Car Rental Under 21 in Canada

Cheap car rentals for 20-year-olds in Canada

Are you a young adventurer looking to hit Canadian roads? You can start booking your adventure today, as long as you meet the age requirements for local rental companies. The minimum required age to rent a car in Canada is normally 20, but some providers implement supplemental requirements; for example, certain providers require that a renter has held their driver's license for at least three years prior to their booking. Luckily, requirements vary from province to province, and less stringent age-focused policies are applied in particular pick-up locations.

This means you can find a budget car rental that allows 20-year-olds in Canada, as well as 19- and 18-year-olds. Young drivers at Rental24h.com receive the lowest car rental price of around $17 per day and will pay a minimum of $92 per week. Companies also charge a daily underage fee, which significantly increases the total rate.

If you are looking for a cheap car rental under 21, you are in the right place. Rental24.com is happy to guide you to cost-effective deals for your desired age category. Browse our best car rental offers across Canada and click on the one you like to start booking.

Map of Canadian provinces to rent a car under 21

The key to booking a car under 21 is to choose a province with a favorable rental age policy. For example, you may legally spot car rentals for 19-year-olds in Ontario, Manitoba, British Columbia, and Yukon, which are recognized as driver-friendly destinations. At the same time, Nova Scotia, Alberta, and Newfoundland and Labrador give the green light to ambitious 20-year-olds as well as older road trippers. Other Canadian provinces each have their own age policies when it comes to car rental.

Minimum age to rent a car in provinces and territories of Canada

Ontario	ON	from 19 years old
Quebec	QC	from 18 years old
Nova Scotia	NS	from 20 years old
New Brunswick	NB	from 20 years old
Manitoba	MB	from 19 years old
British Columbia	BC	from 19 years old
Prince Edward Island	PE	from 21 years old
Saskatchewan	SK	from 18 years old
Alberta	AB	from 20 years old
Newfoundland and Labrador	NL	from 20 years old
Northwest Territories	NT	from 21 years old
Yukon	YT	from 19 years old
Nunavut	NU	from 21 years old

Best car rentals for 20-year-olds in top Canada locations!

Renting a car in Canada under 21 years old is the best way for a young person to spend an adventure-filled vacation or weekend in the area. In Canada, you can choose between hundreds of points of interest across the country.

For example, you can head to Cape Split Provincial Park Reserve, which is easily accessible from Halifax. Scenic hiking trails cutting through the local landscape will give you stunning views as well as some pleasant exercise. You will certainly enjoy exploring Montreal, with its Museum of Fine Arts, OASIS Immersion Exhibition, and other modern attractions. If you pick up an Ottawa Canada car rental under 21 y.o., you can drive to Algonquin Provincial Park, which will amaze you with its beautiful wildlife. For fun, head to Wonderland, located just a short drive from Toronto. And, if you want to enjoy a relaxing atmosphere, hang out with friends at one of Vancouver's authentic bars.

If you want to narrow down the list, browse the table of pick-up stations in Canada below and find the best destination to start your road tour!

Where can I find places to rent a car at 18 in Canada?

The provinces of Quebec and Saskatchewan are among the places that let you rent cars at 18. This minimum age is officially approved at the state level, and companies legally allow it as well. However, 18-year-old drivers are also required to pay an underage surcharge and may not have access to certain vehicle categories.

Quebec, QC:

Saskatchewan, SK:

Rental car companies for under 21 years old in Canada

You can find car rentals for 20-year-olds and even younger drivers from multiple companies, including large suppliers such as Alamo, Enterprise, Hertz, National and Thrifty, and smaller local firms.

Don't know which agency to opt for? You may want to consider Enterprise, which features the largest geographic coverage in Canada. In Toronto alone, Enterprise offers 39 locations, while its total number of stations in the country reaches 558. If you're looking for a cheaper supplier, pay attention to Alamo or Budget, which provide the lowest deals. Also, you can focus on the minimum legal Canada car rental age when deciding on a company. In certain locations, Dollar, Hertz, and Thrifty have less strict age policies than other providers do.

So, when choosing a company to rent from, stick to criteria that fit your travel needs to ensure that you find the right car for your journey.

How much is a rental car young driver fee in Canada?

When renting a car in Canada, age is something that can increase the total cost of your trip. This is because companies apply the Young Driver Fee to customers under the age of 21. On average, it comes to $25, and the charge is an addition to the daily booking rate.

Keep in mind that car rental with no young driver fee is not possible in Canada under standard conditions. Only special memberships and military benefits allow you to waive this payment. For more information about the minimum age and the exact amount of the associated surcharge, see the table below.

Car rental agency	Minimum age to rent a car	Average under 21 fee
Alamo	21	CAD$25
Avis	21 or 18 in Saskatchewan	CAD$35
Budget	21	CAD$25
Dollar	20 or 18 in Quebec	CAD$28
Enterprise	21	CAD$20
Hertz	20 or 18 in Quebec	CAD$15
Fox	23 or 18 in Manitoba	CAD$19.99
National	21	CAD$20
Thrifty	20 or 18 in Quebec	CAD$30

4 Big-league tips for drivers under 21 in Canada

Driving a rental car under 21 in Canada is the best option for seeing all the hidden treasures in the area and enjoying the trip of your dreams. We’ve formulated a list of quintessential tips for you to follow and thereby secure an effortless open-road experience.

