Canada Car Hire

Car Hire from airports and cities includes the following major locations; Calgary, Vancouver, Montreal, Toronto, Edmonton and Halifax. The Car Hire Group also provide car rental from smaller towns and cities simply click on any link above to start.

You can also call our reservations department on 0800 358 1229 quoting Ref : 72004514.

Calgary | Vancouver | Montreal | Toronto | Edmonton | Halifax

Booking & receiving your car hire voucher

Ordering your rental car is simple, just enter your car hire pick up & drop off locations, your dates and click the "Click to Quote" button. You will be shown several groups of cars all you have to do is select the group you're interested in. From here you will be shown all hire cars in that group along with the price for your rental period in GBP£. When you finally select the car you are interested in renting you will be then shown several options to the rental such as extra (baby seats, roofracks. cancellation cover etc..), just select any you require and continue. You will then be required to enter your own details such as address, flight number if required etc.. and finally you will be asked to enter your credit card details to pay securely online. You will receive your car rental voucher via email immediately with your unique booking reference number and all other booking details. If your car hire start date is sooner than this then don't worry we will be in touch via telephone to arrange safe and speedy receipt of your rental voucher. If you have any questions etc.. regarding your booking or any other aspect of our car rental site then please call our dedicated call centre helpline on 0800 358 1229 quoting Ref : 72004514.

When you receive your voucher it will give full details of which fleet provider has been used and exact details of how and where to find their desk, if airport pick up then this will be in the airport arrivals hall.

Driving in Canada

Between the US and Canada, the rules of the road don't really change, but the measurements do. Both countries drive on the right, and the speed limits are similar: in Canada it's generally 90 kilometers (55 miles) per hour on two-lane roads, 100 kph (63 mph) on freeways. All cars are required to have their headlights illuminated night and day; to the unaccustomed, a daytime traffic jam can look like a massive funeral procession. Other rules: all passengers must wear seat belts, and turning right on red is illegal in the Province of Quebec; in the rest of Canada, it is legal after stopping first. Another important difference is that proof of insurance is mandatory in Canada. Deciphering parking zones, especially in French-speaking Quebec, can really test your interpretive abilities.

Gas in Canada tends to be more expensive than in the States, and it's priced by the liter (3.785 liters equals 1 US gallon). Some gas stations accept U.S. currency (and almost all accept credit cards) but give you a less-than-favorable rate of exchange.

Crossing the border, there are brief checkpoints (and sundry duty-free shops) on both sides. Customs officers usually do a cursory check, asking your address, reason for travel, when you last visited the country, and whether you are carrying firearms, tobacco or alcohol. For U.S. or Canadian citizens a passport is not necessary, but having proof of citizenship and identity is never a bad idea. Other nationalities should confirm their visa status well before attempting to cross the border; it may be difficult (or impossible) to return, and border officials are not known for their hospitality to people they suspect are trying to enter illegally.

License Requirements
Canada honours all valid foreign driver's licenses, therefore an International Driver's Permit is not necessary.

Which Side of the Road?
Throughout Canada, drive on the right-hand side of the carriageway.

Major Routes in Toronto
Highway 401 (also known as the Macdonald-Cartier Freeway) can become very congested at peak rush-hour times, weekends and holidays, despite the fact that it has no less than 16 lanes at its widest section.

The Queen Elizabeth Way (QEW) connects Toronto with Buffalo and Niagara Falls. This is a particularly scenic route as it passes the shore of Lake Ontario.

If you drive on Yonge Street (aka Highway 11), you'll be on the longest street in the world. Covering 1896 kilometres (1175 miles), it ends (and begins) at the Ontario / Minnesota border.

Highways Across Canada
The Trans-Canada Highway covers 5000 miles making it the longest highway in the world. It's not unusual to travel for hours and not pass another vehicle in some of the more remote areas. Almost as long is the Yellowhead Highway (Highway 16) which runs through Canada's vast prairies, over the Rockies, to the Pacific coast.

Highways are well maintained and for drivers used to congested city driving, the 'open road' means just that in Canada.

Highways to Ontario From the US
From New York, the drive to Toronto is approximately 560 miles. You can enter Ontario on Highway 401, Highway 2 or on the QEW.

In total, there are 13 crossing points along the length of the border.

Driving to Canada From the US
When driving a US registered car to Canada, drivers should be in possession of a Canadian Non-Resident Inter-Provincial Motor Vehicle Liability Insurance Card. Quite simply, this form of insurance is evidence that the driver takes financial responsibility for the car whilst in Canada. Cards are available through US insurance brokers.

Drivers of vehicles that are not registered under their name should carry a letter of authorisation from the vehicle's owner.

Pace Your Journey
On average, don't drive beyond your limits, as distances in Canada are deceptive. Stop every couple of hours to relax, and don't try to drive beyond 300 or 400 miles in a day.

Parking
As with all major cities around the world, parking can be difficult. Look for signs marked with a green 'P', indicating municipal parking, and avoid street parking as the car may be clamped or towed away if left in a restricted zone.

Helpful Information:

Canada weather reports

Frequently Asked Questions:

Please click here to view the frequently asked questions. If these FAQ's do not help answer your queries regaridng Canada car hire then please feel free to contact us with them.

The Car Hire Group: