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The rider decides; if they don't, take the shortest reasonable route. TLC rule §80-16(a) says you must follow "all reasonable and lawful routing requests of the Passenger", and "unless a Passenger makes a specific request, a Driver must proceed to the Passenger's destination by the shortest reasonable route." The rule doesn't say "always take the toll" or "always avoid it." When a tolled crossing and a toll-free way are both reasonable, the simplest protection is to ask the rider before you choose.
The Chapter 80 route rule
The full text, from §80-16(a):
(1) The Driver must comply with all reasonable and lawful routing requests of the Passenger. (2) Unless a Passenger makes a specific request, a Driver must proceed to the Passenger's destination by the shortest reasonable route.
Fine: $100 if plead guilty before a hearing; $150 if found guilty following a hearing. Appearance NOT REQUIRED.
It applies to taxi, green cab and for-hire vehicle drivers. TLC doesn't define "shortest reasonable route" further. A longer route chosen to add fare or to use a crossing the rider didn't need can lead to a route summons, and if the extra charge is the problem, an overcharge too. More on this rule: 80-16(a).
The passenger's right to choose
A request to take a bridge, or to avoid one, is a routing request. If it's reasonable and lawful, you follow it. The rider can also change the destination mid-trip (§80-16(b)); see can a passenger change the destination?.
Who pays the toll on each license type
- Yellow taxi and green cab: the passenger pays tolls incurred during the trip, at the actual E-ZPass amount, with direction rules for Staten Island and the Rockaways. See who pays tolls on a taxi trip.
- Black car, livery, luxury limousine: the same toll rule for FHVs (§59A-23). Black car and luxury limousine bases (and Uber and Lyft) must not charge more than 120% of a fare estimate, but that cap no longer holds when the passenger "requests a route change requiring the payment of a toll" (§59B-23(g)(4)). That subdivision does not cover livery bases.
- Uber and Lyft: the app prices the trip. The company must repay you the whole toll paid during the trip (§59D-17(c)). See tolls on Uber and Lyft trips.
Prices differ a lot between crossings. With an NY E-ZPass, a car pays $3.42 at the Henry Hudson Bridge, $7.46 at most other MTA crossings, and $14.79 off-peak or $16.79 peak at Port Authority crossings into New York (MTA rates effective January 4, 2026; Port Authority rates as listed on 2026-10-12). Compare them on NYC toll rates compared, or the Henry Hudson Bridge and George Washington Bridge pages.
App navigation vs the rule
Navigation apps pick a route for you, but the TLC rule is about what the passenger asks for and the shortest reasonable route. Two practical points:
- On app trips, the rider's upfront price is based on a predicted route. Uber's rider help page says: "If the tolls or surcharges on your route are different from your predicted route, the price of your ride may change." It also says optional express-lane tolls "are not included in trip prices or reimbursed to drivers". (Uber policy, not a TLC rule.)
- If the rider asks you to change from the app's route, follow the request if it's reasonable and lawful, and keep the in-app record.
How often tolls come up: in TLC trip records from September 2025 to August 2026, about 11% of app trips, 7% of yellow taxi trips and 4% of green cab trips recorded a toll.
Airport routes have the most choices: see JFK to Manhattan tolls by route and LaGuardia to Manhattan tolls by route. Staten Island trips: Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge. Brooklyn trips: Brooklyn. All toll pages: Tolls.
This is general information about TLC rules, not legal advice.
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to take the toll bridge with a passenger?
Not automatically. TLC rule §80-16(a)(2) says that unless the passenger makes a specific request, you must take "the shortest reasonable route". If the rider asks for a route, you must follow it if it's reasonable and lawful (§80-16(a)(1)).
Can the passenger tell me to avoid tolls?
Yes. A request to avoid a tolled crossing is a routing request, and §80-16(a)(1) says you must comply with all reasonable and lawful routing requests.
Who pays the toll if the passenger asks for the tolled route?
In a taxi, green cab or FHV, the passenger pays the actual E-ZPass toll for crossings used during the trip. On app trips the company sets the price; a base may charge above 120% of its estimate when the rider requests a route change that requires a toll (§59B-23(g)(4)).
What is the fine for taking the wrong route?
§80-16(a) carries $100 if you plead guilty before a hearing or $150 if found guilty after one. Appearance is not required.
Sources
Last reviewed against the official sources on .
- TLC Rule Book, Chapter 80 (updated June 6, 2025): §80-16(a), §80-17 nyc.gov
- TLC Rule Book, Chapter 58 (updated Feb 27, 2026): §58-26(e)-(f) nyc.gov
- TLC Rule Book, Chapter 59 (updated Feb 27, 2026): §59A-23, §59B-23(g) nyc.gov
- Uber Help: Tolls and surcharges (rider side, company policy) help.uber.com
- MTA Bridges and Tunnels: Tolls by vehicle type mta.info
- NYC TLC Trip Record Data (Sep 2025 – Aug 2026) 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.