1. Stay on the right. Local traffic regulations require drivers to move on the right side of the road. If you are used to driving on the left, it will take you a little time to adjust and feel confident.
2. Assess road conditions. In general, the quality of roads in Canada is quite high. With an average score of 5.2 out of 7, this country is in 26th place in the global road condition ranking. However, we still recommend monitoring the quality of the road surface if you plan to cruise in more remote regions of Canada.
3. Don't drive drunk. Driving a car rental at 20 years old in Canada is a pleasant experience as long as you follow the rules and behave responsibly on the road. To avoid any problems, do not exceed the legal BAC of 0.05% while you are behind the wheel. Keep in mind that the legal BAC may vary from province to province, and also depends on the driver's specific age/driving skills.
4. Consider the seasonal factor. Snowy and icy roads can turn your journey into a challenge, and a great way to improve the situation is to pick up a vehicle with 4x4 functionality.

Brief facts about car hire in Canada under 21

Check out short facts about car rentals for young drivers in Canada and find the most vital info for your next trip!

Customer reviews on renting a car in Canada with Rental24h.com

We are a safe place to rent a car in Canada for those under 21. On our website, you can enjoy a clear interface, reasonable prices, and a fast search engine with an instant booking system. Thousands of customers have trusted us and testified to their satisfaction with our service. Watch their video reviews and be assured that Rental24h.com is what you need for a successful and reliable car rental!

FAQ about young driver car rental in Canada

How much does car rental under 21 cost in Canada?

You won’t find a definite answer to this question since the car rental rates are influenced by a large number of variables. Seasonality, company, duration of car hire, size, and type of vehicle: these factors can lead to both a price drop and rise. However, we can provide you approximate prices for each car class:

Vehicle Class	Average Price per Day
	Low Season	High Season
Economy, Mini, Compact	44 CAD	48 CAD
4x4 SUV Crossover	81 CAD	87 CAD
7 Passenger Minivan	106 CAD	138 CAD

Can a 20-year-old rent a car in Canada?

Yes, you can. The minimum car rental age in Canada among such suppliers as Alamo, Avis, Fox, Thrifty, and Hertz is less than 21.

How old do I have to be to rent a car in Ontario?

The minimum legal age to rent a car in Ontario among the majority of companies is 21. However, you must be at least 20 and have held your driver's license for 12+ months to rent from providers such as Thrifty, Hertz, and Dollar.

Where can I rent a car at 19 in Ontario?

The lowest legal driving age in Ontario is 20 years old. Therefore, you can safely pick up a car rental under 21 in Toronto or other cities within the province

How to rent a car in Canada under 21?

Along with meeting the minimum age requirements from certain suppliers, you must have some documents:

1. Identification document
2. Driver’s license
3. Credit card
4. Printed vouche

How old should I be to rent a car in Quebec?

According to the locally-recognized age regulations, you must be at least 18 to rent a car in Quebec. Most major companies such as Avis, Hertz, and Dollar provide this opportunity.

Which car rental companies will rent to an 18-year-old in Canada?

Avis, Thrifty, Hertz, and Dollar allow car rentals for 18-year-olds in Canada in the provinces of Quebec and Saskatchewan.

Should I get an International Driving Permit to rent a car under the age of 21 in Canada?

The IDP is a legitimate translation of your home driver's license into several additional languages, including Italian, German, Spanish, French, and English. Of course, in Canada, you only need the last 2 languages. This document is on the list of must-have things for some companies, and without it, you might be refused to pick up a rental car under 21. But this is also an additional type of identification that you can show upon request.

Which is the best rental car company for 21-year-olds in Canada?

You can find the best companies on Rental24h depending on what criteria you apply. If you're focusing on the lowest price overall, choose deals from Alamo. The lowest young driver fee is available with Fox ($14 per day). And if you want to take advantage of multiple loyalty programs and young driver fee waivers, opt for Hertz.

What is the Enterprise age policy in Canada?

Enterprise allows 21+ drivers throughout Canada. This company applies an extra charge of C$20 per day to drivers under 25 years of age.

How much is the National Car Rental Young Driver fee in Canada?

You will pay C$20 per day as a young driver fee when renting a car in Canada with National Car Rental.

How to avoid under 21 car rental fee in Canada?

So, how to waive this surcharge, and are there any fee waivers available to young renters? The answer is YES. It is possible to avoid the under 21 fee with the following programs and memberships:

CAA Membership

With CAA membership, your Hertz car rental under 21 deal won’t have a young driver surcharge in the total cost, but include Roadside Protection and special reduced rates.

However, this trick only works in the USA and Canada, and you will need a special CAA code. Another way to pick up the underage rental with no fee is the Gold Plus Rewards program from Hertz. The minimum age of potential participants was reduced to 18 years old, which also allows young travelers to avoid the fee.

Temporary exclusions and promotions

This promotion may apply to the young driver surcharge, which is an additional opportunity to pick up car rental under 21 from Enterprise, Hertz, or another company with no fee.

Federal and military renters

In Canada, federal and military officials have the right to pick up cars from Alamo, Avis, National, and Enterprise starting from the age of 18. Remember that special car rental military under 21 features are available with a CFOne Card only.

Special corporate offers

This allows employees to rely on discount offers, which may also exclude age-related surcharges from the price.