I don’t currently own a car. In fact, I haven’t since 2018. This always comes as a shock to anyone who knows I am an automobile journalist. That is, unless they live like I do in the heart of Toronto (or really, any major North American city). Then they understand.
Between insurance, parking and infrequency of use, owning a car while living downtown typically causes more problems than it solves. Still, there are times when you feel the need to escape the confines of the transit system, visit friends and family or reconnect with nature, particularly in the summer.
So, how do I get out of the city without owning a car? Mostly, I turn to rentals and carshare programs. Not every solution is ideal for every situation but knowing when to turn to a carshare versus a rental can save you time and money. And there are even ways you can treat yourself if getting behind the wheel is the whole reason you want to take a drive in the first place.
Using carshares
Initially, carshares were seen as a challenge to the traditional rental model. Companies like ZipCar provided a service where vehicles could simply be picked up by a subscriber and driven for as little as a 30-minutes before being returned. Another, Communauto gives you the option of returning a vehicle to the same spot or another designated location in the city.
Perhaps most appealing about these services is that you never have to interact with a person behind a desk. Just download the app, submit your driver’s licence for approval, book a vehicle and you’re all set. Insurance is covered by service, so there are no additional fees (though you are responsible for incidental damage and any cleaning costs).
Traditional rental agencies are starting to get in on the car share action. Enterprise’s CarShare service has become very popular in downtown Toronto, with dozens of pickup locations conveniently integrated into condo buildings (there may even be one in your parking garage).
In the case of Enterprise CarShare, they’ll even cover your gas as each car is equipped with a credit card and a unique pin, so all you have to worry about is the booking fee. This is a great solution if you need a vehicle for a day or less.
Fees range from around $7.50 to $9.00 per half-hour (it also allows you to book in 15-minute intervals, so you can save money on early returns), and a day rate kicks in for bookings over eight hours. This will cost between $120 and $140. There’s also some decent vehicle variety, ranging from small compacts to midsize SUVs and even cargo vans.
There are some downsides to carshares. First is that booking a car can be tricky, especially during peak times around holidays or long weekends. You may also find yourself feeling rushed to return the vehicle if there’s another booking after yours. Late returns can result in substantial late fees.
Last, vehicles in car share programs don’t receive the same frequency of cleaning or maintenance as they do at traditional rental agencies. There are penalties for returning a dirty or damaged car — or for not reporting a mechanical failure – but you can never be fully guaranteed that your vehicle will be in perfect condition when you pick it up.
Rental companies
When do traditional rental companies make more sense? Whenever you need the vehicle for longer than a single day.
They will most likely charge you around $200 for a single day of use but booking a vehicle for a 72-hour period might cost you less than that depending on the type of vehicle. The rental companies do not want their cars sitting in the lot, so they often offer reduced pricing for longer or multi-day use.
All the major rental agencies have a presence in Toronto: Enterprise, Hertz, Alamo, Avis, Budget and Dollar. They also offer a wider variety of vehicles than carshares, so you can treat yourself with a luxury sedan or SUV, or even a convertible sports car for a small premium. Hertz is often known for its “premium” car selection and even has a rich history of offering performance vehicles. Booking these cars through Toronto rental agencies can be hit or miss as it is rare those cars will be available or that you’ll get the exact vehicle you booked.
If you are particular about such things, you’ll have to turn to “luxury” or “exotic” rental companies. Enterprise has a specialized rental agency in Etobicoke, aptly named Toronto Etobicoke Exotics, where you can rent, for example, a convertible Mustang for as little as $170 per day, or even a Jaguar F-Type for $230 per day.
4/27/2006 – Stewart Wilson runs GTA Exotics, the only place in Toronto to rent an exotic car for a day or a week. We need a photo of him with his Lamborghini Diablo and Ducati motorcycle, and also a separate photo of Trevor Arnold and his brother-in-law, who are renting a Ferrari for a
day.(Vince Talotta/Toronto Star)
Independent agencies like GTA Exotics in Mississauga offer even more exciting and high-end vehicles, ranging from Lamborghinis to Ferraris and McLarens. To rent these you need to be 25 years of age or older, posses a full G-class licence and a $5,000 refundable security deposit is required.
It is also not a cheap proposition. A simple Nissan GT-R will cost you between $500 to $600 a day, while a C8 Corvette will be between $600 and $700. If you have $1,300 to $1,400, you can rent the Ferrari 488, or for $2,000 to $2,200 the Lamborghini Aventador.
While it is pricey, you also get to sample a taste of what it is like to drive in the world’s most expensive and exotic automobiles. Plus, just imagine the look on your friends’ faces when you show up to that event in a supercar.
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