F.A.Q.'s

General Inquiries

What is The Black Car Fund and what does it do?

  • The Black Car Fund (BCF) is a not-for-profit workers’ compensation insurance provider created by New York State Statute in 1999. The Fund provides full workers’ compensation insurance to for-hire vehicle drivers who are affiliated with Member Bases of The Fund. The Black Car Fund also established and funds the Drivers Benefits Program, which provides a full suite of health and wellness related benefits to its eligible Covered Drivers.

What is the legal basis for the establishment of The Black Car Fund?

  • The Black Car Fund was established in 1999 under statute of Article 6-F under executive law for the purpose of providing Workers’ Compensation Insurance coverage for Black Car operators in New York. Under the new law, for the purposes of Workers’ Compensation, The Black Car Fund is your employer.

 What is workers’ compensation?

  • Workers’ compensation is a form of insurance that can provide you with wage replacement and cover medical bills if you are injured while on-the-job for a Member Base of The Fund.

  • If you are unable to work because of an injury sustained while on the job, workers compensation can cover a portion of your wages, calculated according to NYS workers’ compensation law.

  • Workers’ compensation can also cover medical expenses, hospital fees and medication costs related to an injury sustained while on the job.

Does The Black Car Fund provide any benefits beyond workers’ compensation?

  • Yes! The Black Car Fund provides a full suite of additional no-cost health and wellness benefits to our Covered Drivers who are enrolled in our Drivers Benefits program!

  • The Fund also offers opportunities to Earn While You Learn through our Driver Education Center, with classes such as our NYS Certified Defensive Driving Course (DDC-6), our Wellness STEP class, and our Driver Education Course (DEC).

What is the Drivers Benefits Program?

  • The Drivers Benefits Program administers all the additional health and wellness benefits we provide. These additional benefits include Accident Disability Insurance, Personal Accident Insurance, a Critical Illness Benefit, a hearing care program, virtual primary care, vision coverage, dental insurance, the IDG Mental Health and Wellness Program, and prescription, urgent care, and diagnostic imaging discounts.

  • Enrolling in the program is free and all the benefits are provided at no-cost to you. In order to access these benefits, you must be enrolled! Also, for benefits such as Accident Disability Insurance and Critical Illness Insurance, you must be enrolled in the program BEFORE any injury or illness occurs. You cannot enroll afterwards and be eligible for these benefits.

  • To learn more and access these benefits, please visit the Drivers Benefits website.

Where are you located?

  • Our address is 2833 Jackson Avenue, 6th Floor, Long Island City, NY 11101.

Where is The Black Car Fund Driver Education Center located?

  • Our Driver Education Center is located at  3710 Skillman Avenue, Long Island City, NY 11101

Drivers

How can I find out if I am a Covered Driver?

  • Covered Drivers are drivers affiliated with a Member Base of The Fund and include drivers for the following categories: Franchise and Co-Op Traditional Black Car Bases, Luxury Limousine Bases, High-Volume For-Hire Vehicle Bases, Transportation Network Companies, Non-Emergency Medical Transportation (NEMT). You can visit www.nybcf.org/members to check our Member Base list to see if a base you are affiliated with is a member of The Fund.

How can I become a member of The Fund?

  • Trick question! It is bases, not drivers, who can become Members of The Fund. If you work for one of our Member Bases, then you are automatically considered a Covered Driver and would be eligible for workers’ compensation if you are injured while on the job for that base. You don’t have to do anything, other than work for a Member Base to obtain this coverage.

  • However, to access the additional health and wellness benefits in our Drivers Benefits program, you must enroll in the program. Don’t forget, enrolling is free and all the benefits are provided at no-cost to you. They are funded entirely through The BCF passenger surcharge.

What is The BCF passenger surcharge? Who pays for it?

  • The BCF passenger surcharge is a small percentage that is assessed on the total fare, not including tips, bridge and tunnel tolls, congestion surcharges, central business district tolls, nor airport access fees. This surcharge is charged to passengers, then collected by your base and sent to us on a monthly basis, allowing us to provide Workers’ Compensation and our Drivers Benefits Program to you and your fellow Covered Drivers. While the passenger surcharge may appear on your paycheck as a deduction, it does not come out of your pay. It is an additional amount, paid entirely by passengers.  

