Car hire in Canada - Land of Natural Wonders

In order to be eligible to drive a car hire in Canada, you must be at least 21 years old and have held your licence for at least one year. Drivers under the age of 26 may incur a young driver surcharge, which is paid locally to the supplier. All the relevant information relating to age restrictions can be easily accessed under the (i) button when making a search in the Auto Europe booking engine. If you are young and inexperienced driving a low-cost car rental in Canada, please take a look at our special page about what to expect when booking your first car hire. You can access all the details you required regarding age restrictions after selecting your dates, destination, car category and preferred supplier afer making a quick search in our booking engine. Just click on the blue and white info icon (i) where you will find the necessary information. The same info is also included in the terms and conditions of the booking voucher sent to you once the reservation has been confirmed. Please note that it is extremely important that you enter the correct age of the main driver when making a booking on the Auto Europe website so that we will be able to inform you of any age restrictions that might apply to your cheap car rental in Canada.

Yes. It is possible to book a domestic one-way car hire in Canada between selected locations at the cost of an additional fee. Please note that a minimum rental period might apply which is usually at least one full day. International one-ways are available with National and Alamo subject to a minimum rental period of four days. Please be aware that international one-way rentals are not allowed with Budget, Budget and Budget. It’s easy to find out how much extra a one-way car rental in Canada will cost you on top of the daily rate. You just need to click on the blue and white info icon (i) in the car details below the rate after making a search to access all the respective one-way car hire info. The same information is also sent to you by e-mail once the booking has been confirmed.

Please be informed that one-way fees are directly paid to whichever supply you choose when making your reservation and Auto Europe does not collect or profit from one-way fees in any way whatsoever. Nevertheless, we feel that it is of paramount importance to inform our clients of any fees that might be included in their booking in order to help them make the best choice. Each supplier determines its own fees independently for car rental in Canada which means that for exactly the same pick-up and drop-off location, one company might charge far less than another whilst some may not permit a one-way rental at all. Every supplier has its own offices and rental locations, thus enabling them to offer a different range of options for car hire in Canada.

Another important aspect to consider is the fact that although travel is sometimes permitted into the United States of America, the driver is not allowed to enter Mexico with the vast majority of suppliers. In the case of international cross-border travel, additional fees might apply that, once again, are paid locally to the supplier at the time of pick-up. Any intention to cross the border to the USA must always be declared at the time of making a booking.

Finding out whether or not any one-way travel restrictions apply to your chosen supplier is quick and easy when making a search through the Auto Europe booking engine. Simply click on the blue and white info icon (i) under the car details and all the information you need will be clearly stated in the search results of your car hire in Canada. Exactly the same info will also be included on the voucher sent to you once the booking has been confirmed.

Yes. In order to rent a car in Canada, you will be required to present a valid credit card in the main driver’s name at the time of picking up the vehicle. This is because the local car hire company will need to place a hold on the value of the deductible for the vehicle they rent you while driving in Canada . This amount will then be promptly refunded once the vehicle has been returned in exactly same condition as when it was picked up at the beginning of the rental period.

It comes as quite a shock to many people when their debit card is rejected when they arrive to collect their car rental in Canada. Therefore, you need to make absolutely sure that you have a valid credit card with enough funds on it prior to collecting your vehicle, otherwise you might run the risk of not being able to pick up your car. Please note that when booking a vehicle in the premium- or luxury-category, the supplier might request a second major credit card such as Visa, Mastercard, Diners or American Express, also in the name of the main driver.

All the credit card info you need is clearly stated in the search results of the Auto Europe website. To check which card (and what type of card) will be accepted for your car rental in Canada, you simply need to make a quick search by choosing your preferred car hire category and supplier before clicking on the blue and white-coloured info icon (i) where all the credit card-related details are clearly accessibly. Please note that to make an online booking with Auto Europe, we only require a credit card as a payment method for the pre-paid reservation rate.

For a quick overview on what to look out for when planning to drive in Canada, please consult our information page providing six of the most important things to know about credit cards and deposits before your next trip.

The speed limits in Canada are 50 kph in towns and cities, 80-100 kph on motorways in built-up areas and 100-120 kph on country motorways. It’s important to remember that Canadian drink-driving laws are very strict (ie the same as in the UK) with 80mg per 100ml of blood, which can be as low as 50mg in some parts of the country. If you already have a drink-driving conviction on your licence within the last five years, you will be refused entry at the Canadian border point. Each province of Canada has slightly different punishments for drink-driving convictions but all are harsh. The minimum punishment for a first offence is a CAD$1,000 fine and a year's licence suspension.

