Car Rental in Calgary
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The above prices are only approximate and were last updated at 07:28 on 2021-08-02. Prices may vary based on the booking dates, length of rental, and car class.
Travel Information
Language
English,
French
French
Currency
CAD
Country code
1
Traffic direction
Right-hand
Speed limit out of town
60 - 100 km/h
37 - 62 mi/h
Speed limit within town
30 - 80 km/h
19 - 50 mi/h
Acceptable limit of BAC
0.0–0.15%
Why rent a car in Calgary?
Renting a car in Calgary is a good idea - not only you’ll be able to drive around this interesting city and visit its many neighborhoods and landmarks, you’ll also have the freedom to visit the great province of Alberta and its many nature areas.
One-Way Car Rentals in Calgary
The most popular one-way rental options for pick up in Calgary and drop off in another city include:
- From Calgary to Vancouver - 121 offers from US$ 78.86 per day
- From Calgary to Edmonton - 33 offers from US$ 75.80 per day
- From Calgary to Toronto - 47 offers from US$ 126.41 per day
- From Calgary to Jasper - 4 offers from US$ 96.93 per day
- From Calgary to Saskatoon - 13 offers from US$ 89.23 per day
Top ways to enter Calgary
- Calgary Airport: Also known as YYC Calgary Airport, it handled 17.3 million travelers in 2018. The airport is a hub for Air Canada and WestJet, and has flights by around 15 other airlines. Located 20 km (12.4 miles) northeast of the city center, the airport can be reached in about 25 minutes by car.
- Edmonton Airport: Serving the second city of Alberta, Edmonton Airport handled over eight million travelers in 2018. The airport has flights to and from all the largest Canadian cities and a lot of small settlements in the north of the country. It also provides connections with the United States, Mexico, Iceland, the Netherlands, and other countries. Located 270 km (168 mi) north of Calgary, Edmonton Airport can be reached in about 2 hours and 40 minutes.
Useful city facts
- Calgary has a humid climate with warm summers and cold winters. The average high temperature is 23.2 °C (73.8 °F) in July, the warmest month, and -0.9 °C (30.4 °F) in December and January, the coldest. The precipitation is quite high during the summer months, but very low from December to February; however, Calgary experiences significant snowfall every winter.
- Calgary has often been mentioned as one of the cities with the highest quality of living in North America and the whole world. Factors like very high levels of income, high public safety, and availability of many services contribute to the high livability. Calgary is also the richest city in Canada by median household income.
- With a population of 1.23 million (plus an additional 150,000 living in the metropolitan area), Calgary is the largest city in Alberta and the fourth-largest in all of Canada. Calgary is also one of the fastest-growing large cities in North America, its population having increased by 13% from 2011 to 2016. Calgary is made up of five districts: Eau Claire, the Downtown Commercial Core, the Downtown West End, the Downtown East Village, and Chinatown; these are further divided into sub-districts.
Top destinations and activities
- Calgary Tower. Going to the top of one of the city’s most famous landmarks is a special experience. Not only you’ll see all of the city from above, on a clear day you can also spot the Rocky Mountains to the west. Besides the observation deck the tower also has a restaurant and a bar.
- Glenbow Museum. One of the largest museums in North America has more than 20 galleries and countless collections that focus both on the local history and such different topics as Canadian art, geology, First Nations history, and cultures from around the world.
- Inglewood Bird Sanctuary & Nature Center. A large nature reserve on the eastern outskirts of the city near the Bow River, Inglewood Wildlands is home to nearly 300 species of birds, including great gray owl, great blue heron, belted kingfisher, and osprey, as well as mammals, fishes, and butterflies.
- The Calgary Zoo. Located in the Bridgeland-Riverside neighborhood, the Calgary Zoo is one of the city’s most beloved attractions and also the most-visited zoo in Canada. Often named among the best zoos in the world, it is divided into several sections such as Destination Africa, Canadian Wilds, Creatures of the Night, and Penguin Plunge. On top of that, there’s also the Prehistoric Park with life-sized dinosaurs and a landscape that’s been created to look prehistoric.
