What is an insurance excess?

The excess is the amount you'll only be liable for in case of damage (under Collision Damage Waiver) or theft (under Theft Protection) of the vehicle. Information about the excess will be clearly stated in the price inclusion when you reserve a car on QEEQ.

How can I add an additional driver?

You are advised to make a request upon your arrival at the rental counter. Additional charge per day will incur unless '1 Additional Driver Included' is stipulated on the rental. Please note that the same licence and age requirement applies to the additional driver. The additional driver is supposed to present the required licence document along with the main driver at pickup.

Canada traffic rules and self driving car rental tips

Speed Limit and Traffic Signs

Driving in Canada is on the right with overtaking on the left. Since winter weather conditions may make driving challenging, we strongly advise you to check the weather conditions before travelling and be well equipped. Do not also forget to save emergency numbers in your cell phone.

Speed Limit

Unlike its neighbour, Canada uses metric units. Distance and speed are marked in kilometres and kilometres/hour. There is a speed limit of 50 km/h in town and 80 km/h on highways. A typical speed limit for the freeway in most provinces is 100-110 km/h.

Traffic Signs

Notably, for the most parts, Canadian traffic signs employ two languages-- English, French or both, and some incorporate indigenous language such as “Cree”. There are basically 4 types of Canadian traffic signs: regulatory, warning, information and direction.

Stop Sign (French and English)

Stop Sign (Inuktitut and English)

Stop sign (Cree)

Canada has not joined in the Vienna Convention on Road Signs and Signals, explaining why the road traffic system looks different to what we usually see in Europe or other countries.

Its regulatory signs mostly feature a circular shape, with some exceptions.

No Stopping

No Left Turn

No Overtaking

Yield

You will not see a common maximum speed sign in Canada, contrarily to some other countries. The maximal speed sign is usually rectangular, with a black writing on a white background.

Maximum Speed Limit

Most Canadian warning signs are diamond-shaped with black lettering or symbols on a yellow background.

Stop Ahead

Dead End

Bump or Uneven pavement on the Road Ahead

Be Alert for Animals

Railway Crossing Ahead

In Canada, information signs show where you are, what road you are driving on or how to reach certain places. These signs normally feature a rectangular shape with green or blue background.

Hospital Nearby

Gas Available Ahead

Accommodation Ahead

As for directional signs, they are usually rectangular with a green background, and inform drivers about the direction or distance in kilometres to neighboring towns and cities.

Directions to Nearby Towns and Cities

Canada_Traffic_Sign_Distances_in_Kilometres_to_Towns_and_Citiies_on_the_Road

Distances in Kilometres to Towns and Cities on the Road

You may refer to this complete manual of standard Canada traffics signs and pavement markings for a better knowledge.

Seatbelt and Child Safety

Seatbelt Laws

As for seatbelt law, every Canadian province makes it compulsory for the driver and all passengers to wear seatbelts whilst the car is moving. Failing to do so will result in a fine that varies according to the province.

Booster Seat Laws

Children of 8 years old and under must be properly secured in a child seat restraint system until they are at least 145 cm tall or 36 kg. Children who weigh less than 9 kg must be secured in a rear-facing car seat.

Age and other requirements vary by Canadian province or territory. You may use this as a reference or an idea for the child safety laws when travelling with your kids in Canada, but it is advisable for you to check individual provincial rules before you set for the road.

Parking, Fuel and Toll

Parking

Parking regulations vary across provinces and territories and are normally the responsibility of municipalities. But you do not need to worry as signage states clearly for the permitted and forbidden parking on all streets.

· Permitted Parking

Street parking is usually only permitted in the direction of traffic. In some smaller roads, parking is only allowed on one side of the road.

Plenty of car parks are available in most of the cities. Prices vary greatly from one city to another and can be very high in cities like Vancouver. Parking can be paid by a ticket machine, a metre at the side of the road, or by a parking attendant at a public parking lot. Failing to pay for parking in these areas may result in a fine.

Canada Paid Parking Sign (Image from i.cbc.ca)

Canada Paid Parking Metre (Image from cbc.ca)

· No Parking

Street parking in some residential areas is not allowed in the winter. There are signs indicating when parking is not allowed.

Canada No Parking

Fuel Prices

The average price for Canada gasoline price in January 2018 is 1.36 Canadian dollar, while diesel cost 1.01.

Toll

There are several toll roads in Canada such as The Ontario Highway 407 and The Cobequid Pass (Highway 104). All of the toll roads have utilized Electronic Toll Collection system.

Canada Toll Road (Image from o.canada.com)

If you are planning to drive on these toll roads, you can choose to opt into the e-toll system with your car hire company. Normally, the terms are stated in the rental contract provided by the car hire company at the rental desk. These terms should let you be aware that your credit card may be debited 4-8 weeks after you return the car. If you use an Alamo, National or Enterprise rental car, it is advisable to go to check with the Highway Toll Administration site to find out the details of the toll collected.

You are always welcomed to reach out to QEEQ' 24/7 customer service team for assistance or clarifications in matter regarding tolling.

Traffic Violation

DUI Laws

Canada has very strict laws on drunk driving. The limit is the same as in the UK which is 80mg per 100ml of blood but lowered to 50mg in some provinces. If you already have a drink driving conviction on your licence within the last five years, you will be refused entering at the Canadian point of entry.

Punishment varies by provinces but all are treated very seriously. The minimum punishment for a first offence is a $1000 fine and a year's licence suspension.

Traffic Fines

Speeding in Canada can be fined from $100 to over $400 depending on provinces.

For the spot tickets, follow the instructions on the paper to proceed to the payment. It is advisable to pay fines directly when you are still in the city.

For tickets issued from cities of Toronto, Ottawa or Montreal, you can log in the city's website to check the details and pay for them by entering your ticket number( or plus with the licence plate number).

Driving Licence and Age Requirements

To legally rent and drive a car in Canada, you will need a driving licence issued by the government which has been held for at least 2 years. If your domestic driving licence is not in English, an International Driving Permit (IDP/IDL) or an official translation in English is required when you drive in Canada.

The minimum driver age for renting a car at a Canadian rental office is 21 years old. This age may vary according to the state and car category rented.

Guest reviews

1 /

Anonymous

November 6, 2025

Destination: Toronto

10Excellent

The value for money is highly competitive, and the process of picking up and dropping off the car is super convenient. The best part is that it's inside the airport, so no need to drag heavy luggage around! Highly recommend!

November 3, 2025

Destination: Calgary

8Very good

The staff at the counter were polite, but their heavy accent made communication a bit tricky even with the help of a translation app.

October 29, 2025

Destination: Montreal

Not bad

Destination: Vancouver

Great service and friendly attitude, minimal wait time, and returning the car was hassle-free. The only downside is that the price is a bit high.

Omar Hazlitt

October 28, 2025

The car pickup location is in the city center, with the store situated on the street level. Pickup is on the fourth basement floor, and drop-off is on the third basement floor, with clear signs that make it easy to locate. I did a self-service drop-off at night, placed the car keys in the designated box, and took photos and videos for record-keeping. The car pickup process was very convenient, and no insurance upselling occurred. The vehicle was nearly new, having been driven for over 16,000 kilometers. It was equipped with full-time four-wheel drive, though the fuel consumption was a bit high. Fortunately, gas prices in Canada are cheaper than in China, with the cheapest fuel found in Toronto and the most expensive in Quebec. Additionally, nighttime fuel discounts are available. The road conditions throughout were excellent, making it a good choice for first-time self-driving trips abroad.

Angelo Woolf

Satisfied

Webster Benedict

Very quick, and no insurance upselling.

Laura Larkin

October 26, 2025

This car rental experience was the best I've ever had. Picking up the car was very convenient, and the company upgraded my rental to a Ford ESCAPE, which is a hybrid vehicle. The car was very new, extremely fuel-efficient, and a pleasure to drive. Returning the car was also very easy. I had rented the car for ten days but returned it a day earlier for other reasons. I had expected to be charged for all ten days, but to my surprise, I was only charged for nine days. What a delightful surprise!

Clara Bernal

Very satisfied!

Juliet Wyclif(fe)

October 25, 2025

The staff had a great attitude, and there was no queuing despite the late pick-up time.

Janet Webster

October 24, 2025

Destination: Halifax

Waited 30 minutes to pick up the car.

Paul Jerome

Very satisfied.

Earl David

Very satisfied

Donahue Rudolph

October 23, 2025

The overall service was good, but there was an error with the car rental details. The staff did not clearly explain the charges, and even after confirmation, I was still charged a one-way rental fee.

Xavier Wright

For this Eastern Canada trip, we chose Thrifty car rental through the QEEQ platform and opted for an SUV. After landing, we followed the order instructions and easily found the Thrifty store. The staff quickly processed the rental procedures. We had selected a Toyota RAV4 SUV on the QEEQ platform, but as that model was unavailable at the time, the staff switched us to an equivalent Ford SUV. The vehicle appeared to be quite new, and we were very satisfied.

