New York City operates two official street-hail taxi systems: Yellow Cabs and Green Cabs. Both are fully licensed, regulated, and operated under the supervision of the NYC Taxi and Limousine Commission (TLC). However, they serve different areas and purposes within the city.
This guide explains the key differences between Yellow Cabs and Green Cabs, including pickup rules, fares, airport access, and when to choose each type.
For decades, Yellow Cabs dominated the streets of Manhattan, especially in business and tourist areas. However, many neighborhoods in the outer boroughs had limited access to street-hail taxis.
To improve transportation access across the city, New York introduced Green Cabs, also known as Boro Taxis, in 2013. These taxis were designed to serve areas where Yellow Cabs were less common.
Today, the two systems work together to provide citywide taxi coverage.
Yellow Cabs are the traditional and most recognizable taxis in New York City. They are commonly associated with Manhattan’s busy streets, hotels, and landmarks.
Yellow Cabs are the only taxis authorized to offer the official flat fare between JFK Airport and Manhattan.
Green Cabs, officially called Boro Taxis, were introduced to improve taxi availability outside Manhattan’s core. They are designed to serve neighborhoods that historically had fewer Yellow Cabs.
No. Both Yellow Cabs and Green Cabs use the same TLC-regulated meter system for most trips.
Fares are based on:
Base fare
Distance traveled
Time spent in traffic
Night and peak-hour surcharges
Tolls where applicable
Yellow Cabs offer a flat fare between JFK Airport and Manhattan
Green Cabs use the meter for all trips
Both Yellow Cabs and Green Cabs are:
Licensed by the NYC Taxi and Limousine Commission
Driven by professionally licensed drivers
Fully insured
Regularly inspected
Required to use official taximeters
Required to accept card payments
From a safety and legal standpoint, both taxi types offer the same standards.
New York City’s two-taxi system helps:
Improve transportation equity across neighborhoods
Reduce illegal street hails
Increase taxi availability outside Manhattan
Maintain strong service in high-demand areas
Yellow Cabs and Green Cabs are designed to be complementary, not competitive.
Both are safe, legal, and regulated under the same system
