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Are you heading towards Canada from the US? For US residents, the car rental experience in Canada seems similar to what they have in their own country. However, there exist certain vital things which they must remember when they head towards their northern neighbour. In this blog, we shall discuss those essential tips for car renting in Canada.
For crossing the USA-Canada border, you don’t need to hire a different car in Canada, as many car rental companies in the USA allow renters to drive the car across the border. However, not all companies explicitly mention this in their car rental agreement. Hence, it is always a good practice to read the fine print of the policy document and seek clarification in case of any ambiguity from the car rental company before crossing the border.
Sometimes, it can cost less to reserve a car from the United States than to rent one upon arrival in Canada. To get more favourable price deals, you need to consider multiple car rental options in both the USA and Canada. To accomplish this, Google search for car rental companies in your specific USA and Canadian locations. Visit the websites of various car rental companies, get in touch with them directly, and review the pricing options.
It is easy to drive a rental car in Canada from the US. However, for dropping off the vehicle in Canada, the story is altogether different. So don’t assume that after renting a car in the USA, you can drop it off in Canada without incurring one-way drop fees. Remember to verify this with the car rental company first. Anyway, returning a rental car to a location different from where you rented it, that too in another country, is not a good idea.
The USA and Canada are very similar in auto insurance policies. But still, you need to double-check with your auto insurance provider in the USA if it covers Canada, too. Many insurance companies extend their coverage to Canada, although they may or may not extend it in the case of car rental. So, it is always a best practice to call the insurance company and confirm whether your rental car journey would be covered before crossing the border.
Suppose you are a US citizen and you have rented a car in Canada from a Canadian company. In that case, it might seem easier to pay in US dollars instead of Canadian dollars, but remember, this will cost you more. How? By paying in local currency, i.e., Canadian dollars in this case, you can save in dynamic currency conversion charges. When you pay in US dollars in Canada, your car rental company will convert it to Canadian dollars on your behalf. But this conversion is entirely unnecessary. Your credit card issuing bank can handle payments in both currencies. So, pay in local currency, either in cash or through credit card, to save overhead currency conversion charges.
The highway layouts and road signs in Canada and the USA are similar. However, Canada follows the metric system. So speed signs are written in kilometres instead of miles per hour, as in the USA. So, you need to be more attentive to the speed limits and ensure you don’t confuse the kilometres with miles and avoid tickets. Moreover, speed tracking cameras are installed on most roads in Canada, so you better be more attentive to speed limits.
If you want to rent a car in Vancouver, West Coast Car Rentals has you covered. Visit our website, and you will discover a variety of vehicles with competitive rental prices. Book your car rental in Vancouver today and experience the freedom to explore.
Category Rent A CarTag