Traffic and parking tips
- The speed limits vary between different roads. The general limits are 90 km/h to 110 km/h on motorways and outside cities and from 30 km/h to 50 km/h inside cities.
- The legal alcohol limit is 0.05%. Driving under influence exceeding the limit is a criminal offence and can lead to hefty fines, a driving ban, and even imprisonment.
- The insurance and car documentation needs to be in the car whenever you’re driving.
- If you’re the driver, you need to have your passport or ID card with you at all times.
- Using the mobile phone while driving is prohibited. The rule is strictly imposed with high fines.
- The phone number for emergencies is 112.
Toll roads
There are a number of toll roads in Canada. However, as of February 2019, there are no toll roads in Alberta.
In the rest of Canada, payment method and fees differ for different toll roads. It is best to look them up in advance, finding the information for each province in which you plan to travel. You can also use a toll calculator to calculate the approximate fees for your upcoming ride.
Ideas for a day-trip
- Banff National Park. A UNESCO World Heritage Site and perhaps the most famous nature reserve in Canada, Banff is famous for its mountains, glaciers, and canyons, a great diversity of flora and fauna, and world-class skiing and snowboarding opportunities.
- Waterton Lakes National Park. Featuring such varied habitats as grassy prairies, alpine meadows, mountains, lakes, and wetlands, this national park is a true Canadian wilderness. It borders the Glacier National Park in the state of Montana, U.S., another great wild place to visit.
- Edmonton. Alberta’s capital and second largest, Edmonton is best known for its extractive industries, but the city also has vast and beautiful parks, as well as great museums, galleries, and science centers.
Most popular rental types and cars
The most popular rental car type in Canada is an economy, but travelers also like intermediate and fullsize. Getting a fullsize car is a good idea if you plan to travel outside the city and into nature areas. The most popular rental cars are the Kia Rio, the Jeep Wrangler, and the Nissan Rogue.
Further destinations
- Jasper National Park. The size of a small country, Jasper is more remote than Banff and, therefore, feels even wilder. Characterized by mountain lakes, swift rivers, canyons, and the beautiful Athabasca Falls, the area is home to a variety of fauna including grizzly bears, great horned owls, bighorn sheep, and porcupines. Thanks to a lack of human settlement and artificial light in the area, Jasper has also been designated a dark sky preserve and is a great place to view the northern lights at certain times of the year. Located about 410 km (255 miles) northwest of Calgary, Jasper can be reached in about 4 hours and 40 minutes.
- British Columbia. Alberta’s neighbor to the west should be visited for fun Vancouver, the long Pacific coastline, and the great Okanagan wine region.
- Washington and Montana. The two U.S. states bordering Alberta are just a few hours drive away from Calgary and offer just as much in terms of regional history, hospitality, and natural beauty as their Canadian counterpart.
Car Rental Prices in Calgary
- Large cars - from $61 per day
- Medium cars - from $53 per day
- People Carriers/Vans - from $94 per day
- Premium cars - from $81 per day
- Small cars - from $52 per day
- SUVs - from $75 per day
How can I save money on my rental car?
Here's a list of the things you can do to get a good rental car deal in Calgary:
- Compare rates of different rental car providers
- Book your rental car well in advance
- Plan your route before you go
- Know your fuel and mileage requirements
- Visit on the month when the rental prices are the cheapest. According to our data, visiting Calgary is the cheapest in December when renting a car is about 21% cheaper than the yearly average and about 43% cheaper than renting a car in July.
