Here’s a “Drive-Thru” of the Top 5 Calgary Car Rentals I Tried
As a big fan of driving my car, it was tough for me to let others steer the wheel. I tried and I just don’t like it—maybe it’s a control thing. In fact, I love long drives so much that I wouldn’t even “let Jesus take the wheel” if, for some reason, He visits and asks me.
But life has a way of driving me back to reality. One time, I got so carried away with my ride that I forgot to fuel up—my car stopped in the middle of nowhere with no gas station in sight! So, I had to get it towed and ended up late for my mom’s birthday.
While all was forgiven (eventually), my sister took me aside and advised me to take a break from driving or just rent a car in Calgary for important events. That way, I could avoid distractions or hassles on the road. Here are the best ones I tried so far.
How much do car rental services cost in Calgary?
Car rental services in Calgary start as low as CAD 26 per day, depending on the type of car, location, and rental duration.
Other factors contributing to rates include the season and other extra services.
1. Enterprise Rent-A-Car
Address: 2000 Airport Rd NE
Contact Details: +1 833 619 3654
Operating Hours: Monday – Sunday: 7:00 AM – 1:00 AM
Enterprise Rent-A-Car provides over 15 handy neighbourhood car rental locations in Calgary. With this company, I like that you can book either a short or long trip using the mobile app.
You can choose from various rental cars including economy, full-size, or posh sedans. So whether you’re looking for fuel efficiency, space, or comfort and style, I think you’ll be able to find something that suits you.
Besides regular vehicles, there are SUVs, pickup trucks, vans, AWD (all-wheel-drive), and luxury cars. Just be sure to check the total number of passengers and the number of bags to see which option is best.
With these, you can get anything from a quick ride to an early meeting or flight at the airport to a full-day sightseeing tour or getaway trip with your loved ones.
Moreover, I like that you have 3 options to pay for fuel: you may prepay for the gas tank, pay at the end of the rental for the gas used, or refill the tank before returning the car.
However, there are times when the company takes a while to respond to inquiries. I recommend reaching Enterprise Rent-A-Car through its socials for a quicker reply.
Quick & Convenient
“Great experience, very welcoming & helpful staff. Quick & convenient rental process. We rented an suv for a few days & it was perfect. Sami at the rental bay was really lovely & walked us through the pre rental inspection in a lovely kind way. Thank you”
-Ms. Ally Palmer, Google Reviews
Helpful & Great
“I had a great experience at this location. I returned my car to a girl named Zeina she was very attentive and made the return so quick and easy. She was very nice and everyone at the location was very helpful and great!”
-Ms. Diana Alasal, Google Reviews
2. National Car Rental
Address: 2000 Airport Rd NE
Contact Details: +1 833 619 3655
Operating Hours: Monday – Sunday: 7:00 AM – 1:00 AM
National Car Rental is one of the go-tos of frequent travellers in the city, especially introverts—you can show up at the rental venue without having to speak to anyone!
More specifically, its “Drop & Go” feature allows you to drop off your car at the rental spot and go on your way without fuss—you’ll get the receipts via e-mail!
Returning the car after hours is also allowed from 1 am to 7 am. Just park the car in the return lanes and lock it. Then, drop the keys in the drop box beside the National Booth.
Just keep in mind that if you’re renting during winter, National Car Rental’s winter tires can’t be reserved due to limited availability. For me, it’s best to chat with the staff to decide what’s best for the rental car.
Nevertheless, one client I talked to noticed a small fry in the car before they used it. Though this could be an isolated issue, I think it’s good to check your vehicle before using it. You can reach out to the staff at the rental place to quickly resolve any issue.
Highly Recommended
“Great service and no hidden fees. We got our car quick and it was very clean. Would recommend this company 100% !!”
-Mr./Ms. Mizba Khan, Google Reviews
Friendly Throughout
“Great service! They found me an upgrade given my status and were friendly throughout the process.”
-Mr. Vik, Google Reviews
3. Alamo Rent A Car
Address: 2000 Airport Rd NE
Contact Details: +1 833 619 3653
Operating Hours: Monday – Sunday: 7:00 AM – 1:00 AM
Alamo Rent A Car is a Calgary vehicle hire that offers a good selection of regular cars, SUVs, vans, and trucks for rent at Calgary International Airport (YYC).