R.Khan

10YES LIFE IS GREAT AND RENTAL FROM ROUTES MAKES IT EVEN BETTER.

YES IT IS ALWAYS A GREAT FEELING WHEN I COME TO YOUR PLACE.

Doreen Barrie

October 22, 2025

The car pick-up in Vancouver was on time. There was no Toyota RAV4 available, so the rental company provided a Hyundai Tucson. It's a 2023 model, offers good handling, and is fuel-efficient.

Chapman May

October 21, 2025

Relatively easy to find.

Alvis Abe

Burton Dewar

October 20, 2025

The entire process was very smooth without any upselling. However, there were too few options for vehicles in the same group, and the car provided was relatively small. The hybrid vehicle was fuel-efficient and drove well, but the road noise was quite noticeable.

Jenny Carrie

The car rental company at Toronto Pearson International Airport is easy to find, located just across from the airport terminal.

Ryan Theresa

It's okay, but be mindful that the car was not refueled fully.

Taylor Cook(e)

October 18, 2025

The process is very quick. As usual, they try to sell you full insurance, but you can simply decline. The procedures are efficient, and the vehicle was in excellent condition—clean with no odors. The return inspection was also fast, and there was no detailed inspection with a flashlight.

Virgil Hal

October 17, 2025

The car is located outside the airport, requiring a train ride followed by a shuttle bus to reach it. The process was quick, they provided a better model, and the return process was also very convenient.

Neil Margaret

Destination: Kamloops

Great experience, will come back next time.

Lynn John

Very good, no upselling at all. The process was straightforward and they even upgraded the car to a Mercedes-Benz GLE350.

Heloise Esther

October 16, 2025

Destination: Kitchener

Very satisfied, they immediately arranged a vehicle when there were none available. No extra charges.

Renata Oliver

October 15, 2025

Everything went smoothly.

Polly Spenser

It took an hour to wait in line to process the paperwork during peak hours.

Mavis Eveline

The overall experience was fine, but it was not the car model we reserved. Although the car looked like a large sedan from the outside, the interior space was more like a mid-size sedan, which felt quite cramped. Overall, this car was very average.

Setlla Wilcox

The Ford ESCAPE was replaced with a Volkswagen TAOS. The car was very new and handled well. The staff kept trying to push other insurance options, but I refused, and they didn’t insist. It’s good to rent from a big company, even though it’s a bit expensive.

Kimberley Howell(s)

Very convenient and efficient! Calgary Airport.

Carter Parker

October 14, 2025

Good service attitude.

Bevis Motley

October 13, 2025

Simple and efficient

Joshua Stone

Theobald Swinburne

Hugh Bowman

The service was great, they provided a Chevrolet.

Zenobia Oscar

The staff provided excellent service, explained all traffic rules in detail, and the car was clean and easy to drive.

Angela Felton

Very patient in explaining things that customers don't understand, great attitude!

Dennis Hope

Pickup and return were very quick. The car was relatively new, and there was no pressure to make additional purchases. Quite good.

Norman Rockefeller

October 12, 2025

Professional and organized, warm service, excellent attitude, patient and sincere!

Ula Eisenhower

October 11, 2025

Very satisfied, I will book a car on this website again next time. Highly recommended!

Ursula Landon

The staff speaks English, but make sure to clarify any questions you have. Don’t be shy! I had some uncertainties, which caused me to spend extra effort figuring things out after returning the car. It’s best to ask about the fuel type beforehand.

Sebastian Acheson

The return process was very considerate, and the staff patiently guided us despite the crowded parking level.

S.Agrawal

October 10, 2025

10It is always a greatexperience with Routes car rental and Qeeq

It is always a good experience with Routes car rental

Alva Arabella

October 9, 2025

Very good.

Lance Eipstein

Overall it was okay. There was a line when picking up the car, and the staff were a bit slow, but the car was in great condition.

Quintina Armstrong

Very convenient. They asked if I wanted to purchase additional insurance, and after I declined, the paperwork was processed immediately. The instructions for car pickup were clear. Returning the car was even simpler—at the drop-off point, staff approached to take the car, performed a quick inspection, and completed the handover. There were still staff available even close to midnight.

Parker O'Connor

The staff was very friendly.

Clyde Abe

The car pickup process was slightly slow, but everything else was perfect.

Canada Car Rentals

The Complete Canada Driving and Rental Guide