Car Rentals at Victoria International Airport

Victoria International Airport (YYJ) is found on the Saanich Peninsula, in the Canadian province of British Columbia. The airport is approximately 22km, or 14 miles from the city of Victoria, and is considered as an important gateway for the area. It is the second busiest airport in BC, and the ninth busiest airport in terms of passenger traffic in the country. The airport is equipped with many useful facilities and ground transport options, and there are car rental companies in the arrivals area of the terminal building. The Victoria International Airport car hire companies all offer vehicles of the highest quality, and competitive car rental rates.

Passengers arriving at Victoria International Airport will easily find their way around the single terminal building. The airport is not very large, but is adequate in size to handle the approximate 1.5 million passengers who pass through it every year. In the public arrivals area there are ATMs, currency exchange services and several shops and restaurants. The airport’s car hire companies are also found in this area (across from the information desk), and they include Avis, Hertz, Budget, National and Auto Europa. The car rental counters of these companies are open during most hours of the day, and usually at hours which are convenient for passengers on arrival flights. Cars may be hired directly over the rental counters, but are often recommended to be hired in advance and online, as cheaper rental rates can then be secured. It also brings peace of mind knowing that your ideal car will be ready and waiting for your arrival at the airport.

The Victoria International Airport car rental companies also include Enterprise, however, Enterprise is not found within the airport’s terminal building. This car rental company is at 9429 Canora Road, which is just a few kilometres east of the airport, and just to the east of Rotary Park. When reserving a vehicle from Enterprise, passengers should confirm the pickup arrangements with the company. There are usually free shuttles available for transport, and the pickup area for the shuttles can be found across from the arrivals end of the terminal building. Should any enquiries need to be made at the airport, there are friendly Red Coat Airport Ambassadors who are available to provide assistance.

Which car hire company a passenger chooses could depend on many factors, such as the range of vehicles the company has to offer and the price at which the vehicles are hired. A passengers may also prefer to hire a car from a company with which he/she has had a previous rental. Hertz is one of the largest car rental companies in the world, and has over 8,000 rental locations in many different countries. They are known to be very professional, and have over ninety years of experience in the industry. Customers of Hertz can belong to the Hertz #1 Club and enjoy a range of special benefits. Auto Europa is also a large and well-known car hire company, with an excellent selection of vehicles. They offer twenty-four hour customer service and a ‘Best Price Guarantee’. From Avis, cars that are suitable for holiday or business purposes can be hired, and Budget is famous for their ‘budget’ car rental rates. National Car Hire is an excellent choice for business renters, as they have dedicated their services to the frequent airport business traveller.

Before arriving at your car hire company of choice, ensure that you have all the necessary documents required. A valid drivers license that has been issued in Canada or the United States must be shown, and a major credit card will be required. Some of the credit cards accepted at the Victoria International Airport car rental location include Mastercard, Visa, American Express, Diner’s Club, Diner’s Club Int’l, AT&T, GE Capital, JCB and Discover. An amount for the total estimated rental charges will be held against the customer’s credit card at the start of the rental period, and will not be available for use. Although a debit card may not be used for this purpose, it can be used for the final payment of the rental contract once the vehicle has been safely returned. The primary renter, and all additional drivers registered on the rental agreement, will need to be at least 21 years of age or older. However, persons younger than 25 may not be able to hire a car from all categories available, and will pay higher rental rates for young drivers insurance.

Vehicles for hire from Canadian car rental companies are all arranged into various car groups, for example, Economy, Compact, Intermediate, Fullsize, Luxury, Minivan and SUV. The smaller cars are found in the first few categories, and could be similar to the Suzuki Swift, Nissan Versa, Dodge Caliber and Ford Focus. They are light on fuel and usually come with the best car rental rates. They are also the type of car that can usually be arranged as a one way hire. This service allows the vehicle to be returned to a different car rental location, and then need not be driven back to Victoria International Airport. One way hire services may be a little more expensive than an ordinary hire. Slightly larger cars available could be similar to the Ford Fusion, Hyundai Sonata, Chevrolet Impala and Nissan Altima, and are ideal for passengers who have more luggage to load.

Groups of travellers arriving at Victoria Airport may need to hire a minivan, or a large SUV that can seat more than five passengers. The Dodge Grand Caravan is a popular Minivan to hire with room for seven, and the larger SUVs available often include the Chevrolet Tahoe, Ford Expedition XL, Chevrolet Suburban and the Lincoln Navigator. SUVs are very comfortable to drive, and come with nice features, for example, power locks and windows, power mirrors, cruise control, air conditioning and sometimes even leather upholstery. One of the largest cars available is the Chevrolet Express, with room for up to fifteen passengers. Along with your vehicle, remember to hire child seats and a satellite navigation system should these items be required. Disabled drivers could also find out if hand controls are available from the car hire companies at Victoria International Airport. Hand control equipment is usually free of charge, but should be reserved in advance.

Driving in the area of Victoria is quite simple, provided that the road signs and rules are obeyed. All cars drive on the right-hand side of the road in Canada, and yield to traffic that is already on a roundabout. The speed limits to follow are no more than 30mph/50kph in urban areas, 63mph/100kph on open roads and 81mph/130kph on motorways and highways. Contact your favourite Victoria International Airport car hire company for all further details required, or simply make an online reservation.