Car Rental in Ottawa

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Ottawa, Canada
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Driver's country of residence is United States of America (USA) and age is 30-65
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500+ Trusted Suppliers:

Cheapest Car Rental Rates

Ottawa Airport Car Rental
Intermediate
Toyota Corolla or similar
Toyota Corolla
  • 5
  • 1
  • 4
  • A/C
  • Auto.
Routes Car Rental
$23.72 per day
Ottawa Airport Car Rental
Economy
Mitsubishi Mirage or similar
Mitsubishi Mirage
  • 5
  • 2
  • 4
  • A/C
  • Auto.
Avis
$54.66 per day
Ottawa Airport Car Rental
Compact
Nissan Versa or similar
Nissan Versa
  • 5
  • 2
  • 4
  • A/C
  • Auto.
Alamo
$57.81 per day
Ottawa Airport Car Rental
Standard
Volkswagen Jetta or similar
Volkswagen Jetta
  • 5
  • 2
  • 4
  • A/C
  • Auto.
National
$63.58 per day

Most Popular Car Rental Deals

Ottawa Airport Car Rental
Full-size
Chevrolet Malibu or similar
Chevrolet Malibu
  • 5
  • 4
  • 4
  • A/C
  • Auto.
Alamo
$64.31 / per day
Ottawa Airport Car Rental
Premium
Chevrolet Silverado or similar
Chevrolet Silverado
  • 5
  • 4
  • 4
  • A/C
  • Auto.
Alamo
$70.70 / per day
Ottawa Airport Car Rental
Full-size Elite
BMW 3 Series or similar
BMW 3 Series
  • 5
  • 2
  • 4
  • A/C
  • Auto.
Alamo
$71.53 / per day
Ottawa Airport Car Rental
Luxury
Chrysler 300 or similar
Chrysler 300
  • 5
  • 2
  • 4
  • A/C
  • Auto.
Alamo
$74.88 / per day
The above prices are only approximate and were last updated at 05:42 on 2023-02-04. Prices may vary based on the booking dates, length of rental, and car class.
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Travel Information

Language
English,
French
Currency
CAD
Traffic direction
Right-hand side
Country code
1
Average car rental price
$20.05 / per day
Average car rental length
5 days
Speed limit within town
30 - 80 km/h
19 - 50 mph
Speed limit out of town
60 - 100 km/h
37 - 62 mph
Acceptable limit of BAC
0.0–0.15%
Rating
9.7

Why rent a car in Ottawa?

Ottawa, Canada’s capital city,  is a great place for renting a car as some of the best things to do in Ottawa lie outside of the city. There’s plenty to enjoy in Ottawa, too, from interesting architecture to classy museums and large public parks. With a rental car, nearby Montreal or Quebec and Ontario’s beautiful national parks are also within your reach.
Ottawa Car Rental

One-Way Car Rentals in Ottawa

The most popular one-way rental options for pick up in Ottawa and drop off in another city include:

  • From Ottawa to Toronto - 34 offers from $75.28 per day

Top ways to enter Ottawa

  • Ottawa Airport: Although not as large as some other airports in Eastern Canada, flying here is still the most convenient way to reach the capital city. Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier Airport handled over five million travelers in 2018 and provides flights to all the largest cities in Canada, the United States, and beyond. Located 13 km (8.1 mi) south of the city center, the airport can be reached in about 20 minutes. 
  • Montreal Airport: Located just 184 km (114 mi) east of Ottawa, Montreal-Trudeau Airport has flights to and from many destinations in North America, as well as in Europe, Africa, and Asia. The airport is expected to handle 20 million travelers in 2019 for the first time in its history.
  • Toronto Pearson Airport: With 49 million served passengers in 2018, Toronto Airport is by far the largest in Canada and one of the busiest in the Americas. A hub for Air Canada, West Jet, and a number of other companies, the airport has flights to and from all inhabited continents of the world. Located 460 km (285 mi) southwest of Ottawa, Toronto Airport can be reached in about 4 hours and 30 minutes.

