If you are planning a road trip in Canada, you will want to save money on a rental car.
This way, you can have more money available to spend on activities, lodging and treats.
If you don’t know where to start to find the cheapest rental, while having the best bang for your buck, here are 5 tips to save on your car hire in Canada.
#1- Compare offers with different renters
Rental prices vary from one renter to the other. Often, these prices are established depending on the car model and inclusions. The later comprises of unlimited kilometers, 0$ franchise, insurance, first tank of gas and additional drivers.
You can compare these prices by visiting all the websites of the car rental agencies. However, tools exist that can facilitate this task.
Using a car rental in Canada price comparison tool can save you a lot of time.
You will see all available cars, from different renters, their inclusions, and can compare prices in just one click.
This is the easiest way to ensure you find the best price for your needs.
#2- Choose a vehicle with low fuel consumption
It’s no secret that when we plan a road trip, we often think of big, shiny American cars.
Although the idea of driving a big SUV on the Canadian open roads is appealing, we must not forget about smaller, more economical cars.
To be honest, unless you are only planning to drive the backroads, you do not really need an SUV.
Opting for an intermediate car model can save you big bucks!
The rental itself will be about 150$ cheaper, or 100 euros for a 5-day location.
As for the money saved on gas, you can expect it to be roughly 40% cheaper.
#3- Be conscious of one-way fees
Fees for one-way rentals, also called “drop fees”, aren’t usually included in rental prices.
Before you plan your itinerary, make sure to investigate the drop fees associated with your ideas.
Sometimes, a one-way trip will be cheaper in one direction than the other.
I.e., a rental from Calgary to Vancouver will have an average drop fee of 250$. One from Vancouver to Calgary will only cost you 120$!
Make sure to evaluate your options before you book your plane tickets.
#4- Choose a downtown pick up
If you are going to be spending the night in a city before you leave on a road trip, do not pick up your car at an airport location!
Most cities in Canadas are very well served by public transportation. This mean of transportation will be a lot cheaper for you than a day of location. In some cases, it may make your movements quicker, as traffic can be dense in our vibrant cities.
Another thing to consider is that parking in the city is expensive, even in hotel parking lots. These fees can reach 30$ per night.
Speaking of hotels, some offer a free shuttle from the airport. Make sure to inquire about it when you book your room.
#5- Respect traffic law and avoid toll bridges
This one last tip will not affect your rental cost directly, however, it will ensure you do not have any bad surprise.
Every year, travellers get charged on their credit cards for tickets or fines they didn’t even realize they had gotten.
In Canada, when you are driving a rental car, tickets and toll bridges are charged directly to the rental company.
Once they receive the invoices, they charge you on the card you have used for the rental.
Make sure you follow traffic law and that your route does not include toll bridges. Some highways also have “express lanes”, which are in fact toll routes. This is the case of Highway 407 near Toronto.
Finally, pay particular attention to parking signs, especially in big cities. They tend to be puzzling.
When in doubt, do not take chances!
There you have it. You are now ready to have no buyer’s remorse for your next car rental in Canada.
Now, hit the road and enjoy the journey!