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When people talk about ridesharing apps, the big question is always the same: “How do I get paid?” With Curb, the answer is pretty straightforward, but it works a little differently than what you might see with Uber or Lyft. Why? Because Curb is deeply tied into the licensed taxi and for-hire vehicle industry in the U.S.
That means when a passenger books a ride through the Curb app, the way the money flows isn’t just “app → driver.” Instead, it can move through Curb’s payment system, city regulations, and sometimes even taxi fleets, depending on where you’re based.
Here’s the high-level picture:
- Riders can pay either in cash (directly at the end of the ride) or through Curb Pay (the app-based payment system).
- Curb then processes the digital payments, deducts any fees, and forwards the balance to the driver or the fleet managing that driver.
- The schedule and method of how that money hits a bank account can vary by city.
The whole setup is designed with one big goal: to make sure licensed taxis and for-hire vehicles can compete in a world dominated by rideshare apps. Instead of handing over the wheel entirely to tech companies, Curb acts as the bridge between traditional taxi infrastructure and modern digital payments.
Think of it like this: if Uber is a highway built from scratch, Curb is the express lane that plugs right into the city’s existing taxi grid — and Curb Pay is the toll system that keeps the money flowing.
How Curb Pay Works
Curb keeps things simple on the surface, but behind the scenes, there’s a clear flow of how money moves from the rider’s pocket into the system. Think of it like plumbing: if all the pipes are in place, the water (a.k.a. cash) flows smoothly.
Here’s how it breaks down:
Step 1: The Rider Books and Pays
- A passenger opens the Curb app, books a ride, and chooses how they want to pay:
- Curb Pay (in-app payment) using a credit/debit card, Apple Pay, or Google Pay.
- Cash — old school style, paid directly to the driver at the end of the trip.
Step 2: Curb Processes the Transaction
- If the rider chooses Curb Pay, the app authorizes the payment before the trip even starts.
- The full fare (plus any tips or surcharges) gets charged once the trip is completed.
- That money then flows into Curb’s payment system, ready for settlement.
Step 3: Deductions and Fees
- Curb takes out any service fees or processing costs tied to the ride.
- If the driver is part of a fleet, the payment is usually routed to the fleet first — then the fleet handles distribution to the driver.
- For independent setups (less common in big cities), the payout can go straight to the driver’s bank.
Step 4: Settlement to Driver or Fleet
Once the deductions are handled, the balance is released:
- Directly to the driver’s bank account via ACH direct deposit.
- Or to the fleet’s account, which then pays out its drivers on their own schedule.
Step 5: Tips Are Included
- Any tip added in-app is bundled into the same settlement.
- Unlike some older systems where tips got “lost in the sauce,” with Curb Pay it’s all streamlined.
Step 6: Cash Trips Are Separate
- If a rider pays cash, that money stays with the driver right away.
- The only part that Curb tracks is the ride record — for reporting and, in some cases, regulatory compliance.
In short: Rider pays → Curb processes → fees deducted → driver/fleet gets the rest.
It’s a clean loop, and it’s designed to balance tech convenience with the traditional taxi system.
Payment Methods Available
Curb gives licensed taxi and for-hire drivers a few different ways to get their money. The exact method depends on whether you’re an independent operator or tied to a fleet, and sometimes even on which city you’re working in. Here’s the breakdown:
Direct Deposit (ACH Transfer)
- For drivers set up individually, payouts usually come via ACH direct deposit straight into a U.S. checking account.
- Funds show up anywhere from 1–3 business days after they’re released by Curb.
- Reliable, fast, and pretty much the industry standard for digital payouts.
Fleet Payouts
- In major markets like NYC and Chicago, many drivers are linked to fleets (taxi bases or companies).
- In this setup, Curb pays the fleet, not the individual driver.
- The fleet then distributes money to drivers based on their own schedule — sometimes daily, sometimes weekly.
Bonus: fleets often handle things like vehicle leases, insurance, and maintenance along with payments.
