The drive from Departure Bay Ferry Terminal to Downtown Nanaimo takes about 10 minutes and covers 4 km. A standard rideshare for that distance comes to about $13 at normal demand, and the likely range is $11 to $15.
Adding up the Departure Bay fare
We estimate rideshare prices from average rates: a $2.50 base fare, $1.15 per km, $0.35 per minute and a $2.00 booking fee. For 4 km and 10 minutes that is $2.50 plus $4.60 plus $3.50, which makes $10.60 before the booking fee and about $12.60 after it. The regional minimum fare of $3.94 does not come into play on a trip this long.
Demand moves the number. When it is busy (1.2 times the fare) expect about $15. Very busy (1.5 times) brings it to about $18, and a peak (2 times) to about $23. These are estimates from average rates, not Uber’s own prices, and the Uber app shows the real upfront price before you confirm.
If you want more room or a nicer car, Comfort is about $15, XL (up to 6 seats) is about $17 and Premier is about $26.
What the meter would show
Yellow Cab has a published tariff with a flag fee of $3.90 and $2.72 per km. On that tariff the meter would come to about $15 for this trip. The meter figure leaves out time spent waiting and any add ons, so you may pay slightly more. That is a couple of dollars above the typical rideshare price, which is worth knowing if you are weighing the two for such a short drive. Either way, the trip is brief enough that the choice rarely changes your day.
Practical tips for a ferry terminal pickup
A ferry terminal is a place where many people want a ride at about the same moment, so it pays to plan a little before you step off.
- Check the app for the pickup spot once you are off the boat, and walk to it before you request the car.
- Type or share the exact street address of your destination so the driver does not have to guess.
- Tell the driver how many bags you have, and pick XL if the luggage or the group is large.
- If you need an accessible vehicle, book it ahead instead of hoping one is free.
Prices rise when many people request rides at once, so a quick second look at the app before you commit is worth the few seconds it takes. If the busy price looks too high, waiting a short while can bring it back down.