Top 20 Cities near Calgary
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Vancouver Car Rentals from $46.10 per day679.7 km / 422.4 miles away
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Edmonton Car Rentals from $31.15 per day246.0 km / 152.9 miles away
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Abbotsford Car Rentals from $62.46 per day638.5 km / 396.8 miles away
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Victoria Car Rentals from $58.04 per day727.0 km / 451.7 miles away
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Surrey Car Rentals from $15.79 per day666.2 km / 413.9 miles away
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399.8 km / 248.4 miles away
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Saskatoon Car Rentals from $58.04 per day518.4 km / 322.1 miles away
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North Vancouver Car Rentals from $62.46 per day676.2 km / 420.2 miles away
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Regina Car Rentals from $75.82 per day661.7 km / 411.2 miles away
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Kamloops Car Rentals from $42.05 per day452.6 km / 281.2 miles away
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Prince George Car Rentals from $77.28 per day661.8 km / 411.2 miles away
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Grande Prairie Car Rentals from $60.02 per day556.2 km / 345.6 miles away
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Fort McMurray Car Rentals from $109.54 per day642.5 km / 399.3 miles away
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Nanaimo Car Rentals from $62.46 per day738.6 km / 458.9 miles away
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Courtenay Car Rentals from $62.46 per day784.9 km / 487.7 miles away
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Chilliwack Car Rentals from $62.46 per day604.7 km / 375.7 miles away
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Cranbrook Car Rentals from $42.88 per day208.7 km / 129.7 miles away
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720.8 km / 447.9 miles away
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Port Hardy Car Rentals from $62.62 per day936.0 km / 581.6 miles away
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357.4 km / 222.1 miles away
Top 20 Locations near Calgary
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Calgary Airport Car Rentals from $16.88 per day8.7 km / 5.4 miles away
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Canadian Rockies International Airport Car Rentals from $42.88 per day200.4 km / 124.5 miles away
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Edmonton Airport Car Rentals from $31.15 per day254.4 km / 158.1 miles away
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Kamloops Airport Car Rentals from $42.05 per day449.2 km / 279.1 miles away
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Saskatoon Airport Car Rentals from $58.04 per day523.5 km / 325.3 miles away
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Grande Prairie Airport Car Rentals from $60.02 per day561.3 km / 348.8 miles away
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Chilliwack Airport Car Rentals from $62.46 per day599.4 km / 372.4 miles away
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Abbotsford International Airport Car Rentals from $62.46 per day633.2 km / 393.5 miles away
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Fort McMurray International Airport Car Rentals from $109.54 per day651.2 km / 404.6 miles away
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Prince George Airport Car Rentals from $77.28 per day663.5 km / 412.3 miles away
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Regina International Airport Car Rentals from $75.82 per day664.3 km / 412.8 miles away
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Vancouver South Car Rentals from $46.10 per day674.9 km / 419.3 miles away
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Vancouver Airport Car Rentals from $31.80 per day681.5 km / 423.5 miles away
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Victoria International Airport Car Rentals from $58.04 per day721.6 km / 448.4 miles away
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Nanaimo Airport Car Rentals from $62.46 per day733.7 km / 455.9 miles away
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Comox Valley Airport Car Rentals from $62.46 per day781.0 km / 485.3 miles away
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Port Hardy Airport Car Rentals from $62.62 per day933.4 km / 580.0 miles away
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Winnipeg Airport Car Rentals from $58.04 per day1194.5 km / 742.2 miles away
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Thunder Bay International Airport Car Rentals from $49.95 per day1794.8 km / 1115.2 miles away
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Windsor International Airport Car Rentals from $54.15 per day2542.5 km / 1579.8 miles away
Map of Car Rental Locations
Which is the cheapest month to rent a car in Calgary?
Car rental prices in Calgary vary a lot according to the time of year. This graph compares month-to-month price changes to help you find the best offer.
Average Rental Price in Calgary
The best month to rent a car in Calgary is November (when prices for an Economy class start from $21.71). This is 53% cheaper than the yearly average and 71% cheaper than renting in July (when rental prices start at $74.76 for a Compact class). Knowing this can help you find the best price.
What’s the usual rental length in Calgary?
Travel lengths vary from month to month: in December, travelers rent a car for an average of 13 days in June, the average rental period is 1 days.
Average Rental Length in Calgary
What's the most popular month to rent a car in Calgary?
While travelers visit Calgary year-round, the most popular month for renting a car is March, and the least popular is April.
