Uber & Lyft Minimum Pay Rate History in NYC (2019–2026)

In short: TLC's minimum pay for Uber and Lyft trips started on February 1, 2019. Since then TLC has raised the per-mile and per-minute rates six times for inflation and twice by changing the rule (in 2023 and 2025), according to its February 2026 license review. The latest raise was 3.36% on March 1, 2026. Inside the city, a regular (non-WAV) trip now pays at least $1.283 per mile and $0.681 per minute with a passenger. The next inflation change is due on March 1, 2027, if prices rose in 2026.

One warning before the charts: TLC used to publish factors before the utilization rate, and since the 2025 rule it publishes rates that already include utilization. Those are two different series, so we show them separately.

The numbers at a glance

2019–2024: the pre-utilization factors

TLC's 2025 notice says the March 2023 change used the regional Transportation Index because car and gas costs had risen much faster than general prices. Together with the February 2023 CPI raise, the per-mile rate rose 13.16% in 2023 (TLC Notice of Promulgation). Over the whole 2019–2024 period the per-mile factor rose 25% (from $0.631 to $0.789) and the per-minute factor 18% (from $0.287 to $0.338), by our calculation from the table.

2025: a new rule, a new kind of rate

The 2025 rule did three things to pay (TLC Notice of Promulgation):

• Raised the per-mile expense factor to $0.850 (7.7% above the March 2024 factor). The WAV factor became $1.061 (3.9% above $1.021).
• Changed utilization. The old single time-based rate was 58%. Now the per-minute part uses 53.3% (time) and the per-mile part uses 68.5% (distance). TLC will no longer change these automatically, only by rulemaking. See what utilization means for your pay.
• Added lockout protections: 72 hours' notice and 16 hours of access (rule 59D-22(c)). See app lockouts.

TLC's notice gives one worked figure: a 7.5-mile, 30-minute trip would pay about $29.07 under the new rule, 5.0% more than at 2024 rates and 26.3% more than the original 2019 rates. The same trip at the March 2026 rates works out to about $30.05 (7.5 × $1.283 + 30 × $0.681, our calculation).

The rates in effect now

These published rates already include the utilization rate, so you multiply them directly by your trip miles and minutes (TLC Driver Pay Rates; Industry Notice #26-03). The out-of-town rates apply only to miles and minutes outside the city on trips that start in the city: see out-of-town rates.

Where to find a new rate

TLC announces each change in an industry notice (the 2026 one was dated February 24, 2026, a few days before the change) and updates its Driver Pay Rates page. Your receipts must also show the minimum per-mile and per-minute rates for the period they cover (rule 59B-18(f)(5)). If a statement from March or later still shows the old rates, ask the company and keep a copy. See how to read your pay statement.

Why the two series can't share one chart

Published post-utilization rates for 2019 to 2025 are in TLC's older industry notices, which we have not collected here. Inflation-only raises are explained in CPI-W adjustment. For the IRS side of car costs, compare with the IRS mileage rate history.

What the data can't tell you

• What you earned. The minimum is a floor per trip. Companies can pay more, and TLC says it is not an hourly wage.
• Whether the rates cover your costs. TLC sets the per-mile part from a typical driver's costs; your car, insurance and rent may be higher or lower. See how much Uber drivers make in NYC.
• Future raises. The CPI-W for 2026 is not known until early 2027.

Check a trip at today's rates with the minimum pay estimator, or read the full rule on Uber and Lyft minimum pay and the Uber and Lyft drivers hub.