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Yes. Every TLC-licensed for-hire vehicle that carries passengers must have an E-ZPass, and three separate TLC rules say so: one binds you, one binds the vehicle owner, and one binds Uber and Lyft. The tag can be your own personal E-ZPass. It should be a New York E-ZPass, because that is what TLC requires and what gets the lowest rate at MTA bridges and tunnels.
The three rules
Sources: chapter 80 and chapter 59 of the TLC rules. The vehicle rule is also the base of the passenger toll rule: "All For-Hire Vehicles must be equipped with a New York MTA Bridges & Tunnels EZ-Pass" (§59A-23(a)(1)). Taxis (§58-27) and green cabs (§82-27) have matching owner rules.
Your own tag is allowed
You don't need a tag from the owner or the rental company. §80-15(d)(3): "Taxicab, For-Hire Vehicle or Street Hail Livery Drivers may use personal E-ZPass tags to meet this requirement." The owner rule says the same from the other side: owners must either put an MTA tag on the car or "allow a Driver to use their personal EZ-Pass tag" (§59A-24(b)(1)).
Whose tag you use decides who keeps the toll money:
- Your tag: you keep the toll the passenger paid, or you're reimbursed if they paid by card (§59A-24(c)).
- Owner's tag: the toll money "accrue[s] to the For-Hire Vehicle Owner", and the owner can require a replenishment deposit of up to $10 per 12-hour shift, $100 at most, returned within 30 days after the lease ends (§59A-24(d)).
More on rented and leased cars: can I use my own E-ZPass in a leased car?.
Why it should be a New York tag
The tag must also be read. A tag that isn't properly mounted, or a toll posted by plate, is charged the Mid-Tier rate ($9.79 at most MTA crossings). Put the TLC car's plate on your account and mount the tag as MTA instructs. Which tag to get and how: how to open an E-ZPass NY account and E-ZPass for TLC drivers.
How often these rules lead to summonses
Rarely. In the OATH hearings data (queried October 12, 2026), summonses with a first charge under §80-15(d) total 22 across all years, almost all for §80-15(d)(1). There were none for §59D-18. The bigger money risks are toll bills and unpaid reimbursements, not E-ZPass summonses. The driver rule has its own page: 80-15(d)(1).
What to do next
- Get an E-ZPass NY account and tag, or confirm the owner's tag is in the car.
- Add the TLC plate to the account and keep the balance funded.
- Mount the tag where MTA says.
- Check that tolls on your trips show up in your pay: tolls on Uber and Lyft trips.
Starting out? See also do I need a TLC license to drive for Uber?, can I use my personal car for Uber?, rideshare insurance, and if you already have a summons, do I need a lawyer for a TLC hearing?. All toll pages: Tolls.
This page explains TLC rules. It is not legal advice.
Frequently asked questions
Is E-ZPass required to drive for Uber in NYC?
Yes. TLC rule §80-15(d)(1) says a driver must not operate a for-hire vehicle for hire without an E-ZPass tag, and §59D-18(a) says Uber and Lyft must not dispatch a vehicle that isn't in the E-ZPass program.
Can I use my own personal E-ZPass?
Yes. §80-15(d)(3) says drivers may use personal E-ZPass tags to meet the requirement, and the owner rule §59A-24(b) lets owners allow a driver's personal tag. If you use your own tag, you keep the tolls the passenger pays.
What is the fine for driving without E-ZPass?
$100 if you plead guilty before a hearing or $150 if found guilty after one, and you don't have to appear (§80-15(d)(1)-(3)). The vehicle owner's own E-ZPass rule carries $100 and suspension until compliance (§59A-24).
Does a New Jersey E-ZPass work in a TLC car?
It will pay tolls, but TLC rules require a New York MTA Bridges & Tunnels E-ZPass in every for-hire vehicle, and MTA says non-New York E-ZPass customers pay Tolls by Mail rates at its bridges and tunnels.
Sources
Last reviewed against the official sources on .
- TLC Rule Book, Chapter 80 (updated June 6, 2025): §80-15(d) nyc.gov
- TLC Rule Book, Chapter 59 (updated Feb 27, 2026): §59A-23(a), §59A-24, §59D-18 nyc.gov
- TLC Rule Book, Chapter 58 (updated Feb 27, 2026): §58-27 nyc.gov
- TLC Rule Book, Chapter 82 (updated Feb 27, 2026): §82-27 nyc.gov
- MTA Bridges and Tunnels: Tolls by vehicle type (E-ZPass, Mid-Tier and Tolls by Mail notes) mta.info
- NYC Open Data: OATH Hearings Division Case Status (jz4z-kudi), queried 2026-10-12 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.