Taking a taxi from YUL is simple. After you collect your bags, go to Door 23 on the arrivals level, where a dispatcher puts you in the next taxi; you do not need to book. The airport publishes a fixed fare to downtown Montreal of C$49.45 between 5 a.m. and 11 p.m. and C$56.70 between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m. For other destinations the taxi uses the provincial meter, with a minimum charge.
For one or two travellers with ordinary luggage, that fixed fare is good value and hard to beat. This guide from the Elly8.net reservations desk sets out every published number, explains the metered rates for trips beyond downtown, covers payment and accessibility, and says when a pre-booked car at a fixed price from US$120 is worth paying for instead.
How much is a taxi from YUL to downtown Montreal?
YUL publishes a fixed taxi fare to downtown of C$49.45 from 5 a.m. to 11 p.m. and C$56.70 from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. The C$1.05 provincial fee, taxes included, is already in the fare. Taxis leave from Door 23 on the arrivals level, where a dispatcher assists you.
Those figures are on the airport's taxis page, which also says that all taxi drivers operating at YUL are licensed for that purpose and must follow the airport's terms and conditions. The fare is per car, not per person, so two people sharing pay the same as one.
See Montreal prices and reserve
Fares beyond downtown: the meter
For any destination other than downtown, the fare depends on the time of day and the distance, at the rates the airport lists, which match the province-wide rates set by the Commission des transports du Quebec.
| YUL taxi fare | 5 a.m. to 11 p.m. | 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. |
|---|---|---|
| Fixed fare to downtown | C$49.45 | C$56.70 |
| Meter starting price | C$4.10 | C$4.70 |
| Per kilometre (moving) | C$2.05 | C$2.35 |
| Per minute (slow or stopped) | C$0.77 | C$0.89 |
| Minimum charge | C$21.65 | C$24.75 |
The meter charges either by distance or by time, never both at once. The CTQ explains that below a transition speed of about 22.5 km/h by day (22.7 km/h at night) the meter counts by the minute, and above it by the kilometre. Traffic on Highway 20 or the Turcot interchange therefore pushes a metered fare up by the minute.
As arithmetic only, a daytime trip of 30 km that keeps moving would be about C$4.10 + (30 x C$2.05) + C$1.05 = C$66.65 before any slow minutes and a tip. Ask the dispatcher whether your address is inside the downtown fixed-fare area before you get in if you are not sure.
Where the taxi rank is, and what to expect
- Clear customs and collect your bags. YUL's arrivals guide notes that luggage is collected after border control.
- Follow the signs to Door 23 on the arrivals level.
- Tell the dispatcher your destination. There is no booking and no app needed.
- Confirm the fare type with the driver: the fixed downtown fare or the meter.
Payment. YUL lists cash in Canadian currency, debit cards, credit cards (Mastercard, Visa or American Express) and Taxelco coupons. Have Canadian dollars or a card ready; US dollars are not on the list.
Luggage. A standard taxi suits a small party with ordinary bags. With more cases, skis or a stroller, you may need a second car.
Accessibility. The airport groups its taxi and adapted taxi information together and has a separate page on accessible taxis and shuttles. Ask the dispatcher at Door 23 if you need an adapted vehicle.
The other options at the doors
The doors on YUL's arrivals level are a menu, and it helps to know them.
| Option | Where | Price as published | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Taxi | Door 23 | C$49.45 day / C$56.70 night to downtown | Dispatcher, no booking |
| Airport limousine service | Kiosk at Door 24 | Sedan from C$85, SUV from C$104 | Booked on site only, cannot be booked before arrival |
| Uber Deluxe | Door 25 pickup area | Shown in the app | Other Uber types and Lyft use the Leigh-Capreol area via Door 28 |
| STM 747 bus | Tickets at the STM counter in international arrivals, machines or the Chrono app | C$11.25, valid 24 hours on bus and metro | 24/7; 30 to 70 minutes depending on route |
| Elly8.net pre-booked car | Inside the arrivals hall | From US$120, fixed and all-in | Chauffeur with name board, flight tracked |
The airport's limousine page describes the kiosk service at Door 24, and the bus page details the 747: a short route to Lionel-Groulx metro station in about 30 to 35 minutes, and a long route with 11 stops to the Gare d'autocars de Montreal at Berri-UQAM in 45 to 70 minutes. For app rides, see our guide to Uber at Montreal airport.
Arriving after 11 p.m.
Late arrivals change a few things at YUL, and it helps to know them before you land.
The fare. The fixed downtown taxi fare rises to C$56.70 from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m., and metered trips use the night rate: C$4.70 to start, C$2.35 per kilometre and C$0.89 per minute, with a C$24.75 minimum.
The bus still runs. The 747 operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week, so a solo traveller with light bags has a budget option even at 2 a.m.
The roadwork. The airport's current notice says the arrivals drop-off area is closed from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. on weekdays until December 19 while the REM station is built. That affects people being dropped off, not taxi pickups at Door 23, but expect detours around the terminal roads.
A pre-booked car. The Elly8.net fare does not change at night: US$120 in a Business Sedan to downtown, with the chauffeur waiting inside arrivals and your flight tracked, so a delayed landing simply moves the pickup.
Avoiding the common mistakes
- Accepting a ride from someone in the hall. Use the dispatcher at Door 23; the airport says the taxis operating there are licensed for YUL.
- Assuming the downtown fare applies everywhere. It covers downtown; other addresses use the meter. Ask the dispatcher if you are unsure.
- Paying in US dollars. The airport lists Canadian cash, debit and credit cards, not US currency.
- Squeezing a family into one car. If bags and people do not fit, take two taxis or book an SUV ahead.
