The Internet makes it easy to search for the best rental car deal in Canada. While researching, you’ll realize there are plenty of rental car companies to choose from, including some you’ve never heard of before.
For example, I needed to pick up a rental car from the Toronto Pearson International Airport, so I searched the Internet and found Economy Rent A Car, which will rent a compact, two/four door, automatic Honda Fit, Toyota Yaris or similar car for $45.59 (Canadian) per day. They also rent an intermediate-size, two/four door, automatic Toyota Corolla for $50.66 (Canadian) per day. Both include unlimited mileage.
I also found out about Trans Canada Car Rental, which rents cars from their downtown Toronto office on Queen Street and Ace Discount Rent A Car, which rents cars from Toronto’s Centre Airport.
All these rental car companies are independent car rental agencies that provide a real choice to renting from the big multinational car rental agencies.
They claim to offer daily car rental rates that are 25 to 30% less than the multinational’s daily rates and weekly rates that are 15% less.
These seem to be valid claims. Hertz offers a two/four door Ford Focus compact for $68.49 (Canadian) per pay and the intermediate-size, two/four door Nissan Senta for $73.49 (Canadian) per day.
In the compact category, Avis offers the two/four door, automatic Chevrolet Cobalt or similar model for $70.99 (Canadian). In the intermediate category, there’s the two/four door Pontiac G6 or similar car for $72.99 (Canadian) per day.
These rates don’t include discounts, so if you’ve rented from Hertz or Avis before, you’re probably entitled to a discount rate. Or, if you have Delta SkyMiles, you may want to use them to pay for an Avis or Hertz rental car.