Nanaimo car hire

Driver's age: 26-65
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Nanaimo car hire information

Pick-up locationNanaimo
Car types
Hire locations10
Airport locations3

Cheap car hire in Nanaimo

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Mini
Economy
Compact
Intermediate
Standard
Full-size
Luxury
People mover
Passenger van
SUV
Commercial
Pick-up truck

KAYAK’s top tips for hiring a car in Nanaimo

  • Since it’s an island-bound city, booking your car hire in Nanaimo is the best way to ensure you have a hassle-free trip. This way, you can travel via a passenger plane, helicopter, or even a seaplane. Once you’ve picked up your rental car in Nanaimo, you’ll have the freedom to explore the city fully without having to fit your schedule around public transport times. You can also venture out to Victoria, the Pacific Marine Circle Route, and all the beautiful beaches, fishing villages, and mountains that surround Nanaimo.
  • Nanaimo Airport (YCD) is a single-terminal facility, and you will find the Nanaimo car hire kiosks conveniently located in the arrivals hall, just outside of customs. Since YCD is a small but busy airport, it’s advisable to book your rental vehicle in advance. You can pre-book your car hire in Nanaimo through KAYAK, and this is the best way to ensure you get the vehicle type and transmission you need for your trip. 
  • You’ll be driving on the right-hand side of the road in Nanaimo, so you’ll need to travel counterclockwise around roundabouts. This means you’ll also need to yield to any traffic to your left that’s already in the roundabout. At traffic lights in Nanaimo and all throughout British Columbia, pedestrians often get a green light at the same time as turning vehicles, so always check and give way to any pedestrians before proceeding. 
  • Though Nanaimo is nestled on Vancouver Island, which locals jokingly refer to as “the tropics of Canada,” you can still expect some snow and ice on the roads in winter, particularly in December and January. This can make driving more difficult, particularly if you brake suddenly or while turning your vehicle. So, it’s crucial to drive with caution, be gentle with the brakes, and slow down for turns well in advance. 
  • 25% of our users found a car hire in Nanaimo for $79 or less
  • Book your car hire in Nanaimo at least 1 day before your trip in order to get a below-average price

Nanaimo car hire experiences: the best tips from KAYAK users

Insights shared by verified travellers who hired a car in Nanaimo 
Verified travelerOct 2023
Drive from Nanaimo to Tofino is a winding route as you get closer to Tofino, however it was fine in a SUV type vehicle.
MarkJuly 2023
Use small independent rental company, eg. PractiCar.

FAQs about hiring a car in Nanaimo

  • How much does it cost to hire a car in Nanaimo?

    On average a car hire in Nanaimo costs $99 per day.

  • How much is the price of fuel in Nanaimo?

    The average price of fuel in Nanaimo is $7.99 per litre over the past 30 days. Filling up a tank of fuel costs between $96 and $128, depending on the car size.

  • What is the most popular car hire in Nanaimo?

    Economy (Mitsubishi Mirage or similar) is the most frequently booked car hire type in Nanaimo.

  • Which car hire agencies are at Vancouver Intl airport (YVR)?

    Car hire companies onsite at Vancouver Intl airport include Thrifty, Dollar, Hertz and Europcar.

  • Which car hire companies will pick you up at Vancouver Intl airport (YVR)?

    Car hire companies that offer shuttle or pick-up services from Vancouver Intl airport to off-airport locations include Thrifty, Avis, Dollar, Routes Car & Truck Rentals, Budget, Hertz, Alamo and National.

  • How can I find car hires near me in Nanaimo?

    Take a look at our extensive car hire location map to find the best car hire deals near you.

  • How much does an Economy car hire cost in Nanaimo?

    An Economy car hire in Nanaimo costs $63 per day, on average.

  • What is the most popular car hire location in Nanaimo?

    In Nanaimo, cars are most frequently hired at Budget 2393 Hayes Road (6 km from city centre ).

  • How much does it cost to hire a car for a week in Nanaimo?

    On average a car hire in Nanaimo costs $696 per week ($99 per day).

  • How much does it cost to hire a car long term for a month in Nanaimo?

    On average a car hire in Nanaimo costs $2,982 per month ($99 per day).

  • What type of car is recommended for driving in Nanaimo?

    Nanaimo is nestled on Vancouver Island, which takes around 6 hours to drive across length-wise. Since it’s a relatively small island with safe, easy-to-traverse roads, it’s best to opt for compact car hire in Nanaimo. This will make it easy to park when you’re exploring Nanaimo’s beautiful downtown area. It’ll also give you optimal fuel efficiency if you decide to take a road trip to Port Hardy, Campbell River, or any of the island’s other natural treasures. The only reason to upgrade to a mid-size vehicle, SUV, or minivan would be if you’re travelling in a large group or bringing a lot of gear. 

  • What’s the speed limit in Nanaimo?

    In Nanaimo and other Vancouver Island cities like Victoria, you’ll find the speed limit is 50 km/h unless otherwise signed. However, over the last few years, Nanaimo has dropped the speed limit in many residential and commercial streets to 40 km/h and 30 km/h. So, it is crucial to keep an eye out for speed signs and err on the side of caution. Take note that Front Street, Museum Way, the Esplanade, and other downtown streets all have a 30 km/h speed limit. 

  • Where are the best places to park in Nanaimo?

    The city of Nanaimo features metered, unmetered, and disabled parking spots. If you park in a metered spot Monday to Friday between 8 am and 5 pm, you can expect to pay around 1.25 CAD an hour (approx 1.40 AUD). Outside of these hours and on weekends, parking is free. Take note, however, that if you park in a 2 hr parking space, that time limit is enforced 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. If you’re looking for cheaper parking options, consider one of the City of Nanaimo Downtown Parkades. In these parking structures, you’ll pay around 0.75 CAD for the first 2 hrs (approx 0.85 AUD).

