Thrifty Car Hire in Canada

Hola Car Rentals is a premium partner of the leading car hire companies in Canada, 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 Canada.

No. With Hola Car Rentals, all costs and charges for your booking in Canada 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 Canada 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)

Yes, there are several documents you must bring to pick up your Thrifty hire car in Canada, and all must be physical originals.

• A valid, unexpired driver’s licence in the main driver’s name.
• A major credit card with the driver’s name printed on the physical card, used for the authorisation hold.
• A valid passport or government-issued photo ID.
• Your booking confirmation or printed voucher.
• 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 at the Thrifty counter in Canada. For other non-English licences, an IDP is strongly recommended. Obtain your IDP in your home country before travelling, as it cannot be issued abroad.

Digital copies of any document are not accepted at the Thrifty counter in Canada. Bring every document in physical form to avoid delays at pick-up.

Yes, Thrifty requires a physical major credit card in the main driver’s name to place a security authorisation hold when picking up a hire vehicle in Canada.

The typical hold amount for a standard vehicle in Canada ranges from CA$ 300 to CA$ 500, though some Thrifty locations may authorise up to approximately CA$ 750. This is a temporary authorisation, not a charge, and it reduces your available credit until your bank releases it after the hire ends. Banks can take up to 15 working days to reflect the release.

• Debit cards, prepay cards, and virtual or single-use card numbers are not accepted for the authorisation hold.
• Digital wallets such as Apple Pay or Google Pay are not accepted at the counter for this purpose.
• The card must have the driver’s name printed on it and sufficient available credit to cover the hold.

Before travelling to Canada, notify your bank of your trip to prevent fraud blocks on an in-person authorisation. Bringing a backup credit card in your name is also a good precaution in case your primary card is declined at the Thrifty counter.

Yes, toll roads exist in Canada, though most highways are toll-free. The most significant toll road affecting Thrifty renters is the Highway 407 ETR in Ontario, a 108 km all-electronic highway crossing the Greater Toronto Area.

• The 407 ETR is fully cashless. There are no cash booths. Cameras photograph licence plates and billing is handled electronically.
• A 25 km peak-period trip on the 407 ETR can cost approximately CA$ 30 when no transponder is enrolled, including the toll, a trip charge, and a camera fee of CA$ 10.20.
• Other tolled roads and bridges exist in Quebec, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island.

When you pick up your Thrifty vehicle in Canada, you may be offered a toll programme. Flat-rate unlimited packages typically cost CA$ 10 to CA$ 15 per day. A per-use option charges an administrative fee of approximately CA$ 15 per toll event plus the actual toll amount. If you drive through a cashless toll without enrolling, the Thrifty hire agreement allows the company to bill the toll plus additional camera and administrative fees to your card after the hire ends.

There are no congestion charges or emissions zone fees in Canada comparable to those found in some European cities.

Yes, all bookings include Tolls Cashback, which reimburses up to 5% of your total booking value for tolls paid during your Thrifty hire in Canada, including charges on roads like the Highway 407 ETR in Ontario.

To claim your cashback after returning your Thrifty vehicle in Canada, email [email protected] within 30 days of the return date. Include the following in your email:

• Your reservation confirmation showing your itinerary.
• A copy of the hire agreement signed at the Thrifty counter.
• A receipt or statement showing the toll charges paid, such as a toll provider invoice or an itemised final hire invoice.

The refund is calculated as the lesser of the actual tolls paid or 5% of your booking total. For example, if your booking total was US$600, the cap is US$30. If you paid CA$ 18 in tolls on the 407 ETR, you receive CA$ 18 back. If you paid CA$ 50, you receive the capped amount.

Refunds are issued to the original payment method used for your reservation and typically process within 7 to 10 working days after approval. Late submissions received after 30 days are not accepted.

Yes, Thrifty hires in Canada follow a Full-to-Full fuel policy by default, meaning you receive the vehicle with a full tank and must return it full to avoid additional charges.

• At pick-up, check the fuel gauge with the Thrifty agent and confirm the starting level is recorded on the hire agreement.
• Take a photo of the dashboard showing the odometer and fuel gauge before leaving the lot.
• Refuel within approximately 15 km of the Thrifty return location in Canada so the gauge does not drop before you arrive.
• Keep your final fuel receipt as evidence in case a charge is disputed.

