Renting a Car in Calgary?

Jul 20th, 2021 7:07 pm

#1

xiaobao [OP]: Deal Addict; Dec 16, 2012; 3435 posts; 752 upvotes

Jul 20th, 2021 7:07 pm

Hi

I am thinking of maybe going mid September to Calgary (still very early planning) what is the best site to book a car from. Normally I do Costco but they seem high this time around.

I hear if you do off the airport it is cheaper but of course the problem then is how to get their when your flight lands and how to get to the airport once you drop off the car.

I did some google searching and found zoom a car, know nothing about them but they seemed to be cheap (but again not 100% sure about them so not sure if they got hidden fees).

I was also looking at Turo but not really sure they are much cheaper.

Jul 21st, 2021 9:54 pm

#2

webworm: Deal Addict; Dec 6, 2006; 2789 posts; 1257 upvotes

Jul 21st, 2021 9:54 pm

My daughter is going to Calgary mid August for a week and car rentals are through the roof. She did find a good deal for just over $300 with Thrifty Car Rental at the airport for a compact when everyone else was over $700 even through Costco. Try using CDP #3023636 to see what you come up with for your dates.

+2

Jul 21st, 2021 11:44 pm

#3

piggylord: Newbie; Oct 18, 2008; 73 posts; 5 upvotes

Jul 21st, 2021 11:44 pm

I also booked a trip to calgary/banff/jasper in August. My experience with car rental is to avoid renting from airport unless you absolutely have no other choice. I managed to book a minivan for 7 days for around 600$ from Enterprise somewhere in Calgary through Costco, the same minivan was quoted at 1,200$ if renting from airport.

That being said, as others mentioned, while Costco usually offers great deal on car rentals, shopping around never hurts!

Jul 22nd, 2021 5:55 am

#4

CorSter: Deal Addict; Mar 30, 2004; 4945 posts; 2452 upvotes; Durham Region

Jul 22nd, 2021 5:55 am

Many of the car rental operators sold their fleets off at the start of COVID, and with the chip shortages affecting auto manufacturing they are having a hard time restoring the fleets to earlier levels. Combine that with soaring demand and you get high prices.

Rental cars are one of those things where it makes sense to stick to a somewhat reputable company. Too much can go wrong otherwise.

+1

Jul 22nd, 2021 6:52 am

#5

noobienoob: Sr. Member; Sep 13, 2007; 749 posts; 333 upvotes; Toronto

Jul 22nd, 2021 6:52 am

you can always uber it to downtown calgary if you got time,
book early, and keep track if prices drop at airport...that's what we did

but yes it's still pricey

btw, i did consider thrifty but saw the reviews were sketchy

Jul 23rd, 2021 12:03 pm

#6

b166er1337: Moderator; Sep 21, 2004; 11244 posts; 6727 upvotes; Calgary

Jul 23rd, 2021 12:03 pm

I am just looking at some dates in August and boy, in some days there is not a single rental car available anywhere in town.

Jul 23rd, 2021 12:05 pm

#7

kr0zet: Deal Fanatic; Jan 16, 2011; 7205 posts; 9218 upvotes; The NORTH

Jul 23rd, 2021 12:05 pm

Its not just Calgary, im trying to rent a car in the Ottawa area for a week and the costs are stupid expensive!

Jul 25th, 2021 10:48 pm

#8

secretalcoholic: Deal Addict; Jul 26, 2018; 1782 posts; 2830 upvotes; Canada, eh?

Jul 25th, 2021 10:48 pm

Ok glad it's not just me. I was like when the heck did car rentals cost so much for an economy vehicle -- I'm on my company's corporate rate too. Insanity.

Jul 27th, 2021 3:41 pm

#9

superscoots: Deal Addict; Sep 7, 2018; 1882 posts; 2291 upvotes

Jul 27th, 2021 3:41 pm

$130+ a day car rental in Calgary for end of August

>Wake up and take the orange pill ...

Jul 27th, 2021 4:27 pm

#10

superscoots: Deal Addict; Sep 7, 2018; 1882 posts; 2291 upvotes

Jul 27th, 2021 4:27 pm

webworm wrote: ↑ My daughter is going to Calgary mid August for a week and car rentals are through the roof. She did find a good deal for just over $300 with Thrifty Car Rental at the airport for a compact when everyone else was over $700 even through Costco. Try using CDP #3023636 to see what you come up with for your dates.

