Car Hire Montreal Trudeau Airport

Car Hire

Ever since all of Montréal's international flight traffic returned to the former Dorval Airport in 1997, the airport, now officially called Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport, has once again become among the busiest in all of Canada. This airport lies just 16 miles west of Montréal's city centre and can easily be reached by taxis, a 24-hour express bus, or car rental in Montréal Airport. A free minibus frequently makes the 10-minute journey to the nearest rail station.

Who to Book With
National, Avis, and Enterprise are among the seven reputable car hire chains awaiting visitors on the ground floor of Montréal Airport's multi-floor parking facility directly in front of the main airport terminal. The city's two main motorways, Autoroutes 20 and 40, are just minutes away.

Need to Know Essentials
Drivers should present these documents when claiming their vehicles:

- All parts of their valid driver’s licence
- The credit card with which the vehicle was reserved
- A valid passport for non-Canadian motorists

For more info read our FAQ's.

Driving
Driving in Montréal, one of the few North American cities where turning right on red lights is strictly prohibited, isn't always easy. Montréal contains many of Canada's most reckless drivers. Roads are often slippery or snow covered in winter, and heavily potholed or under construction during warmer weather. Parking places are expensive and tough to find, downtown traffic is notoriously clogged, and French is the only language on road signage. Motorists driving rented vehicles may be unable to contest accident charges as only motor vehicle owners can appeal parking tickets or other infractions in court. Montréal's city centre is filled with one way streets and flashing green lights are the city's equivalent of green arrows on stoplights in other Canadian cities.

See our guide to Canada for more information on driving here.

Transport

Rental cars can easily travel the 16 miles from Montréal Airport to the city centre or the single mile to the nearest rail station. In addition to the 24-hour express bus between Montréal Airport and the city centre, regional shuttles are also available to Ottawa, Québec City, and Mont Tremblant. Taxi fares are fixed between the airport and Montréal city centre, but metered for all other destinations across the city.

Trains
There is currently no direct rail link between Montréal Airport and the rest of the city, but an express rail shuttle service is currently being planned. Until then, the closest rail link between the airport and the rest of Montréal is the nearby Dorval VIA Rail station, which can be reached by taxi, car, or a free minibus service. The Express Bus 747 stops at the Lionel-Groulx Montréal Métro station during its 35- minute journey to the Berri-UQAM station. Métro tickets cost about £1.90 each.

Taxis
Taxi Co-op is just one among many Montréal taxi companies awaiting passengers at the arrivals area close to the central exit. Reservations are not necessary and dispatchers are always happy to help passengers. Although most taxi journeys are metered, the 35- to 40-minute trip between the airport and central Montréal is a fixed fare.

Taxi prices:
Montréal Airport to Montréal city centre is about £10

Buses
The express bus between Montréal Airport and the Berri-UQAM métro station is called 747 P-E-Trudeau/Downtown. These buses contain wireless internet access, operate seven days per week and 24 hours per day, and take between 45 and 60 minutes to make their journey. The approximately £5 express bus fare will increase to £5.60 as of January 2013. Skyport International operates shuttle buses to the Mont Tremblant ski resort, but shuttles are also available to the Ottawa and Québec City regions.

Facilities

Terminals
The single terminal at Canada's third busiest airport is divided into three separate concourses. Concourse A is Montréal Airport's domestic terminal, Concourse C handles all flights to and from the United States, while Concourse B manages all flights outside Canada and the United States. More than 13 million and a half people used the airport in 2011. About 40 airlines currently fly between this airport and it services over 120 different destinations across the globe.

Parking
Montréal Airport contains a total of four different parking options. The two short- term parking areas are called the ExpressParc and the ProxiParc. Fees at the ground level ExpressParc begin at £2.50 for the first 20 minutes and peak at £28 per day. Fees at the three floor ProxiParc start at £3.75 for the first half hour and peak at £12.50 each day. The EconoParc car park is more suitable for long-term parking and is easy to reach by a free shuttle service. EconoParc charges are about £9.35 per day and £48 per week. Valet and hotel car parks are also available.

Wi-Fi
Free wireless internet access has been available throughout Montréal Airport since 2011. Over 1,000 passengers can simultaneously use this high speed AERO network through their smartphones or laptops.

Information Services
The best place to get useful Montréal Airport information is the self service check in facility where passengers can tag their luggage, print boarding passes, and find out everything they need to know about Montréal and the airport.

Useful Numbers
General Information: +1 514 394 7377
Emergency: +1 514 420 5000

Accessibility
Montréal Airport contains full facilities for visually impaired, hearing impaired, and physically disabled passengers. Although the airport does contain adaptable toilets, porter services, and complete wheelchair accessibility, further arrangements must be made no later than 48 hours in advance of airport arrival.

Restaurants and Bars
Each of the three Montréal Airport concourses as well as the airport's public area includes a number of diverse restaurants. Public area restaurants include Subway, Burger King, and a bakery selling freshly baked bread. Moe's Deli and Bar stands alongside Starbucks and Tim Horton's in the domestic area, while Tatami Sushi outlets are located in the international and trans-border areas.

VIP Lounges

Concourse A:
Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge

Concourse B:
Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge
TD First Class Lounge

Concourse C:
Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge

Money and ATMs
All of Montréal Airport's many ATMs accept debit cards, but Royal Bank ATMs only accept Visa credit cards, while MasterCard is the only credit card accepted at Bank of Montréal ATMs. Concourse C contains an ATM which dispenses United States dollars, while passengers can withdraw euros at an ATM at Concourse B. Concourse B and the public area each include two currency exchanges, but a fifth currency exchange is located in Concourse C.

Shopping
Concourse C contains one of Montréal Airport's three duty-free shops, while the other two duty-free shops are found in Concourse B. The public area includes two Relay news stands, a flower shop, and a Sunglass Hut among its shops. Concourse A shops include Bentley, Brookstone, and an iStore. Another Sunglass Hut and iStore are situated in Concourse B, while Relay and Sweet Factory are among the most popular shops in Concourse C.