A taxi meter for New Westminster Station to Surrey Central comes to about $21, while a standard rideshare is about $19 at normal demand. The trip is 8 km and takes about 15 minutes, and the likely rideshare range is $17 to $22.
Rideshare price breakdown
Our rideshare figure is an estimate from average rates, not an Uber price. Rates used here: base fare $2.50, then $1.15 per km, $0.35 per minute and a $2.00 booking fee. Eight kilometres adds $9.20 and fifteen minutes adds $5.25, so the trip portion is $16.95. With the booking fee that is about $19.
Busy conditions change it. At a 1.2 times multiplier you would see about $22. At very busy times (1.5 times) it is about $27, and at peak (2 times) about $36. Only the Uber app shows the true price for your pickup time, so open it before deciding.
Larger options are Comfort at about $23, XL (up to 6 seats) at about $27 and Premier at about $40. Comfort adds roughly $4 to the standard estimate and XL roughly $8, which is a fair price if you are splitting the ride with others or travelling with luggage.
It is worth knowing how the pieces compare. Distance accounts for $9.20 of the trip portion, which is more than half, so a longer or shorter drive moves the price noticeably. Time contributes $5.25, and the booking fee is a flat $2.00 on top regardless of demand.
Meter fare from New Westminster Station
Whalley Taxi and Royal City Taxi share the same published tariff: a $3.75 flag fee and $2.18 per km. For 8 km that gives a meter estimate of about $21. Any waiting or extras would raise the final fare a little above that. Once rideshare demand pricing reaches 1.5 times, the taxi is the cheaper option on these numbers.
The two taxi companies list identical tariffs, so for this trip there is no price reason to prefer one over the other. Ask whichever company you phone for a quote on the total, and mention the pickup and drop off points so the dispatcher can confirm the fare estimate.
Practical tips
Stations and big centres can have several places to be picked up, so a few checks help.
- Confirm the pickup pin in the app before the driver gets close.
- Send the exact address or meeting point to the driver in a message.
- Ask the driver whether your bags fit, particularly if you booked a standard car.
- Book a wheelchair accessible vehicle ahead, for example with MacLure’s Cabs on 604-831-1111.