Thank you!!

Just tried this code and booked for just under $500

>Wake up and take the orange pill ...

Jul 27th, 2021 4:52 pm

#11

webworm: Deal Addict; Dec 6, 2006; 2789 posts; 1257 upvotes

Jul 27th, 2021 4:52 pm

superscoots wrote: ↑ Thank you!!

Just tried this code and booked for just under $500

Glad it worked out!

Jul 27th, 2021 4:56 pm

#12

Steinbok: Sr. Member; Jun 14, 2006; 749 posts; 95 upvotes; GTA

Jul 27th, 2021 4:56 pm

Those who have used Thrifty - why is there such a huge different between "Pay Now" and "Pay at location"?
Even so, you would think it would be the opposite, "Pay Now" would be cheaper, no?

Jul 27th, 2021 11:04 pm

#13

zevnux: Member; May 18, 2009; 484 posts; 446 upvotes; Richmond

Jul 27th, 2021 11:04 pm

I’ve been trying to look for a car in Calgary the last few days — all sites saying sold out (week of August 8th). Anyone know what availability is actually like in the city, or are these a bunch of pre-books that could be cancelled?

Jul 28th, 2021 10:57 am

#14

Steinbok: Sr. Member; Jun 14, 2006; 749 posts; 95 upvotes; GTA

Jul 28th, 2021 10:57 am

zevnux wrote: ↑ I’ve been trying to look for a car in Calgary the last few days — all sites saying sold out (week of August 8th). Anyone know what availability is actually like in the city, or are these a bunch of pre-books that could be cancelled?

+1 - this is why I was skeptical of the prices above.

Jul 31st, 2021 10:36 am

#15

eugeneo: Deal Addict; Dec 9, 2007; 1374 posts; 1167 upvotes

Jul 31st, 2021 10:36 am

zevnux wrote: ↑I’ve been trying to look for a car in Calgary the last few days — all sites saying sold out (week of August 8th). Anyone know what availability is actually like in the city, or are these a bunch of pre-books that could be cancelled?

Steinbok wrote: ↑ +1 - this is why I was skeptical of the prices above.

Every company is oversold. Unlikely it will free up. Use services like Communauto instead. It does require registration

Aug 18th, 2021 10:36 pm

#16

simondaman: Deal Addict; Mar 3, 2007; 1328 posts; 160 upvotes; Oakville

Aug 18th, 2021 10:36 pm

Anyone rent a car from Calgary Airport recently can comment on the experience (got car you reserved, wait times)? Going to Banff next week for 4 days.

I booked a Mustang Convertible for $500 from Avis, however lots of google reviewers complained they didn't get a Mustang.

Backup plan I booked a full size car from Thrifty using Webworm's code for $230

Aug 19th, 2021 10:56 am

#17

evange: Newbie; Mar 11, 2018; 44 posts; 38 upvotes

Aug 19th, 2021 10:56 am

Sign up for Calgary Communauto. You need to provide your diver's abstract (or they will pull if for you for $20), and they will store your credit card on file. If you have a Communauto membership in another city it does not transfer.

After that, the rates are $50/day +20cents per KM once you go over 100km. Gas is included.

Aug 19th, 2021 11:30 pm

#18

Chris971: Member; Oct 23, 2013; 307 posts; 363 upvotes; Calgary

Aug 19th, 2021 11:30 pm

Also Turo is another place to look for a rental

Aug 20th, 2021 11:30 am

#19

GangStarr: Deal Guru; Sep 6, 2002; 10811 posts; 4224 upvotes

Aug 20th, 2021 11:30 am

simondaman wrote: ↑ Anyone rent a car from Calgary Airport recently can comment on the experience (got car you reserved, wait times)? Going to Banff next week for 4 days.

I booked a Mustang Convertible for $500 from Avis, however lots of google reviewers complained they didn't get a Mustang.

Backup plan I booked a full size car from Thrifty using Webworm's code for $230

Rental agency generally never guarantee a model type rather a class. Convertible is pretty specific and there aren’t that many cheap convertibles out there compared to say full size.

Given the circumstances If you get what you requested that be good. The price seems decent.

Remember trunk space is often limited in convertibles when the roof is down. Otherwise tons of fun and perfect for scenic roads.

Autocorrect sucks

Renting a Car in Calgary?

Renting a Car in Calgary?

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