What do I do if I get into an accident?

  • If you get into an accident, you should first call the necessary authorities. Then, immediately notify the Member Base that dispatched you at the time of the work-related incident. Finally, notify us so we will be able to begin processing your claim as quickly as possible. The Black Car Fund App, available in the Google Play and Apple App Stores, is the best method to use to notify us.

Does The BCF have an app?

  • The Black Car Fund App is a free app (available on all major app stores) that allows Covered Drivers affiliated with our Member Bases to quickly report their accidents. Reporting the accident early will notify our Claims Team and make the claims filing process easier for you down the road, as well as be processed quicker. You can find the app by searching “The Black Car Fund” in either the Apple App Store or Google Play Stores.

Does Drivers Benefits have an app?

  • Yes, Drivers Benefits has a mobile app through which you can get instant access to your benefits, anytime, anywhere. It is available on both the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store.

Can I use The Black Car Fund App to file a claim?

  • The Black Car Fund App only reports the accident; to formally file a Worker’s Compensation claim, you must speak to a member of our Claims Team. If you reported your accident via the BCF Claims App, a member of our Claims Team will contact you within one business day to complete the intake of your claim. It is important that you provide the correct contact information when registering within our app, as our Claims Team will use that information to try to contact you.

How do I file a claim?

  • To file a claim, you can call us at 212.269.4800 to speak to a member of our Claims Team. Additionally, we recommend notifying us of the incident as soon as possible. Keep in mind, you MUST speak to a member of our Claims Team before your claim can begin to be processed.

Do you have translation services available when filing a claim?

  • Yes. We offer language translation services over the phone to help you through the claim-filing process.

What documentation do I need when I make a claim?

  • To file a claim, you will need the following information:

    • Your state DMV and TLC license numbers,

    • Vehicle insurance information,

    • Police and/or medical reports related to the incident, if applicable.

    • Any emergency services reports related to the incident, if applicable.

    • Additionally, we require some information from your base, such as View Logs, Vouchers or Reservation Sheets.

    • In addition, you may send us photos, documents, or any other information you feel is relevant to the incident.

Will The Black Car Fund cover damages to my car?

  • We do not provide coverage for car damage or any loss of wages due only to car damage. You should notify your car insurance carrier to discuss vehicle damage.

Will The Black Car Fund cover injuries to my passengers?

  • No, workers’ compensation only covers injuries that you, the driver, sustains from an accident while on the job for a Member Base. It does not cover any damages or injuries to passengers.

What if I do work for more than one company that is a BCF Member Base? Am I covered for both?

  • Overall, you are covered for an injury that occurred on a job while dispatched by ANY Member Base of The Fund. “Street hails” are not covered. NOTE: If your vehicle is affiliated with one base, but you accept dispatch jobs from one or multiple other bases, you are covered only on the dispatch jobs you accept from a Member Base of The Fund. If all the bases you accept dispatch jobs from are Member Bases of The Fund, then you’re always covered while working.

  • To be clear, even if you are affiliated with a Member Base of The Fund, but are dispatched by a base that is NOT a member (such as a livery base), you will not be covered for any injuries that occur while on that job.

What if I get hurt on my way to work before I begin completing calls or am dispatched?

  • Contact us for more information.

 What if I’m hurt while not on the job?

  • We are a Workers’ Compensation insurance provider, not a general health insurance provider. Workers’ Compensation does not cover any injuries sustained while not on the job/working. However, through our Drivers Benefits program, eligible enrolled Covered Drivers may be protected from injuries or illness sustained while not working through our Accident Disability Insurance, Personal Accident Insurance and Critical Illness benefits. You must be enrolled in the Drivers Benefits program to be eligible for these benefits. Click here to learn more and enroll in the program at no-cost to you.

What if I’m killed while on the job? Does The Black Car Fund offer any protections for my loved ones?

