What Are Out-of-Town Pay Rates for Uber Drivers?

The out-of-town rate is the higher TLC minimum for the part of an Uber or Lyft trip that is outside New York City, on a trip that started in the city. From March 1, 2026, that part pays at least $1.757 per mile ($2.193 in a wheelchair-accessible vehicle) and $0.725 per minute with the passenger. The part inside the city still uses the city rates: $1.283 per mile (WAV $1.601) and $0.681 per minute (TLC Driver Pay Rates, rates as of 2026-10-12).

The rates

TLC's FAQ explains why: the formula "is adjusted for trips that end outside of the city to compensate drivers for time spent returning to the city without a passenger" (TLC Driver Pay for Drivers). In the rule, the out-of-town amounts are set directly. The city amounts are divided by the utilization rate, which pays for waiting time in the city (§59D-22(a); see what utilization means).

How to work out a trip

Example (made-up trip): a regular car takes a rider from Queens to Yonkers. Inside NYC: 8 miles and 22 minutes. Outside NYC: 6 miles and 12 minutes.

• City part: 8 × $1.283 = $10.26; 22 × $0.681 = $14.98. Subtotal $25.25.
• Outside part: 6 × $1.757 = $10.54; 12 × $0.725 = $8.70. Subtotal $19.24.
• Minimum for the trip: about $44.49. At city rates for the whole trip it would be about $41.12, so the out-of-town rule adds about $3.37 here.

TLC's own Driver Pay Calculator has separate boxes for "trip miles outside of NYC" and "trip minutes outside of NYC". Our minimum pay estimator does the same split.

In a wheelchair-accessible vehicle the same trip works out higher: 8 × $1.601 + 22 × $0.681 for the city part ($27.79) and 6 × $2.193 + 12 × $0.725 outside ($21.86), about $49.65 in total.

Common mistakes when checking

• Using the out-of-town rate for the whole trip. Only the miles and minutes past the city line get it.
• Counting the drive back. Only time and distance with the passenger count.
• Using last year's rates for a trip taken before March 1.

Where it shows up for you

• On your receipt. Your earnings receipt must show the minimum per-mile and per-minute rates for the period and the per-trip miles and minutes you were paid for (§59B-18(f)(5)). Look for the trip's miles split into inside and outside the city.
• Trips to places such as Newark Airport, Westchester or Nassau County are where you will see it. The return drive is not paid separately.

Taxi trips are different

Yellow taxis use a different system for trips out of the city: beyond the city limit to Nassau or Westchester, the meter charges double from the city line, and other destinations need a flat fare agreed before the trip (TLC Taxi Fare). That is what the passenger pays, not a driver pay minimum.

The rates change every March 1 with inflation: see CPI-W adjustment and minimum pay rate history. The term itself is part of the minimum pay standard; the full rule is on Uber and Lyft minimum pay. More for Uber and Lyft drivers.