Taxis in Toronto

Cabs in Toronto, Ontario: how to get a taxi in Toronto

Toronto has thousands of licensed cabs, and there are several ways to get one: hail it on the street, walk to a taxi stand, call a taxi company or order in an app. This guide explains how taxis in Toronto work, what a cab costs and how Toronto Taxi App gets you a licensed taxi without a passenger commission.

Four ways to get a cab in Toronto

Every licensed Toronto taxi can be reached in more than one way:

Hail a cab on the street – only taxis may pick up street hails in Toronto.
Walk to a taxi stand, for example on Front Street West outside Union Station.
Call a taxi company and have a cab sent to your address.
Order in an app – with Toronto Taxi App you see the estimated fare first and pay the driver directly.

What a cab costs in Toronto

Toronto taxis charge the meter rates set by the City of Toronto: the meter starts at $4.25, including a $1 fuel surcharge, and adds $0.25 for every 0.143 km – about $1.75 per kilometre – plus $0.25 for every 29 seconds of waiting. HST is included in the metered fare.

The fare is per vehicle, not per person; each passenger beyond four adds $2. A driver may charge a fee for card payments, which must be posted on the rear doors.

Who can drive a cab in Toronto

Every taxi driver in Toronto needs a vehicle-for-hire driver licence from the City's Municipal Licensing & Standards. It requires an Ontario driver's licence with at least three years of driving experience, a criminal record check, a driver abstract and a City-approved training course.

Uber and Lyft drivers are licensed through their company as private transportation companies and may not pick up street hails or wait at taxi stands. Requests through Toronto Taxi App go only to licensed taxi drivers.

Your rights in a Toronto taxi

A Toronto taxi has to take the first person who asks, however short the trip. A driver may refuse only for reasons set in the bylaw – for example an unpaid earlier fare, abusive behaviour or smoking.

You may choose the route, you ride free if the meter is not switched on, and you cannot be charged extra because of a disability or a mobility device.

Cabs to Toronto's airports

A cab from downtown to Toronto Pearson covers about 27 km and usually takes 25 to 45 minutes; Billy Bishop City Airport is only about 3 km from Union Station. For hailed or cabstand trips from the city to Pearson, you pay the lower of the City's airport flat fare and the meter.

Leaving Pearson, the taxis at the airport stands are licensed by the airport authority and charge flat rates by destination zone.

Questions about cabs in Toronto

How do I get a cab in Toronto?

Hail a taxi on the street, go to a taxi stand, call a taxi company or order in an app such as Toronto Taxi App, which shows the estimated fare before you order.

How much is a cab in Toronto?

The meter starts at $4.25, including a $1 fuel surcharge, and adds about $1.75 per kilometre plus waiting time. HST is included.

Do Toronto cabs take credit cards?

Many do, but the bylaw does not require it, and a card fee may apply. Ask before you start the ride.

Can a Toronto cab refuse a short trip?

No. A taxi must take the first person who asks, regardless of fare size or distance.

Are Uber cars cabs in Toronto?

No. Uber and Lyft are licensed as private transportation companies; their drivers may only take app bookings, not street hails or taxi stands.

Get a licensed cab in Toronto

Order your ride in the Toronto Taxi App or on WhatsApp – at the City meter rates, with no fee for passengers.