Calgary car hire information
| Pick-up location | Calgary |
|---|---|
| Car types | Compact, Compact SUV, Economy, Full-size, Intermediate, Intermediate SUV, People mover, Pick-up truck, Premium, Standard, Standard SUV |
| Hire locations | 78 |
| Airport locations | 22 |
| Popular agencies | Alamo, Dollar, Avis, Thrifty |
Cheap car rentals in Calgary
| Economy | $153/day |
| Compact | $84/day |
| Intermediate | $78/day |
| Standard | $87/day |
| Full-size | $90/day |
| People mover | $102/day |
| Premium | $94/day |
| Pick-up truck | $141/day |
| Intermediate SUV | $92/day |
| Standard SUV | $103/day |
| Compact SUV | $118/day |
Top tips for hiring a car in Calgary
- Calgary is a paradise for lovers of the great outdoors. Situated at the junction of the Bow and Elbow Rivers and with the Canadian Rockies on your doorstep, exploring the surroundings of Calgary is a dream with a hire car. The world famous Banff National Park is only a little over an hour’s drive west and will leave you awestruck with the picturesque turquoise glacial lakes, untouched wilderness, and natural hot springs. Canada’s third largest city by population is located nearly 3,500 feet above sea level and has something to offer for every willing traveler.
- Once you land at Calgary International Airport and collect your baggage, follow the signage to the Car Rental Center elevator. On the second level you will find the counters of multiple major car hire companies including Hertz, Avis, Budget, and Thrifty. The drive from the airport to downtown is seamless along the AB-2 S Highway and will only take approximately 25 minutes. If you are heading to Banff National Park you can either take the Highway 1, which will allow you to pass through Calgary on the way, or the Stoney Trail (201) Highway, which is a more direct route.
- Canada, and specifically the mountain range, is blessed with wildlife that sometimes feels an explorative urge and wanders onto the roads. Be mindful when driving and keep an attentive eye out for animals. If you do approach any hazardous animals, remember to drive carefully and reduce speed.
- Thanks to its higher altitude, Calgary can experience significant snowfall in the winter months, causing difficult driving conditions. The roads are designed to best deal with this snowfall; however it is important that you follow some simple tips to increase your safety. Scrape any accumulated snow off your car before driving, paying extra attention to the windows and headlights. Listen to weather reports and adhere to any warnings; the city has a Traffic Advisory station which you can tune in to at 106.5 FM. Be mindful to reduce your speed when driving in poor conditions and be extra cautious around pedestrians.
- 25% of our users found rental cars in Calgary for $98 or less
- Book your rental car in Calgary at least 1 day before your trip in order to get a below-average price
- Off-airport rental car locations in Calgary are around 19% more expensive than airport locations on average
- Intermediate rental cars in Calgary are around -251% cheaper than other car types, on average
FAQs about renting a car in Calgary
Calgary car rental reviews and directory
Alamo
8.5
Very Good
224 reviewsBest rated
Cleanliness
8.9
Comfort
8.7
Pick-up/Drop-off
8.6
Value for money
8.1
2 locations in Calgary
from $99/day
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Reviews
9.6 Wonderful
Apr 2020
Pros:
Everything was efficient and an excellent car10.0 Wonderful
Mar 2020
Pros:
friendly staff, smooth transaction, new/clean vehicle8.0 Very Good
Dec 2019
Pros:
It was easy to get in and out of parking and held our luggage nicelyCons:
I would prefer the guy not try to get us to pay for an upgrade . He kept going on and going on about us needing a bigger car .......of course to pay more for . I ordered what o thought we needed and it was fine . No need to waste our time .8.4 Very Good
Nov 2019
Pros:
It was easy to get the car, the car was perfect, I had a great experience with the overall renting. Easy to get there from the airport, & excellent service at the counter.Cons:
It was a bit too expensive. I was shocked to learn insurance through Alamo would be $30 / day, when I could have gotten it for $12 / day through Kayak. I realize there are differences, but I don't understand the huge spike in price.5.2 Fair
Nov 2019
Cons:
There was no windshield washer fluid. The roads were complete slush. It was awful8.0 Very Good
Oct 2019
Pros:
carCons:
ca rEnterprise Rent-A-Car
8.3
Very Good
469 reviewsCheapest deal
Cleanliness
8.4
Comfort
8.5
Pick-up/Drop-off
8.3
Value for money
8.1
17 locations in Calgary
from $67/day
Locations in Calgary
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Reviews
6.0 Okay
Feb 2021
Cons:
Horrible smell in car Not sure if it was a cleaning agent but it smelled like horrible perfume8.0 Very Good
