On the 38 km run from YVR Airport to Coquitlam Centre, a typical rideshare costs about $66 while a metered taxi comes to around $87. The drive takes about 50 minutes, so the gap between the two is worth a look before you choose.
Rideshare price and what moves it
At normal demand the likely range is $59 to $76. We worked that out from average rates, so it is an estimate and not an Uber quote. The pieces are a $2.50 base fare, $1.15 per km, $0.35 per minute and a $2 booking fee, with a demand multiplier applied before the fee is added.
When demand rises the numbers climb in steps. Busy (1.2 times) is about $78, very busy (1.5 times) is about $98, and peak (2 times) is about $129. The upfront price in the Uber app is the real one, and it can differ from ours in either direction.
For more space, Comfort is about $82, XL (up to 6 seats) is about $94 and Premier is about $145. Four or more people with bags will usually find XL easier than squeezing into a standard car.
The taxi side
Whalley Taxi and Royal City Taxi publish the same tariff: a $3.75 flag fee and $2.18 per km. For 38 km that gives a meter estimate of about $87. Waiting time and extras are not included, so the final fare can end up higher.
Against the typical rideshare price, the taxi costs about $21 more. Against a very busy rideshare fare of $98, the taxi is the cheaper of the two. This is why it helps to open the app first and see what it is asking.
Practical tips for a long trip to a mall
Fifty minutes is a long time in a car, and a few small steps make it easier. Most of them happen before you get in the car, when you still have time to fix a wrong pin or a missing detail. Mixing up a pickup point can cost time you did not plan for, and the driver cannot always see where you are standing.
- Check the pickup spot in the app after you land, before you walk anywhere.
- Share the exact entrance or address you want, since a shopping centre can have several.
- Ask the driver whether your luggage will fit before they arrive.
- Allow extra time at busy hours, because prices and trip times can both go up.
If you need an accessible vehicle, phone ahead. Yellow Cab Vancouver (604-681-1111) and Vancouver Taxi (604-871-1111) both list wheelchair accessible service.