If you return the vehicle below the recorded starting level, Thrifty in Canada may charge you for the fuel shortfall at the partner's refuelling rate, which is typically higher than the pump price, plus a refuelling service fee. For after-hours returns, leave the receipt in the key envelope and keep a photo of the full gauge on your phone.

Some Thrifty counter locations in Canada may offer an optional prepaid fuel plan. If you accept it, any unused fuel is generally non-refundable, so the Full-to-Full approach is usually the better value for most renters.

Yes, you can add an additional driver to your Thrifty hire in Canada, either as an included benefit depending on your rate or by paying a fee at the counter.

For Thrifty in Canada, the additional driver fee is CA$ 13.50 per hire day plus applicable taxes, with a maximum charge of CA$ 189 plus taxes. Some booking rates explicitly include one additional driver at no extra cost. Check your confirmation for the line stating additional driver is included before arriving at the Thrifty counter.

• The additional driver must be present at pick-up with a valid driver’s licence and any required IDP.
• Both the main driver and the additional driver must sign the Thrifty hire agreement in Canada.
• Only drivers listed on the agreement are covered by protections such as CDW/LDW.
• Age requirements apply. If the additional driver is under the minimum age for Canada, a young-driver surcharge may apply or the request may be declined.

If you need to add a driver after pick-up, visit a Thrifty branch in Canada to update the agreement. Requesting this by phone or chat alone is generally not sufficient to formalise the addition.

Yes, a basic level of third-party liability cover is included by law with every Thrifty hire in Canada. Provincial law requires all vehicles on Canadian roads to carry third-party liability insurance, so this statutory cover follows the car automatically when you hire through Thrifty in Canada.

However, the statutory minimum may not be sufficient for all situations. You can purchase supplementary liability insurance (LIS/SLI/ALI) to increase your cover limits up to CA$ 1,000,000 or more, depending on the option selected at the Thrifty counter in Canada.

• Third-party liability covers bodily injury and property damage you may cause to others while driving.
• It does not cover damage to the Thrifty hire vehicle itself. That is handled by CDW/LDW.
• It does not cover your own injuries or personal belongings.

If you are uncertain whether your personal auto policy or credit card extends liability cover to a hire in Canada, confirm with your insurer before declining supplementary cover at the Thrifty counter. Reviewing your hire agreement at pick-up to confirm the exact limits and territory restrictions is always recommended.

No, the travel assistance benefit included with most bookings does not apply to renters who are residents of Canada or the United States. This cover is designed for non-North American customers travelling abroad.

If you are visiting Canada from outside North America and hiring from Thrifty, your booking may include travel assistance provided by Terrawind Global Protection. This benefit can be relevant if you experience a medical emergency, a breakdown on a remote highway in Canada, or a flight cancellation affecting your trip. Typical benefits 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 during your Thrifty hire in Canada, contact Terrawind 24 hours a day at +1 888 980 9992 or via WhatsApp at +1 208 910 1001. Have your Hola Car Rentals confirmation number ready when you call. Check your booking confirmation for the exact terms, limits, and any exclusions that apply to your specific itinerary.

Yes, the Highway 407 ETR in Ontario, Canada is a fully cashless toll road, and Thrifty renters who use it will be billed electronically regardless of whether they enrol in a toll programme.

The 407 ETR spans 108 km across the Greater Toronto Area and operates across 12 zones with rates that vary by time of day, direction, and traffic conditions. There are no cash booths. Cameras photograph licence plates and the toll agency bills the hire company, which then passes the charge to the renter.

• Without a transponder or toll programme enrolment, a camera fee of approximately CA$ 10.20 applies per trip in addition to the toll and a trip charge. A single 25 km peak-period trip can total approximately CA$ 30.
• If you enrol in a flat-rate toll programme at the Thrifty counter in Canada, you typically pay CA$ 10 to CA$ 15 per day for unlimited toll use during the hire period.
• A per-use option charges approximately CA$ 15 per toll event as an administrative fee plus the actual toll amount.
• Toll charges from the 407 ETR may appear on your card days or weeks after you return the Thrifty vehicle in Canada, as toll agencies process invoices in batches.

