VERIFIED REVIEWS
Frequently Asked Questions
What does my SUV hire in Toronto through Hola Car Rentals include that other companies don't offer?
Hola Car Rentals is a premium partner of the leading car hire companies in Toronto, giving you exclusive access to our All Inclusive+ rate. This rate includes extra benefits that no other company can match:
- Full vehicle coverage with no excess (applies only to certain rates and itineraries)
- Toll cashback: get back up to 5% of your total booking value for tolls charged during your hire
- Premium travel medical assistance for up to 5 passengers in case of emergency, covering up to CAD 200,000 (pre-existing conditions excluded)
- No Extra Charges© guarantee: if the counter charges you for something not listed on your confirmation and not an optional add-on you accepted, Hola Car Rentals will work to remove or reimburse the charge after verification
All at no additional cost, ensuring a unique hire experience with complete protection and peace of mind during your trip in Toronto.
Will I face unexpected charges when I hire an SUV in Toronto through Hola Car Rentals?
No. With Hola Car Rentals, all costs and charges for your booking in Toronto are clearly shown at the time of reservation and in your confirmation email, so you know exactly what you are paying before you arrive at the counter.
On top of that, every Hola Car Rentals booking includes the No Extra Charges© guarantee. This is a pricing guarantee (not insurance) that protects you if the counter in Toronto charges you for something that was not listed on your confirmation and was not an optional add-on you accepted. If that happens, Hola Car Rentals will work with the hire partner to remove or reimburse the charge after verification.
The only costs outside this guarantee are:
- Optional add-ons you choose at the counter (GPS, child seats, prepaid fuel)
- Usage-based charges (tolls, fuel shortfall, traffic fines)
How do I pick up my SUV hire at Toronto Pearson Airport (YYZ)?
All hire car counters at Toronto Pearson International Airport are located at the Car Hire Centre at Viscount Station, next to the ALT Hotel. There are no on-terminal counters, so every SUV renter must take the LINK Train to reach them.
- From Terminal 1: after collecting your luggage, follow signs for the LINK Train and Ground Transportation, then board towards Viscount Station.
- From Terminal 3: follow signs for the LINK Train after baggage claim and take it to Viscount Station.
- The LINK Train is free, runs 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and departs every 4 to 8 minutes.
- The train journey takes approximately 5 minutes; total door-to-counter time is roughly 10 to 15 minutes.
Once at Viscount Station, walk to the Car Hire Centre and go directly to your hire company's counter to complete paperwork and collect your Toronto SUV. Hire counter hours vary by company, so check your booking confirmation for specific hours.
Are there toll roads I need to know about when hiring an SUV in Toronto?
Yes, there is one major toll road that SUV renters in Toronto should be aware of: Highway 407 ETR, a privately operated, all-electronic highway spanning 108 km across the Greater Toronto Area.
- The 407 ETR is 100% cashless. There are no toll booths. Tolls are collected by photographing the licence plate of your hire SUV.
- Other major highways in the Toronto area, including the 401, 400, and QEW, are toll-free.
- For a sample 25 km peak-period trip on the 407, costs can reach approximately CAD 30.45, including a base toll, a trip charge, and a camera charge for vehicles without a transponder.
- Weekend and holiday rates for light vehicles range from roughly 49.93 pence to 87.27 pence per km depending on the zone and time of day.
Your hire company may offer a daily toll pass programme (typically CAD 3.95 to CAD 15 per day, sometimes capped per hire). If you drive the 407 without enrolling, the hire company will bill the toll to your card plus an administrative fee. GPS devices sometimes default to the 407 for speed, so check your route before driving your Toronto SUV onto it.
What documents do I need to pick up an SUV hire in Toronto?
To collect your SUV hire in Toronto, you must bring the following physical documents to the counter:
- A valid, original driver’s licence (not a digital copy or temporary licence). Temporary licences are not accepted in Canada.
- A major credit card with the main driver’s name printed on the card, used for the security deposit hold.
- A passport or valid government-issued photo ID.
- Your booking confirmation or printed voucher if required by your hire company.
- Round-trip flight or cruise tickets if you are visiting from abroad.
If your driver’s licence is not in English and does not use a Latin alphabet (for example, Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, or Cyrillic script), an International Driving Permit (IDP) is mandatory alongside your original licence. For licences in English or using a Latin alphabet, an IDP is recommended but not strictly required. Obtain your IDP in your home country before travelling to Toronto, as it cannot be issued abroad. All documents must be physical originals; digital versions are not accepted at the Toronto SUV hire counter.
Can I get toll cashback when hiring an SUV in Toronto?
Yes, all bookings include Tolls Cashback, which lets you recover up to 5% of your total booking value for tolls paid during your Toronto SUV hire.
