In Metro Vancouver the metered distance rate is $2.18 per kilometre, with a $3.75 flag rate, according to the Passenger Transportation Board. Other BC cities set their own tariffs, so the per kilometre figure changes from town to town. In Nanaimo, for example, the board lists $2.72 per kilometre with a $3.90 flag rate.
These are the metered rates that licensed taxis charge, and both include GST. The meter does not simply add one price per kilometre. It starts at the flag rate and then adds a small charge for each short stretch of distance travelled, which works out to the per kilometre figure above.
Taxi rates in Metro Vancouver
The Metro Vancouver rate was raised by up to 7.3 percent in a decision approved in August 2023 and took effect on October 1, 2023. Waiting time is charged at $38.93 per hour, billed as $0.10 for each 9.25 seconds. That wait charge applies when the cab is stopped or crawling in traffic, so a slow trip costs more than a fast one over the same distance.
To get a feel for a specific trip, the taxi fare estimator is a quick starting point, and the Vancouver taxi page covers the local companies. The board revises its rate tables from time to time, so a current figure on the board’s site or from the dispatcher takes priority over any older number.
How taxi rates are set across BC
Taxi fares in BC combine a flag rate, a distance charge and a waiting time charge. The Passenger Transportation Board approves the rates for each area, and the taxi companies operating there charge the approved amounts. That is why Vancouver, Nanaimo and smaller communities do not share one tariff. Some routes, such as airport runs, may also have their own pricing, so ask the dispatcher.
What influences the rate
- Local rules: the board sets the rate for each area, and it differs between regions.
- Fuel prices: operating costs go up when fuel does, which feeds into rate reviews.
- Driver costs: higher wages and insurance are part of what the board considers.
- Traffic: waiting time is metered, so congestion makes short trips cost more.
- Extras: airport fees or a flat rate on a common route can change the total.
Before you set off, ask for an estimate, especially outside Vancouver. Compare it with a ride-hailing quote for the same trip, since app prices move with demand while the taxi meter follows the approved tariff. The fare page explains how taxi pricing works in more detail.