How Many Passengers Can Ride in a NYC Taxi?

Four passengers in a four-passenger taxi, five in a five-passenger taxi — plus one child under 7 held on an adult's lap in the back seat. That is the rule for yellow taxis and green cabs in TLC rule §80-15(e). The lap child is not optional: the rule says the driver must accept that extra passenger. In any TLC vehicle, including app cars, you must never carry more people than the car is registered to seat.

TLC's passenger FAQ gives riders the same basic limit: four in a four-passenger taxi.

Quick check at the curb

How to count

• Every person counts as a passenger, including children 7 and older.
• The extra lap child must be under 7 and held by an adult seated in the rear. A child on a lap in the front seat does not fit the exception.
• A child in a car seat uses a seat, so count them like any other passenger.
• In an FHV there is no lap-child exception in the rule — the limit is the number of seats on the registration.

The front seat

Drivers often prefer to keep the front seat empty, and the rules let you lock the front doors (§80-15(c)(2)). But three situations override that preference under §80-15(f):

1. A party of four where one person has to sit in front — you must not refuse them.
2. A passenger who cannot get into or ride in the back seat — they must be allowed in front.
3. Luggage, a wheelchair, crutches or other property taking up the back seat — a passenger must be allowed to sit in front.

The fine for any of these is $75. If you refuse the whole group instead, you risk a much more serious refusal charge — see TLC service refusal rules.

Mobility aids and service animals

Luggage and mobility aids do not reduce your duty to carry the passenger: rule §80-20(a)(3) bars refusing to transport a passenger's luggage, wheelchair, crutches or other mobility aid. In an accessible taxi, §80-20(a)(6)(vi) requires you to carry a passenger's service animal and as many companions as can be legally seated. More in service animals and accessibility.

Children and safety seats

The lap-child rule answers "how many," not "how safe." Parents can bring and use their own car seats in TLC vehicles. Whether a seat is legally required is a separate question — see do kids need car seats in NYC taxis and Ubers.

Why this matters for complaints

Passengers who are turned away can file a complaint through 311, and a complaint can become a summons. If you refused a group because it was truly over the legal limit, note the group size and time right away. For what happens next, see the passenger complaint process. Yellow taxi drivers will find more in our yellow taxi driver guide.