This is especially useful in Toronto because the 407 ETR toll highway runs across the Greater Toronto Area and charges are billed per kilometre, meaning costs can add up quickly for SUV renters covering longer distances.
- You still pay tolls normally during your hire, either through the hire company’s toll programme or via plate-based billing on the 407 ETR.
- After returning your SUV, email [email protected] within 30 days with your Hola Car Rentals confirmation, your signed hire agreement, and a receipt or statement showing the toll charges.
- The refund is capped at 5% of your booking total. For example, if your booking total is US$600, the maximum cashback is US$30.
- Refunds are issued to your original payment method and typically process within 7 to 10 working days after approval.
Late submissions received after 30 days are not accepted, so keep your toll receipts and submit promptly after your Toronto SUV hire ends.
How much is the security deposit for an SUV hire in Toronto?
When you pick up your SUV hire in Toronto, the hire company will place a temporary authorisation hold on your credit card. For Canada, typical holds range from approximately CAD 300 to CAD 500, though some Toronto-area locations may require a minimum authorisation of around CAD 750, particularly for larger or premium SUV classes.
This hold is not a charge. It temporarily reduces your available credit and is released after you return the vehicle. Your bank controls how quickly the hold disappears from your statement, which can take up to 15 working days.
- Only a major physical credit card in the main driver’s name with the name printed on the card is accepted for the deposit. Debit, prepaid, and virtual cards are not accepted.
- Make sure your card has sufficient available credit to cover the hold plus any expected charges.
- Notify your bank of your travel to Canada to prevent fraud blocks on the in-person authorisation.
- Bring a backup credit card in case your primary card is declined at the Toronto SUV hire counter.
What extra fees and taxes apply to an SUV hire at Toronto Pearson Airport?
Hiring an SUV at Toronto Pearson Airport (YYZ) typically involves several fees on top of the base rate. These are standard for airport hires in Canada and are not unique to any one hire brand.
- Provincial Vehicle Licensing Fee (VLF): approximately 15% of the base rate.
- Airport concession recovery fee: roughly 12% to 15% of the base rate, or approximately CAD 20 to CAD 40 per day.
- Customer facility charge: approximately CAD 5 to CAD 10 per day.
- Toronto Vehicle Hire Tax: approximately 10%.
- Ontario HST (Harmonised Sales Tax): 13%, applied province-wide.
Combined, these surcharges can add 30% to 40% on top of the advertised base rate for an SUV hire at the airport in Toronto. If you want to reduce these fees, consider collecting your SUV at an off-airport location in the Greater Toronto Area, such as near Kipling GO Station, where concession fees do not apply and daily rates can be 20% to 35% lower. Your booking confirmation will show which fees are included in your prepaid rate and which are due at the counter.
Can I add an additional driver to my SUV hire in Toronto?
Yes, you can add an additional driver to your Toronto SUV hire, either as part of your rate or for a fee paid at the counter.
Some rates include one additional driver at no extra cost. Check your booking confirmation for the line that reads "Additional driver free of charge" to confirm whether yours qualifies.
If an additional driver is not included, fees at Toronto-area counters are typically:
- Avis, Budget, and Payless: CAD 13 per hire day, capped at CAD 65 per hire.
- Hertz, Thrifty, and Dollar: CAD 13.50 per hire day, capped at CAD 189 per hire.
- Alamo, National, and Enterprise: CAD 15 per day, with no stated cap.
The additional driver must be present at the Toronto SUV pickup counter with a valid driver’s licence and any required ID. Both the main driver and the additional driver must sign the hire agreement. Anyone who drives the SUV without being listed on the agreement will not be covered by the hire protections, including CDW and liability cover. For Avis, Budget, and Payless, additional drivers must be at least 25 years old.
Is third-party liability insurance included in an SUV hire in Toronto?
Yes, when you hire an SUV in Toronto through a partner brand, provincial law in Ontario requires every hire vehicle to carry third-party liability insurance by default. This statutory liability cover follows the vehicle and is included in your hire.
However, the default statutory minimum may not be sufficient for all situations. You can purchase supplementary liability insurance (LIS/ALI/SLI) to increase your cover limits up to US$300,000 or more, depending on the hire company.
- Third-party liability covers bodily injury and property damage you cause to others while driving your Toronto SUV.
- It does not cover damage to the hire SUV itself. For that, you need CDW or LDW.
- It does not cover your own injuries (that requires Personal Accident Insurance) or your belongings (Personal Effects Cover).
Review your booking confirmation to see what liability cover is included in your rate and whether upgrading to a higher limit is available at checkout or at the Toronto counter.
What travel assistance is included with my Toronto SUV hire booking?
