Is it possible to rent a car in Canada and drop it off in the US?

[mama_scraps]

Flights are expensive for our trip right now so we are considering driving down and flying back. Could anyone tell me if it's possible to rent a car here (we live near Ottawa) and drop it off in the US?

 

[ccudmore]

Flights are expensive for our trip right now so we are considering driving down and flying back. Could anyone tell me if it's possible to rent a car here (we live near Ottawa) and drop it off in the US?

Even if it's possible, there will be a huge one-way fee. For example a few years ago I rented a car in Saskatoon and dropped it off in Vancouver. The one-way fee was $700 (that's beyond the cost of the actual car rental).

 

[mama_scraps]

Hadn't thought of that! Guess I'll scrap that plan.

 

[ChisJo]

I know you can't rent a car in the states and drop it off in canada...we learned that the hard way...I would assume it would be the same reversed.

 

[stefanospops]

You could consider driving your car to a US airport and rent a car there. Not sure what the closest airport is to Ottawa, but if you rent a car from there to MCO you should hopefully be able to get a less expensive flight back at the same time.

 

[shassta]

Flights are expensive for our trip right now so we are considering driving down and flying back. Could anyone tell me if it's possible to rent a car here (we live near Ottawa) and drop it off in the US?

We drive down to either Portland, Maine or Boston to Fly to Orlando. We take our own vehicle and either park it at the airport (park and fly) or some of the hotels will let you park it there either free or for a daily charge. (We paid $7 a night for it) We stayed in the hotel the night before as it was an early morning flight. This could end up cheaper for you than renting a car.

 

[minnie56]

Not sure if this would work where you are..DH is flying out of Buffalo this Thurs and renting a car to drive back with our daughter (and her STUFF) who has been working at WDW for a year. Renting a full size in Orlando and dropping back at Buffalo where our car will be parked for the drive home...got the car for $86 ( ish ) one way.

 

[Tower]

Rented a car from National a few years ago for a trip to North Bay while mine was in the shop. It had U.S. plates! Didn't ask.

Another thing you may want to try out is www.torontodriveaway.com. Click on the Become a Driver link at the top. If it's one or 2 of you, you can fly down and drive a snowbird's car back to Canada. We did the opposite in November 10 years ago and it worked out well for us.

 

[Moonies]

Well we are renting a car in toronto and dropping it off in buffalo. What I did was when i went to expedia, it gives you the option to select where you are picking up the car, and has an option for if the drop off point is different from your pick up point. you just have to be aware that not every company does this, and that car selection is selective at best.

 

[minnie56]

We used to do Toronto Driveaway often...thought of it this time to bring DD's things back but they advised that the owners now fill the trunks etc with their own belongings and that wouldn't have left room for any of hers!! Sooo....wouldn't work this trip

 

[aristocat65]

I know you can't rent a car in the states and drop it off in canada...we learned that the hard way...I would assume it would be the same reversed.

Yes, we also found this out when we rented a car in Portland, OR to drive home after a coastal cruise. At the border the guard of course asked if it was our car and we said it was a rental. She was very nice and said she'd look the other way as it was obviously a rental and we were dropping it off at YVR directly. She did tell us that we were essentially importing the car as Canadians bringing a US car back and not to do this again.

My brother in law is American and has flown into SEA before and rented a car and driven over the border and it's not problem as he isn't Canadian. I would think it would be the same for you as a Canadian taking a Canadian rental car into the States. It shouldn't be an issue. People rent motorhomes in Canada and drive over the border for road trips, and its the same thing. Check with US customs to make sure.

 

[mama_scraps]

We drive down to either Portland, Maine or Boston to Fly to Orlando. We take our own vehicle and either park it at the airport (park and fly) or some of the hotels will let you park it there either free or for a daily charge. (We paid $7 a night for it) We stayed in the hotel the night before as it was an early morning flight. This could end up cheaper for you than renting a car.

Right now prices are not cheaper for us (group of 7). Believe me, we've been looking!

You could consider driving your car to a US airport and rent a car there. Not sure what the closest airport is to Ottawa, but if you rent a car from there to MCO you should hopefully be able to get a less expensive flight back at the same time.

Great idea! We're most likely flying from Syracuse or Buffalo. So it might be much cheaper for us to drive from there and then fly home. I'll have to look into renting a vehicle there. So glad you mentioned this!

 

[siobhan1997]

We did it picked up a car at the Ottawa airport and dropped it off at the Syracuse airport. We used National they gave us a brand new Lincoln MKS to drive, we only booked a midsize but had Emerald Aisle. When we got to the Syracuse airport the attendant said I think I will keep this one for myself. My DH wanted to drive it to Fort Lauderale instead of flying LOL. Then instead of flying back to Syracuse we actually flew back to Ottawa. It was awesome

 

[webworm]

Right now prices are not cheaper for us (group of 7). Believe me, we've been looking!




Great idea! We're most likely flying from Syracuse or Buffalo. So it might be much cheaper for us to drive from there and then fly home. I'll have to look into renting a vehicle there. So glad you mentioned this!

What are your dates of travel?

 

[siobhan1997]

Even if it's possible, there will be a huge one-way fee. For example a few years ago I rented a car in Saskatoon and dropped it off in Vancouver. The one-way fee was $700 (that's beyond the cost of the actual car rental).

Our entire rental for one way from Ottawa airport to Syracuse airport was only $99.00

 

[mama_scraps]

What are your dates of travel?

Aug 28-Sept 4

 

[stefanospops]

As a previous poster said, it may be easier to fly there and drive back. Flights going from SYR to MCO on August 28 are $149 if you leave in the evening or $199 if you fly first thing in the morning (per person). Coming back it is $238 for a morning flight of $169 for an evening flight. This said, the cost to rent the car is likely going to be more than the return flight from Orlando to Syracuse. When I plug in your dates on Jetblue's site I get a cost of $339.40 return per person. On expedia the cost to rent a compact from Budget is like $550. So unless you are doing it to "see the sights" along the drive, it is actually less expensive to just fly both ways.

Another thing I have thought of is called the Autotrain. (http://www.amtrak.com/servlet/ContentServer?c=AM_Route_C&pagename=am/Layout&cid=1241245666320)

This can save a fair bit of time for the drive but still costs about the same as flying. Good luck whatever you decide!

 

[iluveeyore]

Also check rental companies for one-way deals (although most are only 1-2 months from travel dates as they are kind of last minute). We just flew down from Buffalo and then drove back from Orlando and got a one-way special with Hertz for $5 day - we had the car for the whole week we were there and paid only $80 for 8 day rental. You could drive from home to Buffalo, leave your car there, fly down on one of the cheaper airlines (we luv SWA), then possibly drive back up to Buffalo, then drive your own car home. I would also look into driving from home to the nearest US airport and just flying roundtrip - lots of flights are $99 with SWA and Airtran one-way. And SWA doesn't charge for luggage and you can change your flights with no change fee. Happy planning!

 

[minnie56]

As I posted earlier in this thread..DH flew SW from Buffalo and rented a car to drive home with Enterprise I believe it was. He had the car Thurs morning to Sat nite dropping at Buffalo, Int'l where his car was parked. The car rental total was $86 ..the fuel for one way though added up to $300 plus of course one nights hotel along the way. Just FYI...

 

[mama_scraps]

Just came back to say thanks for the help. We found flights for a good price from Buffalo ($109 pp, Southwest from Buffalo). Just waiting for a good return price. Husband decided that he does not want to drive home!