City facts

  • Ottawa has a humid continental climate with warm summers, cold winters, and four separate seasons. The average high temperature is 26.6 °C (79.9 °F) in July, the warmest month, and -5.8 °C (21.6 °F) in January, the coldest. Ottawa has rather high precipitation throughout the year. It’s quite rainy from May to October; in winter, the city experiences a lot of snowfall.
  • Although Ottawa is Canada’s capital, it is only the fourth most-populated city in the country. Just over 1 million people live in Ottawa and its metropolitan area.A culturally and linguistically diverse city, Ottawa is home to diasporas from all over the world; many indigenous Canadians also live in the city.
  • Ottawa borders Gatineau, a city in the Quebec region that is just across the Ottawa River. Together they form the National Capital Region. Unlike Ottawa, Gatineau is overwhelmingly French-speaking.

Top destinations and activities

  • Parliament Hill. Located in the very center of the city and overlooking the Ottawa River, Parliament Hill is the number one landmark of Canada's capital. Here you can visit the Parliament of Canada, House of Commons, the Senate, and the recently renovated Library of Parliament. 
  • Canada Museum of Nature. Full of artefacts, fossils, and fascinating stories, this modern and interactive museum is the best place to learn about Canada's history, geology, and animals.
  • National Gallery. Worth visiting for its unique building alone, the National Gallery is home to some of Canada's finest artworks, from traditional to contemporary, and also houses the paintings and sculptures by some famous international artists.
  • Rideau Canal. If you’re visiting Ottawa in the winter, be sure to try ice skating on the city’s canal, which freezes over. There are rental places as well as cafes to keep you fuelled while you skate. 

Traffic and parking

  • 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 license 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 911.

Toll roads

There are a number of toll roads in eastern Canada. 

Ontario Highway 407 is toll road for which you can only pay electronically. As you will be driving a rental car, the bill will be automatically sent to your rental car provider. The exact fee will depend on how long will you drive along this road. Some rental providers do include an additional toll charge fee. Do get in touch with your rental car provider in advance to find out more. Visit the official Highway 407 website to find out more information about fees and payment methods.

Highway 412 is another toll road in Ontario. It is part of the same toll system as the Highway 407. The exact fee will depend on the time of the day and the day of the week of your travel, as well as the length of your travel along this road. 

There are some other toll roads in Ontario. Do look them up in advance depending on your planned route. 

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 day trips

  • Montreal. The capital of French-speaking Canada, nearby Montreal is one of the most interesting cities of North America thanks to its unique history, culture, and atmosphere.
  • Algonquin Provincial Park. This nature area is about 240 km (150 mi) from Ottawa, but the rather long road is nevertheless worth traveling. The park is home to countless fauna and flora  species associated with Canada, from moose, white-tailed deer, bears, and great grey owls to sugar maple. 
  • Gatineau. Just across the river, Gatineau's main attraction is the famous Canadian Museum of History. Previously called Canadian Museum of Civilization, it tells the long story of human settlement in Canada, from First Nations migrating on the Bering Strait to Vikings settling on the eastern coast and Western European colonists arriving 500 years ago. 

Most popular cars

The most picked rental car in Canada is the Kia Rio, although travelers also love the Jeep Wrangler and the Nissan Rogue. The most popular rental car types are economy, intermediate, and fullsize. The latter can be a good choice if you plan to travel outside Ottawa and into nature areas.

Further destinations

  • Toronto. About a  four-hour drive southwest of Ottawa, Ontario's (and Canada’s) largest city is a great place to visit thanks to its unique neighborhoods, bustling arts scene, and hip atmosphere. Don’t miss out on landmarks like the CN Tower and Black Creek Pioneer Village, then drive to explore nearby Niagara.
  • Quebec. Located right across the river from Ottawa, the mainly French-speaking region of Quebec is not just the aforementioned Montreal. Attractions of this culturally distinct region include its sophisticated capital, Quebec City, whale-watching in Saguenay, and no fewer than 22 national parks.
  • The United States. Vast, culturally fascinating, and with endless things to see and do, you might naturally feel tempted to visit Canada’s southern neighbor. Famous cities like Detroit, Boston, and New York are all a seven-to-eight-hour drive away from Ottawa. There are car rental companies that permit cross-border travel (you can find those by inserting car pickup and dropoff locations on our website), but you should check to see if you need a visa to visit the United States.