Paper Check (Less Common)
- In a handful of cases, especially older fleets or drivers who don’t want direct deposit, payments can be sent by check.
- Honestly, it’s rare — kinda like seeing someone still rocking a flip phone.
- Downside: longer wait time, and you’ll need to physically deposit it at the bank.
Hybrid (Cash + Curb Pay)
- Remember, cash trips are separate.
- Drivers pocket that fare right away, while Curb Pay trips go through the digital settlement system.
- So, many drivers see a mix: instant cash from street hails, plus digital deposits from app-based rides.
Curb’s payout methods are flexible because it’s built around the taxi world. Whether you’re going direct deposit, through a fleet, or — in rare cases — check, the goal is simple: get drivers paid without hassle.
Payment Schedule
One of the biggest questions drivers and fleets always have is: “When’s payday?”
Curb tries to keep things predictable, but the exact timing depends on whether you’re paid directly or through a fleet.
Direct Deposit (Independent Drivers)
- Typical timeline: 1–3 business days after the trip is completed and settled.
- Example: If you do rides on Monday, you could see the deposit hit your bank by Wednesday or Thursday.
- It’s not “instant pay” like some gig apps, but it’s steady and reliable.
Fleet-Based Payouts
- For fleet drivers, the fleet sets the schedule.
- Most common setups:
- Daily payouts — drivers cash out at the end of a shift.
- Weekly payouts — usually every Friday, with all trips from the previous week included.
- Some fleets even let you choose how you want to be paid, especially in big cities like New York.
Cash Trips (Instant)
- If the passenger pays cash, that money goes straight into the driver’s pocket on the spot.
- Curb doesn’t hold it, though the ride is still logged for reporting.
Holidays and Banking Delays
- Like any system running through U.S. banks, weekends and holidays can slow things down.
- Example: A trip done Friday night may not hit your bank until Tuesday if Monday’s a federal holiday.
Example Timeline
Let’s say you had a mix of Curb Pay and cash rides in one week:
- Monday: 3 rides, $50 (all Curb Pay)
- Wednesday: 4 rides, $80 ($40 Curb Pay + $40 cash)
- Friday: 5 rides, $120 (all Curb Pay)
What happens:
- The $40 cash stays with you right away.
- The $250 Curb Pay total gets processed, minus fees, and hits your bank account by the next Tuesday or Wednesday.
In short: Cash is instant. Digital payments usually take 1–3 days, unless your fleet sets a different schedule.
Fees and Deductions
When a passenger pays through Curb, the full amount doesn’t just slide straight into the driver’s or fleet’s account. A couple of things get shaved off first. Think of it like taxes at your paycheck — not fun, but part of the game.
Curb Service Fee
- Every transaction processed through the Curb app includes a service/processing fee.
- The exact rate can vary by city and by agreement with the fleet, but it’s usually in line with standard payment processing (around 2–3% of the fare).
- This covers credit card handling, payment tech, and support.
Regulatory or City Fees
- In some cities (like NYC, Chicago, etc.), extra surcharges are required by local transportation commissions.
- Examples: airport pickup fees, congestion fees, or per-ride taxi surcharges.
- These are usually passed directly to the passenger, but Curb is the one collecting and routing them.
Fleet Deductions
- If you’re driving under a fleet, they may take a cut before paying you out.
- This could include:
- Lease or vehicle rental fees
- Dispatch or base fees
- Insurance contributions
- Each fleet sets its own rules, so what you take home depends on your agreement.
Tips (No Deductions)
- The good news: tips go straight through untouched.
- If a rider drops $5 in the app, that $5 is yours, 100%.
Example Breakdown (NYC Trip)
Let’s say you completed a $20 ride in New York City, paid via Curb Pay:
- Fare: $20
- Curb Service Fee (2.5%): -$0.50
- NYC Taxi Surcharge: -$2.75
- Net: $16.75
If you’re leased under a fleet, they might also subtract, say, a $1 base fee, leaving you with $15.75.
Curb’s cut is light compared to app-only platforms like Uber/Lyft, but fleets can change how much you actually pocket.