Popularity of Car Rental in Calgary by Monthly Searches
Most Popular Car Models of Rental Suppliers
| Rental Agency | Model | Doors | Luggage | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Routes Car & Truck Rentals | Toyota Corolla | 4 | 1 | Large cars |
| Routes Car & Truck Rentals | Nissan Rogue | 5 | 3 | SUVs |
| Routes Car & Truck Rentals | Kia Rio | 4 | 1 | Small cars |
| Zoom Rent A Car | Honda CRV | 4 | 2 | SUVs |
| Routes Car & Truck Rentals | Jeep Wrangler | 4 | 2 | SUVs |
| Routes Car & Truck Rentals | Toyota Corolla Sedan | 4 | 2 | Large cars |
| Zoom Rent A Car | Mazda 2 | 4 | 1 | Medium cars |
| Zoom Rent A Car | Hyundai Elantra | 4 | 2 | Large cars |
| Routes Car & Truck Rentals | Dodge Durango | 5 | 3 | SUVs |
| Zoom Rent A Car | Nissan Versa | 4 | 2 | Large cars |
Our Customers Reviews
RM
Canada
Dodge Durango
March 13, 2021
Would forsure recommend, I had issues with many other car companies but not this one
GZ
Canada
Nissan Versa
August 16, 2020
Rent a car! It will give you complete freedom to go anywhere you want in Banff or elsewhere in Alberta.
DD
Canada
Dodge Caravan
February 10, 2020
Calgary is a very expensive city to rent a car, especially if not well in advance. I suspect it's because most rentals in Calgary are corporate and price doesn't matter. This affects my decision to rent a car or not.
MS
United Kingdom
Nissan Versa
October 14, 2019
Good Service, & Location
CB
Canada
Toyota Corolla
September 11, 2019
This city is best explored by car because there are some many cool drives just outside the city and in general the city is fairly spread out.
ZH
Canada
Toyota Yaris Advance
August 27, 2019
Icefield parkway worth to have your own car to stop where you want
WY
United States of America (USA)
Toyota Corolla
July 26, 2019
Routes is good to save money but understand you are not at the airport. The shuttle is a ten minute ride but it was not clear where you go to get the shuttle. In Calgary it is column 22 and 23. Easy airport though. Language barriers can be a problem.
PP
Canada
Honda Civic
June 17, 2019
Best place to rent a car for a tour of the parks in the Canadian Rockies. We visited 3 National Parks : Banff, Kootenay and Jasper.
KK
United States of America (USA)
Jeep Wrangler
June 14, 2019
Go there
RS
United States of America (USA)
Toyota Corolla
May 30, 2019
Short drive to Banff, and totally worth it.
MA
Canada
Kia Rio
May 15, 2019
A lot of downtown parking options.
MA
United Kingdom
Kia Rio
May 10, 2019
I used to live in Calgary. It's a nice, clean city. The new library is beautiful and the Shaw music studio is awesome. A trip to the mountains is a must, beautiful scenery all the way.
RW
United Kingdom
Jeep Wrangler
April 2, 2019
Great city next to the wonderful Rocky Mountains.
H
Canada
Toyota Yaris Advance
March 8, 2019
I used to live in Calgary. the driving is fast paced. one needs a good map or a very good GPS system as many of the old routes have been altered. the ring road is a very helpful way to get to where you wish to go but once rush hours start one needs to be ready to have lots of patience due to the volumes of traffic.
TA
Canada
Jeep Wrangler
January 7, 2019
Calgary is a wonderful city. Its easy to navigate, large, clean roads, and the airport is a good location to rent from.
EY
United States of America (USA)
Nissan Rogue
January 5, 2019
I loved Banff and the surrounding areas. The vehicle was really great with getting around.
GW
United States of America (USA)
Jeep Cherokee
January 2, 2019
Watch your agreement for a mileage/kilometer limit. Ours was 800km max.