Car Rental Prices in Ottawa

  • Large cars - from $81 per day
  • Medium cars - from $70 per day
  • Vans - from $79 per day
  • Premium cars - from $101 per day
  • Small cars - from $70 per day
  • SUVs - from $74 per day

Money-saving tips

Follow these tips to get a good rental car deal in in Ottawa:

  • 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 Ottawa is the cheapest in March when renting a car is about 59% cheaper than the yearly average.
This information was written, fact-checked, and/or translated by our content creators. Learn more about our editorial policy.
Fact checked by:
Hannah
This article was reviewed and updated by Hannah, the adventurer behind That Adventurer, a travel blog for active travellers. If you like exploring new places by hiking, biking, kayaking or paddleboarding, then you’ll enjoy That Adventurer’s travel guides. Originally from the UK, Hannah has lived in Canada, Norway and France.

What travel writers say

The world’s largest collection of Canadian art is, rather appropriately, found in the capital city, and it’s pretty hard to miss. housing nearly 65,000 pieces of art, the Gallery is known worldwide for its Canadian artworks showcasing local and national pieces. The gallery also holds many First Nation, International, and Contemporary art too. Best of all, no visit will ever be the same – the gallery has seasonal exhibits that change almost monthly. You’ll love it.
YO&LG
Yaya Onalaja-Aliu & Lloyd Griffiths
Hand Luggage Only was born back in April 2014 on a surprisingly warm afternoon in Yaya’s college room at University of Cambridge. In what seemed like an oasis of calm between assignments, Yaya and Lloyd (that’s us!) were talking about sharing our travel stories and photos with others like-minded travellers on the internet.
Even cooler than Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, and just as beautiful – Ottawa City in Canada has long been erroneously overshadowed by nearby Toronto and Montreal.
J
Jordan
My name is Jordan, and I am a traveler, blogger, and photographer from Auckland in New Zealand – although these days, I’m away from home more often than not.
There are many things to do in Ottawa that are exciting and unique that will easily make for an excellent vacation for couples and families alike.
DBADC
Dave Bouskill and Deb Corbiel
Hi, we’re Dave and Deb, the founders of this award-winning travel blog. Since we started The Planet D back in 2007 we have become experts in the travel space and were even named Top Travel Influencers by Forbes Magazine.

Top 20 Cities near Ottawa

  1. Toronto Car Rentals from $59.25 per day
    355.7 km / 221.0 miles away
  2. Montreal Car Rentals from $21.96 per day
    152.1 km / 94.5 miles away
  3. Mississauga Car Rentals from $26.04 per day
    370.5 km / 230.2 miles away
  4. Halifax Car Rentals from $59.25 per day
    955.2 km / 593.5 miles away
  5. Hamilton Car Rentals
    420.8 km / 261.5 miles away
  6. Quebec City Car Rentals from $52.71 per day
    364.0 km / 226.2 miles away
  7. Kitchener Car Rentals from $54.66 per day
    439.7 km / 273.2 miles away
  8. Brampton Car Rentals
    374.5 km / 232.7 miles away
  9. London Car Rentals from $54.66 per day
    519.6 km / 322.9 miles away
  10. Windsor Car Rentals from $54.66 per day
    679.7 km / 422.4 miles away
  11. Dieppe Car Rentals from $51.83 per day
    856.7 km / 532.3 miles away
  12. Lincoln Car Rentals
    712.7 km / 442.8 miles away
  13. Saint John Car Rentals from $57.80 per day
    765.1 km / 475.4 miles away
  14. Kingston Car Rentals
    152.2 km / 94.6 miles away
  15. Sault Ste. Marie Car Rentals from $55.68 per day
    691.4 km / 429.6 miles away
  16. Sept-Îles Car Rentals from $59.25 per day
    875.1 km / 543.8 miles away
  17. Sorel-Tracy Car Rentals
    212.1 km / 131.8 miles away
  18. Moncton Car Rentals from $54.66 per day
    847.7 km / 526.7 miles away
  19. Gaspe Car Rentals from $61.42 per day
    925.3 km / 574.9 miles away
  20. Sherbrooke Car Rentals
    296.8 km / 184.4 miles away

