To keep your cab fare down in Canada, check the price before you book. Major taxi services and ride-hailing apps offer online fare calculators that give an instant estimate from your pickup, destination, time of day and current traffic.
Uber and Lyft have built-in fare estimators, so you can compare prices before you book and take the cheapest option. Sharing a ride when possible also cuts individual costs, and carpooling can make taxis more affordable in cities such as Toronto, Vancouver or Montreal.
Scheduling rides off-peak or using flat-rate services in some urban areas can save money, especially when surge pricing would apply at busy hours.
Use apps and online tools to calculate a cab fare
Enter your pickup and drop-off locations into a ride-hailing app such as Uber or Lyft, or a local taxi booking platform. The app shows a fare estimate instantly from real-time data, so you know the expected cost before you request a cab.
Fare estimator websites
Dedicated sites such as TaxiFareFinder work the same way. Enter your start and end points and they give a fare estimate that includes possible surcharges and fees from taxi companies. They often account for the time of day and traffic.
Compare several apps
Download a few taxi apps and compare estimates for the same route. Providers differ in pricing, promo discounts and surge pricing, and that can change the total a lot. Look for apps that show a fare breakdown, so you can see the base fare, per-mile charges and extra fees.
Some apps include optional tips or service charges in their estimates, so confirm that beforehand. Update your trip details in the app now and then so the estimate stays current.
Ways to cut your fare
- Compare prices across several taxi and cab apps before you book.
- Use promotional codes and discounts, which are often offered to new users or during special promotions.
- Use ride-sharing features when available, because pooling with other passengers lowers the cost, and group your trips to reduce the number of separate fares.
- Travel off-peak. Fares tend to fall when demand is lower, such as late at night or early in the morning.
- Set fare alerts where available, so the app tells you when prices drop or a special deal is on.
- Choose shorter routes, or ask the driver for an alternative path that costs less, and avoid detours that raise the fare for no benefit.
- Pick flat-rate taxis for certain destinations, such as airports or city centres, to avoid surprises from changing metered rates.
- Join a loyalty program or subscription service if you often take the same routes. Points or a fixed monthly fee can reduce your costs.
- Pay with a card that offers cashback on taxi fares.
- Walk a few extra blocks from popular spots, where fares are higher, to save money on pickup and drop-off points.
To work out a meter fare yourself, see the cab fare estimate guide, which shows the flag fee, rate per kilometre and waiting charge with real tariffs.