Taking a taxi at Montreal Airport: everything you need to know

More than 20 million passengers go through Montréal-Trudeau International Airport every year. For many, the first question off the plane is the same: how do I get downtown, to the hotel or home? Here is the complete guide to taking a taxi at Montréal airport: where to go, how much it costs, how long it takes, and the mistakes to avoid.

Where to get a taxi at YUL

After customs and baggage claim, follow the "Taxi" pictograms: they lead to Door 23 on the arrivals level. The stand is outside, under the canopy, a few metres from the exit. An attendant organises the line and directs you to the next car. It is the only official stand: do not follow someone offering you a "taxi" inside the terminal.

If you booked with Taxi Bonjour, your driver waits at the same spot, or in the arrivals hall with a sign bearing your name if you requested it.

How much a taxi from the airport costs

To downtown: flat rate

Between YUL and the downtown zone the price is fixed and regulated: $49.45 by day, $56.70 at night (11 p.m. to 4:59 a.m.), airport fee included. Whatever the traffic on Highway 20 or the route taken. The downtown zone is bounded by Pine Avenue to the north, Atwater Avenue to the west, Papineau Avenue to the east and the river to the south.

To other neighbourhoods and suburbs: metered

For Rosemont, Laval, Longueuil, Brossard or the West Island, the ride is metered according to the Commission des transports du Québec grid. A few daytime benchmarks, outside exceptional traffic:

Destination	Time	Estimate
Dorval, Pointe-Claire	10 to 15 min	$22 to $30
Downtown	20 to 30 min	$49.45 (flat)
Plateau, Rosemont, Villeray	30 to 40 min	$50 to $60
Laval (Chomedey)	25 to 35 min	$45 to $55
Longueuil, Brossard	30 to 45 min	$55 to $70

These amounts are indicative. For your exact address, your flight time and the expected traffic, use the fare calculator. A minimum of $21.65 ($24.75 at night) applies to any ride leaving the terminal.

How long to reach downtown

Allow 20 to 25 minutes outside rush hour, and up to 45 minutes between 7 and 9 a.m. or 4 and 6 p.m. The taxi takes Highway 20, then Highway 720 or René-Lévesque Boulevard depending on the destination. At night, 20 minutes is enough.

Payment, receipt, tip

Payment: cash, Visa, Mastercard, Interac. All our vehicles have a terminal.
Receipt: printed or emailed, handy for expense reports.
Tip: not mandatory; the custom in Québec is 10 to 15% for good service.
Currency: Canadian dollars only. US dollars are not accepted at the daily rate.

Taxi, shuttle or public transit?

The STM 747 bus links the airport to downtown 24 hours a day for the price of a transit fare. It is economical but stops often, has no space designed for large suitcases and drops you at the stop, not at your door. The REM light rail will serve the YUL station in the coming years. The taxi remains the door-to-door solution: with two people and luggage, it is barely more expensive than two private shuttle tickets, and much simpler.

Mistakes to avoid

Accepting a driver who approaches you in the terminal. Legal taxis wait at Door 23 under an attendant's supervision.
Paying in US dollars. Bring a credit card; every taxi accepts cards.
Negotiating the price. The grid is regulated; a driver "offering a price" outside the flat rate is not following the rules.
Forgetting the receipt if you travel for work.
Arriving with three children without a booking. Car seats are rare at the stand; book them ahead, they are free.

For departure: when to leave?

The airport recommends arriving 2 hours before a domestic or US flight (US preclearance is done in Montréal) and 3 hours before an international flight. Add the travel time for the hour: from downtown, a 5 p.m. departure needs 45 minutes on the road, a 5 a.m. one needs 20. Our guide to booking in advance details when and how to book.