The main difference between a taxi and Uber in Vancouver is how you book and how the fare is set. Taxis run on regulated meters and can be phoned or hailed, and they usually take cash as well as cards. Uber is booked in an app, shows the fare before you request the ride and charges your linked payment method.
Taxi fares follow rates set by the Passenger Transportation Board, so the metered price for a given route is predictable. That suits you if you want to pay cash or prefer to phone a dispatcher. Uber lets you book in a few taps, track the car in real time and pay without cash, and the app often matches you with a nearby car quickly.
Fares and pricing
Taxis charge a metered rate. In Metro Vancouver, the board’s rate as of January 2025 is $3.75 for the first 45.95 metres, then $0.10 for each additional 45.95 metres, which works out to roughly $2.18 per kilometre. Waiting time is charged at $38.93 per hour. A $4.00 premium applies to some trips that start at the airport, and flat fares are set for certain airport and cruise terminal pickups.
Uber calculates an upfront fare from the expected time and distance, local traffic and the number of riders and drivers nearby at that moment. When demand is high, fares go up, and the app shows a message that fares are higher due to increased demand. The price you see when you request the ride is the price you pay at the end. Because the figure changes with demand, it is worth checking before you confirm.
Extra charges can apply to both services, such as airport fees, tolls or longer waits. Read the fare breakdown in the app, and ask a taxi dispatcher about airport and late-night charges when you book.
Compare the fare shown in the Uber app with a taxi estimate before you commit. The Uber fare calculator and the taxi fare estimator help with that. At quiet times a taxi can come out cheaper, and when demand spikes in bad weather or after events, the app price can climb.
Booking, payment and app features
You book a taxi by calling a dispatcher, using a company’s app where one exists, or hailing a cab at a stand or on the street. That can take longer at peak times. With Uber you choose a destination, confirm the pickup spot and see an estimated arrival time.
Taxis in Vancouver commonly accept cash and cards, paid to the driver. Uber charges the linked payment method when the trip ends, so you do not need cash. Tipping is optional on Uber. After you rate the driver, the app offers a tip option, and you have 30 days after the trip to add one. Tipping a taxi is also optional and usually done at the end of the ride.
Uber’s app also lets you follow the ride and see driver details. If you like app-based booking, Uber tends to feel smoother. If you prefer a driver and a meter you can phone, a taxi still fits.