male taxi driver standing next to taxi with the door open

Taxi and limousine drivers and chauffeurs

(NOC 75200)
Annual Earnings
$45,633
Training, Education, Experience and Responsibilities
No Formal Education
Job Openings
(2024-2034)
3,500

Career Overview

Taxi and limousine drivers:

  • Drive automobiles and limousines to transport passengers
  • Work for taxi and other transportation service companies, or they may be self-employed

Chauffeurs:

  • Drive automobiles and limousines to transport personnel and visitors of businesses, government or other organizations or members of private households
  • Work for businesses, government and other organizations, or private individuals or families

People in these occupations:

  • Must have strong driving skills and communication skills, and should enjoy meeting and working with various people
  • Should have organization and time-management skills for co-ordinating passenger pick-ups
  • Should have a thorough knowledge of the areas they drive in
  • Should also have good judgment when deciding who to allow in the vehicle
  • Must also have professional and social etiquette, as well as a professional appearance

Job Titles

Airport limousine driver
Company chauffeur
Funeral chauffeur
Funeral driver
Hearse driver
Limousine driver
Private chauffeur
Private household chauffeur
Taxicab driver
Taxi driver
Taxi owner-operator

Duties

Taxi and limousine drivers:

  • Pick up passengers and drive them to destinations in taxicabs or limousines
  • Help passengers with luggage and with boarding and exiting vehicles and assist passengers with special needs
  • Collect flat-rate or taximeter fares
  • Maintain travel logs and record cash and credit transactions
  • Maintain contact with taxi dispatch unit
  • Clean and make minor repairs to vehicle or take vehicle for servicing
  • May provide pick up and delivery services on request

Chauffeurs:

  • Pick up or meet employer as per request, appointment or schedule
  • Drive employers to destinations in automobiles or limousines
  • Run errands (business or personal) for the employer (e.g., pick up mail, business documents or parcels)
  • Clean and do minor repairs to vehicle or take vehicle for servicing, as well as keep an accurate written time log
  • Must maintain a high level of professionalism and social etiquette

 

Earnings

Earnings is income that workers receive in exchange for their labour. Depending on the type of employment, earnings can be in the form of wages (hourly), salaries (fixed monthly or annual) or self-employed earnings.

Annual Earnings

$45,633

Provincial Hourly Rate

High$36.00/hr
Median$21.88/hr
Low$17.40/hr
Source: B.C. Labour Market Information Office, derived from 2024 Job Bank Wage data

Work Environment

# Workers Employed

6,505

% Employed Full Time

25%
Source: 2021 Census

Taxi and limousine drivers may work evenings, weekends and holidays when demand for their services is highest. Chauffeurs' hours are usually dictated by the client and may require being on-call much of the time. Taxi drivers work either day or night shifts for 12 hours at a time. The National Safety Code prohibits taxi drivers from working more than 60 hours per week. Taxi drivers generally have more flexible work schedules than both chauffeurs and limousine drivers.

Limousine drivers and chauffeurs are usually required to wear a dress suit, tuxedo or a company-provided uniform.

Workers in this occupation routinely lift heavy baggage and sit for extended periods of time, which can be uncomfortable and create a risk for back or neck injury. Taxi and limousine drivers may also have to deal with difficult passengers from time to time.

The workplace is potentially hazardous since taxi drivers work alone, hold large amounts of cash and may transport passengers to remote areas. Taxi drivers also do not carry any form of protection and individuals who work at night face increased safety risks. However, in the Greater Vancouver Regional District, cameras have been placed in taxi vehicles as part of a pilot project to decrease safety risks to taxi drivers. This program is expected to extend to other urban regions in the near future.

Career Pathways

Taxi drivers who work for companies usually start by working night shifts before moving into more flexible or full-time work. Many limousine drivers have previous experience as taxi drivers.

With experience, taxi and limousine drivers can move into managerial or other related jobs such as dispatchers, driving instructors or inspectors. Moving from taxi or limousine driver to chauffeur is also a possibility. Drivers may also move into the hospitality industry.

