Car Hire Toronto Pearson International Airport

Car Hire

Toronto Airport, also known as Toronto Pearson International Airport, is perfectly located to serve the Toronto, Ontario, area of Canada. This stunning corner of the country is popular with tourists as it boasts both thriving urban cities and wild outdoors. There are a number of public services leading to and from the airport, but car hire in Toronto Airport is the best way to set your own schedule. It allows you to see and experience the areas of Ontario that aren’t covered by public transport.

Who to Book With
There are a wide range rental companies available for passengers to choose from at the airport. International companies such as Avis, Enterprise, Budget and Hertz sit alongside Dollar, Thrifty and National, also known as Alamo. All of these firms can be contacted in advance or on arrival.

Need to Know Essentials
In order to collect a pre-booked vehicle, you will need to present the following documents:

- A valid driver’s licence
- The credit card used to make the reservation
- A passport and proof of address
- The booking confirmation email or reference number

For more info read our FAQ's.

Driving
The main difference between driving in the UK and driving in Canada is that driving in the latter is on the right-hand side. As with the UK, safety-belts are required by law for all passengers sitting in the front of the vehicle. Children under the age of three must use a child seat. Rental agencies can provide these on request. Drink-driving with a blood alcohol content over 0.08 per cent is against the law and breaking this law can result in either a hefty fine or even licence suspension. Turning right on a red light is legal, but it’s best to avoid this when new to driving in Canada. All roads tend to be well maintained and signposted, but a road map is recommended for long journeys.

See our Canada guide for more tips on driving here.

Transport

With no train links to the airport, passengers are left to choose between either taxis or buses if they opt not to rent a vehicle. Bus services are frequent; however, they do not run through the night. Taxis have set fares and are easy to organise but do not typically serve destinations far from the airport.

Trains
The LINK Train offers 24-hour rail transport from Terminal 1 (Level 5), Terminal 3 (Sheraton hotel pedestrian bridge) and two of the airport’s car parks (Value Park Garage and Viscount Station Value Park Lot) every 3.5 or 7 minutes.

Taxis
Taxi ranks are located outside each terminal (Terminal 1 Domestic, Area 1; Terminal 2 International, Area D1; Terminal 3 Domestic, Post 11; and Terminal 4 International, Post 31). Due to recent increases in petrol charges, some taxis now request a fuel surcharge on top of the fare. A number of local companies service the airport but fares are all the same. Additionally, limousines and minibuses are available for hire.

Taxi prices:
Toronto Airport to Brampton is about £30
Toronto Airport to Toronto city centre is about £35
Toronto Airport to Hamilton is about £80

Buses
There is an array of services running from the airport’s bus station outside to a number of destinations in the area. The Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) runs the majority of the services. Prices vary depending on the destination and services stop at around 23:00. Other bus providers include Brampton Transit, GO Transit and Mississauga Transit. The Western Pacific Airport Express is a coach service from the airport to downtown Toronto.

Facilities

Terminals
Terminals 1 and 3 handle domestic flights, while terminals 2 and 4 are dedicated to international traffic. As the busiest airport in Canada, it handles more than 33 million passengers yearly and is well equipped with a range of services and transport. Star Alliance is the main airline group, with numerous daily services.

Parking
Parking at the airport comes in the following categories: Daily Park, Express Park, Value Park Garage, Valet Care, Value Park Lot and Cell Phone Lot. The first three lots are within walking distance of terminals 1 and 3, while the Value Park lots are served by free Link Train every 3.5 or 7 minutes. Prices start at £2 for 20 minutes. However, there are discounts for those staying longer than a few days.

Wi-Fi
There is Wi-Fi available free of charge in the Departures lounge and the Arrivals area.

Information Services
There are information kiosks in the Arrivals areas of each terminal. At these desks, customers can find help with regards to airport services along with local information and hotel reservation.

Useful Numbers
Service Centre: +33 820 423 33

Accessibility
Toronto Airport is fully equipped for customers with reduced mobility. There are numerous lifts and ramps situated throughout the terminals. There are also disabled persons’ parking spaces and toilets, along with priority boarding and wheelchair hire.

Restaurants and Bars
There are numerous cafés throughout the terminals, with many in the Departures areas open 24 hours. Restaurants such as Hogtown Bar and Grille (Terminal 1, after security), Swiss Chalet (Terminal 1 and Terminal 3, Departures) and Tim Hortons (Terminal 1 and Terminal 3, Departures) are ideal for passengers looking to eat before boarding their flight.

VIP Lounges

Terminal 1:
Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge
Plaza Premium Lounges

Terminal 3:
KLM Crown Lounge
British Airways The Galleries First Lounge
American Airlines Admirals Club
British Airways The Galleries Club Lounge
Plaza Premium Lounges

Money and ATMs
There are ATMs located next to the Arrivals and Departures boards in all terminals. All ATMs accept foreign cards. There are a number of Travelex money exchange facilities in terminals 1 and 3.

Shopping
There is a wide selection of duty-free available to passengers, including perfumes, confectionery, tobacco and alcohol. There are a number of branded shops selling a variety of products and gifts, including Hudson Bay, Toronto Marketplace, Relay, Samsonite and Tastefully Canadian, making the airport the ideal place to collect last-minute souvenirs.