Cash Trips vs. App Trips
Curb is kinda unique because it bridges two worlds: the old-school taxi system (where cash rules) and the modern app economy (where everything runs digital). That’s why how the money flows depends on whether the ride was paid in cash or through the app.
Cash Trips (Instant Money)
- When a passenger pays cash, it’s straight-up old school. The driver keeps the fare right away, no middleman.
- No waiting for bank transfers or settlement cycles. It’s “money in hand,” just like buying a coffee with a $5 bill.
- Curb still logs the ride in the system for reporting, but the app doesn’t touch the actual money.
Pros: Instant payout, no fees deducted.
Cons: Harder to track income for taxes, and you’ve gotta manage your own change.
App Trips (Curb Pay)
- When a passenger pays in-app (card, Apple Pay, Google Pay), the money flows through Curb’s system first.
- The payment gets authorized at the start of the trip, then fully charged after completion.
- From there, it’s routed to Curb → processed with fees deducted → sent to fleet or directly to the driver’s bank.
Pros: Clean, trackable records; no risk of fake bills or short payments.
Cons: You wait a few days (or until fleet payday) to actually see the money.
Mixed Economy Reality
In cities like New York or Chicago, drivers see a blend:
- Street hails often = cash.
- App bookings = Curb Pay.
- That means part of their earnings hit instantly (cash), and part lands later (digital).
Settlement Consequences
- Cash rides don’t factor into your Curb payouts because you already got paid.
- App rides are bundled into whatever your payment schedule is (daily/weekly).
- For accounting, most drivers (or fleets) treat them as two separate revenue streams.
In short: Cash = instant but manual. Curb Pay = delayed but trackable. Curb’s system is built to juggle both without drivers losing visibility on total income.
Tips to Avoid Payment Delays
Nobody likes waiting for their money. With Curb, payouts are usually smooth, but small mistakes can jam up the pipeline. Here’s what helps keep the cash moving without hiccups:
Bank Account Details Must Be Spot-On
- Double-check your routing number and account number when setting up ACH direct deposit.
- One digit off and the payment bounces back like a bad check.
- If that happens, it can take days to reprocess.
Keep Tax Forms Up to Date
- Curb (or your fleet) will usually need a W-9 form on file to report payments.
- At the end of the year, they’ll issue a 1099 form for your taxes.
- If these forms are missing or incomplete, payouts can get held until you sort it out.
Respond to Verification Emails/Alerts
- Sometimes Curb flags an account for security checks (like if there’s unusual payout activity).
- Ignoring those emails = frozen funds until you confirm your info.
- It’s annoying, but it’s standard anti-fraud stuff.
Watch the Payment Schedule
- Remember: banks don’t move money on weekends or federal holidays.
- Example: Friday night rides might not show up in your account until Tuesday if Monday’s a holiday.
- Planning around this avoids panic when the deposit isn’t “instant.”
Fleet-Specific Rules
- If you’re part of a fleet, keep track of their payout cycle.
- Some fleets require logging trips in a specific system before they release your funds.
- Forget that step? Your money might sit until the next cycle.
Set up your info right, stay on top of paperwork, and keep an eye on schedules. Do that, and you won’t be left hanging when bills are due.
Taxes and Reporting
When it comes to Uncle Sam, there’s no dodging the paperwork. Curb’s system is designed to keep earnings transparent so drivers (and fleets) have what they need when tax season rolls around.
1099 Form for Independent Earnings
- If you’re driving under Curb and earn more than $600 in a year through digital payments, you’ll get a 1099 form.
- This shows your total gross income processed by Curb (before fees and fleet deductions).
- Drivers use this when filing federal and state taxes.
W-9 Requirements
- To get paid via Curb, drivers or fleets usually must submit a W-9 form upfront.
- This gives Curb the taxpayer identification (like SSN or EIN) needed to file reports.
- Missing or outdated W-9? Payments can be delayed or withheld.
Fleet Reporting
- If you’re tied to a fleet, the 1099 might actually come from the fleet rather than Curb directly.
