bornintheusa

Am looking to rent a car either out of Helena Montana or Calgary for a loop to see Yellowstone, Glacier National Park and the Banff/Lake Louise/Calgary area. Is there a car rental company that allows US to Canada travel without charging an arm and a leg??

toedtoes

From what I've found, it depends on the company AND the location you're renting from.

I would recommend that you plug in your dates and location in the different company websites and then read the fine print that pops up.

Look for anything about traveling over the border AND about deposits. I had one company that didn't charge for cross-border travel, but put a hold on your credit card for the full rental PLUS $200 for the first day and $50 for every additional day you rented. For a 21 day rental, that added up to $1200 being held on my credit card during the trip (which meant it wouldn't be available if something happened). The same company had different hold requirements at different locations.

If everything looks good, go ahead an place the booking and then look at the fine print again. Sometimes the terms change from the "basic" terms mentioned before the location is confirmed by booking.

happyhiker

I think you'll find some companies won't charge a drop off fee for one way rentals between Vancouver and Calgary or Vancouver and Edmonton (travelling either direction).I have booked with Hertz who didn't charge me a drop off fee for Car rental between Toronto and Montreal (though I did have to return the car to the airport in Montreal). I don't know if this helps.

justme22

when i was looking for car rental last year on a visit to yellowstone, i looked into flying into helena and other smaller airports and i found that there were mile limits on the rental cars. so make sure including the other advice you've gotten that you look at that too. since you are making such a big loop, you should also look at kalispell (i got a reasonable flight price from philly 2 years ago, and good price on my car rental - unlimited miles) you can also look at missoula, billings...

if you can cross the border freely, calgary may be your best bet. good luck

bob_brown

If you intend to cross the border, particularly from Canada into the US, make double sure that you have in writing, signed in blood, that you have permission to drive the car from Canada into the USA.

Also, as you undoubtedly known, you now need a passport to return to the States. With TSA seeing a terrorist behind every bush don't be surprised if you get a question and answer session even with a valid passport.

I have run afoul the border boys more than once and played question and answer even though I had a valid passport. One day we had left Lethbridge on our way south to Yellowstone via Helena.

When I reached the US border, I handed my car rental contract and my passport to the agent in the booth.
When I handed over the documents, a long conversation ensued that that began with "What is an American doing driving a Canadian car?" Then it continued with "Why did you fly to Calgary?" From that point we played debate society.

Once the car and flight to Calgary issues were settled, he then looked at my passport and asked, "What's your name?" I left out my middle name when I answered so he pounced on that. "What's the rest of your name?" After establishing that I knew my full name, complete with Junior on the end of it, I was allowed to re-enter the Unites States.

As I drove away I could not help but think "Sleep tight America, your TSA is protecting you."