Getting around Montreal by car is a great way to discover the city and all that it is has to offer. Renting a car in Montreal is a particularly popular way to travel around the city and explore the surrounding areas. Cars can be rented directly from the Montreal Airport, with all major car rental companies available. Most of the major car rental companies offer their services around the island of Montreal. It’s usually quite easy to book and rent a car, but keep in mind that it gets a little harder to rent a car during the festival and tourist seasons.
Renting a car in Montreal
Renting a car in Montreal or anywhere is Quebec, requires the driver to be at least 18 years old and possess a valid ID. To rent SUVs and sports vehicles, the driver must be at least 25 years old. Below is a list of some of the popular Car Rental companies with offices in Montreal.
- Budget
- Discount
- Enterprise
- Hertz
Taxis in Montreal
If you prefer to have somebody else do the driving for you, there are plenty of taxi companies that service the entire island of Montreal. It’s generally easy to get a cab in Montreal, particularly from the Downtown area. Unlike other major cities, Montreal’s taxis do not have a uniform color. Instead, you must look for an illuminated roof light to indicate an available taxi. As soon as you enter a taxi there is an initial charge of approximately C$2.75 and approximately C$1.30 for every additional kilometer. From the Airport the fare is metered but there is a minimum charge. But keep in mind that it also gets harder during holidays, festivals and tourist seasons. Montreal’s three major taxi companies are: companies and their phone numbers.
- Atlas Taxi (514-485-8585)
- Diamond Taxi (514-273-6331)
- Montreal Taxi Coop (514-725-9885)
Car Share Programs in Montreal
Car2Go Montreal and other car sharing programs are also pretty popular in Montreal. Companies likes Car2Go and CommunAuto. Many of these car shar program work similar to Bixi, the city’s bike-sharing program. In the case of Car2Go, people register for the service, and can take out any of the 250 Smart cars for a one-way trip.
