Car Rental Statistics in Canada

The Canadian car rental market is part of the broader automotive equipment rental and leasing industry, which includes the rental and leasing of passenger cars, vans, trucks, trailers, buses, and recreational vehicles without drivers. The industry has recovered from the pandemic period, but recent growth has slowed as operating costs, vehicle prices, tourism demand, and fleet conditions continue to shape the market.

What is the automotive equipment rental and leasing market size in Canada?

• The automotive equipment rental and leasing industry in Canada generated CAD $10.7 billion in operating revenue in 2024, up 4.3% from 2023.

What Is the annual automotive equipment rental and leasing revenue in Canada?

Canada’s automotive equipment rental and leasing industry generated CAD $10.7 billion in operating revenue in 2024.

• Operating revenue was CAD $5.66 billion in 2014 and rose to CAD $7.9 billion by 2019.
• Revenue fell to CAD $6.5 billion in 2020 as the pandemic reduced travel demand and disrupted rental activity.
• The industry recovered to about CAD $8.6 billion in 2022, exceeding the pre-pandemic level.
• Revenue reached about CAD $10.3 billion in 2023 and increased again to CAD $10.7 billion in 2024.
• The 2024 increase was slower than earlier recovery-year growth, as operating expenses rose faster than revenue.

How is rental vehicle demand changing in Canada?

Tourism-related demand for vehicle rentals in Canada increased by 3.7% in the first three quarters of 2025 compared with the same period in 2024.

• The increase was driven by domestic demand, which rose by 6.0% over the same period.
• Foreign demand for vehicle rentals fell by 2.9% in the first three quarters of 2025.
• International air arrivals with an overnight stay fell by 1.7% in 2025 compared with the previous year.
• Lower overnight air arrivals at major airports such as Toronto Pearson and Montréal-Trudeau may limit rental revenue growth.

What does official fleet data show about rental vehicles in British Columbia?

British Columbia’s rental vehicle fleet averaged 32,779 vehicles in 2019 before falling to 22,430 in 2020.

• The province’s rental vehicle fleet more than doubled from 15,758 vehicles in 2010 to 32,779 vehicles in 2019.
• The fleet fell by about 31.5% in 2020 as travel and business demand declined.
• Fleet inventory remained below its pre-pandemic level in 2021, averaging 22,546 vehicles.
• Statistics Canada noted that British Columbia was the first regional case study and that other regional estimates would be presented as data became available.

What vehicle categories are available for car rentals in Canada?

Canadian rental companies offer several vehicle categories, including cars, sport utility vehicles (SUVs), vans, and trucks. Vehicle availability, seating, and luggage capacity vary by company, location, model, and booking date.

• Enterprise lists rental cars in Canada for 2–5 people and 2–4 bags.
• Its SUV category covers 4–8 people and 2–7 bags.
• Vans can cover up to 12 people and 7 bags, depending on the model and location.

How have car rental prices changed in Canada?

Passenger vehicle rental prices in Canada fell by 11.5% in 2024 after the elevated pricing period of 2022 and 2023.

• Despite the 2024 decline, passenger vehicle rental prices remained 29.8% higher than in 2019.
• Statistics Canada linked earlier elevated rental prices to supply chain shortages and limited new-vehicle availability.
• The decline in used vehicle prices in 2024 also affected fleet economics and operating costs.

What are the most common reasons for renting a car in Canada?

A Canadian survey found that 62% of passenger-vehicle renters rented for leisure purposes.

• Business trips accounted for 16% of surveyed renters.
• Temporary replacement vehicles accounted for 18% of surveyed renters.
• Other purposes accounted for 5% of surveyed renters.
• Leisure renters were associated with longer trips, including out-of-town vacations or road trips.

Toronto was the most searched Canadian car-hire city on KAYAK’s United Kingdom site, accounting for 34% of Canada car-hire searches.

• Toronto accounted for 34% of KAYAK searches by users looking to hire a car in Canada.
• Calgary followed with 21% of searches.
• Vancouver accounted for 20% of searches.
• These figures show search interest on KAYAK, not actual rental transactions or market share.
• Search shares can vary by KAYAK market page and crawl date.

What does British Columbia data show about rental vehicle turnover?

Statistics Canada’s British Columbia case study found that rental businesses in the province generally did not keep rental vehicles for more than a year on average in the decade before and during the pandemic period.

• The British Columbia rental vehicle fleet had clear seasonal patterns, with companies typically adding vehicles in the second quarter to meet peak demand.
• In later quarters, rental businesses usually reduced inventory, especially in the fourth and first quarters.
• Fleet turnover decisions were linked to factors such as kilometres driven, model type, and vehicle age.
• During the pandemic, fleet inventories fell sharply and remained below pre-pandemic levels in 2021.
• Statistics Canada also noted that supply constraints may have pushed rental companies to turn inventory over less quickly than before.

What do British Columbia fleet patterns show about seasonal rental demand?

Official British Columbia rental fleet data show that rental companies typically add vehicles in the second quarter to prepare for higher seasonal demand.

• British Columbia’s rental fleet showed similar seasonal patterns from year to year before the pandemic.
• Rental businesses typically added vehicles in the second quarter to meet peak demand.
• Companies usually reduced fleet inventories in the fourth and first quarters.
• The pattern points to stronger spring and summer fleet demand, while late-year and early-year months generally had lower rental fleet levels in the provincial case study.