Jul 2020
Pros:
Staff was great, enjoyed the vehicle upgrade.Cons:
The Grand Cherokee was poorly washed. I like a clean vehicle for business.2.0 Poor
Jul 2020
Pros:
Well, nothing... as we didn’t get the car.Cons:
We could have gotten the car10.0 Wonderful
Jun 2020
Pros:
Beautiful C Class for an awesome price2.0 Poor
Jun 2020
Pros:
Well, I was supposed to pick up the car at 1 pm (as the working hours based on the information on your website kayak.com were 9am-1pm). But when I arrived at the location 15 mins before 1pm, it was closed and the sign on the door was saying that the working hours are 9am-12 pm!!!!! So please update your website and do not waste people’s time during this hard days!!!2.0 Poor
Feb 2020
Pros:
NothingCons:
They didnt have a vehicle for me when i arrived they said they had nothing and couldnt help. Didnt even offer to help me.Avis
7.8
Good
292 reviewsCleanliness
8.3
Comfort
8.1
Pick-up/Drop-off
7.6
Value for money
7.5
6 locations in Calgary
from $164/day
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Reviews
10.0 Wonderful
Oct 2022
10.0 Wonderful
Oct 2022
6.4 Okay
Jul 2020
Cons:
Zero customer service from the drop off location at YYC Rude, unhelpful and disrespectful Never again6.0 Okay
Sep 2019
Cons:
You guys actually communicating with them10.0 Wonderful
Sep 2019
Pros:
Drop off difficult to find in the dark after hours as small office6.0 Okay
Sep 2019
Pros:
The staff was helpful, basically just completed the reservation process.Cons:
The wait time was too long, 1 hour to be exact. There were not enough agents to assist customers who had reservations. And more importantly, there was not an apology or explanation for the reason. People are eager to forgive if given the opportunity but only more upset if not.Hertz
7.7
Good
314 reviewsCleanliness
8.3
Comfort
8.0
Pick-up/Drop-off
7.5
Value for money
7.3
5 locations in Calgary
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Reviews
10.0 Wonderful
Nov 2022
10.0 Wonderful
Sep 2022
10.0 Wonderful
Dec 2022
6.0 Okay
Dec 2021
6.0 Okay
Dec 2021
10.0 Wonderful
Oct 2021
Budget
7.0
Good
241 reviewsCleanliness
7.6
Comfort
7.7
Pick-up/Drop-off
6.9
Value for money
6.9
10 locations in Calgary
Locations in Calgary
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Reviews
4.0 Mediocre
Mar 2023
8.0 Very Good
Mar 2023
10.0 Wonderful
Oct 2022
2.0 Poor
Oct 2022
10.0 Wonderful
Oct 2022
8.0 Very Good
Oct 2022
Driving Force
9.6
Wonderful
38 reviewsCleanliness
10.0
Comfort
10.0
Pick-up/Drop-off
9.5
Value for money
9.0
2 locations in Calgary
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Reviews
10.0 Wonderful
Aug 2018
Pros:
The 2016 Surburban LTZ reserved was exactly what we needed to transport 7 with carry-on size luggage on a trip from Calgary to Kelowna. I called in a few months before to ask for either a Surburban or Yukon XL so it was great that Driving Force was able to accommodate my needs. This vehicle had all the added bells and whistles such as, adaptive cruise control, pretty good fuel mileage for it's size, collision sensors, A/C seats (front only), and a pretty bumping sound system. It definitely made it easier for me to feel safe and confident enough to drive the SUV since I normally drive a Mazda 3 so it was a big change for me.Cons:
Honestly nothing to complain about!8.4 Very Good
Jul 2018
Pros:
Great customer service at pick up. Shuttle service. Nice vehicle.Cons:
Unexpected extra fees, not included in Kayak quote...final cost was $100 MORE...NOT HAPPY ABOUT THAT. Rental company blamed Kayak for not informing me about those fees. I won’t book through Kayak or that company again...not cool to be overcharged.10.0 Wonderful
Jul 2018
Pros:
Friendly and easy going staff. We made a few modifications to our booking over the course of a few days and the staff were more than accommodating to our requests. They were a pleasure to deal with and I will look no where else on returning to Calgary for car rental.Cons:
Nothing..8.4 Very Good
Jan 2018
Pros:
I rented a Yukon XL and it was a 2018 with 2K km's. It was loaded with everything including a DVD which was great for a long drive.Cons:
They overbooked my reservation that I had for 6 weeks. They tried to slough off a Ford Transit instead, but after I refused they miraculously found my reservation at another location. I had to drive there to pick it up, but after that all was good.6.0 Okay
Sep 2017
Cons:
The vehicle has many blind spots and the automatic side mirror adjustment when reversing was inconvenient4.8 Mediocre
Sep 2017
Cons:
If you take the shuttle from the airport there is approximately $50+ extra charges for "airport taxes", making this rental more costly than other car rentals conveniently right at airport. This charge is not included when booking car. Beware.Thrifty
8.0
Very Good
73 reviewsMost popular
Cleanliness
