current Chapter 59 rule book.)

So the normal protections (72 hours' notice before a day-long block, and 16 hours online once you start) don't apply when the company restricts you for too many cancellations or too many declined trips. The full rule is explained in app lockouts: the 72-hour & 16-hour rule.

Declining, cancelling and causing cancels

These are different, and the risk is different:

Uber's deactivation page lists fraud examples including "accepting trip or delivery requests without the intention to complete them, including causing users to cancel" and "claiming unwarranted fees or charges." Cancellations for a real reason, such as a rider who is not at the pickup, a safety concern, or a vehicle problem, are different. Write down the reason when it happens.

Is a cancellation restriction a lockout or a deactivation?

It depends on how long it lasts. A short block is a lockout; a closed account is a deactivation. See is a lockout the same as a deactivation. NYC's deactivation law would treat a block of 72 hours or more in a row as a deactivation, but that law is blocked by a federal court.

What you can do

1. Read your company's policy on cancellations and acceptance in the app or driver terms.
2. Watch for warnings in the app and save them.
3. Record the reason each time you cancel for safety, a no-show or a vehicle problem.
4. If restricted, request a review in the app with your notes and trip IDs.
5. If the reason given is not about cancellations and you got no notice, check whether the lockout rule was broken and report it to TLC's Driver Protection Unit (DriverProtection@tlc.nyc.gov).

Remember that TLC has its own service refusal rules for licensed drivers. Other reasons apps cut drivers off are covered in will the apps cut me off if TLC suspends me and the Uber and Lyft driver guide. This is general information, not legal advice.