Uber is usually cheapest on weekdays in the middle of the day, roughly from 10:00 AM to noon, and again in the evening after about 8:00 PM on nights without a big event. Demand is steadier then, so the app has little reason to raise prices.
Why prices change during the day
Fares rise when many people request rides and there are not enough cars nearby. Bad weather, rush hour and special events trigger this most often. The increase shows up as a multiplier, an extra amount, or simply a higher upfront fare on the offer screen, and it is set for a specific area of the city.
On a typical weekday the highest prices tend to fall in the morning rush from about 7:00 AM to 9:00 AM and the afternoon rush from about 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM. Friday and Saturday nights after the bars close are usually the priciest windows of the week.
Times that tend to cost less
- Late morning on weekdays, after the commute and before lunch.
- Early afternoon, once the lunch crowd has thinned out.
- Weeknight evenings with no concert, game or festival nearby.
Vancouver has its own pattern on top of this. Game nights at Rogers Arena or BC Place, cruise ship days and a rainy Friday afternoon can all push prices up even in what would normally be a quiet hour.
Other ways to pay less
- Check the fare estimate, wait a few minutes and check again. Surge zones change quickly.
- Walk a block or two away from an event venue or a busy intersection before requesting.
- Use the scheduling option in the app when it is offered for your trip, and read the price terms shown before you confirm.
- Compare against a taxi for the same trip with the taxi fare estimator, since a metered fare does not rise with a surge.
What to expect late at night
Late evening can be cheap on a quiet weeknight and expensive on a weekend. Fewer drivers are on the road after midnight, so waits get longer even when the price looks fine.
Prices shift with demand, so read the estimate each time before you confirm the ride.