After selecting your vehicle class preference, the staff will check the car availability at your selected location for your rental date and time. They’ll give you a heads-up!
I also love that renters can skip the counter lines and check-in directly using the self-service touchscreen kiosk.
You’ll get a receipt-sized rental agreement and be directed to your car. After showing this to the booth agent, you can simply drive away!
But if you want to have an extra fast transaction, I suggest activating the “Accelerated Check-in” feature online. There, you’ll provide your driver’s license and contact info which are typically asked for at the pick-up. Less talking, more cruising!
Yet, a client shared with me an issue they had with surprise charges. For me, it’s best to double-check your bill with the staff and ask about any extra service costs you may need.
Smooth & Convenient
“Fast and convenient. Great and clean car. Got a SUV with Alamo and the check-in process was smooth and quick. Friendly staff. The tyres are ready to go BC even during winter. Would recommend!”
-Mr. Boon Ming Ng, Google Reviews
Kind & Quick
“Very kind personnel and quick handling. Anytime again. Since we we’re going one-way to BC, we could even pick out of three BC licence plate vehicles.”
-Mr. Sean Schröpfer, Google Reviews
4. Zoom Rent A Car Calgary
Address: Near Calgary International Airport YYC (Off Airport Location), 11124 36 Street Northeast UNIT#2010
Contact Details: +1 587 885 8888
Operating Hours: Monday – Friday: 7:00 AM – 7:00 PM, Saturday – Sunday: 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Zoom Rent A Car Calgary is less than 5 minutes from the Calgary International Airport. It may be a small company but I like that it’s known for some of the lowest car rental deals in the city.
I also find it incredible that this rental spot offers free pick-up and drop-off shuttle service to and from the airport. Do note that the shuttle isn’t provided outside of office hours, so I advise planning your rentals to fit this schedule.
On top of that, it’s amazing to me that it can beat any competitor’s rates—just keep in mind to tell the staff if you find a better price elsewhere.
The vehicle you book is usually what you get. But once you’ve reserved a car, it’s going to be challenging to modify it later. One client told me they needed last-minute changes and weren’t accommodated. In my opinion, it doesn’t hurt to have a backup plan.
Very Satisfied
“First time rented the vehicle with Zoom Rant.. we are very satisfied with the car, And people there was very friendly. The rates at the time we rented it was very reasonable. Because our car was broken down and need to be fixed. They were understand that we will extend days for returning. And given us the rates as the time we rented it. Thank you so much.”
-Ms. Jennifer Je, Google Reviews
Super Helpful & Friendly
“From arrival to departure, the staff were extremely helpful and super friendly. They spoke to me as though we were friends rather than just a customer; even sharing photos and videos of their children. Had a great experience with this company and the car was amazing. Super clean and used very little gas, which I appreciated after driving so much. Would definitely use them again.”
-Ms. Milona Ina, Google Reviews
5. Budget
Address: 3328 26 St NE
Contact Details: +1 403 226 1550
Operating Hours: Monday – Friday: 7:00 AM – 5:00 PM, Saturday: 8:00 AM to 2:00 PM, Sunday: 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM
From its name, Budget is among the best picks for good savings from borrowing cars in Calgary. What makes it real handy for me is that you can book and prepay online for a breezy experience. Some car rentals even come with unlimited kilometres!
Other than that, I think this company is good for younger drivers. The minimum age for most car groups is 21, except for some cars—like luxury, standard to premium SUVs, and minivans—which require drivers to be at least 25.
Also, if the driver happens to be between the ages of 21 and 24, note that there would be an extra fee.
I appreciate that this rental service is known to be transparent with its rates as well. Just one thing, though. Debit cards aren’t accepted at Budget’s locations, so I recommend using other forms of prepayment, like credit cards, to be sure.
For easy reference, accepted credit cards include Budget Charge Card, Budget International, American Express, Diner’s Club, Diner’s Club Int’l, Discover, JCB, MasterCard, Optima, and Visa.
Very Professional
“We had a wonderful experience. Ritika explained everything professionally and gave us a very good vehicle for our trip. Thank you Ritika and Budget!”
-Mr. Pranjal Gupta, Google Reviews
Recommending with Great Confidence
“Abhi was really wonderful and very helpful with all of our questions. I would recommend booking a vehicle from him and this Budget with great confidence”
-Mr. Aarin Crawford, Google Reviews