What type of driver’s license do car rental companies accept?
Car rental providers in Canada will only accept valid driver’s licenses when you rent a car. Depending on the type of driver’s license you hold, providers may ask for additional documents to qualify you for renting a car.
Before renting a car in Canada, make sure to check if your driver’s license is valid, not expired and that it consists of all necessary information which is required before making a booking. Keep in mind that some car rental providers may also ask for other supporting documents such as passports as a secondary form of identification at the time of check out. Don’t risk missing out on renting your vehicle because you don’t meet the license requirements. VroomVroomVroom has listed down the types of driver’s license usually accepted by our providers, so your booking experience will be smooth and simple.
Rental rules
The status of your driver’s license can fall into one of four types: valid, expired, suspended and revoked. If your license is not valid, it is either expired, suspended or revoked. To know more about the rental rules for each car rental agency in Canada, take a look at the comprehensive guide presented in the table below.
Car Rental Company | Valid Driver’s License | Invalid Driver’s License | Minimum Age |
|---|---|---|---|
 | An acceptable valid, unexpired driver’s license issued from your country of residence must be presented at time of rental. If the driver’s license is in a language other than English, an International Driver's Permit is recommended. | Photocopies of driver’s licences are not accepted. Learner’s permits are not accepted. Any license which restricts the use and operation of a vehicle equipped with a form of a breathalyzer apparatus is not accepted. | Minimum age to rent is 21. Young driver surcharge applies to drivers aged 21-24 years old. |
 | In order to rent an Alamo vehicle, a valid driver’s license for the entire rental period from the customer’s country of residence is required and must be presented at time of rental. International renters must present a valid license from their country of residence. If the driver's license is in a language other than English, an International Drivering Permit is required in conjunction with the country of residence driver's license. | Photocopies of driver’s licences are not accepted. Learner’s permits, Provisional or Restricted licenses. | The primary renter of the vehicle must be at least 25 years of age to avoid a young driver surcharge. Car rental rates may be higher for renters between the ages of 21 and 24, a young driver surcharge may be applied. |
 | A driver’s license is valid if it is issued by a Canadian province, by any US state, territory or possession, by a country that is a signatory to the 1949 Geneva Convention on Road Traffic or the 1943 Convention on the Regulation of Inter-American Automobile Traffic and if it issued by a country that has a reciprocal agreement with Canada. International Driving Permits are valid only if presented with the original local license. In addition, the renter may be subject to an electronic DMV check or be required to sign a declaration attesting to the fact that they have a valid license that is not currently suspended, revoked, expired, cancelled or surrendered. Customer with a foreign driver’s license (other than a U.S. or Canadian driver’s license) may be required to also present a valid passport as a secondary form of identification at the time of check out. | Photocopies of driver’s licences are not accepted. Learner’s permits, Provisional or Restricted licenses. | Drivers should be at least 25 years old to rent without extra fees. Young driver surcharge applies to drivers aged 21-24 years old. Drivers between the ages of 21-24 will not be permitted to rent luxury cars, mini vans, 12-passenger vans, specialty vehicles, full-size SUVs or premium SUVs. |
 | Non-U.S. and non-Canadian residents are required to present a valid driver’s license and a passport from their home country. If you have indicated on your reservation that you are a non-U.S. resident, you must also present proof of your return trip back to your resident country or your confirmed reservation rate will change. International renters require full open driver’s license in English or French or International Driving Permit Most locations require two pieces of government-issued identification from the renter including driver’s license. At least one piece of identification must have a picture of the renter. | Learner's permits, Provisional or Restricted licenses. | Drivers should be at least 25 years old to rent without extra fees. Minimum age is 21. Young driver surcharge applies to drivers aged 21-24 years old.They may only rent an economy, compact, intermediate, standard, full-size vehicle groups. |
 | International customers visiting Canada must present a valid licence from their country of residence. An International Driving Permit (IDP) is recommended for a driver's licence that is in a language other than English and French for Canadian rentals. Renters with drivers licence outside of Canada must provide a valid passport. | Photocopies of driver's licences are not accepted. Learner's Permits. | Minimum age to rent is 21. Renters must be 25 years of age to rent or drive: Premium, Luxury, Minivans, SUVs, Convertibles and trucks. Renters aged 21-24 will be subject to an underage driver fee. |
 | All drivers must have a valid non-expired driving licence and photographic identification to be produced at the time of rental. If the driver's licence is in a language other than English and the characters are not in the English language (i.e. Russian, Chinese, etc.) an International Driver's Permit is required. Most locations require 2 pieces of Government issued identification from the renter including Driver's licence. | No Learners Permits or photocopies of any kind. A temporary DL will not be accepted. Expired Driver's Licences are not accepted | Minimum age to rent a vehicle is 21. Rental rates may be higher for renters between the ages of 21 and 24 as age surcharge will apply. Drivers should be at least 25 years old to rent without extra fees. |
 | The renter must have in his/her immediate possession a valid and current driver licence. In order for the licence to be valid, it must not be expired, must match the renter who is renting the vehicle and the name on the driver licence must match exactly the imprinted name on the credit card. | Learner's Permits, Provisional or Restricted licences. | Renters aged 21-24 years old will be required to pay an underage fee. Drivers should be at least 25 years old to rent without extra fees. |
 | All renters/drivers will be required at the time of rental to supply a valid driver licence (U.S., or Country Licence accompanied with an International licence and passport). | Learner's Permits. | Minimum age for renters and drivers to book through VroomVroomVroom.ca is 21. Renters below 19 can book directly through Fox Rent a Car but an age surcharge will apply. |
 | Valid licence from country of residence will be required at time of rental. Also acceptable are temporary licence or permit issued when licence is lost, stolen or expired. Licence issued in foreign countries in a language other than English may require that you provide an International Driver's Licence to establish validity. | Learner's Permits, Provisional or Restricted licences. | Hertz vehicles may be driven only by renters aged 21 years or over. Young driver surcharge applies to drivers aged 21-24 years old. |
 | International renters must present a valid licence from their country of residence. If the driver's licence is in a language other than English, an International Driver's Permit is required in conjunction with the country of residence driver's licence. Customers will not be allowed to rent a vehicle with only an International Driver's Permit. Temporary driver's licences are accepted only if for change of residence or replacement of lost or stolen licence. If no photo ID, the description on the licence must match that of the renter. | No learner permits or photocopies are accepted. | Drivers should be at least 25 years old to rent without extra fees. Minimum age is 21. Renters between 21-24 years may pay higher rental rates because of surcharges/underage fees. |
 | Driver must have a valid driver's licence issued by the government of your province or territory and should be held for at least two years. A driver's licence is considered valid only if it issued by a Canadian province, by any US state, territory or possession, by a country that is a signatory to the 1949 Geneva Convention on Road Traffic or the 1943 Convention on the Regulation of Inter-American Automobile Traffic . If your domestic driving licence is printed not in English, an International Driving Permit is required. Please note that you also need to bring your domestic driver's licence. | Learner's Permits, Provisional or Restricted licences. | Minimum age is 21 on most vehicles. Renters must be 25 years of age to rent or drive: Premium, Luxury, Minivans, SUVs, Convertibles and trucks. Young driver surcharge applies to drivers aged 21-24 years old. |
* Details are subject to change by the car rental providers. If you have any questions on license requirements, feel free to contact us so we can help you have the best car rental booking experience.
Read more about License Requirements for renting a car in Canada.