8.1
Comfort
8.1
Pick-up/Drop-off
7.9
Value for money
7.7
4 locations in Calgary
from $86/day
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2.0 Poor
Feb 2021
Cons:
I rented a car through kayak only to be told by the vendor on arrival that they were sold out and the online merchant who sold the deal to me neglected to give them any contact so that they could let me know. This was discovered after my ride left leaving me stranded on an unfamiliar road in an unfamiliar city in the cold at 5 PM when essentially everything was shutting down and derailing my plans completely. It looks like you over sold and now are pawning me off on the third party (carrentals.com) for resolution “in a few days.” The reservation was paid in advance for a rental that KAYAK was claiming to guarantee and failed to deliver. On your own website you write “we work hard as the world’s leading travel search engine to get our users the information they need so they can plan trips the way they want, confidently.” In big bold letters no less! What a crock, this was my first experience booking through you and I’ll be sure to tell everyone I know about my experience with KAYAK. Finally I request again you either secure a car so I may complete my delayed travel or refund what I paid. Thank you.10.0 Wonderful
Aug 2020
Pros:
Carlos was amazing. So helpful and professional. Thank you!!9.2 Wonderful
Nov 2019
Pros:
Great staff, the lot is very tight even hard to turn around when dropping off. Other than that awesome.Cons:
Not sure they would need to increase the lot size.5.6 Fair
Aug 2019
Pros:
Staff readily available. Car ready to go.Cons:
Bait and switch not appreciated. Printed quote we had from Thrifty.com was not honored and went up by $60 at pick up. All manner of fast-talking reasons were cited, all of which had already been accounted for when we got the quote online. Branch or quote software needs examination.8.4 Very Good
Jun 2019
Pros:
Staff were nice. Upgrade was fantastic.Cons:
Locations downtown were inconvenient to get to in the big cities but it was more expensive to get from the airport.9.2 Wonderful
Jun 2019
Pros:
Calgary staff was very helpful.Cons:
a) I was “upgraded” from a Corolla type size to a Grand Caravan mini van. I had been hoping for a smaller car rather than the larger minivan. b) I was surprised that the dropoff location closed at 5 PM. Although there was a key dropoff box one does not really know if everything is okDollar
7.3
Good
85 reviewsCleanliness
8.0
Comfort
7.9
Pick-up/Drop-off
7.4
Value for money
6.9
4 locations in Calgary
from $116/day
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Reviews
10.0 Wonderful
Apr 2021
Pros:
Manu at Calgary airport did an awesome job. Great service !Cons:
Nothing, everything was perfect.2.0 Poor
Feb 2021
Pros:
NothingCons:
Dollar rental car did not have a car to give me, so when i arrived they could not provide the service confirmed.7.6 Good
Jan 2020
Pros:
Staff was great. Good value. Convenient location.Cons:
Make sure all vehicles have apple car play. It is safer for travellers and others on the road. Also figure out your lot it is always hard to get in and out. Dangerous even.4.0 Mediocre
Sep 2018
Pros:
Not much at all.Cons:
We waited in line for 20 minutes only to be told they had no car for us. They walked us down to Hertz where we waited another 30 minutes in line only to be told we had to wait for a car. We waited 45 minutes. We ended up arriving to our destination over an hour late and missing an important dinner. The car itself was fine, but we will never rent from dollar again - when you add in the list time and missed dinner with colleagues, this was a very expensive rental and one we don’t want to repeat. There was no apology and no explanation - they oversold and did nothing.6.8 Okay
Mar 2018
Pros:
Friendly professional desk staff.Cons:
The car has a slow leak in the right front tire. I wish I'd paid better attention to ensure the care had cruise control. Leaving the parkade on foot involves a trip through a nasty old stairwell and corridor where I thought I might get stabbed. The frost scraper was badly chipped and mostly useless. If pickup/dropoff was an option, I wasn't made aware of it.7.6 Good
Nov 2017
Cons:
Car was not vacuumed - possibly because I picked it up a few hours earlyAce
6.1
Okay
30 reviewsCleanliness
7.3
Comfort
7.6
Pick-up/Drop-off
6.5
Value for money
6.6
One location in Calgary
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2.0 Poor
Mar 2023
4.0 Mediocre
Mar 2021
Pros:
The actual car was niceCons:
The car reaked of the guys cologne, it was also dirty when he gave it to us. The guy was not very friendly and when he dropped us off back at the airport, I had asked him if he could drop us near the taxi section and he dropped us off in a dead zone of the airport really far from the taxis with all our luggage and skis...2.0 Poor