Occupational Interests

It’s important to understand what kinds of occupations align with your interests.

For more about occupational interests visit Skills for the Future Workforce > Characteristics.

Here are the top occupational interest(s) for this career profile:

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Education, Training and Skills

Some secondary school education is usually required to work in these occupations. Other training and requirements may include:

  • Being at least 19 years of age with a Class 4 British Columbia driver's licence, which is necessary for the chauffeur's permit needed to drive a commercial vehicle
  • Passing a criminal check and a knowledge test of the area
  • A minimum one year of safe driving experience

Many municipalities, especially those with high-volume traffic, have also made it mandatory for taxi and limousine drivers to complete a four-day TaxiHost Level 1 course before being given a permit. A Level 2 or TaxiPro course may also be required.

Drivers should have a good driving record and a good knowledge of the city they work in.

Education programs in B.C.

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Find out more information about programs offered specifically for this career.

Skills

Every job calls for a certain set of skills. Knowing those skills is the first step in finding a good career fit.

Here, you will find the 10 most relevant workplace skills. Some are more important to achieving success in a certain career than others. These skills may come naturally to you or you may need to gain them through education, training and experience.

See the list of work-related skills below, ranked in order of importance for this career. Check out the list and see if this career matches your skills—take that first step!

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Labour Market Statistics

Discover data, facts and information that have been gathered and analyzed. Learn about the characteristics of the economy and labour market in B.C.

Employment

Find out about employment types and trends by region and industry.

Employment

6,505
Source: 2021 Census

Employment by Region

Cariboo
Kootenay
Mainland/Southwest
North Coast and Nechako
Northeast
Thompson-Okanagan
Vancouver Island/Coast
Region Employment % Employment of this Occupation
Cariboo 95 1.5%
Kootenay 55 0.8%
Mainland/Southwest 5,025 77.2%
North Coast and Nechako 75 1.2%
Northeast 55 0.8%
Thompson-Okanagan 375 5.8%
Vancouver Island/Coast 830 12.7%
Source: 2021 Census

Labour Market Outlook

The B.C. Labour Market Outlook is a 10-year forecast of the expected supply and demand for labour in the province. It’s usually updated every year. The purpose is to provide British Columbians with the knowledge to make informed decisions on careers, skills training, education and hiring.

Forecasted Job Openings (2024-2034)

3,500
Source: B.C. Labour Market Outlook

Forecasted Job Openings

Forecasted Employment Growth Rate

Composition of Job Openings

Source: B.C. Labour Market Outlook

Job Openings by Region (2024-2034)

Cariboo
Kootenay
Mainland/Southwest
North Coast and Nechako
Northeast
Thompson-Okanagan
Vancouver Island/Coast
Region Job Openings Avg. Annual Employment Growth
Cariboo 0 -8.3%
Kootenay 10 -1.7%
Mainland/Southwest 3,010 2.0%
North Coast and Nechako 20 1.6%
Northeast 20 0.3%
Thompson-Okanagan 20 -2.5%
Vancouver Island/Coast 440 1.8%
Source: B.C. Labour Market Outlook

Industry Highlights

Learn about the opportunities in B.C.'s major industries, including employment trends, earning potential, locations of work and more.

Forecasted Job Openings by Industry

IndustryJob Openings (2024-2034)
Transportation and Warehousing3,070
Health Care and Social Assistance100
Information, Culture and Recreation60
Repair, Personal and Non-Profit Services60
Retail Trade50
For additional industry information, visit the Industry Profiles page.
Source: B.C. Labour Market Outlook

Insights from Industry

Job openings will come from new job creation and the need to replace retiring workers.

Demand for transportation services in growing urban areas may cause shortages of workers in these occupations.

Taxi industry sources report that the supply of workers in this industry is closely associated with the economic climate. When the economy is booming, employers have difficulty finding enough qualified drivers to meet the company needs. However, when the economy is in a recession, there are more individuals willing to work in this industry. This is perhaps due to the minimal qualifications required to work.

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