Car Hire at Nova Scotia Airport

Halifax Stanfield International Airport (YHZ) is the main gateway for international arrivals, with hire counters for Alamo, Avis, Budget, Dollar, Enterprise, Hertz, National, and Thrifty located on the lower level of the airport parkade — allow 30 to 60 minutes from deplaning to driving away, particularly during peak summer months when demand is highest. Cape Breton Island is served by Sydney/J.A. Douglas McCurdy Airport (YQY), where Avis, Budget, Enterprise, and National maintain desks near baggage claim; Yarmouth International Airport (YQI) in the southwest has Enterprise as its sole provider, so pre-booking there is essential. Nova Scotia has two notable toll situations: the Cobequid Pass on Highway 104 charges CAD 4.00 per crossing for out-of-province vehicles, and the Angus L. Macdonald and A. Murray MacKay bridges between Halifax and Dartmouth each charge CAD 1.00 per crossing — many hire cars carry a MacPass transponder, and the company bills bridge crossings after the hire ends. Fuel is priced by the litre; at roughly CAD 1.50–1.80 per litre, filling a 60-litre tank runs CAD 90–108. A credit card in the primary driver's name is required at pickup for the authorisation hold, which typically ranges from CAD 250 to CAD 750 depending on the brand and vehicle class. Drivers whose licences use a non-Latin script should carry an International Driving Permit.