Canada Car hire ONE WAY TRIP COST? Recommend?

[PLANT]

Hi all,

Looking at ONE WAY fromn Vancouver to Calgary car hire 7 days.
Used Novacarhire.com for Quote at $306
BUT when enquired about ONE WAY FEE informed that it will be $300!
Is there a better option like we have over here of ONE WAY CAR HIRE?
Or a company that calculates all INSURANCE costs in QUOTE and will get me there without the fee?

Regards

 

[PLANT]

Any codes?

 

[ashleyn]

I booked the same trip last year on line and the quote was acceptable. On pickup at Vancouver they tried to slug me with another $400 one way fee but I pulled out my paperwork and they backed down.

 

[drron]

I was checking prices for our Canadian trip next year with Avis-I have Avis preferred.So I looked up your route and picked a random week in September-the all up price with insurance was $A305 if paid up front.This was for a Hyunda Accent.A chevy Impala was ~$400.This was without my number in so with no codes.
You can choose other car rental companies and look up their UK sites(.co.uk).They are usually cheaper than elsewhere.

 

[PLANT]

Well I rang Avis and looked online.
Currently 20% for Australians renting in Canada (Coupon).
Said insurance is different to USA and that $300 is the only excess.
Got a quote for $550.26 ONE WAY with RNS and LDW and told final amount...have reference number to book...airport to airport.
Customer service office in AUSTRALIA "Never been out of Australia", cannot contact Canada or speak to supervisor(someone been there done that)but assures me no more TAXES\FEE\small print!
Yet when I QUOTE online it comes up in red writing((One-Way Fee is subject to tax in certain locations. This tax is not reflected in the Estimated Total)????
​Could not tell me if windows, tyres and undercarriage covered.
Did say DIRT road not covered....um will I be on them over there?
Anyone got an email address to AVIS Canada rental ?

THE PAY NOW option does not seem to work online for Australians????? Provide link as when I change to Australia(not american)???
Get QFF points
Comments please

 

[ashleyn]

Vancouver to Calgary, sealed roads all the way. Canada has a hefty GST that is not included in most prices so be aware of that. On the up side, tipping is not expected.

 

[drron]

Try Car Hire from Avis Rent A Car | Avis Car Hire UK - Car Rental
They dont care if you are Australian-I have used this method quite a few times.Went through to the pay page and a one way fee did not come up.Using the Australian Avis site can be more expensive even for rentals in Australia than the UK site.
Once I made a mistake and had to ring UK Avis.They knew I was Australian but it was no problem and it was pleasant and efficient as well.Apart from that call all my bookings have been online through the UK website.The car has always been waiting for me.Used them in the US,NZ and Australia.

 

[mushypeas]

Canada has a hefty GST that is not included in most prices so be aware of that.

5% GST is a killer.....

And tipping is most definitely expected throughout Canada.

 

[ashleyn]

Must disagree dave, if fact I was told by hotel staff on arrival that tipping is not expected and that proved to be the case for us (last year)

 

[Maca44]

I have been to Canada more than 20 times, and just like the USA tipping is expected. Whether you do it or not is up to you, but it is expected.

 

[ashleyn]

That's really interesting Maca and as I've only been once I must defer to your experience but that's not what I found or was told.

 

[Sprucegoose]

I have been to Canada more than 20 times, and just like the USA tipping is expected. Whether you do it or not is up to you, but it is expected.

My word it is expected. But those guys earn a better wages than the yanks, that's the whole point of tipping in the States right, as it forms part of their income ?

I find Vancouver an expensive city as it stands before tipping. Are they taking the p@ss?

 

[drron]

Haven't spent much time in Canada but if someone looks like they expect a tip you can say "boy so it's true,Canadians are really the same as Americans".They will leave but you do run the risk of having your lights put out!

 

[dfcatch]

SWMBO is Canadian and was aghast when a friend and I were in Whistler and I texted her to gauge our proposal not to leave any tip as the service we received was atrocious......

She almost killed me through the iphone at my suggestion.

Quote "You should tip minimum 10% even if it was horrible service".

Given that BC is the 7th Australian state, and Whistler is an Australian Protectorate - I chose to leave a very obvious 3% tip

 

[PLANT]

Seeking info on what FF to put down for National car hire. ie is there a ONE World Virgin alliance one to go for?
Have reserved through Vancouver National and found communication ordinary via emails.
Avis came in at $550 but National came in at initially $421 BUT told I could not pickup from cruise ship location?
Had to use PREMIUM location Sandman Hotel which put it up to $489 for 6 days including LDW and RNS insurances, Unlimited Kms.