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New York City Driver Information

Note: Because of TLC regulations, there’s a waitlist for new drivers in New York City.
This page provides information about city regulations, document requirements, and insurance coverage, needed to drive with Lyft in New York City.
If you're a driver in any other city in New York State, visit this page instead.
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What you need to drive with Lyft in NYC
To drive in New York City, you must be at least 19 years of age.
Drivers are required to maintain current documents. Failing to update a required document before the expiration date results in temporary deactivation.
Use your Lyft Driver app to upload your documents. To add documents in the app, tap 'Account' in the main menu, then 'Documents.'
Vehicle requirements
All vehicle requirements in New York City are governed by the Taxi and Limousine Commission (TLC). All vehicles must meet the following criteria:
  1. 2007 or newer.
  2. Be an active TLC Vehicle licensee.
  3. 4 doors.
  4. 5-8 seats, including the driver's .
  5. Not a taxi, livery, stretch limousine, or street hail livery.
  6. Not titled as salvage, non-repairable, rebuilt or any other equivalent classification.
Document requirements
See details and sample images of each required document below.
Driver's License
Drivers are required to have a valid driver's license. Driver's license can be from any state, as long as you have a current TLC driver license.
This image is an example of a driver's license in New York.
New York State or New Jersey vehicle registration
Drivers are required to upload a copy of their New York State or New Jersey vehicle registration.
New York State registration example
This image is an example of driver registration for the state of New York.
TLC inspection
You must submit one of these two:
  1. Blue Base sticker
  2. TLC inspection certificate
Inspections are valid until the marked expiration date.
This image is an example of the TLC FHV Inspection .
TLC driver license
Drivers must have a TLC Driver License issued by the Taxi and Limousine commission (TLC).
This image is an example of a For-Hire License
Vehicle insurance
All drivers must have a valid vehicle insurance in their Lyft Driver app. Upon expiration, all drivers must upload their new vehicle insurance.
Document to update
  1. FH-1 Insurance
Ask the vehicle or fleet owner for the updated insurance documents at least 1 week prior to the expiration date on your FH-1.
What happens if you do not update your insurance documents by the expiration date? Your vehicle will be deactivated until you update the required documentation.
This image shows where the expiration date is listed on your FH1 insurance.
FH-1 Insurance
What is this document? Standard driver insurance certificate
Who needs it? All TLC vehicle drivers (you!)
Who’s name is on the document? The owner of the car
This image shows an FH1 Insurance Example with guides to where important info is located.
How to upload your vehicle insurance documents
When should I upload my vehicle insurance documents? Before your policy expiration date
This image illustrates how to upload insurance documents in the app. After uploading, it may take at least an hour for documents to be reviewed.
New York City driver rules
The following applies to rides in New York City.
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Guaranteed minimum earnings
Trips originating in New York City are covered by the TLC’s Minimum Driver Pay Rules.
Paid sick and safe leave
You’ll accrue one hour of paid sick and safe leave for every 30 hours of rides you give, up to 56 hours per calendar year.
Up to 56 accrued unused hours will roll over to the next calendar year.
You can use paid sick and safe leave once you've accrued at least 4 hours and for the following reasons:
  1. Physical or mental illness, injury, or health condition. This includes the need for a medical diagnosis, care, or treatment or preventative care.
  2. To provide care for a family member with a mental or physical illness, injury, or health condition. This includes the need for a family member’s medical diagnosis, care, or treatment or preventative care.
  3. For reasons related to domestic violence against you or a family member.
  4. For reasons related to sexual assault or stalking against you or a family member.
  5. If your family member’s school or place of care has closed by order of public official for any health-related reasons.
To access your paid sick and safe leave, open the Lyft Driver app, then:
  1. Select your earnings amount.
  2. Select ‘New York paid sick & safe leave,’ then select ‘Request paid leave.’
  3. Select the number of hours you want to request.
  4. Select ‘Request.’
If your requested hours are approved, the payment will be added to your earnings tab.
Note: You must have at least 4 hours accrued to redeem your accrued paid leave.
Only rides given in New York state count towards accruing paid sick and safe leave.
Permanently deactivated drivers are not entitled to paid leave upon deactivation.
Appealing deactivations
As a New York driver, you can appeal your deactivation if you:
  1. Have been permanently deactivated.
  2. Haven’t already requested an appeal for the same permanent deactivation.
To appeal a deactivation, open to the Lyft Driver app, then:
  1. Tap ‘Get help,’ then tap ‘Help Center.’
  2. Tap ‘Learn more’ at the top, or tap the article that best describes your deactivation reason.
  3. Tap ‘Contact us.’
Note: You may submit any additional information regarding the deactivation (such as dash cam footage, photos, police reports, etc.).
Once you submit the form, Lyft will review your appeal and determine whether to uphold or overturn your account deactivation.
You’ll receive confirmation of Lyft’s decision via your email address on file.
If your account was deactivated for multiple reasons, Lyft will review those reasons as part of one appeal request.
You may only request one appeal for a deactivation decision. If an account deactivation is upheld, no additional appeals will be considered for that account.
Educational payment
Drivers in New York state receive a one-time payment for up to one hour of time spent viewing educational content provided by Lyft. The payment will be $15 per hour or the applicable minimum wage, whichever is higher.
After you’ve completed one ride, you’ll receive the educational payment as a one-time bonus.
The education payment will automatically appear in your weekly earnings summary.
Hourly Driver Mode limits
In addition to required breaks and time limits, New York City regulations prohibit drivers from:
  1. Providing rides for more than 10 hours in a 24-hour period. Drivers can reset the 24-hour period by taking a break for 8 hours.
  2. Providing rides for more than 60 total hours during a calendar week.
Only time spent in actual rides counts toward these limitations.
Best practices
  1. Follow all airport rules
  2. Don't accept street hails
  3. Don't accept cash for rides
  4. Don't wait in taxi lines
  5. If you run into any issues on the road, let us know
Moving to or from New York City
Note: There’s currently a waitlist for drivers in New York City because of TLC regulations. If you’re moving to New York City, or want to switch back in the future, you’ll be added to the waitlist until spots become available.
If you're already a driver in a different state, and you're moving to New York City, send us a message with the following info:
  1. Your name, phone number, and email address associated with your Lyft account
  2. The city you are currently driving in
  3. A photo of your New York state driver’s license
Moving from New York City to a different state? Find your new market here to see what steps you'll need to take.

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