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How does NYC’s Congestion Relief Zone affect your JFK, LaGuardia, or Newark airport transfer? This guide breaks down every scenario—when the $0.75 FHV surcharge applies, tunnel credit opportunities, off-peak timing, and why our flat airport rates already include all congestion pricing surcharges.
Since January 5, 2025, any for-hire vehicle trip that enters, exits, or passes through Manhattan south of 60th Street incurs a $0.75 per-trip congestion surcharge. For most airport transfers involving a Manhattan pickup or drop-off, this surcharge applies. But how does it interact with tunnel tolls? Does the time of your flight matter? And what about trips that skip the zone entirely? This guide covers every airport-to-Manhattan (and Manhattan-to-airport) scenario in detail.
The simple rule and when it triggers for airport trips.
Any FHV trip that starts, ends, or passes through the Congestion Relief Zone (Manhattan south of 60th Street) incurs a $0.75 per-trip surcharge. For airport transfers, this means:
John F. Kennedy International Airport is in Queens, roughly 15–20 miles from Midtown Manhattan.
| Route | CRZ Surcharge? | Tunnel Credit? | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| JFK → Midtown hotel | Yes ($0.75) | No tunnel | Drop-off in CRZ |
| JFK → FiDi / Tribeca | Yes ($0.75) | No tunnel | Drop-off in CRZ |
| JFK → UES (above 60th) | No | N/A | Destination outside CRZ |
| JFK → UWS (above 60th) | No | N/A | Destination outside CRZ |
| JFK → Brooklyn | No | N/A | Does not enter CRZ |
| Midtown hotel → JFK | Yes ($0.75) | No tunnel | Pickup in CRZ |
| FiDi → JFK | Yes ($0.75) | No tunnel | Pickup in CRZ |
JFK transfers typically use the Long Island Expressway (LIE) or the Van Wyck Expressway—neither involves a tolled tunnel into Manhattan, so there are no E-ZPass tunnel credits for JFK routes. The Queens-Midtown Tunnel is sometimes used for trips to/from the East Side, which would provide a tunnel credit for the vehicle. However, the $0.75 FHV surcharge applies regardless of tunnel credits.
Book a JFK airport transfer — all surcharges included in our flat rates.
LaGuardia is the closest NYC airport to Manhattan, located in Queens about 8–10 miles from Midtown.
| Route | CRZ Surcharge? | Tunnel Credit? | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| LGA → Midtown (via Queensboro Bridge) | Yes ($0.75) | No (free bridge) | Drop-off in CRZ |
| LGA → Midtown (via QM Tunnel) | Yes ($0.75) | Yes (vehicle credit) | Drop-off in CRZ, tunnel credit |
| LGA → FiDi | Yes ($0.75) | Route dependent | Drop-off in CRZ |
| LGA → UES (above 60th) | No | N/A | Destination outside CRZ |
| LGA → Brooklyn (direct) | No | N/A | Does not enter CRZ |
| Midtown → LGA | Yes ($0.75) | N/A | Pickup in CRZ |
LaGuardia trips to Midtown can use either the Queensboro (Ed Koch) Bridge (free, no tunnel credit) or the Queens-Midtown Tunnel (tolled, provides E-ZPass credit to the vehicle). Your chauffeur will choose the fastest route based on real-time traffic. The $0.75 FHV surcharge applies regardless of which route is taken, as the destination is within the CRZ.
Book a LaGuardia airport transfer — flat rates with all surcharges included.
Newark Liberty International Airport is in New Jersey, about 16 miles from Midtown Manhattan. Trips require crossing into Manhattan via tunnel.
| Route | CRZ Surcharge? | Tunnel Credit? | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| EWR → Midtown (Lincoln Tunnel) | Yes ($0.75) | Yes | Drop-off in CRZ, tunnel credit |
| EWR → FiDi (Holland Tunnel) | Yes ($0.75) | Yes | Drop-off in CRZ, tunnel credit |
| EWR → UWS (via GW Bridge) | No | N/A | GW Bridge enters above 60th St |
| EWR → Jersey City | No | N/A | Does not enter Manhattan |
| Midtown → EWR (Lincoln Tunnel) | Yes ($0.75) | Yes | Pickup in CRZ, tunnel credit |
Newark transfers are unique because they almost always involve a tolled tunnel (Lincoln or Holland), which provides an E-ZPass credit against the CRZ toll. For passengers, the practical impact is minimal—the tunnel toll was already part of the fare before congestion pricing existed, and the credit offsets the new CRZ toll at the vehicle level.
One exception: If your destination is the Upper West Side or Upper Manhattan, the route may use the George Washington Bridge instead of a tunnel. The GW Bridge enters Manhattan above 178th Street—well north of the CRZ—so neither the CRZ surcharge nor a tunnel credit applies.
Book a Newark airport transfer — all-inclusive flat rates.
