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CalculateTaxiFare

Newark · US · verified Apr 1, 2026

Taxi Fare in Newark

Real OpenStreetMap routing meets the official Newark Taxi & Limousine Commission tariff. See the base fare, every surcharge and a min–median–max range so you know what to expect on the meter.

Base fare
$3.50
Per mile
$3.00
Per minute
$0.50
Currency
USD

01Definition

What is a taxi fare in Newark?

A taxi fare in Newark is the metered price of a regulated for-hire car ride within the city limits. Newark taxi rates are set by Newark Taxi & Limousine Commission and combine three components: a base fare of $3.50 (the amount on the meter when the trip begins), a distance rate of $3.00 per mile, and a slow-traffic rate of $0.50 per minute that applies when the cab is stopped or moving slowly. Surcharges, taxes and tip can shift the final amount by another 10–30%.

02Attributes

Newark taxi tariff at a glance

Below is the live Newark taxi tariff exactly as published by Newark Taxi & Limousine Commission. Every figure is dated; the most recent verification was on 2026-04-01. Use the calculator above to apply these numbers to your specific trip.

Newark taxi tariff attributes
Base fare
$3.50
On the meter when the ride begins
Per-mile rate
$3.00 / mile
Charged for distance travelled
Per-minute rate
$0.50 / min
Slow-traffic switch speed: 17 km/h
Minimum fare
Not specified
Floor that the meter cannot fall below
Currency
USD
Distance unit
mile
Timezone
America/New_York
Vehicle classes
1
standard

03Calculator

Calculate your fare in Newark

Type any pickup and destination inside Newark. We pull the real OpenStreetMap distance and apply the tariff above.

Calculate a fare in Newark

Local addresses, the Newark tariff applied automatically.

05Airport routes

Newark airport ↔ city centre

Airport ↔ city-centre rides are the most predictable taxi trips in Newark because their distance is fixed. Where the regulator imposes a flat fare, the meter is bypassed and the price is locked. Otherwise the standard tariff applies and the estimate below reflects realistic departure-hall waiting plus the metered ride.

06Vehicle classes

Newark vehicle classes and rates

Newark licenses 1 vehicle class (standard). Larger vehicles command higher base or per-mile rates because their fuel and licensing costs are higher. Ride-sharing apps also offer parallel categories (UberXL, Lyft XL) that compete with the licensed taxi minivan tier.

Vehicle classes and rates in Newark
Vehicle classBasePer milePer minMin fare
Standard sedan
City of Newark Taxi & Limousine Commission. $3.50 + $3.00/mi.
$3.50$3.00$0.50—

07Surcharges & taxes

Every extra charge on a Newark taxi fare

On top of the base meter, Newark taxi fares can include no extra surcharges or taxes. Every charge below is reproduced verbatim from Newark Taxi & Limousine Commission, with the trigger condition (time, day, equipment) shown alongside.

Surcharges, taxes and fees on Newark taxi fares
ChargeWhen it appliesAmountCategory
Flat fare EWR ↔ MANHATTANRegulator-imposed, bypasses the meter$75.00Flat fare
Flat fare EWR ↔ DOWNTOWN ↔ NEWARKRegulator-imposed, bypasses the meter$25.00Flat fare

08Tipping

Tipping etiquette in Newark

Basic

15%

Functional service — you got there.

Standard

18%

What most riders give for ordinary service.

Excellent

20%

Helpful with bags, smooth driving, knew the route.

Tipping is expected in Newark. The conventional range is 15% (basic), 18% (standard) and 20% (excellent service). A tip line is built into card terminals; for cash, simply round up to a convenient amount.

09Side by side

Taxi vs Uber vs Lyft in Newark

Rideshare apps (Uber, Lyft and local equivalents) compete with metered taxis in Newark on price, but their tariffs swing with surge multipliers. A taxi’s price is fixed by the meter and the regulator — there is no surge. For routine rides our data typically shows rideshare 10–25% cheaper than taxi outside surge windows, and 20–60% more expensive at peak. Airport routes are the exception: many cities (including Newark where applicable) cap airport ↔ centre as a flat fare that beats both.

Reference ride: a 8 km / 15-minute trip in Newark. Numbers below combine the live tariff (taxi) and crowdsourced per-city rate sheets (rideshare). Apps surge in real time, so we surface min · median · max.

Taxi vs Uber vs Lyft fare comparison in Newark
ServiceProductMedianRange
Metered taxiStandard cab$20.29$18.41$26.35
Rideshare comparison data is not yet seeded for Newark.

10FAQ

Newark taxi fare — frequently asked questions

How much is a taxi in Newark?
Newark taxis charge a $3.50 base fare plus $3.00 per mile of distance and $0.50 per minute of slow-traffic time. A typical 5-mile ride costs roughly $20.00 excluding surcharges and tip.
What is the base fare for a Newark taxi?
The drop charge — the amount on the meter when your ride begins — is $3.50. This is set by Newark Taxi & Limousine Commission and is identical for every licensed cab in the city.
Are Newark taxi fares metered or negotiated?
Newark taxis are metered. The regulator requires drivers to use the meter on every trip; negotiating off-meter is generally illegal and unwise. Flat fares apply only on a small list of pre-approved airport routes (see the airport routes section above).
Do I tip taxi drivers in Newark?
Tipping is expected in Newark. The conventional range is 15% (basic), 18% (standard) and 20% (excellent service). A tip line is built into card terminals; for cash, simply round up to a convenient amount.
How do night and weekend rates work in Newark?
Newark does not impose an explicit night surcharge — the meter rate is the same 24/7.
Is Uber cheaper than a taxi in Newark?
In free-flow conditions, Uber and Lyft are usually 10–25% cheaper than Newark taxis. During peak demand, surge pricing can push rideshare 20–60% above the metered taxi fare. For airport runs, regulated taxi flat fares often beat both. Use the rideshare comparison above to see today's typical numbers.
Can I trust the calculator above?
Yes. We compute distance and duration from real OpenStreetMap routing (OSRM) and apply the published Newark tariff straight from Newark Taxi & Limousine Commission. We always show a min–median–max range so you see how traffic affects the final price.
How long does a 5-mile taxi ride take in Newark?
In free-flow traffic, a 5-mile ride in Newark takes roughly 13 minutes on average city streets. Heavy traffic can double that, which is why our maximum estimate uses a 60% slow-time assumption.
Are credit cards accepted in Newark taxis?
Card acceptance varies by operator. Many regulated taxis in Newark accept major credit and debit cards; always carry cash as a backup, particularly for short journeys. Confirm with your driver before starting the trip, and contact Newark Taxi & Limousine Commission for the current official requirement.
Where do I find the official Newark taxi rates?
The authoritative rate sheet is published by Newark Taxi & Limousine Commission at https://www.newarknj.gov/departments/economic-housing-development/divisions/taxi-and-limousine-commission (last verified 2026-04-01). Every figure on this page is reproduced from that source.
Is there a flat airport taxi fare in Newark?
Yes. The route EWR ↔ MANHATTAN has a regulator-mandated flat fare of $75.00 (excluding tip and tolls). Other airport pairs in Newark default to the metered tariff.

11Sources & verification

Sources, last verified

Every figure on this page is reproduced from Newark Taxi & Limousine Commission, the recognised authority that sets Newark taxi rates. We re-verify each record at least every 180 days; the timestamp below confirms when this page was last reconciled with the primary source.

Primary source

Newark Taxi & Limousine Commission

Last verified
April 1, 2026
Verification cadence
Every 180 days
Routing data
OpenStreetMap via OSRM

Spotted an inaccuracy? Report it and we will reconcile within 48 hours.