NYC Taxi & Limousine Commission · 2026
TLC EV Insurance and the Green Rides Initiative: A 2026 Guide for NYC Drivers
Uber and Lyft trips in NYC are moving to electric and wheelchair accessible vehicles on a set schedule. If you're thinking about an EV for your TLC vehicle, this guide covers the rules and what changes for insurance.
or call 718-682-2764
What is the Green Rides Initiative?
High-volume for-hire services (Uber and Lyft) must dispatch a growing share of trips to zero-emission or wheelchair accessible vehicles. The NYC Taxi & Limousine Commission (TLC) publishes the program on its Green Rides page.
The yearly benchmarks below are from the Green Rides notice of promulgation.
| Year | Benchmark |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 5% |
| 2025 | 15% |
| 2026, current guide year | 25% |
| 2027 | 40% |
| 2028 | 60% |
| 2029 | 80% |
| 2030 | 100% |
The percentage equals trips dispatched to and completed by an EV or WAV, divided by all trips the service dispatched that year.
What it means for drivers
At its April 30, 2025 meeting, TLC said drivers who switch to EVs or wheelchair accessible vehicles can get more trips as the benchmarks rise. That is a paraphrase of the commission meeting transcript.
TLC's February 2026 review reported these for-hire vehicle (FHV) fleet figures:
- EVs in the FHV fleet
- 13,115
- Up from
- 12,415
- Gas-to-EV conversions in the past year
- 959
The same February 2026 review says no electric wheelchair accessible vehicle is currently on the US market.
Can I get a new TLC license for an EV?
Not right now. TLC stopped accepting new EV FHV license applications on November 13, 2023, under a court order obtained by NYTWA. As of February 2026, new FHV vehicle licenses are wheelchair accessible vehicle only. Existing license holders have been converting to EVs.
See TLC's for-hire vehicle license page and the February 2026 review.
Rules change. Check TLC's official page before you buy.
Does an EV cost more to insure?
Insurers price coverage from how often claims happen and how much those claims cost.
Mitchell data cited by Swiss Re puts the average repairable loss for battery-electric vehicles in the United States about 25% higher than for gas vehicles in 2025, down from about 30% in 2024. The factors named with that figure are batteries, high-voltage systems, sensor calibration, and certified repair.
HLDI data reported by Solera in 2023 found that EVs had lower claim frequencies under all applicable coverages (Business Wire).
What you pay depends on the vehicle, your driving record, and the coverage. Get a quote.
Insurance you need either way
TLC minimums for livery and black car vehicles that carry 1–7 passengers are $100,000 per person, $300,000 per occurrence, $10,000 property damage, and $100,000 PIP. Those figures are on TLC's for-hire vehicle license page.
Keep a current FH-1 on file with TLC. When you switch vehicles or policies, submit new proof effective from the date the old policy ended. TLC describes that step on its vehicle insurance page. See the FH-1 certificate NY DMV guide.
We help with insurance quotes. We do not process DMV or TLC paperwork.
What about robotaxis?
NYC DOT's autonomous-vehicle testing permit for Waymo covered 8 vehicles and required a safety driver. That permit ran through March 31, 2026 and has expired (NYC DOT autonomous vehicles). Current TLC rules prohibit for-hire service with autonomous vehicles (NYC Mayor's Office).
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2026 Green Rides target 25%?+
Yes, for high-volume for-hire services. In 2026 the benchmark is 25% of trips dispatched to and completed by an electric vehicle or a wheelchair accessible vehicle.
Can I get a new EV-only TLC license?+
Not currently. TLC stopped accepting new EV for-hire vehicle license applications on November 13, 2023. As of February 2026, new for-hire vehicle licenses are wheelchair accessible vehicle only.
Do EVs cost more to insure?+
Repairs cost more on average and claims happen less often. What you pay depends on the vehicle, your record, and the coverage. Get a quote.
Does TLC Insurance Quotes do DMV/TLC filings?+
No. We quote insurance. We do not process DMV or TLC paperwork.
Ready to price your TLC EV?
Get a for-hire quote, or call 718-682-2764.
Sources
Accessed October 2026.
- NYC TLC — Green Rides
- NYC TLC — Green Rides Initiative notice of promulgation (benchmark table)
- NYC TLC — Commission meeting transcript, April 30, 2025
- NYC TLC — License pause report, February 2026
- NYC TLC — Get a for-hire vehicle license
- Swiss Re Institute — Electric vehicle insurability (Mitchell repair data)
- Business Wire — HLDI electric-vehicle claim frequency, reported by Solera (2023)
- NYC TLC — Vehicle insurance
- NYC Department of Transportation — Autonomous vehicles
- NYC Mayor's Office — Autonomous vehicle testing announcement (August 2025)