- That’s because the fleet is the one handling final payouts.
- Either way, someone’s reporting your income to the IRS, so it’s on record.
Cash Income Responsibility
- Cash trips don’t get reported automatically through Curb.
- It’s up to drivers to track and report that income — technically, all earnings are taxable.
- Think of it as the “honor system,” though the IRS expects full reporting.
Year-End Summaries
- Beyond 1099 forms, Curb also provides trip and payout summaries inside the platform.
- These breakdowns make it easier to tally up how much came through Curb Pay vs. cash.
Why It Matters
- Accurate reporting protects drivers and fleets if they ever get audited.
- Plus, filing correctly ensures eligibility for deductions (like fuel, vehicle expenses, insurance).
In short: Curb handles digital earnings paperwork (1099/W-9), but cash is on you to report. It’s a hybrid system, but it keeps everything IRS-compliant.
Common Issues With Payments
Even though Curb’s payout system is pretty straightforward, sometimes the money doesn’t land where or when it should. Most of the time, it’s not a “the sky is falling” situation — just small hiccups that need fixing. Here are the big ones:
Pending or Stuck Payouts
- Sometimes a payout shows as “pending” in the system longer than expected.
- Common reasons: bank delays, weekend/holiday holds, or the payout batch not yet released by Curb.
- Usually clears in 1–3 business days, but worth flagging if it drags.
Wrong Bank Info
- Enter the wrong routing number or account number, and your deposit bounces back.
- The system won’t just “fix it” — it can take several days to reprocess once the info is corrected.
- Always double-check those digits when setting up ACH.
Fleet Delays
- For drivers tied to fleets, the holdup often isn’t Curb — it’s the fleet’s payout schedule.
- Some fleets sit on funds a little longer before distributing.
Solution: check the fleet’s internal policy before assuming Curb is at fault.
Missing Tax Docs
- If your W-9 isn’t submitted or updated, Curb may hold payments until it’s resolved.
- It’s compliance stuff — not glamorous, but mandatory.
Security Flags
- If Curb notices unusual activity (like sudden big deposits or mismatched account details), they may freeze payouts temporarily.
- Requires identity verification or support follow-up to clear.
Mixed Cash/App Confusion
- Sometimes drivers forget that cash trips won’t show up in Curb Pay deposits.
- Leads to confusion: “Why is my payout short?” Answer: because part of it was already handed to you in cash.
Contacting Support
- If things don’t add up, drivers/fleets can reach out through the Curb support portal or fleet manager.
- Most payment issues get fixed once the right paperwork or info is provided.
Most payment issues are fixable — but 90% of the time, it’s either bank info, tax forms, or fleet schedules slowing things down.
Conclusion
Curb’s payment system isn’t flashy, but it’s built to fit the taxi world while keeping up with modern app standards. Instead of reinventing the wheel, it mixes the instant, cash-in-hand style of traditional cabs with the digital reliability of in-app payments.
Here’s the big picture:
- Two payment streams: Cash trips = instant, no middleman. Curb Pay trips = digital, processed through the app, then paid out via ACH or through fleets.
- Predictable schedules: App payouts typically land in 1–3 business days for independents, or on a daily/weekly basis for fleet drivers.
- Clear deductions: Service fees and city surcharges are handled upfront, but tips go 100% to the driver.
- IRS-compliant: Digital earnings are reported with 1099s, while cash income is the driver’s responsibility to track.
- Common hiccups: Wrong bank info, missing W-9s, or fleet delays can slow things down — but they’re solvable.
Compared to rideshare giants like Uber and Lyft, Curb keeps things grounded in the taxi ecosystem. Drivers don’t deal with surprise commission swings or hidden fees; fleets stay in control of their payouts; and passengers get the flexibility to pay however they want.
At the end of the day, Curb Pay is about one thing: making sure the money moves from rider to driver without unnecessary drama. Whether it’s digital or old-school cash, drivers know what to expect — and that’s half the battle in this business.

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