The Toyota Camry. On October 12, 2026, 17,031 of New York City's 104,845 licensed for-hire vehicles (FHVs) were Camrys, about 1 in 6. Counting all model years together, the next four were the Toyota Sienna, RAV4, Highlander and the Tesla Model Y. TLC's own February 2026 report, which counts each model year separately, names the 2023 Tesla Model Y and the 2025 Toyota Camry Hybrid as the two most common cars in the FHV fleet.
The top five
How we know: TLC's list of active FHVs (NYC Open Data 8wbx-tsch) has no make or model column. TLC Help decoded every vehicle's VIN with the federal NHTSA vPIC decoder and counted the results. Only 5 of 115,081 TLC vehicles (FHVs and taxis) could not be decoded.
Why two different "top" answers
TLC's February 2026 License Review (p.7) says "the two most common make-models active in the for-hire fleet in February 2026" were the 2023 Tesla Model Y and the 2025 Toyota Camry Hybrid. TLC counts a 2023 Camry and a 2025 Camry as different make-models. Our decoded data agrees: 4,523 FHV Model Ys are model year 2023 alone, while the biggest single Camry year (2025) has 2,704 FHVs. Camrys are spread across model years 2007 to 2026. Add every year together and the Camry is first. Both answers are correct for what they count.
The popular models also tell you about the rules. Toyota alone makes 55.8% of all TLC vehicles, taxis included. The Sienna is common partly because it is the leading accessible model, and new FHV licenses are only open for wheelchair accessible vehicles. The Camry is a sedan; TLC prohibits two-door FHVs (59A-28(c)), so coupes are out.
What to do with this
- Choosing a car? How common a model is says nothing about what it costs you to run. Compare running costs in EV or hybrid for Uber.
- Renting? You will see these models in rental fleets. Read renting a TLC car before signing.
- Insurance. Every model needs a TLC-approved for-hire policy; see can I insure my TLC car with any company?.
- Personal trips and other drivers. See can I drive a TLC car for personal use? and can someone else drive my TLC vehicle?.
- Keeping it licensed. The license can be lost if the car sits unused; see non-use revocation.
The full make-and-model breakdown, with fuel types, accessible models and model years, is on the TLC fleet by make and model. Each model has its own page, for example the Toyota Camry and Tesla Model Y. For other "most common" questions, see the most common taxi and Uber routes and the biggest bases by trips.
Frequently asked questions
What car do most Uber drivers in NYC drive?
No single car is driven by most of them. The most common model is the Toyota Camry, with 17,031 of 104,845 licensed FHVs (16.2%) on October 12, 2026, counting all model years.
Why does TLC say the Tesla Model Y is the most common?
TLC's February 2026 review counts by make, model and model year, and names the 2023 Tesla Model Y and the 2025 Toyota Camry Hybrid as the two most common. When you add up all years of each model, the Camry has more cars.
Is this data only for Uber?
No. TLC's list covers all licensed for-hire vehicles. 101,350 of them are affiliated with black car bases, where app-based vehicles generally sit, and the same car can drive for both Uber and Lyft. TLC's list doesn't say which app a car uses.
Sources
Last reviewed against the official sources on .
- TLC: February 2026 For-Hire Vehicle License Review nyc.gov
- NYC Open Data: For Hire Vehicles (FHV) - Active (8wbx-tsch) data.cityofnewyork.us
- NHTSA vPIC: Vehicle API (VIN decoding) vpic.nhtsa.dot.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.