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Car Rental & Driver's License in Canada
Canada has over 100 economic-class immigration pathways for citizens and residents to choose from. However, the best pathway for you (and family) depends on individual circumstances and goals.
Getting Your Car Rental and Driving License in Canada
Canada truly is “The Great White North,” as the phrase goes. The fact that Canada is the second-largest country in the world and offers a high standard of living is exactly why you should learn how to travel around there once you go there. Before moving to Canada, there are a lot of things to think about, such as housing, employment, and if you have children, schools, and extracurricular activities. However, one of the most crucial details that individuals frequently overlook is how they will go from one location to another.
Are you going to be able to get from point A to point B? How about your intended residence? How will you travel if it is not located in a city? As you might expect, Canada has a lot of public transportation, but none of it reaches all of its 9,985 million km2 of land. It goes without saying that we need to make arrangements for you before you relocate or even if you have just arrived.
How Can a Foreign Driver's License Be Used?
It’s critical to understand the procedures involved in obtaining a driver’s license in a foreign nation in order to be able to drive. All driver’s licenses and permits in Canada are governed by provincial laws, which must be verified based on the province you intend to reside in. For instance, if you choose to reside in Ontario and have held a foreign driver’s license for more than two years, you are eligible to drive in Canada as long as you are from one of a select group of nations, which includes the United States, Korea, Japan, Austria, Belgium, Great Britain, France, and Switzerland.
You can exchange your driver’s license for a Canadian one without taking a road test if you are moving to Ontario from one of these nations. However, all you need to do to become a Canadian citizen is to pass the province-specific knowledge and vision exams. Consult the transportation department in your province or territory to learn more about driver’s licenses that are particular to the location you want to live in and to see whether you are eligible to exchange your current license.
You must provide a current foreign driver’s license and pass a written exam on provincial or territorial traffic laws in order to apply for a new license in Canada. Additional requirements include passing a vision exam, paying all costs, and presenting identification. You can drive wherever you want in Canada while going through this process with an existing foreign license, but you must always carry it with you. You will be permitted to drive with your foreign license in Canada for a limited time while you wait to exchange your license. This will rely on where you live and whether you comply with local and federal regulations.
If you haven’t yet arrived in Canada, you can get your international driver’s license or permit there, allowing you to drive in several provinces. Anyone who wants to hire a car in Canada is eligible for this international license, which provides three months of driving privileges.
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Car Rental in Canada
Before you consider renting a car in Canada, it is important for immigrants to obtain their driver’s license in their new nation. You must get a copy of your driving record from the applicable licensing body or insurance provider in your home country before you travel to Canada. This is required to swap your license in Canada or might facilitate the acquisition of a new one. The following can be translated into English
You can get a driver’s license when you get to Canada if you haven’t already done so from your home country. To paraphrase someone who doesn’t like to be described as anyone, but doesn’t like to be described as anyone. For a permit that will enable you to drive with limitations, you must pass a written test.
Given how cold it may get in Canada during the winter, driving there may seem quite different from what most people are used to. In Canada, it snows during the winter. You should prepare the rental car with antifreeze and winter tires because you might anticipate driving on slippery, chilly roads. To avoid sliding on the road, you must also become used to driving more slowly than usual and keeping a considerably greater distance from other vehicles. For greater traction, anyone who lives in a rural location should also think about buying studded tires.
Top Car Rental Websites in Canada | |
Company | Rating |
Enterprise | 8.2/10 |
Alamo | 8.0/10 |
Routes Car Rental | 7.8/10 |
National | 7.7/10 |
Discount Car & Truck Rentals | 7.5/10 |
Requirements
You are required to be at least 21 years old and possess at least a year of driving experience in order to rent a car in Canada. A “Young Renter Fee” will be added to your rental automobile if you are between the ages of 21 and 24 in Canada. Due to this, purchasing an automobile before turning 25 is pricey. Additionally, several car classes are off-limits to people aged 21 to 24.
In addition to the minimum age and prior driving experience, you need the following:
- a current driver’s license and an overseas driving authorization (English or French)
- For your deposit, use a credit card.
- auto coverage for the hire vehicle
- When picking up your automobile, present a passport and a ticket for your flight back (if applicable)
- Children under the weight of 18 kg must ride in a child seat with a seat belt that is always secured. (Some car rental businesses will provide you with one if you let them know in advance. There is an additional cost for this.
Vehicle Insurance
Since it is against the law to drive in Canada without insurance, you must make arrangements for auto insurance with your Canadian automobile rental provider. Collision damage waivers (CDW) and personal accident insurance are typically extra fees offered by Canadian automobile rental agencies. While using their cards to pay for a rental automobile, certain credit card providers in Canada include CDW insurance. Check the terms and conditions of the credit card for more details.
Taxes and Cost
Extra fees for a rental automobile consist of
- Fee for a one-way drop-off
- Federal Sales Tax (where applicable)
- GST (Goods and Services Tax) rate per mile is 5%. (if not limited)
- Fee for renters between the ages of 21 and 25
- Cost for a second driver
- an elevated location charge (e.g. 10-15 at airports)
Service Stations and Gas Stations
You have the choice of unleaded or diesel when it comes to fuel. In exchange for returning the vehicle with a full tank, Canadian car rental companies provide you a full tank when you pick it up. You will be charged if the rental car is not returned with a full tank of gas. Canada has lower fuel costs than the United States. The driving distances between locations in Canada are, however, typically longer. In comparison to small towns, you will pay less to fill your tank in cities. With the exception of those in remote locations, most gas stations offer self-service and are open 24 hours a day.
Take to the road in Canada
The best thing to do after moving to Canada, if you don’t already have a licence, is to apply for one as soon as you can. If you already possess a foreign driver’s licence and have more than a year of driving experience, you may be able to obtain a one- to three-month temporary driver’s licence that can be exchanged for a Canadian one after passing a few driving tests to determine your eligibility. If your foreign licence cannot be exchanged, you can begin the renewal process in Canada.
An exciting step in the correct way is relocating to Canada. When you move to one of the best nations in the world and are there for the first time, don’t forget to sightsee.
Why not seek professional advice if you haven’t started the paperwork and processing for your application for permanent residence in Canada yet? Our Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultants (RCICs) are prepared to assist you in becoming a legitimate Canadian and have been given the government of Canada approval.