Some airport routes enter Manhattan through tolled tunnels that provide E-ZPass credits.
| Airport Route | Typical Crossing | Tunnel Credit? |
|---|---|---|
| EWR → Midtown | Lincoln Tunnel | Yes |
| EWR → Downtown | Holland Tunnel | Yes |
| LGA → East Midtown | Queens-Midtown Tunnel (optional) | Yes (if tunnel used) |
| LGA → Midtown (bridge route) | Queensboro Bridge | No (free bridge) |
| JFK → Manhattan | Expressway + bridge/tunnel | Route dependent |
| EWR → Upper Manhattan | George Washington Bridge | No (enters above CRZ) |
Tunnel credits are applied at the operator/vehicle level—you do not need your own E-ZPass. As a car service passenger, you do not interact with the credit system at all. Your car service handles all toll payments and credits. When you see a flat-rate quote for an airport transfer, it already accounts for the tunnel toll, any tunnel credit, the CRZ surcharge, and the NY State surcharge.
For a comprehensive breakdown of how tunnel credits work, see: E-ZPass + Tunnel Credits with Manhattan Tolling.
Does the time of your flight affect congestion pricing costs? Here is what actually matters.
If you are driving your own car to the airport, timing matters. The overnight rate (9PM–5AM weekdays, 9PM–9AM weekends) is $2.25 vs $9.00 during peak hours—a 75% discount. If you have a red-eye flight departing at 11PM and you are driving from Midtown, you save $6.75 by leaving after 9PM.
The $0.75 FHV surcharge is the same at all hours. There is no peak/off-peak distinction for for-hire vehicles. Whether your flight departs at 6AM or 11PM, the CRZ surcharge on your car service trip is $0.75 either way.
Many airport trips happen between 4AM and 7AM. Here is what that means for congestion pricing.
If you are driving your own car and enter the zone before 5AM on a weekday, you pay the overnight rate of $2.25 instead of the $9.00 peak rate. For very early flights (6AM–7AM departures where you leave Manhattan at 4AM–4:30AM), this represents significant savings.
For car service clients, the $0.75 FHV surcharge is the same at 4AM as it is at 4PM. No difference.
Once the clock hits 5AM on weekdays, the peak rate kicks in for passenger vehicles ($9.00). If you are driving to the airport at 5:30AM for a 7:30AM flight, you pay the full peak toll. There is no grace period.
For car service clients: still $0.75 regardless. Early morning departures are one of the most popular times for airport pickups. Our vetted chauffeurs are available 24/7, and early morning service requires no premium—just book your standard transfer.
No congestion pricing add-ons. No surprise fees. One price.
Get an instant quote for your airport transfer. The price you see is the price you pay.
If your pickup or drop-off is in Manhattan south of 60th Street, yes—a $0.75 FHV surcharge applies. If your Manhattan address is above 60th Street (Upper East Side, Upper West Side), the CRZ surcharge does not apply. Either way, True North VIP includes all surcharges in the quoted fare.
No. The $9 daily toll applies only to passenger cars (personal vehicles, rentals). For-hire vehicles like black cars pay $0.75 per trip instead. This is 92% less than the passenger car toll for a single trip.
Tunnel credits are applied at the vehicle/operator level, not to passengers directly. Your flat-rate airport fare already accounts for all tolls and credits. You do not need to worry about E-ZPass or tunnel credits—it is all handled by the car service.
The $0.75 FHV surcharge is the same at all hours—no peak/off-peak distinction for car service. However, off-peak hours (before 6:30AM, after 8:30PM) mean significantly less traffic and faster travel times to all three airports.
No. If neither the pickup (JFK) nor the drop-off (Brooklyn) is within Manhattan south of 60th Street, and the route does not pass through the zone, the CRZ surcharge does not apply.
The George Washington Bridge enters Manhattan at 178th Street—well above the CRZ boundary of 60th Street. If your destination is in upper Manhattan and the route uses the GW Bridge, the CRZ surcharge does not apply. However, if you are going to Midtown or below, the route will use the Lincoln or Holland Tunnel.
Our airport rates are flat—one fixed price for the entire trip. The flat rate includes all surcharges (CRZ, NY State, tolls). No meter, no surge pricing, no surprises. Gratuity is the only additional cost.
Yes. With roughly 7–8% fewer vehicles entering the zone since January 2025, the Manhattan portion of airport transfers is measurably faster. This is especially noticeable for trips to/from Midtown during peak hours.
JFK, LaGuardia, and Newark transfers with congestion pricing, tolls, and all fees built into one transparent price. Vetted chauffeurs, flight tracking, 24/7 availability.
Last updated: February 23, 2026
True North VIP is a New York City-based premium chauffeur and black car service. The company provides airport transfers to JFK, LaGuardia, Newark, Teterboro, and Westchester County airports, along with hourly charters, corporate ground transportation, wedding and event service, and city-to-city travel. Service covers all five NYC boroughs, Northern New Jersey, Connecticut, Westchester County, Long Island, and the Hamptons, with vetted professional chauffeurs and a fleet of executive sedans, luxury sedans, SUVs, and Sprinter vans available 24/7.
To book a ride, visit truenorthvip.com/book or call +1‑347‑321‑9929.