  • The Black Car Fund offers a $100,000 Driver Death Benefit. If you pass away while on the job, and you are an affiliated driver of a BCF Member Base at the time of occurrence, then your loved ones are eligible to receive a $100,000 check.

How is the $100,000 Driver Death Benefit check disbursed, and who is eligible to receive it?

  • If before passing away, you filed a Last Will and Testament, then most likely, The Black Car Fund will give the check to the administrator of the estate. If you should pass away intestate (without a Last Will and Testament), then The Black Car Fund will ask your surviving relatives to file for an administrator to be appointed in probate court.

 What classes are available to me at The Black Car Fund Driver Education Center?

  • We currently offer three opportunities to Earn While You Learn at our Driver Education Center.

  • The BCF Defensive Driving Course (DDC-6) is an NYS-certified defensive driving course and is approved and licensed by the National Safety Council. It also satisfies the licensing requirements of the various Taxi and Limousine Commissions in New York State (i.e. NYC, Westchester, Nassau, Suffolk). This course may also result in premium reductions from your insurance carrier and point reductions from the New York Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), at the discretion of your insurance provider and the DMV respectively. Covered Drivers can earn $300, once every three years, by completing this course.

  • The BCF Wellness Safety Training, and Education Program (STEP) class is designed to help drivers improve their physical and mental health on and off the road. The Wellnes STEP class curriculum includes: hands only cardio-pulmonary resuscitation, Share the Road/Vision Zero training, free breast and prostate cancer screening from NY-Presbyterian, and a wellness portion focused on addressing the physical and mental challenges of driving in New York. Covered Drivers can earn $250, once every three years, for completing this course.

  • Our newest offering is The Black Car Fund Driver Education Course. This new, in-depth course provides details about all the benefits provided by The Black Car Fund to its Covered Drivers at no cost. It also includes some additional safety training, specific to driving in New York.

  • This course can be completed either online OR in-person, once every three years. The in-person course is 4 hours long and Covered Drivers will receive a $250 check upon completion. The online course must be completed within 14 days of successfully enrolling and Covered Drivers will receive a check for $125.00 upon completion. You cannot take both the online and in-person course in the same three year period.

What about for Covered Drivers in Upstate New York?

  • The BCF Defensive Driving Course is offered twice a month at the North Tonowanda Football Hall of Fame, located at 240A Goundry Street, Rear Building, North Tonowanda, NY 14120. We are continuously looking at ways to expand our offerings throughout other parts of New York.

Can I get an attorney for my Workers’ Compensation claim?

  • You are entitled to representation by an attorney as you see fit. The Fund does not have a say.

Can you recommend a physician?

  • The Fund cannot officially endorse any physician. However, you can find a list of physicians associated with Workers’ Compensation treatment on the Workers’ Compensation Board website (www.wcb.ny.gov). Of course, you can also contact our Claims Team with any questions you may have.

 I got into an accident years ago. Is it too late to report?

  • The coverage afforded for an on-the-job accident varies on a case by case basis. While it is possible that you will not be entitled to certain benefits, we recommend you report your accident anyway to our Claims Team, and they will work to determine if you will be covered.

What is the First Fill Program?

  • The First Fill Program is an exclusive benefit through The Black Fund app. It works in conjunction with accident reports submitted on The Black Car Fund app. Once a report is submitted through the app, immediate access to a digital benefit card with up to $100 for prescription medicine will be provided. For more information, download and register with our app.

Member Bases

How do I know if I qualify for membership of The Black Car Fund?

  • The membership is an application process to ensure that your business meets the criteria of the state statute. The statue says that if you are a certified NYS Central Dispatch Facility (Base), you provide for-hire service in the state of New York, more than 90 percent of your for-hire business is on a payment basis other than direct cash payment by a passenger, and you do not own 50 percent or more of the cars you dispatch, by law, you are required to become a Member Base of The Black Car Fund.

 How do I become a Member Base?

