Pre-Booked airport transfers in your own car
Drive travellers between the airport and their home or hotel in a clean car or SUV, booked ahead at a fixed fare.
- C$3k-15k
- Part-time
- Out and about
- Licence or permit needed
Estimates for a small start in Canada, not guarantees.
What it is
A one-driver service using a car or SUV. Customers book a fixed-price ride to or from the airport, and you track their flight and meet them on arrival.
Your first three steps
- Check your municipality and province for vehicle-for-hire or passenger transportation licence rules, and what your local airport requires for pick-ups
- Get quotes for commercial auto insurance that covers paid passenger transport
- Set up a simple booking page and Google Business profile, then approach local hotels, B&Bs and short-term rental hosts
Who pays
Business travellers, families with luggage, older travellers, and hotels or Airbnb hosts who want a reliable ride for their guests.
How it makes money
Fixed fare per trip based on distance, plus extras like child seats, extra stops or late-night rides. Repeat bookings and referrals bring steadier work.
Skills that help
- Safe, calm driving in all weather
- Punctuality and good customer service
- Basic bookkeeping and scheduling
Watch out for
- Licensing differs by city and province, and some airports need their own ground transportation permit, so check before taking paid fares
- Personal car insurance usually will not cover paid passenger trips, so check you have the right commercial cover
- Winter driving, flight delays and early-morning or late-night hours can be demanding
- Vehicle inspection, upkeep and fuel costs can eat into earnings, so price your fares with them in mind
- Once your revenue passes the small supplier threshold, you will need to register for GST/HST
Deep research report · Canada
Everything you need to start: pre-booked airport transfers in your own car
Researched with live web search for Canada: real startup prices, the licences and rules, what others charge, a break-even example, how to find your first customers and a 30-day launch plan. With sources.
- Startup costs with real prices
- Licences, registration and rules
- Pricing: what others charge
- Break-even example
- Finding your first customers
- 30-day launch plan
- Risks and how to reduce them
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to start an airport transfer business in Canada?
Startup costs are typically estimated at around $3,000 to $15,000, depending on your vehicle, insurance and booking setup. Vehicle inspection, upkeep and fuel costs can eat into earnings, so price your fares with them in mind.
How much can an airport transfer driver earn?
Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around $2,000 to $8,000, depending on bookings, fares and the hours you drive. The estimates assume at least about 15 hours a week. Winter driving and flight delays can make hours demanding.
Do I need a licence to run airport transfers in Canada?
Things to check include licensing, which differs by city and province, and whether the airport needs its own ground transportation permit. Also check that you have commercial insurance, since personal car insurance usually will not cover paid passenger trips.
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