ED
Canada
Toyota Yaris Advance
December 21, 2018
Great city
RG
United Kingdom
Mazda 2
October 6, 2018
Barely spent time in calgary, didn’t travel 10+ hours to see just another city. Got the hire car to travel across the rockies out West. Would definately recommend a truck in Autumn ir Winter, you need a vehicle to get around and see some parts of Canada.
JS
United States of America (USA)
Nissan Rogue
September 23, 2018
I highly recommend flying into Calgary, renting a vehicle and heading to the National Parks!
Top 15 Suppliers in Calgary in 2021
Alamo
+18336193653
2000 Airport Rd NE, Calgary, Alberta
National
8336193655
2000 AIRPORT RD NE,
NUCarrentals
+18883179666 / +19056707368
11124 36 St NE UNIT#2010, Calgary, AB T3N 1L3
Routes Car & Truck Rentals
+14033983930 / +14033983931
130-588 Aero Dr Ne Calgary, T2E 7Y4
Working hours
Mon:08:00-19:30
Tue:08:00-19:30
Wed:08:00-19:30
Thu:08:00-19:30
Fri:08:00-19:30
Sat:09:00-17:00
Sun:09:00-17:00
Avis
+14032211700
2000 Airport Road Calgary International Airport
Working hours
Mon:07:30-23:59
Tue:07:30-23:59
Wed:07:30-23:59
Thu:07:30-23:59
Fri:07:30-23:59
Sat:07:30-23:59
Sun:07:30-23:59
Budget
+14032261550
2000 Airport Road Northeast Calgary Intl Flyin Cust Only
Working hours
Mon:07:30-23:59
Tue:07:30-23:59
Wed:07:30-23:59
Thu:07:30-23:59
Fri:07:30-23:59
Sat:07:30-23:59
Sun:07:30-23:59
Alamo
8336193653
2000 Airport Road Ne
Working hours
Mon:07:30-23:59
Tue:07:30-23:59
Wed:07:30-23:59
Thu:07:30-23:59
Fri:07:30-23:59
Sat:07:30-23:59
Sun:07:30-23:59
Dollar
4032211806
2000 AIRPORT ROAD NE
Working hours
Mon:07:00-22:00
Tue:07:00-22:00
Wed:07:00-22:00
Thu:07:00-22:00
Fri:07:00-22:00
Sat:07:00-22:00
Sun:07:00-22:00
Thrifty
4032211806
2000 AIRPORT ROAD NE
Working hours
Mon:07:00-22:00
Tue:07:00-22:00
Wed:07:00-22:00
Thu:07:00-22:00
Fri:07:00-22:00
Sat:07:00-22:00
Sun:07:00-22:00
Zoom Rent A Car
+15878858888
11124 36 St Ne Unit 2010
Working hours
Mon:07:00-19:00
Tue:07:00-19:00
Wed:07:00-19:00
Thu:07:00-19:00
Fri:07:00-19:00
Sat:09:00-18:00
Sun:09:00-18:00
Europcar
+14032991201
40 Hopewell Way NE
Working hours
Mon:08:00-14:30
Tue:08:00-14:30
Wed:08:00-14:30
Thu:08:00-14:30
Fri:08:00-14:30
Sat:09:00-11:30
MEX RENT A CAR
+15878858888
11124 36 St NE UNIT#2010, Calgary, AB T3N 1L3
Working hours
Mon:07:00-19:00
Tue:07:00-19:00
Wed:07:00-19:00
Thu:07:00-19:00
Fri:07:00-19:00
Sat:09:00-18:00
Sun:09:00-18:00
Ace Rent a car
+15878858888 / +18778223872
11124 36 St Ne, Calgary, T3N 1L3
Working hours
Mon:07:00-19:00
Tue:07:00-19:00
Wed:07:00-19:00
Thu:07:00-19:00
Fri:07:00-19:00
Sat:09:00-18:00
Sun:09:00-18:00
Economy rent a car
+15873567888
2120 16 Ave NE, Calgary, AB T2E 1L4
NUCarrentals
+18883179666 / +19056707368 / +15878858888
11124 36 St NE UNIT#2010, Calgary, AB T3N 1L3