Most bookings include travel assistance provided by Terrawind Global Protection, which can be valuable if something goes wrong during your Toronto SUV hire, such as a breakdown on the 407 ETR or a medical situation while driving in the Greater Toronto Area.
Core benefits typically include:
- Travel insurance with medical cover for up to 5 passengers.
- Legal assistance in the event of an accident.
- Compensation for luggage lost by the airline.
- Flight cancellation insurance.
To activate assistance, call the 24-hour line at +1 888 980 9992 (toll-free) or contact via WhatsApp at +1 208 910 1001. Have your Hola Car Rentals confirmation number ready when you call.
Important: this benefit does not apply to Canadian or US residents. It is designed for travellers visiting Toronto from outside North America. It also does not cover damage to the hire SUV itself (that is CDW/LDW) or third-party liability (that is LIS/SLI). Check your booking confirmation for the exact cover terms that apply to your reservation.
What fuel policy applies to SUV hires in Toronto?
SUV hires in Toronto follow a Full-to-Full fuel policy. You receive the SUV with a full tank and must return it full to avoid additional charges.
- At pickup, check the fuel gauge with the agent and confirm the starting level is recorded on the hire agreement. Take a photo of the dashboard showing the gauge and odometer.
- Use the correct fuel type for your SUV. Wrong-fuel incidents are not covered by the fuel policy and may generate additional charges.
- Before returning your Toronto SUV, refuel within approximately 15 km of the return location at Viscount Station so the gauge does not drop below full during the drive back.
- Keep your final fuel receipt showing the date, time, and station address.
If you return the SUV below the recorded starting level, the hire company may charge you for the fuel shortfall at their own refuelling rate, which is typically higher than the pump price, plus a refuelling service fee. Fuel prices in Toronto tend to run 10% to 15% above the Canadian national average due to provincial carbon taxes and Greater Toronto Area distribution costs, so budgeting for refuelling near the airport is worthwhile.
Do I need a credit card to hire an SUV in Toronto?
Yes, a major credit card is required to hire an SUV in Toronto. The card must be in the main driver’s name with the driver’s name physically printed on the card, and it must be presented in person at the counter.
- The credit card is used to place a temporary security hold of approximately CAD 300 to CAD 750, depending on the hire company and SUV class.
- Debit cards, prepaid cards, and virtual or single-use card numbers are not accepted for the deposit, even if you have already prepaid your booking online.
- Digital wallets such as Apple Pay or Google Pay are not accepted for the security hold at the Toronto SUV hire counter.
- The card must have sufficient available credit to cover the hold plus any expected charges during the hire.
Before travelling to Toronto, notify your bank that you will be making an in-person, high-value authorisation in Canada to prevent fraud blocks. Bringing a backup credit card in your own name is strongly recommended in case your primary card is declined at the counter.
Can I pick up an SUV in Toronto and return it in a different city?
Yes, one-way SUV hires in Toronto are possible, but a drop-off fee may apply depending on your return location, the hire company, and the vehicle class.
- Returning your Toronto SUV to another location within the same city or metropolitan area often carries no drop-off fee.
- Returning to a different city or province typically triggers a one-way fee, which varies by route, distance, and SUV class. Larger SUVs can carry higher repositioning fees.
- Cross-border one-way hires (for example, Toronto to a US city) may be restricted or require special authorisation from the hire company, and fees can be significantly higher when permitted.
The drop-off fee, if applicable, will be shown during the booking process under the "To pay at destination" section and will also appear on your booking confirmation. This fee cannot be prepaid and is settled at the counter when you pick up your Toronto SUV. If the counter charges a different amount than what your confirmation shows, keep all paperwork and contact support after the hire ends.
Are there any SUV-specific driving challenges to know about in Toronto?
Yes, driving an SUV in Toronto comes with a few practical considerations that are worth knowing before you set out.
- Highway 407 ETR is the only toll road in the Greater Toronto Area. Your hire SUV's plate will be photographed automatically if you use it, and charges plus administrative fees will be billed to your card. Other major highways such as the 401 and QEW are toll-free.
- The Gardiner Expressway has collector-distributor lanes that split near Humber Bay with limited signage, and the Don Valley Parkway uses reversible peak-hour lanes controlled by overhead signals. Both can be confusing on a first visit.
- Toronto has no congestion charges, emissions zones, or city-centre driving fees similar to London's ULEZ. Tolls are limited to the 407 ETR.
- Speed enforcement in school zones operates 24 hours a day via mobile radar, and photo radar is active on some arterial roads. Fines can be mailed internationally.
- Fuel in Toronto averages roughly 10% to 15% above the Canadian national average, so factor that into your Budget when planning to refuel your SUV before returning it to Viscount Station.
Planning your Toronto SUV routes in advance using a navigation app set to avoid the 407 ETR can help you manage costs and avoid unexpected toll charges.
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