Sep 2019
Cons:
They could have provided the car for me that I had reserved. They said I would be inconvenienced but they did not have a car for me and did nothing to help me out.10.0 Wonderful
Sep 2018
Pros:
Safety and ComfortCons:
It is a big vehicle to park10.0 Wonderful
Jul 2018
Pros:
I was very hesitant to book with Ace after reading the reviews but they were half the price of other rental cars so I figured I’d try it. I was pleasantly surprised. I had to wait a bit to get my car when I arrived in Vancouver but when I did it was a brand new Jeep which was a free upgrade from what I reserved. I had no problems on the drive from Vancouver to Calgary (and all the sightseeing trips in between). When I dropped off the car the staff even gave us a ride to the hotel, saving us cab or Uber fare. Thanks!!5.6 Fair
Jan 2018
Pros:
Value.Cons:
Pickup and dropoff experience. Car availability.Europcar
8.6
Very Good
7 reviewsCleanliness
8.6
Comfort
8.6
Pick-up/Drop-off
8.6
Value for money
7.3
2 locations in Calgary
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8.0 Very Good
Jan 2019
Pros:
Excellent suv handled snow in the rockies very wellCons:
Nothing6.0 Okay
Feb 2018
Pros:
Ultimately the truck was really dopeCons:
Couldn’t find the shop easily because it was named discount rentals with no street signage of europcar. When we arrived they didn’t have the car we ordered and uphold us to a truck. That I was three hours late to get the car shouldn’t have been an issue, my planes were delayed so I was delayed.10.0 Wonderful
Oct 2017
Pros:
We were allowed to drop off at 40 Hopewell Way NE. a location closer to the airport. Tony He and Ravdeep Singh were professional and cordial. They proceeded to inspect the vehicle and process through. We were shuttle to the airport immediately. ALL RENTAL EXPERIENCE SHOULD BE THIS WAY. EXCELLENT!National
8.5
Very Good
22 reviewsCleanliness
8.4
Comfort
8.2
Pick-up/Drop-off
8.5
Value for money
8.7
3 locations in Calgary
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5.2 Fair
Sep 2019
Pros:
The weangler jerpCons:
The cidf4.0 Mediocre
Mar 2019
Pros:
The vehicle was smooth ride,give all the credit on this rental to Nissan for amazing eco fuel car they build.Cons:
check the Rental agreement and paper work of the rental they give to costumers who pay lots of money to prevent alot of trouble can led in9.2 Wonderful
Aug 2018
Pros:
Reasonable gas return rate of $1.89Cons:
No gas station close to the airport and was forced to fill upon return at NATIONAL. No fault of the rental company but, an inconvenience and added cost none the less.10.0 Wonderful
Aug 2018
Pros:
Great car and service. price was decent too. customer service was positive. free upgrade to larger carCons:
nothing. it was all good.10.0 Wonderful
Jul 2018
Pros:
Customer service was superior and in and out was quick. The vehicle was what was advertised. Great price!Cons:
Nothing.2.8 Poor
Apr 2018
Pros:
Very Friendly helpful staff in Winnipeg, however the van we rented was not up to highway standards. the back wiper didn't work properly. Not worth the price we paid. There was no staff to return the vehicle to, was difficult to find return location.Routes Car & Truck Rentals
7.2
Good
19 reviewsCleanliness
7.3
Comfort
7.8
Pick-up/Drop-off
6.2
Value for money
7.2
One location in Calgary
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6.4 Okay
Oct 2020
Pros:
Car is clean. Drop of was very easy and convenient.Cons:
When we got to the airport we had to wait for two hours before getting the car because they didn't have any available.2.0 Poor
Sep 2020
Pros:
staff let you read the fine print.Cons:
AVOID this rental car. have all sorts of hidden fees . while booking, it was 'unlimited mileage'. then because i am an Albertan renting in Calgary, it is 200kms per day and have to pay for extra mileage. RIPPED OFF , Used another rental agency last week to go to Victoria BC with real 'unlimited mileage"- well now i know how ROUTES works, i will never ever rent a car there. i actually declined and cancelled the car rental on that day, i went to another agency and get another car for unlimited mileage almost the same price. AVOID this agency !4.0 Mediocre
Sep 2020
Pros:
no commentsCons:
They have hidden fees, while booking, it was supposed to be unlimited mileage however since i am an Albertan ,it is not unlimited, it is 200kms per day and the agent told me you should have read the fine print . Thats fine! i missed it , i thought it would be "unlimited mileage" as it states . I rented a van from another agency a week ago in calgary , we went to VICTORIA BC with unlimited mileage . So folks, avoid this company , its ripped off - choose a better rental company !8.0 Very Good
Apr 2019
Pros:
staff were good10.0 Wonderful
Mar 2019
Pros:
