What are your driving licence requirements for car hire in Canada?
Customers who reside in Canada must present a valid, unexpired government-issued driving licence with a photo of the customer securing the car hire. The driving licence must be valid for the entire care hire period. Digital licences are not accepted.
Members of the United States Armed Forces who are on active duty and stationed in Canada may present an expired home state licence under the following conditions:
- They present an Active Military ID.
- They follow their military extension policy of the state which issued the licence. These policies vary by state and customers are encouraged to check with the appropriate department of motor vehicles for more information.
International renters travelling to Canada
It is important that customers check with the appropriate Department of Motor Vehicles in the State/s or Province/s in which they intend to travel to ensure compliance with their various licensing laws. The following practices are used to ensure that the customer is presenting a valid licence at the time of rental. Customers travelling to Canada from another country must present the following:
- Their home country driving licence that is valid, unexpired and includes a photograph. Digital licences are not accepted.
- If the home country driving licence is in a language other than English (or French, for rentals in Canada) and the letters are English (i.e. German, Spanish etc.) an International Driving Permit is recommended, but not required, for translation purposes in addition to the home country driving licence.
- If the home country driving licence is in a language other than English and the letters are not English (i.e. alphabet is not an extended Latin-based alphabet like German or Spanish but is Russian, Japanese, Arabic etc.) an International Driving Permit is required.
- If an International Driving Permit cannot be obtained in the home country, another professional, type-written translation may be substituted. In either case, the home country driving licence must also be presented.
- Customers may not rent a vehicle solely with the International Driving Permit. The International Driving Permit is a translation of the individual's home country driving licence and is not considered a licence nor is it considered valid identification.
- Customers may be asked to provide additional valid government-issued documentation in some locations. These locations include, but are not limited to, Arizona, California, Georgia, New Mexico, Nevada, Texas and Colorado.
Please Note:
- Photocopies of driving licences are not accepted.
- Provisional licences are not accepted.
- Any licence which, on its face, restricts the licensee to the use and operation of a vehicle equipped with a form of a breathalyser apparatus is not accepted.
- Temporary driving licences may be refused if the renting location is unable to otherwise verify the customer's identity or verify the authenticity of the temporary licence. Additional government-issued identification may be required.
