Renting a car in Canada offers the best flexibility when exploring the country, and it can also be the quickest way to travel, second only to flying. Freight train traffic takes priority in Canada, so traveling by train can often come with delays. Traveling by bus is an option, but routes often leave some flexibility to be desired, especially if you want to travel to mountainous regions.
While the weather in Canada can vary greatly depending on which part of whatever province you plan to travel in, the winters all over Canada are long and snowy. If you’re planning on renting a car in the Canadian winter, you’d be better off with a four-wheel drive vehicle to navigate snowy roads and the more remote areas of the country.
If you’re traveling with a child under 40 lb, be advised that they’ll need to be secured in a car seat, whether you’re in a taxi or in the car you rented. This rule includes airport pickups, so be sure to either arrive in Canada with your own Canada-approved car seat or add one on to your rental car reservation through your chosen rental car company.
If you’re planning on crossing the border to the US with a car you rent in Canada, you can expect to do so without issue. You’ll simply need to gain permission from the rental car company and make sure that the provided insurance is sufficient for both countries’ requirements to cross. As with any border crossing, you’ll need to have your passport or visa on hand to show the border agents.
25% of our users found rental cars in Canada for C$ 106 or less
Book your rental car in Canada at least 1 day before your trip in order to get a below-average price
Full-size rental cars in Canada are around -114% cheaper than other car types, on average
FAQs about renting a car in Canada
On average a rental car in Canada costs C$ 40 per day.
Standard (Volkswagen Passat or similar) is the most frequently booked rental car type in Canada.
In the past 72 hours, the cheapest rental cars were found at Budget (C$ 30/day), Thrifty (C$ 41/day) and Economy Rent a Car (C$ 43/day).
Based on ratings and reviews from real users on KAYAK, the best car rental companies in Canada are Alamo (8.7, 1339 reviews), Driving Force (8.7, 337 reviews), and Enterprise (8.6, 4095 reviews).
Based on car searches on KAYAK. The most popular cities to rent a car in Canada are Toronto (25% of total searches of users looking to rent a car in Canada). Calgary (20%) and Vancouver (13%).
On average a rental car in Canada costs C$ 937 per week (C$ 134 per day).
On average a rental car in Canada costs C$ 4,015 per month (C$ 134 per day).
Driving in Canada is much like driving in the United States. You’ll drive on the right side of the road, and you’re permitted to turn right on a red light everywhere except in the city of Montreal. One thing to note is that if you travel to Quebec, the road signs will be only in French.
The age limits for renting a car in Canada vary by province. In Saskatchewan, the minimum age to rent a car is 18, while the minimum age for renting a car in the rest of the country varies from 21 to 24. Drivers under 25 might have limitations in Canada, such as being restricted from renting luxury cars or SUVs.
The price of gas in Canada is a bit higher than it is in the United States, so make sure to budget for gas correctly to avoid sticker shock at the pump. A gallon of gasoline has an average price of around 2.50 USD in the US. In Canada, the average price of a gallon of gas is around 5.04 CAD (3.80 USD).
Speed limits in Canada are remarkably similar to the speed limits in the United States. The Canadian speed limit in school zones ranges from 30-50 km/h (20-30 mph), the limit on residential streets is 40-50 km/h (25-30 mph), the limit on major suburban roads is 60-70 km/h (37-44 mph), the limit on two-lane highways is 80 km/h (50 mph) and the limit on the expressway is 110 km/h (68 mph).
The rates displayed include all taxes and fees for car rentals for the class listed and were found by KAYAK users in the last 24 hours. Offers are subject to change and may not be available on all car rentals listed or dates of travel. Some car rental providers charge additional fees for other services (GPS, infant car seats, etc.). Please check the car rental providers' sites.