Below are payments for New York Taxi Cabs. If you will be in the State of New York, you will be pleased to know that your taxi cab will accept cash, credit and debit cards for your fare. While planning your trip, please note that five (5) passengers are allowed in a van and four (4) are allowed in a car.

Currently, no ordinances prevents passengers in the front seat. However, for a passenger to sit in the front seat with the driver, three (3) passengers or more must have filled the rear seats of the vehicle. This restriction is under Driver Rule 2-43b.

Initial fare – $2.50 (plus $0.50 surcharge as of Nov. 1, 2009)
Each 1/5 mile (4 blocks) – $0.40
Each 1 minute idle – $0.40
Peak surcharge – $1.00 (after 4pm until 8pm Mon-Fri)
Night surcharge – $0.50 (after 8pm until 6am)
Tolls – $extra
Additional riders – FREE (Car: 4 pass; Van: 5 pass)

Would you like to know how much your total fare will be? You can use fare calculators to get estimates for the ride.

While on your travels here, it is recommended that you have cash on hand before boarding the taxi in case your card(s) won’t work or taxi cab’s Point of Sale (POS) machine is not functioning. This happens often or drivers simply want cash as it is easier hide it from the IRS.

If your card was not issued in the United States (or on a USA Bank), please see your bank on it’s availability of use in the United States.

You will also want to let your bank know that you plan to travel to New York so they do not think your card(s) or account information was stolen and is being used fraudulently here in the City of New York.

Most (big) banks will put a temporary lock on your card(s) then contact you at the number they have for you on file which is usually for your home and job.

If you are visiting from outside the USA, there is a good chance you will not be checking your messages at home and later will be surprised to find your card(s) are not working when your bank upgrades the temporary lock to a permanent lock.

Once this happens, a new card may have to be reissued and mailed to the address on file. Some (big) banks are able to rush an emergency card to you at your hotel (which may also be billed to the old card(s) but it is best not to get yourself in this situation as it could get lost in transit.

Join us in our New York Forum if you have any comments or questions.