Keep your hire agreement and any toll receipts. These are required if you wish to claim Tolls Cashback after your hire.

Yes, one-way hires are generally available with Thrifty in Canada, allowing you to pick up in one city and return in a different city, though a drop-off fee may apply depending on the route.

The drop-off fee is route-specific and varies based on the distance between locations, the vehicle class, the season, and Thrifty's fleet positioning needs in Canada. This fee is not mileage, fuel, or a tax, though it is typically subject to local taxes.

• Same-city airport to downtown routes in Canada often carry no drop-off fee.
• Routes between different cities or provinces in Canada usually incur a drop-off fee.
• Long-distance or remote routes may carry higher fees or may not be permitted at all.

During the booking process, the drop-off fee for your specific Thrifty route in Canada will appear on the rate details page under the section labelled as charges due at destination. Review your confirmation to verify the fee before pick-up. If the Thrifty counter in Canada presents a different fee than what your confirmation shows, keep all paperwork and contact support after the hire ends.

Cross-border one-way hires between Canada and the United States may be restricted or subject to additional fees. Confirm cross-border permissions with Thrifty before booking.

Yes, returning your Thrifty hire car late in Canada can result in additional charges, though a grace period of approximately 30 minutes typically applies before extra time fees are triggered.

• If you exceed the grace period, Thrifty in Canada may charge for extra hours or an additional full day, depending on how late the return is.
• A late fee may also apply on top of the extra time charge.
• Holiday hours at Thrifty locations in Canada may differ from standard hours, so confirm the return counter schedule in advance.

If you know you need more time, the best approach is to request an extension before the original return time. Contact the Thrifty location in Canada directly or reach out through your booking's manage reservation link. Extensions are subject to vehicle availability and may reprice the hire.

For after-hours returns at a Thrifty location in Canada, follow the key-drop instructions provided in your hire agreement. Be aware that your liability for the vehicle may continue until the branch formally checks it in the next working day, so document the vehicle's condition with photos and keep the drop-off receipt.

Yes, Collision Damage Waiver (CDW) or Loss Damage Waiver (LDW) cover reduces your financial liability for damage to the Thrifty hire vehicle in Canada in the event of a collision, theft, or vandalism.

• A deductible or excess may apply per incident unless your booking confirmation explicitly states zero deductible.
• CDW/LDW covers the Thrifty hire car itself. It does not cover third-party liability for injuries or damage you cause to others. That requires separate LIS/SLI/ALI cover.
• Common exclusions include damage from prohibited use such as off-road driving, DUI, or use by an unlisted driver, as well as damage to tyres, the undercarriage, or the roof unless specifically included.

Check your booking confirmation before arriving at the Thrifty counter in Canada to confirm whether CDW/LDW is listed and what deductible applies. At pick-up, verify the cover appears on the Thrifty hire agreement and note any exclusions.

If an incident occurs during your Thrifty hire in Canada, prioritise safety, contact local authorities if needed, and notify Thrifty immediately using the number on your hire agreement. Delays in reporting can affect whether CDW/LDW applies to the claim.

Yes, Thrifty operates hire counters at major airports across Canada, and the exact location of the counter varies by airport.

At most Canadian airports, Thrifty shares a consolidated hire car area or counter hall with other hire brands. Follow the car hire signs from the arrivals level of the terminal. At larger airports such as Toronto Pearson (YYZ), hire counters may be located in a dedicated facility connected to the terminal by a walkway or shuttle bus.

• Confirm the operating brand on your booking confirmation. Thrifty in Canada is part of the Hertz group, so at some smaller airports the Thrifty counter may be served at a shared Hertz or Dollar desk.
• If you arrive after counter hours, review your confirmation for after-hours pick-up instructions or key-drop procedures specific to that Thrifty location in Canada.
• For city locations in Canada, your confirmation will include the exact address. Call ahead if you are unsure of access or parking bay details.

If you cannot locate the Thrifty counter at your Canadian airport, use the airport information desk or courtesy phones near the baggage claim area. Allow extra time if your arrival terminal requires a shuttle transfer to reach the hire car facility.