When the YUL taxi is the right choice
- One or two people, a downtown hotel, any time of day. The fixed fare is clear and fair.
- A spontaneous arrival. No booking, no app, a dispatcher at the door.
- Light luggage. Two cases and a carry-on fit easily.
If that is you, take the taxi. Paying more for a pre-booked car in that situation is a preference, not a need.
When a pre-booked car wins
The group is bigger than one taxi. Prices are per vehicle. An Elly8.net Business SUV seats six with six bags for US$160 to downtown; an Executive Sprinter seats 12 with 12 bags for US$315. Two or three taxis at C$49.45 each, with everyone split up at the end, is often no saving.
You need child seats. Taxis are not guaranteed to have the right seat. Ours are fitted before you land, on request.
You land late and want certainty. The chauffeur tracks the flight and waits inside arrivals with a name board, with complimentary waiting after a tracked landing. There is no line to join.
You are going a long way. A metered taxi to Mont-Tremblant, Ottawa or Quebec City adds up kilometre by kilometre. The Elly8.net YUL to Mont-Tremblant pedestrian village fare is fixed from US$350 in a Business Sedan; see Mont-Tremblant car service. Ottawa and Quebec City are quoted in the web booker.
Your company needs an invoice. A corporate account puts every transfer on one monthly bill, with traveller profiles saved.
You are heading straight to a meeting. A fixed pickup time and a named chauffeur remove the variables. Our YUL limo guide walks through the arrival.
| Situation | Taxi at Door 23 | Elly8.net pre-booked car |
|---|---|---|
| Solo, one bag, downtown | C$49.45 by day, best value | US$120, not needed |
| Couple, overnight landing | C$56.70, fine | US$120, chauffeur waiting |
| Family of five with child seats | Two taxis, seats not guaranteed | Business SUV US$160, seats fitted |
| Team of ten with bags | Three or four taxis | Executive Sprinter US$315 |
| Suburb or out of town | Meter, minimum C$21.65 by day | Fixed quote before you pay |
Going to YUL: departures by taxi or car
The airport publishes its fixed taxi fare from YUL to downtown; for the trip out to the airport, confirm the fare with the dispatcher or driver when you book. Elly8.net fares are the same fixed price in either direction: US$120 downtown to YUL in a Business Sedan.
Two airport notices matter for departures. During the peak from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m., YUL points drivers to the express drop-off areas at P4 and P10 to avoid the main ramp. And while the REM light-rail station is built, the airport says the arrivals drop-off area is closed from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. on weekdays until December 19, with traffic sent to the departures ramp. For US flights, remember that YUL has US pre-clearance after security, so allow extra time.
What the Elly8.net fare includes
YUL to downtown Montreal is US$120 in a Business Sedan, US$160 in a Business SUV, US$195 in a First Class SUV, US$210 in a First Class Sedan and US$315 in an Executive Sprinter. The round trip starts at US$230. Fares include the chauffeur, vehicle, taxes, standard gratuity and meet and greet; tolls, parking and waiting beyond the included time are billed at cost. Rides in Montreal are operated by licensed, commercially insured local chauffeur partners vetted through the Limousine Worldwide network; Elly8.net takes the booking, fixes the price and runs the 24/7 desk.
To book, enter the pickup and drop-off with your flight number, choose the vehicle, and press Reserve now or use the web booker for any other address. Confirmation arrives by email. Cancellation is free more than 72 hours before pickup; 72 hours or less is 10%, 48 hours or less is 50%, and 24 hours or less or a no-show is 100%, refunded to the original card.
For how the city meter works away from the airport, see Montreal taxi or rideshare fares. The general comparison is chauffeur vs taxi, and pickups everywhere follow our airport transfers standard. Every fare is on the Montreal car service page; nearby cities include Ottawa and Kingston.
Elly8.net is a member of LimousineWorldwide.Directory, LimousineAssociation.International, HotelsWorldwide.Directory and VacationsWorldwide.Directory. Flights and hotels can be arranged through our travel partner BookingWorldwide.net; Elly8.net books the car.
Frequently asked questions
Where is the taxi stand at Montreal airport?
At Door 23 on the arrivals level. A dispatcher assists you, and you do not need to book in advance. All taxi drivers operating at YUL are licensed for that purpose, according to the airport. Follow the signs to the door after you collect your bags.
Is the YUL taxi fare fixed?
To downtown, yes: C$49.45 from 5 a.m. to 11 p.m. and C$56.70 from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m., including the C$1.05 provincial fee. Other destinations use the meter, starting at C$4.10 by day or C$4.70 at night, with minimum charges of C$21.65 and C$24.75.
Can I pay a YUL taxi by card?
Yes. The airport lists debit cards and credit cards (Mastercard, Visa or American Express), cash in Canadian dollars and Taxelco coupons. US dollars are not listed, so use a card or Canadian cash. Ask the driver before you set off if you are unsure.
Is a taxi or a pre-booked car better from YUL?
For one or two people with light bags going downtown, the taxi's fixed fare is the better value. A pre-booked car, from US$120, is better for families with child seats, groups, late arrivals who want a car waiting, trips beyond downtown and business travellers who need an invoice.
Can I book a YUL taxi in advance?
The airport says you do not need to book; the dispatcher at Door 23 handles it on arrival. If you want a vehicle and price fixed before you fly, book a pre-arranged car such as Elly8.net, with the chauffeur waiting inside arrivals.
How long does a taxi from YUL to downtown take?
About 23 minutes on a clear road for the roughly 18 km (11 mi) trip, longer on weekday late afternoons and during roadwork. The downtown fare is fixed, so traffic does not change it, while metered trips to other destinations rise with slow minutes.
