A taxi from Vancouver International Airport (YVR) to the Waterfront area is charged a flat fare by zone, not by the meter. Under the Passenger Transportation Board’s Metro Vancouver rate rule, flat fares from the airport range from $20.00 to $47.00, so the exact price depends on which zone your destination falls in. Ask the driver to confirm the fare before the trip starts.
How the fare is calculated
Rides that start at YVR use flat fare zones. The listed zone fares include a $4.00 premium location charge, which applies to airport rides going outside the Richmond and Vancouver zones, and they include GST. The downtown core sits in its own zone, and the driver or the dispatcher at the stand can tell you the amount for your address.
Rides that do not fall into a flat zone use the meter. In Metro Vancouver the meter starts with a $3.75 flag, then adds $0.10 for each 45.95 metres travelled. Waiting time is charged at $0.10 for each 9.25 seconds, which works out to about $38.93 an hour. Slow traffic therefore adds to a metered trip, while a flat zone fare stays the same. The taxi fare estimator gives a rough figure for metered trips.
Tipping is up to you. Many riders add something for good service, and most taxis take cards, though it is worth asking before you leave the stand.
Extra charges and when to travel
If you ask for a stop on the way, the rate rule allows $6.00 for stops of 10 minutes or less, plus $2.00 for each additional minute. Ask about luggage, late night or holiday charges when you book, since a company may apply them under its approved rates.
Booking ahead lets you agree on the price before you land and gives you a driver waiting. A zone fare also removes the guesswork about rush hour traffic on the Oak Street or Granville routes.
Budgeting for the ride
- Ask which zone covers your exact address and what the fare is, then confirm it before you get in.
- Check whether your destination falls inside a flat zone or needs a metered ride.
- Allow a little extra for a tip and for any stop you ask the driver to make.
- Compare with Uber or Lyft, which show a price in the app before you confirm it.
- Check payment options with the driver, since cash and card policies differ between companies.