Yes, cabs are available at Vancouver International Airport (YVR). Licensed taxis pick up passengers at the airport’s designated taxi stands outside the arrivals area, and most arriving passengers can simply walk out and join the line.
Finding and booking a taxi at YVR
After you land, follow the ground transportation signs to the taxi zone, tell the driver your destination and go. Taxis in Metro Vancouver are regulated by the Passenger Transportation Board, so only licensed operators may charge the approved rates. Many companies also take pre-bookings through their websites or apps, which helps in busy periods or when you are heading to a specific address outside the city.
Ride-hailing apps such as Uber and Lyft also operate in the Vancouver area. Check how pickup works at YVR in the app before you rely on it, since airport pickups often use a set meeting area. If you need an accessible taxi or a larger van for a group, say so when you book or when you reach the front of the line, because companies usually need a little notice to send the right vehicle.
Keep your destination address handy, particularly for neighbourhoods across Vancouver or outlying parts of BC. Ask for a fare estimate beforehand, or take a metered ride if the destination is outside the flat fare zones.
Fare estimates from the airport
Rides that start at YVR are priced by flat fare zones under the Passenger Transportation Board’s Metro Vancouver rate rule. Flat fares to the various zones range from $20.00 to $47.00, and that figure includes a $4.00 premium location charge and GST. Ask the driver to name the fare for your address before you get in.
For trips that fall outside the zones, the meter applies. The Metro Vancouver meter starts at a $3.75 flag and then adds $0.10 for each 45.95 metres, so traffic and distance both move the total. You can also check a rough figure with the taxi fare estimator before you travel.
Other ways to get from YVR
The Canada Line train runs between the airport and downtown Vancouver. Trips that start at YVR carry an AddFare on top of the normal transit fare, which rose from $5 to $6.50 on July 1, 2026. Shuttles and ride-hailing show a price before you commit, so compare that quote with the taxi zone fare for your destination.