As Canada is such a vast country, you should always plan your routes carefully and know exactly where you are going to rest and refuel. Fatigue is one of the main causes of accidents in Canada and although the country has some spectacular scenery full of wildlife, you definitely don't want to run into a moose or an elk on the road when you are driving, so stay alert at all times! Safe driving is extremely important and being on the road during winter requires a series of additional precautions. Stay alert, slow down, and stay in control — these are the three key elements of safe winter driving in Canada. Drive according to the highway code and take heed of the weather conditions at all times. Maintain a safe distance between you and the vehicle in front to avoid situations where you might have to brake suddenly. Please consult our dedicated Canada Driving Guide for more tips on getting around the country safely by car.

Please also take a look at special page about accidents and breakdowns in order to be fully aware of what you’ll need to do in case something happens unexpectedly whilst travelling around with your cheap car rental in Canada. In inclement weather, it is important to stay informed about road conditions, however, so be sure to check area websites for weather updates. Below you will find some driving instructions for your holiday:

• Drive on the right hand side of the road in Canada.
• The use of mobile phones when driving is prohibited in most provinces.
• Radar detection devices are prohibited in most provinces.
• All passengers must wear seat belts including those sitting in the back seats.
• It is advised that all children under 12 years ride in the back seats.
• Children under 36kg (80 lb) or 145 centimeters (4'9") or 8 years old should sit in the rear of the vehicle in a size-appropriate restraint.
• Motorcyclists must wear helmets.

Yes. The following motorways are toll roads: the Ontario Highway 407, Cobequid Pass, Quebec Autoroute 30 and the Ontario Highway 412. Toll roads in Canada can be expensive and it is important to remember that additional charges will apply when passing through automatic toll-roads, including the busy Ontario Highway 407. Whenever you use these roads, your car rental company will receive the bill and charge this (plus an admin fee) to your credit card. You can pay road tolls in Canada by purchasing a transponder, cash, credit card or a pre-paid card. If you are planning to rent a car in Canada and will be using the toll roads it is always advisable to check your route well in advance and make sure that you have the correct method of payment prepared.

All the rates for car rental in Canada published on our website always include the minimum amount of legally-required liability insurance, TP (Theft Protection) and CDW (Collision Damage Waiver) either with or without excess depending on the car rental company. Because CDW never covers damage to the vehicle’s tyres, roof, engine, etc. we strongly advise spending a little bit more for additional coverage such as Auto Europe’s excellent Full Damage & Theft Protection product which provides drivers with all the coverage they need for a relaxing, stress-free visit to the country. Please note that the price of our Full Damage & Theft Protection policy may vary depending on your chosen location, rental duration, car category and supplier.

You can find out exactly what kind of coverage is included in the price when making a search through Auto Europe’s state-of-the-art booking engine. After selecting your preferred supplier and category, just click on the blue and white info icon (i) in the details to see the amount of CDW Deductible, Theft Insurance Deductible and Liability Insurance is included in the rate for your car rental in Canada. The same information is accessible in the Terms and Conditions both when making an enquiry or once the booking has been confirmed.

Please note that some staff working for the local car rental company will try to sell you additional coverage when you arrive to collect your vehicle, including (but not restricted to) PAI (Personal Accident Insurance), PEC (Personal Effects Coverage), Super CDW, Seguro Relax Insurance, Road Assistance etc. Auto Europe cannot refund the amount for any locally-purchased insurance charges/fees, even if the coverage you purchased is deemed to be unnecessary at the end of your rental period.

To find out how you can be well protected when driving your next car hire in Canada, please consult the comprehensive car hire coverage section on the Auto Europe website. Additionally, you can find more tips and handy advice in our complete car hire coverage blog post

Yes. Please note that your full Licence must be written in the Roman alphabet and been held for at least 1 year. If the national licence is not in English, then it must be accompanied by an International Driving Permit (IDP)International Driver’s Licence (IDP). For updates, please visit the appropriate page in the DVLA website to be informed about all the recent DVLA changes as well as the Canada travel advice section in the UK government website.

Yes. You can easily share the driving with a friend or family member simply by adding an extra driver to your car rental in Canada. With some car hire companies, the fees for additional drivers are already included in the price (please check out our Free Additional Driver offers); while others charge a daily fee at the time of pick-up (the amount of which is established by the local supplier). In any case, additional drivers need to be fully registered on the rental agreement and will need to present exactly the same documents as the main driver at the time of pick-up (ie driving licence with International Driving Permit where required, passport/personal ID, etc.). All the details regarding additional drivers are clearly stated on the Auto Europe website by clicking the blue and white info icon (i) in the search results below the vehicle details.

It is very important to be aware that if a friend or family member who was not properly registered on the car hire contract decides to drive the vehicle, it will automatically void them from all the insurance coverage and thus make them liable for the total amount of any damage caused in the event of a collision, so it is necessary to make absolutely sure that the full details of any additional drivers are included on the rental agreement before leaving the pick-up station.

Yes. Most suppliers only offer winter tyres for Montreal and Quebec City, but when making a reservation it is highly recommended that you refer to your Terms & Conditions in order to be to be fully informed about all aspects of your supplier's winter equipment policy.