Top 20 Locations near Ottawa

  1. Ottawa Airport Car Rentals from $23.72 per day
    12.2 km / 7.6 miles away
  2. Montreal Airport Car Rentals from $21.96 per day
    152.1 km / 94.5 miles away
  3. Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport Car Rentals from $59.25 per day
    355.7 km / 221.0 miles away
  4. Quebec City Airport Car Rentals from $52.71 per day
    364.0 km / 226.2 miles away
  5. Toronto Airport Car Rentals from $17.57 per day
    368.1 km / 228.7 miles away
  6. Windsor International Airport Car Rentals from $54.66 per day
    679.7 km / 422.4 miles away
  7. Saint John Airport Car Rentals from $57.80 per day
    765.1 km / 475.4 miles away
  8. Greater Moncton International Airport Car Rentals from $51.83 per day
    856.7 km / 532.3 miles away
  9. Thunder Bay International Airport Car Rentals from $58.49 per day
    1084.5 km / 673.9 miles away
  10. Sydney Airport Car Rentals from $59.25 per day
    1213.4 km / 754.0 miles away
  11. Gander International Airport Car Rentals from $54.66 per day
    1637.3 km / 1017.4 miles away
  12. Winnipeg Airport Car Rentals from $54.66 per day
    1681.9 km / 1045.1 miles away
  13. St. John's International Airport Car Rentals from $50.26 per day
    1765.1 km / 1096.8 miles away
  14. Regina International Airport Car Rentals from $54.66 per day
    2213.8 km / 1375.6 miles away
  15. Saskatoon Airport Car Rentals from $54.66 per day
    2370.5 km / 1473.0 miles away
  16. Edmonton Airport Car Rentals from $54.66 per day
    2841.6 km / 1765.7 miles away
  17. Calgary Airport Car Rentals from $39.84 per day
    2871.7 km / 1784.4 miles away
  18. Grande Prairie Airport Car Rentals from $58.49 per day
    3193.5 km / 1984.4 miles away
  19. Kelowna Airport Car Rentals from $54.66 per day
    3260.7 km / 2026.1 miles away
  20. Fort St. John Airport Car Rentals from $59.75 per day
    3313.3 km / 2058.8 miles away

Map of Car Rental Locations

Which is the cheapest month to rent a car in Ottawa?

Car rental prices in Ottawa 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 Ottawa
$30.21
January
$30.42
February
$21.27
March
$37.38
April
$26.59
May
$62.09
June
$44.49
July
$45.97
August
$67.59
September
$59.00
October
$84.76
November
$35.13
December
The best month to rent a car in Ottawa is March (when prices for an Economy class start from $21.27). This is 53% cheaper than the yearly average and 75% cheaper than renting in November (when rental prices start at $84.76 for a Compact class). Knowing this can help you find the best price.

What’s the usual rental length in Ottawa?

Travel lengths vary from month to month: in October, travelers rent a car for an average of 8 days in December, the average rental period is 3 days.
Average Rental Length in Ottawa
6
January
6
February
5
March
6
April
5
May
6
June
6
July
4
August
6
September
8
October
8
November
3
December

What's the most popular month to rent a car in Ottawa?

The most popular month for renting a car in Ottawa is July, and the least popular is December.
Popularity of Car Rental in Ottawa by Monthly Searches
77%
January
3%
February
101%
March
60%
April
153%
May
184%
June
237%
July
223%
August
59%
September
56%
October
46%
November
December

Most Popular Car Models of Rental Suppliers

Rental Supplier Model Doors Luggage Type
Routes Car Rental Toyota Corolla 4 1 Large cars
Routes Car Rental Nissan Rogue 5 3 SUVs
Routes Car Rental Dodge Grand Caravan 4 2 Vans
Alamo Kia Forte 4 3 Large cars
Alamo Nissan Versa 4 2 Medium cars
Avis Dodge Grand Caravan 4 2 Vans
Avis Jeep Grand Cherokee 4 2 SUVs
Alamo Toyota Camry 4 2 Large cars
Alamo Hyundai Elantra 4 2 Large cars
Alamo Toyota RAV4 4 4 SUVs

Our Customers' Reviews

Because we want to make sure each review listed here is left by a real customer, we don’t have an option to post a review here. Instead, we ask each and every customer to leave a review after they return their rental. This way, you know that all reviews are authentic, verified, and trustworthy.

