Curb Driver Earnings Calculator
Is Curb worth it compared to street hails or Uber?
🚕 Curb Driver Earnings Calculator
Real $/hr · P&L Breakdown · Volume Scenarios · Platform Comparison
Results update in real time. Includes vehicle depreciation, SE tax, and IRS mileage deduction.
🚕 Rides & Platform
Curb typical: 18-22%
🛣️ Vehicle & Fixed Costs
Results are estimates only. Actual earnings vary by platform, market conditions, and individual effort. Not financial advice.
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Curb operates in a specific niche: connecting licensed taxi drivers and TLC-licensed vehicles with passengers through an app. Drivers on Curb already have commercial licenses and typically drive professionally full-time. For these drivers, Curb is one channel among several — metered fares, street hails, and Curb app bookings all contribute to total income. For drivers new to Curb or evaluating it as a primary app platform, the key metrics are platform cut percentage and fare quality in your market. Curb fares are typically metered in taxi-dense markets, which means fare predictability but also exposure to short-hop rides that reduce effective hourly. This calculator models your complete Curb income picture: platform cut from gross fares, per-mile vehicle costs for both fare miles and deadhead, fixed monthly costs, and the SE tax liability that applies to all gig earnings. The output is your real hourly rate — what you actually keep per hour after every cost is accounted for.
- →Evaluating Curb vs other app platforms as a TLC or taxi driver
- →Calculating real hourly to compare against other income sources
- →Tax planning for SE tax on Curb income as an independent contractor
- →Modeling how different fare levels or platform cut rates affect take-home
- →Deciding whether to focus on Curb or street hails in your market
Dominique is a TLC driver in New York who uses Curb as a supplement to his lease arrangement. He completes 18 Curb rides per week averaging $28 per fare with a 20% platform cut. After vehicle costs and SE tax, he nets $16.40/hour from Curb rides. Street hails in his market average $22 but require him to be in the right zone — Curb guarantees passengers without zone dependency, making the slightly lower rate acceptable for filling slow periods.
Who is Curb designed for?
Curb is designed for licensed taxi drivers and TLC (Taxi and Limousine Commission) licensed drivers who want an app-based booking layer on top of traditional taxi operations. It is not a standard rideshare platform — drivers must have commercial taxi or TLC licenses, which means higher barriers to entry and a more professional driver base than Uber or Lyft.
How much does Curb take from each fare?
Curb's platform fee varies by market and driver agreement, typically ranging from 18–22% of the fare. This is somewhat lower than Uber or Lyft's 25–28% cut, which partially offsets Curb's typically lower fare volume compared to standard rideshare. Verify current rates with Curb for your specific market.
Does Curb insurance differ from personal auto insurance?
Yes. As a commercial TLC or taxi driver, your vehicle insurance is already a commercial policy — typically significantly more expensive than personal auto. This calculator's insurance field should reflect your commercial policy cost, not a standard personal auto premium. Commercial vehicle insurance for taxi/TLC drivers typically runs $300–600/month depending on market and vehicle.
Is Curb income subject to self-employment tax?
Yes. Curb pays drivers as independent contractors (1099), not employees. All Curb income is subject to 15.3% SE tax (covering both employer and employee Social Security/Medicare) plus income tax. You must make quarterly estimated tax payments if you expect to owe $1,000+ in federal tax. The IRS mileage deduction ($0.67/mile for 2024) significantly offsets taxable income.