  • Membership to The Fund attained through an application process which is handled by our Account Administrator at Marsh USA Inc. If you are in the process of starting a base and want to begin the process of becoming a Member Base, please contact Hana Cafarelli at 1.315.425.3928, or by email at Hana.Cafarelli@marsh.com.

What constitutes “good standing”?

  • As long as monthly payments are up to date and you maintain all requirements for membership with The Black Car Fund, your company is in good standing with The Fund.

 Why is the passenger surcharge collected?

  • As a Member Base of The Fund, in accordance with the State Statute, you are required to apply the passenger surcharge on every trip that is dispatched by your New York base, no matter the pickup location. This surcharge affords your affiliated drivers Workers’ Compensation benefits.

 How frequently should the surcharge fees be sent to The Black Car Fund?

  • Surcharges must be submitted to The Black Car Fund on a monthly basis.

Do I have any other responsibilities as a Member Base?

  • Yes, The Fund’s Plan of Operation, specifically Article VIII, Section 8, requires Member Bases to notify The Black Car Fund of any accident or injury involving a Covered Driver within five (5) days of first learning about it. That includes notice from the driver, The Fund, or any other source.

What is required of Member Bases after an accident involving a black car operator?

  • As of July 15, 2025, all Member Bases will be required to respond to information requests issued by The Black Car Fund within seven (7) days of receiving the request. This policy applies to all information requests made on or after July 15th, 2025, even if the related claim occurred prior to this date.

  • The report must be sent by email to accidents@nybcf.org or by fax to (646) 556-7110.

  • The report must include details such as:

    • Operator’s name

    • Driver’s address, and contact numbers

    • State Driver’s license, TLC Drivers licenseand vehicle information, including license plate numbers.

    • Member Base name and address

    • The operator’s trip log (18 hours before and after the incident)

    • Accident details (date, location, police report info)

    • Insurance policy details

Why is timely accident reporting important?

  • The Fund depends on accurate, timely information from Member Bases to process claims, meet legal obligations, and control costs. Delays or missing information can disrupt benefits for injured drivers and create unnecessary administrative expenses; it can also lead to The Fund being held responsible by a New York Workers’ Compensation Law Judge for claims that should not have been our responsibility.

What happens if a Member Base fails to respond to an information request from The Fund?

  • If a Member Base does not respond fully and on time (within seven (7) days) to a request for accident or injury information from The Fund, it will face a $500 fine per request, per claim.

  • If the Member Base fails to respond to additional requests after being fined, the penalty increases to $1,000 per subsequent missed request, per claim.

What if a Member Base cannot get all the information requested?

  • If a Member Base cannot obtain all the required details, it must still reply within the seven-day window. In that reply, the Member Base must:

    • Provide what information is available.

    • Explain why the missing information is not available.

    • Estimate when the missing details can be delivered.

  • Failing to do this still counts as noncompliance.

Can a Member Base lose its membership with The Black Car Fund over repeated noncompliance?

  • Yes. If a Member Base repeatedly fails to comply with the reporting requirements, even after being fined, or has not paid these fines, The Black Car Fund may choose not to renew the base’s membership with The Fund. Which could make the base liable for any workers’ compensation claim submitted by the driver and potentially subject the base to action from the New York City Taxi & Limousine Commission.  Moreover, the drivers can potentially lose their coverage and eligibility for The Fund’s Drivers Benefits program.

Are there any other consequences beyond fines?

  • If The Fund is forced to pay a claim without receiving the required information from a base, that Member Base will have to reimburse The Fund for the full amount of the claim and any administrative and legal defense expenses connected to the claim.

  • Payment must be made within 14 calendar days of receiving The Fund’s notice.

Who can Member Bases contact with questions?

  • Member Bases should contact The Fund’s Claims Unit at claims@nybcf.org or call The Black Car Fund directly with any questions.

 If my drivers operate on an hourly wage, do we still qualify for membership with The Black Car Fund?

  • Yes. New York State law does not prohibit wage-based drivers from being afforded Workers’ Compensation benefits from The Black Car Fund, so long as your base is in good standing.

 Are there learning opportunities available for my drivers?