EN
No booking fees. Free cancellation on most cars
Save by finding great deals and securing low price rentals
Find competitive rental car prices in Toronto with Road Genius. Check live rates of SUVs, compact cars, minivans and make reservations with no booking fees. Compare deals from major brands at Toronto Pearson Airport (YYZ), downtown Toronto and GTA suburbs, and filter by vehicle type, unlimited kilometres, one-way rentals and free cancellation. Handy for drives to Niagara Falls or Muskoka, with extras like GPS and child seats available at checkout.
In Toronto, you can rent a car from several types of locations. Each has its own benefits:
| Location | 👍 Pros | 👎 Cons |
|---|---|---|
| Toronto Pearson Airport (YYZ) | • Pick up your car right after you land • Open 24 hours a day • All major rental companies are at the airport • More cars to choose from |
• Extra airport fees (adds 10-15%) • Rental prices are often higher than in the city • You have to drive in a new city after a long flight |
| Downtown Toronto | • No extra airport fees • Rental prices are often lower • Good if you are already staying in the city |
• Offices are in different places, not in one central spot • Limited opening hours (many close by 6 PM and on Sundays) • You need to get to the rental office |
| Suburban Locations (Greater Toronto Area) | • Prices are similar to downtown • Easier to start driving, with less traffic and more parking |
• You need to travel to the rental location • Very limited opening hours (often just weekdays and Saturday mornings) • Many do not have 24-hour car return |
At Pearson Airport (YYZ), rental desks are on Level 1 of the car parks for Terminal 1 and Terminal 3. Some rental companies are located off-site and provide a free shuttle bus from Viscount Station, a stop on the airport train. To reach a downtown rental office from the airport, the UP Express train is a fast option.
On average, car rentals in Toronto cost around CAD $75 per day, with the lowest-priced rentals available from CAD $12 per day.
Compare downtown vs. airport pickup to dodge Pearson’s concession fees. If you’re staying in the city first, take the UP Express from YYZ, then pick up a car later to skip days of pricey hotel parking.
Play with locations and times. Check rates across downtown and GTA suburbs like Markham or Vaughan, and try shifting pickup/return by a few hours or a day. Weekly rates can beat 5–6 day rentals.
Seasonal booking strategy: For July–August and holiday weeks, book 2–3 months ahead. In winter, you can often book closer and keep checking prices to rebook if they drop.
Choose a smaller car if most of your driving is in the city. Lower daily rate, easier parking, less fuel.
Avoid Highway 407 ETR to skip tolls plus admin fees. Set your GPS to “avoid tolls.”
Trim running costs: Fill up in the suburbs and top off near Pearson on Dixon Rd before returning. Use Green P municipal lots or free Sunday street parking downtown instead of hotel car parks.
Finding a place to park in Toronto varies quite a bit between downtown and suburban areas:
| Area | Options | Rates (Approx.) | Tips |
|---|---|---|---|
| Downtown Toronto | • Street metres/pay stations • Green P municipal lots • Private lots (Indigo, IMPARK) • Hotel parking |
• Street: Metred rates apply per half-hour or hour • Green P lots: evening/weekend rates apply • Private lots: daily rates apply • Hotels: overnight rates apply |
• Use Green P mobile app for payment • Watch for rush hour no-parking restrictions during posted times |
| Residential Areas | • Street parking • Limited visitor permits |
• Free for up to 3 hours where allowed • Temporary permits available for overnight |
• Don't block driveways • Check for permit-only restrictions |
| Suburbs & Malls | • Free lot parking • Some time restrictions |
• Generally free • Some attractions charge a fee |
• Watch for 3-hour limits at malls |
| Toronto Pearson Airport | • Terminal car parks • Long-term lots • Cell phone waiting lot |
• Short-term: pay-per-30-minute applies • Daily maximums apply • Cell phone lot: free and time-limited |
• Use cell phone lot for picking up arriving passengers |
Important Local Driving Rules:
Toll Roads:
Get a rental so you can drive to:
Niagara Falls – Niagara-on-the-Lake, Niagara Parkway
Muskoka – Orillia, cottage country
Blue Mountain/Collingwood – Georgian Bay
Algonquin Park
Bruce Peninsula
GTA day trips – Toronto Zoo, Canada's Wonderland, outlet malls, Cheltenham Badlands
What documents do I need to rent a car in Toronto? You will need your valid driver's licence from your home country, passport and a credit card for the deposit. We recommend getting an International Driving Permit if your licence isn't in English or French. Most companies require you to be at least 21 years old (some rent to drivers 20+), but they will charge you extra if you're under 25.
Is insurance included in my rental? The law requires rental companies to include basic liability insurance. The amount of coverage can change. For example, some policies might cover you for $200,000, while many rentals give you $1 million in liability. Rental companies don't usually include collision damage as part of the standard price. You can buy extra collision damage coverage from the rental company, or your credit card agreement might already cover you.
How does parking work in downtown Toronto? On most downtown streets, you can find paid parking spots that have time limits, usually for 1-2 hours. You can pay using the Green P mobile app or at a pay station. If you need to park for longer, you can use a car park or a public Green P lot. Keep an eye out for rush hour rules, because you are not allowed to park on some streets at those times.
Can I drive my Toronto rental car into the United States? Yes, most rental companies will let you do this, but you must tell them beforehand. Make sure you have the right paperwork to cross the border and check if your insurance will cover you into the United States.
What's the best way to handle toll roads around Toronto? The main toll road is Highway 407 ETR. It uses a system that automatically bills by your licence plate. The rental company gets the bill and then they charge your card for the toll and an admin fee. As a rental customer, there isn't really a way for you to pre-pay.
Are winter tyres required for winter driving in Ontario? No, the law in Ontario doesn't force you to have winter tyres like it does in Quebec. However, we strongly recommend you use them for winter travel, especially if you're going north of Toronto. If you're travelling between December and March, you should ask for them when you book.
What's the process for returning a rental car at Toronto Pearson Airport? At the airport, just follow the signs for "Car Rental Return". An agent will usually check the car over while you are there. You should give yourself an extra 30-60 minutes before your flight to do this. If you need to return the car after hours, you can use the special drop-off areas.
Popular Countries
24/7 Support