Last updated: 29 July 2026
Where the Counters Are
Toronto Pearson places its car rental counters on Level 1 of the Terminal 1 and Terminal 3 parking garages. From the arrivals level, follow the overhead signs for Car Rental. Arriving into Terminal 3, the route runs through Door F and across the road into the garage.
On-site brands at Pearson include Avis, Budget, Dollar, Thrifty, Enterprise, Hertz, National and Alamo. A second group of suppliers operates off-airport and collects passengers from Viscount Station, reachable on the Terminal Link train. Off-airport operators avoid the airport concession fees, which is why their rates can run noticeably lower — the trade is a shuttle and a longer pickup.
If your booking is with an off-airport supplier, contact them after booking to arrange the Viscount pickup. It is not automatic.
Deposits and Cards
Expect a hold on a credit card in the main driver's name. Avis, for example, places a hold of CAD 750 or the estimated charges plus 20%, whichever is greater, and does not accept prepaid cards for it. Debit card acceptance varies by supplier and is decided at the counter, not at booking.
Winter Tyres Out of Pearson
Ontario has no winter tyre law, so a car collected at YYZ is not required to have them. Suppliers offer winter or all-weather tyres marked with the peaked mountain and snowflake symbol seasonally and subject to availability — you have to request them from the rental office in advance rather than selecting them online.
This matters if you are driving to Montreal or Quebec City between December and March. Quebec's mandate covers vehicles registered in Quebec, so an Ontario-plated rental sits outside it, but you will be driving Quebec winter roads on whatever tyres the car came with.
Driving Away from YYZ
Pearson sits northwest of the city, connected by Highways 427, 409 and the 401. The 401 through Toronto is among the busiest highways in North America and the express and collector lanes catch out first-time visitors — choose your lane group before the interchange, not at it. Ontario requires headlights from sunset to sunrise and in poor visibility, and handheld phone use is prohibited.
Compare Providers at YYZ
| Provider | Coverage | Best For | Book Now |
|---|---|---|---|
 Economybookings.com | Covers Canada among 150+ countries — 800+ rental companies, 20,000+ pickup points | Seeing the widest range of offers in Canada in one search | Check Prices |
 QEEQ | Covers Canada among ~200 countries — 1,000+ rental partners | Price Drop Protector — automatic rebooking if the rate falls before pickup | Check Prices |
 AutoEurope | Books Canada through its broker network — ~190 countries, 28,000 pickup points | One-way routes and major-brand counters in Canada | Check Prices |
 Europcar (US & Canada) | Own airport desks in Canada — direct supplier, not a broker | A car guaranteed by the supplier itself at Canada airport desks | Check Prices |
Driving in Toronto
See our Toronto car hire guide for local driving rules and the best routes out of the city.