In most Canadian cities Uber is paid for in the app, so you cannot hand the driver cash. Uber takes credit and debit cards, PayPal, Uber gift cards and wallets such as Apple Pay or Google Pay, and the options you see can vary by city. If you only have cash, a regular taxi is the better bet.
What you can use in the Uber app
You add a payment method before the first ride. Cards are the usual choice, and a prepaid card or a gift card works too if you have no regular card. Open the payment section of the app ahead of time, because that is the list that applies where you are.
The app charges you when the ride ends. A tip goes through the app as well, so cash tips are not part of the flow.
Paying a taxi with cash
Taxis are the opposite. Many take cash, and a number take cards too. It depends on the company and sometimes on the car, so ask when you book. Some small-town companies only take cash. Tofino Taxi, for one, is reported as cash only, which is useful to know before a ride on the West Coast.
When you phone a company, three questions save trouble later:
- Do you take cards, and which ones?
- Is there a card fee?
- Do I need exact change?
Why rideshare skips cash
An upfront price shown in the app works because the app handles the payment. Without cash, there is nothing to argue about at the kerb and a record of the ride exists. For a rider with no card, the gift card route is the usual workaround.
Plan the price before you ride
Whatever you pay with, it helps to know the range first. The Uber estimate calculator shows an Uber price range for your distance, and the taxi fare estimator does the same for a taxi meter. If you want cards at the other end, see which Vancouver companies take them in our guide on whether Vancouver taxis take credit cards.
Rules and payment options change, so check the Uber app and the taxi company before you travel.
The reasons behind this, and what to do in Vancouver if you have no bank card, are in why you cannot pay Uber with cash.