Check the pickup pin in your app before anything else, because on a 15 km ride a wrong pin costs you real minutes. A standard rideshare from New Westminster Station to Coquitlam Centre is about $31 at normal demand, with a likely range of $27 to $36, and the drive takes about 25 minutes.
Building the $31 for 15 km and 25 minutes
We worked this figure out from average rates: a $2.50 base fare, $1.15 per km, $0.35 per minute and a $2 booking fee. For 15 km and 25 minutes that is about $17.25 for distance and $8.75 for time on top of the base fare, then the booking fee. The total comes to about $31.
This is an estimate, not an Uber price. Only the Uber app can show the real upfront fare for the moment you request.
Demand changes the result. At a busy time (x1.2) the price rises to about $36. When it is very busy (x1.5) it is about $45, and at peak (x2) it reaches about $59. If your plans are flexible, compare the app a little later before you accept a high figure.
Larger vehicles and the taxi meter
Comfort is about $38 and XL, which seats up to 6, is about $43. Premier is about $66. Splitting an XL between a group of five or six brings the cost per head down below what most of the standard fares would be for separate cars.
Two taxi companies publish a tariff for this area. Whalley Taxi and Royal City Taxi both charge a flag fee of $3.75 plus $2.18 per km. For 15 km the meter would show about $36. Waiting time and extras are not included, so treat that number as the floor of what you might pay.
A taxi can be the better pick if you prefer a fixed car to hail by phone, or if the app shows few drivers nearby. On a trip of this length the gap between taxi and standard rideshare is about $5 at normal demand, and it closes or flips when demand is high.
Planning the ride
Share the exact address of your destination, since a shopping centre can have several sides and the driver needs to know which one you mean. If you have large bags or a stroller, mention it in a message so the driver can say whether the car has room.
Riders who use a wheelchair should book an accessible vehicle ahead of time instead of counting on one turning up in the app. Vancouver Taxi and Yellow Cab Vancouver both list wheelchair accessible service.
Leave a buffer if you have a fixed arrival time. Twenty five minutes is the average, and a ride in busy periods can run longer than the estimate.