The 5 best car rental companies in Canada

Planning your next road trip? The Canadian scenery is not one to miss. Moving from Vancouver to Edmonton? Pack your things and book a van. However you’re planning to get from A to B, Canada is home to some of the best car hire companies in the world. You might need snow chains for an off-piste adventure, or a slick city car for a weekend break—whatever it is, we’ve got you covered.

To save you time, we’ve combed through the top car rental companies in Canada. To best compare the options, we searched each website for a 3-day midweek rental in Toronto, for dates two weeks out from the time of writing.

Whether you’re traveling for business or leisure, on a budget, or with a healthy credit card, these car rental providers will go above and beyond to meet your specific travel requirements.

1. TravelPerk: the perfect solution for corporate trips

If you’re searching for the best car rental deals for business trips, travel management company TravelPerk might be your best bet. With multiple types of cars available, from Compact to Economy, Intermediate to Mini, you’re free to pick the style that best caters to your specific needs.

TravelPerk offers a vast inventory, including both manual and automatic cars, from which to choose your rental car. If you’re looking for a sustainable option, there’s also a selection of electric cars available. 

TravelPerk works with some of the top names on the market, including Avis, Enterprise, Europcar, Hertz, National, and Sixt. This system means that you’ll save significantly more than by simply booking with a provider. The benefits don’t end there—if you have specific needs requiring a specialized service, TravelPerk can get in touch with extra providers to find your ideal vehicle.

TravelPerk can get in touch with extra providers to find your ideal vehicle.

TravelPerk’s key features include:

• Partnerships with leading car rental companies
• 24/7 customer service with a target 15-second response time 
• Intuitive booking tool and all-in-one platform
• Available in four languages: English, French, Spanish, German 
• Bonus feature GreenPerk to offset your carbon emissions
• Paid extra FlexiPerk, enabling passengers to cancel up to two hours before a journey starts and receive at least 80% of their money back 
• A vast number of software integrations

 

On the TravelPerk platform, prices for a mid-week family car rental in October gave a vast variety of options from CA$136 – $752. 

2. PractiCar: a local company with all the know-how

Source Canadian through-and-through, PractiCar has over 40 years of experience in the car rental industry in North America. Originally Rent-a-Wreck, today this pioneering rental company is a leader in the sector. With headquarters in Alberta, PractiCar has car rental locations all over Canada, including Ontario, Nunavut, Yukon, Nova Scotia, and Québec.

Providing thoroughly clean, serviced cars from coast to coast, PractiCar pride themselves on a transparent pricing system, quick and friendly customer service, and smooth pick-up and drop-off services. They’re also known for their affordable rates—not one to miss if budgeting is at the top of your list.

PractiCar’s key features include:

• No hidden fees
• Corporate rental options
• Insurance replacement rentals
• Optional extras including GPS, car seats, snow chains, etc.
• Free cancellation up to 48 hours prior to the scheduled pick-up time

During our research, prices for a family car rental during mid-October, booking two weeks in advance, gives options at around CA$154 – $436.

3. Driving Force: a trustworthy car hire company catering to all needs

Since its opening in 1978, Driving Force has become a top option for those seeking car or van hire in Canada. With pick-up and drop-off points in all major airports and 30 locations across the country, Driving Force offers a vast array of vehicles, including trucks, minivans, and convertibles. 

Additionally, if you’re looking for an electric option, they offer one of Canada’s largest electric fleets for rent or lease in B.C., Alberta, and Ontario.

A stand-out feature of Driving Force is their ability to cater to special requests, working with industries such as Construction, Energy, and Film to meet a variety of transport-based needs. Driving Force is known for its cheap cars, high customer satisfaction rates, and local know-how.

Driving Forces’ key features include:

• Powertrain guarantee covering 90 days or 5000 km
• Vehicle sale options
• Huge range of vehicles for all terrains
• Electric car hire
• Free additional driver for rewards program members
• Insurance premiums for first-time renters

We found that a three-day family car rental for mid-October in Toronto, booked two weeks in advance, started at CA$112 – $240.

4. Turo: the world’s largest car-sharing marketplace

As an alternative to your typical car rental provider, Turn is a car rental marketplace where travelers can rent any car they want, wherever they want it, from a nationwide community of local car owners. It’s known as an ‘Airbnb for cars’, and many see it as the future of vehicle rental. Whether you’re looking for a 4×4 or a camper van, you’ve got all the options and more.

Turo operates all around the world, from the US to Europe, and is carbon-neutral certified. It’s a highly affordable and sustainable option, with an intuitive app and well-rated marketplace.

Turo’s key features include:

• Electric car options
• Host-specific reviews and ratings
• Pick-up and drop-off at any hour
• Huge savings on insurance costs
• Wide rental car inventory
• 20% for regular users

Our research showed that searching for a three-day family car rental in Toronto for mid-October, booked two weeks in advance, stood between CA$102 and $170.

5. Hertz: best for frequent traveler perks

Hertz is a global leader in car rentals, with over 20 million users worldwide. Hertz has everything from luxury saloons to zero-emission EVs to pick-up trucks. They also offer some of the most competitive prices on the market, with thousands of vehicles to choose from.

A stand-out feature is the Hertz Gold Plus Rewards® program, which lets members skip queues and collect their vehicles instantly. You can also save points, which will provide you with access to exclusive deals and add-on features. 

Some of their stand-out features include: 

• The Dream Collection: a selection of luxury cars (only available in certain locations)
• Van rentals by the week, day, or even by the hour
• Partner offers to sweeten your trip including American Express, Hostelling International, Sonhaus, Accor, and more
• Gold Plus Rewards: earn redeemable points, save up to 10%, guaranteed upgrades, and more
• GPS navigation

During our research, prices for a family car rental during mid-October, booking two weeks in advance, gives options at around CA $154 – $436.

It’s time to book your ideal car rental agency

There you have it, five rental car companies in Canada to start planning your next road trip. Whether you’re traveling for business, leisure, or bleisure, you should be in safe hands, and on four wheels in no time at all. Three more companies to consider are Enterprise Rent-a-Car, Alamo, and Thrifty if you want to extend your search a little further. 

Out of all of the companies we’ve shared on this page, TravelPerk comes out on top for its ease of use when it comes to the intuitive mobile booking application, and should be your go-to for business travel. 

The TravelPerk team works tirelessly to secure car rental deals that you’ll struggle to beat elsewhere. What’s more, traveling with TravelPerk comes with heaps more benefits beyond your car rentals: you’ll have your entire business trip planned from the comfort of one app.