Canada
Toyota Corolla
April 9, 2021
The cleanliness of the shuttle van was poor, there was visible food on the seats and floor on our pick up and drop off.
Canada
Honda Civic
August 15, 2019
Just plan for a bit of time to go there.
United States of America (USA)
Jeep Cherokee
February 11, 2019
Fairly small city. Lots of historical buildings. People are friendly and you don't have to speak French like you do in Quebec or Montreal.
Canada
Jeep Cherokee
January 25, 2019
Great place to see and you need to rent a car so you can go and do things at your own pace
Germany
Toyota Yaris Advance
January 2, 2019
make sure you get a rental right at the aiport!
Canada
Kia Rio
October 9, 2018
Ottawa is a fantastic destination. A car is handy for side trips to places like the Gatineau or Merrickville
Canada
Kia Rio
September 20, 2018
Did not see much of Ottawa as we were just visiting family there. We drove about an hour away visiting Perth, Newboro and Elgin and other areas in the Rideau Lakes district. We really enjoyed the beauty of the countryside. We had our folding bikes along enabling us to enjoy part of the Cataraqui trail (former railbed). It was a very good experience.

Car Rental Statistics

Highest rated company
Alamo
8.75 / 10
Lowest rated company
Routes Car Rental
8.29 / 10
Total number of reviews
9
Total rental companies
9
Average daily price
$20.05
Lowest daily price
$24.83
Total cars available
45

Top 9 Suppliers in Ottawa in 2023

Alamo
Alamo
Excellent 8.8 / 2 reviews
+16137377264
1003 Airport Parkway Private, Ottawa, Ontario
$58 - $121
Enterprise
Enterprise
Excellent 8.6
6132363366
355 ST. PATRICK ST
Working hours
Mon:08:00-17:00
Tue:08:00-17:00
Wed:08:00-17:00
Thu:08:00-17:00
Fri:08:00-17:00
Sat:09:00-12:00
Hertz
Hertz
Excellent 8.6
6135213332
1003 Airport Parkway Private
Working hours
Mon:07:30-23:00
Tue:07:30-23:00
Wed:07:30-23:00
Thu:07:30-23:00
Fri:07:30-23:00
Sat:08:00-20:00
Sun:08:00-23:00
National
National
Excellent 8.6
6137377023
1003 AIRPORT PARKWAY PRIVATE,
$59 - $123
Budget
Budget
Excellent 8.5
+16135214844
1003 Airport Parkway
Working hours
Mon:00:00-01:00; 07:00-23:59
Tue:00:00-01:00; 07:00-23:59
Wed:00:00-01:00; 07:00-23:59
Thu:00:00-01:00; 07:00-23:59
Fri:00:00-01:00; 07:00-23:59
Sat:07:30-23:59
Sun:00:00-01:00; 07:30-23:59
Avis
Avis
Excellent 8.5
+16137393334
1003 Airport Parkway Private
$55 - $125
Working hours
Mon:00:00-01:00; 07:00-23:59
Tue:00:00-01:00; 07:00-23:59
Wed:00:00-01:00; 07:00-23:59
Thu:00:00-01:00; 07:00-23:59
Fri:00:00-01:00; 07:00-23:59
Sat:07:30-23:59
Sun:00:00-01:00; 07:30-23:59
Europcar
Europcar
Excellent 8.4
+16138222409 / +330176660251
2644 Leitrim Rd,Gloucester, ON K1T 3V3
Working hours
Mon:08:00-20:00
Tue:08:00-20:00
Wed:08:00-20:00
Thu:08:00-20:00
Fri:08:00-20:00
Sat:08:00-20:00
Sun:08:00-20:00
Thrifty
Thrifty
Excellent 8.4
6135213332
1003 Airport Parkway Private
Working hours
Mon:07:30-23:00
Tue:07:30-23:00
Wed:07:30-23:00
Thu:07:30-23:00
Fri:07:30-23:00
Sat:08:00-20:00
Sun:07:30-23:00
Routes Car Rental
Routes Car Rental
Excellent 8.3 / 177 reviews
+16135233003 / +16138222409
2644 Leitrim Rd. Ottawa, K1T3V3
$24 - $34
Working hours
Mon:08:00-20:00
Tue:08:00-20:00
Wed:08:00-20:00
Thu:08:00-20:00
Fri:08:00-20:00
Sat:08:00-18:00
Sun:08:00-18:00

Highly recommended by our customers

Trustpilot

Ottawa, Canada

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