Yes it was easy to find. Friendly staff as well.Cons:
Not much everything was great.10.0 Wonderful
Mar 2019
Pros:
Shuttle from the airport. Customer service was great. Only a 500 deposit in Calgary vs 1500 deposit in Mississauga.One location in Calgary
from $103/dayLocations in Calgary
Calgary airport
+1 587 885 8888
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Reviews
6.0 Okay
Apr 2023
2.0 Poor
Mar 2023
8.0 Very Good
Mar 2023
10.0 Wonderful
Mar 2023
7.9 Good
Sep 2021
2.0 Poor
May 2023
One location in Calgary
Locations in Calgary
Calgary International Airport Via Shuttle
+1 403 291 4666
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2.0 Poor
Jun 2019
Pros:
It's honestly hard for me to think of something I liked. The lady who picked us up from the airport was nice. Overall it was horrible.Cons:
It says they are at the airport, but they are actually 20 minutes from the airport, after you have to wait 20-30 minutes for them to pick you up. Coming back to the airport you need to factor in at least an hour because they only have one small shuttle and you do not know where it will be in route.2.0 Poor
May 2019
Cons:
Shuttle never showed up at airport to pick up because my pickup time was close to closing. Reservation had incorrect phone for car rental place. Number was to a local hotel, therefore getting direct contact with car rental was a hassle. Had to book a car with different company at airport.4.0 Mediocre
Apr 2019
Cons:
The car was not safe to be on the road. Tires were completely bare.2.0 Poor
Feb 2019
Cons:
Bait and switch for rental car Insurance2.4 Poor
Dec 2018
Pros:
I liked that we were able to have unlimited driving allowance. It was a bonus having a vehicle with command start.Cons:
The vehicle didn't have bluetooth. The windshield had cracks in it and continued to crack as small chunks of snow hit the windshield (it was a Jeep). When I booked the rental, I received a detailed invoice stating I would be charged $137 CAD but when I went to pick up the car, I was charged $178 CAD. When I brought it up, I was told I had to call in to the website which was closed. It was upsetting ever since we picked up the car. I would not recommend Economy Rent a Car to anyone. I would gladly pay more to have a better experience at just about any other rental agency.6.8 Okay
Nov 2018
Pros:
The price is very good, and the staff was friendly. They even called the night before to see what time I landed and asked for my flight info going over what their pickup process was going to be.Cons:
This company takes a while to pick you up and get you to their offsite location (20-30 min) which is a small room inside a hotel. The car didn’t have enough windshield washing fluid which could have made the trip up the mountains very dangerous if I didn’t catch it while I was still near civilization. They were very picky while checking the condition of the car with me. Had me use my phone flashlight as it was dark out so they could write down ever scratch and chip on the body (and there ended up being a considerable amount) which makes me glad that I took the insurance (who knows if they missed a tiny scratch?) The vehicle was past due on an oil change for over 2,000 km at the time of pick up. My reservation was for a Toyota rav 4 or similar ( I love Toyota’s) and their only options were a dodge pickup truck, or 3 types of kia’s.5 locations in Calgary
Locations in Calgary
140 17th Avenue SE Alberta
+1 403 299 1201
Calgary Airport
+1 403 299 1201
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5 locations in Calgary
Locations in Calgary
Filters
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2 locations in Calgary
Locations in Calgary
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One location in Calgary
Locations in Calgary
Calgary International Airport
+54 9 11 5259 9877
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One location in Calgary
Locations in Calgary
3863 54 Avenue NE
+1 403 407 2400
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No reviews available
One location in Calgary
Locations in Calgary
2021 100 Avenue NE
+1 334 170 8243
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No reviews available
One location in Calgary
Locations in Calgary
57 freeport cres NE
+1 587 393 0709
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No reviews available
One location in Calgary
Locations in Calgary
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No reviews available
1852 travellers who rented a car in Calgary gave the car agency they used an average rating of 7.8
Car hire locations in or near Calgary
Good to know
Most popular agency | Thrifty |
|---|---|
Most popular car type | Intermediate |
Average price | $119/day |
Good deal | $98/day |
When to book a car hire in Calgary
Average daily price per month
Car hire prices as pick-up date approaches