Hi Everybody. Finally, I am moving in October. I am selling off my car here in U.S. and plan to get a used car in Canada.

Meanwhile, I plan to use a rental car as soon as I land.

The question here is: Can a freshly landed person get a rental car at the aiport with a U.S. Driving License? If so, what other papers would I need? Does the rental car company hesitate to give rentals to new immigrants with no PR card in hand?

Your views/personal experiences will be appreciated.

Thanks.

I know of visitors to canada as well as landed immigratns who have rented but don't know the paperwork.

YES. You can rent the car using your US Driver License and US Credit Card. I did the same thing after I landed. Which city is your destination? You may not need to rent car right away if public transportation is ok. It will allow you to shop for better rental car rates.

I rented couple of weeks after landing for 4-5 weeks using my US Driver License and US Credit Card. The reason for renting was that I had found the job by then and it was taking too long to get to work by bus.

Unlike LA/HOU, you can live easily in big Canadian City w/o a car. IMO, renting car will be waste of money unless you are living or working where public transportation is not good.

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Orginally posted by aseem_mal

Hi Everybody. Finally, I am moving in October. I am selling off my car here in U.S. and plan to get a used car in Canada.

Meanwhile, I plan to use a rental car as soon as I land.

The question here is: Can a freshly landed person get a rental car at the aiport with a U.S. Driving License? If so, what other papers would I need? Does the rental car company hesitate to give rentals to new immigrants with no PR card in hand?

Your views/personal experiences will be appreciated.

Thanks.

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all you need is a valid drivers licence... must have reached the correct age and have a valid credit card... noone cares if you are a newly landed immigrant as long as you agree to be liable for any damage (which you do once you sign the rental agreement)...

if you rent, if possible do so with a credit card that covers liability and damage to rentals... god forbid if you get into a mishap you are screwed unless you have insurance...

you have to buy insurance, unless, your insurance current Insurnace company covers in Canada.

I do remember when I went to rent car last time they did call my insurance company to make sure my policy was active.

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Sukhwinder Singh

Thanks Everybody. However, to answer AnilKG's question, I will be landing Toronto's Pearson Airport. I plan to stay either in Mississauga, Scarborough or North York. What impact will the above have on my capability to move around in the GTA? How is the public transportation in the above 3 areas?

Thanks.

Aseem,
Good luck for your arrival.

I rented a car for 2 weeks this janauary , i suggest dont rent directly from the airport ...all rental car rates are much higher there ...Enterprise offers $9.99 per day weekend deal but is not applicable at their airport location.

In Mississauaga( on dundas road , somewhere between Tomken and Hurontarion intersection ) , there is a rental car outlet with big signs which rents at $9 per day...total cost per day with insurance GLI( General liability) and LDI( loss damage ) insurance it comes close to $17 per day . A friend rented and found it quite good. The cars are not brand spanking new but ...good workable ... cars ...chalti ka naam gadi ....if you look around locally where you are staying you might find some other agencies like that too .
If you do not take complete coverage , i'd suggest atleast take the GLI coverage.

if you have trouble finding , let me know .... i can help you find that place as i have seen it.
Good luck friend.

And yes , US drivers licence works ..... a word of caution with US drivers licence .

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