Nanaimo car rental reviews and directory

Budget

9.0

Wonderful

23 reviews
Best rated
Cheapest deal
Most popular

Cleanliness

9.2

Comfort

8.9

Pick-up/Drop-off

9.0

Value for money

8.8

4 locations in Nanaimo

Show locations

Locations in Nanaimo

2393 Hayes Road

+1 250 760 7368

Monday08:00 - 17:30
Tuesday08:00 - 17:30
Wednesday08:00 - 17:30
Thursday08:00 - 17:30
Friday08:00 - 17:30
Saturday08:00 - 17:30
Sunday09:00 - 17:00

33 Terminal Avenue

+1 250 760 7368

Monday08:00 - 17:30
Tuesday08:00 - 17:30
Wednesday08:00 - 17:30
Thursday08:00 - 17:30
Friday08:00 - 17:30
Saturday08:00 - 17:30
Sunday09:00 - 17:00

6450 North Island Highway

+1 250 760 7368

Monday08:00 - 17:30
Tuesday08:00 - 17:30
Wednesday08:00 - 17:30
Thursday08:00 - 17:30
Friday08:00 - 17:30
Saturday08:00 - 17:30
Sunday09:00 - 17:00

90 Front Street

+1 250 760 7368

Monday08:00 - 17:30
Tuesday08:00 - 17:30
Wednesday08:00 - 17:30
Thursday08:00 - 17:30
Friday08:00 - 17:30
Saturday08:00 - 17:30
Sunday09:00 - 17:00

Filters

Reviews

10.0 Wonderful

Oct 2023

KAYAK
Great experience, staff very friendly and helpful. Price reasonable and included unexpected shuttle to get us to and from car hire.

10.0 Wonderful

Oct 2023

KAYAK
Great friendly staff and super quick, pick up and drop off.

10.0 Wonderful

Oct 2022

KAYAK
Pleasant and helpful staff. Car good and very clean

10.0 Wonderful

Sept 2019

KAYAK

Pros:

fast and easy

Cons:

I didn't know that there was a shuttle service from the airport, Kayak should have included this information in the booking confirmation

10.0 Wonderful

July 2018

KAYAK

Pros:

Very Friendly Helpful Staff. Rental Vehicles was clean and ready when I arrived.

Cons:

Nothing

9.2 Wonderful

Sept 2017

KAYAK

Pros:

very comfortable Terrain. Handles well on the highway but would not buy one

Cons:

Terrain has doors that sound tinny when you close them. Interior finishes average

1 out of 5

Enterprise Rent-A-Car

8.4

Very Good

29 reviews

Cleanliness

8.3

Comfort

8.3

Pick-up/Drop-off

8.6

Value for money

7.9

One location in Nanaimo

Show locations

Locations in Nanaimo

3440 Shenton Rd

+1 250 751 1200

Monday08:00 - 17:30
Tuesday08:00 - 17:30
Wednesday08:00 - 17:30
Thursday08:00 - 17:30
Friday08:00 - 17:30
Saturday00:00 - 00:00
Sunday00:00 - 00:00

Filters

Reviews

8.0 Very Good

Feb 2024

KAYAK
Price

2.0 Poor

Oct 2023

KAYAK
The shop was closed when i arrived

10.0 Wonderful

Sept 2023

KAYAK
Had a great and easy experience, needed a rental car urgently and staff was helpful and quick!

10.0 Wonderful

Aug 2020

KAYAK

Pros:

It was first time when rental staff explained everything in such detail way. There was no rush with car inspection. We walked around the car discussing what kind of scratches are under warranty and what to be aware of.

Cons:

I have no complaints.

10.0 Wonderful

Aug 2018

KAYAK

Pros:

Fastest/friendliest staff I've ever encountered!

9.6 Wonderful

June 2018

KAYAK

Pros:

Cameron at Nanaimo was very helpful with directions & local knowledge & he was a very pleasant person to deal with.

1 out of 6

National

8.0

Very Good

28 reviews

Cleanliness

8.1

Comfort

8.2

Pick-up/Drop-off

8.0

Value for money

7.6

One location in Nanaimo

Show locations

Locations in Nanaimo

1602 Northfield Rd

+1 250 758 3509

Monday07:15 - 18:00
Tuesday07:15 - 18:00
Wednesday07:15 - 18:00
Thursday07:15 - 18:00
Friday07:15 - 18:00
Saturday08:00 - 17:30
Sunday08:00 - 17:30

Filters

Reviews

8.4 Very Good

Sept 2020

KAYAK

Cons:

The Kia really is a horrible car to drive

8.8 Very Good

Apr 2019

KAYAK

Pros:

Staff was friendly and professional

Cons:

NA

7.6 Good

Aug 2018

KAYAK

Pros:

Great mileage Friendly staff who were very helpful

Cons:

We onlly had 1200 km and Vancouver Island is a big island which we did not realize. We were unable to get more km without paying what would have been an exorbitant amount of money so had to take it back and get another contract. In spite of paying much more for the car why are you penalized if you take it back at a different location?

2.8 Poor

May 2018

KAYAK

Pros:

They drove me back to where I needed to be, so I didn't have to call a cab.

Cons:

In Canada they charge you .35 cents a kil. after you drive 100 K.. That really adds up when driving from Victoria to Nanaimo! You have to read your contract VERY carefully. Our C$78.00 rental turned out to be almost C$200.00.! Also, when I returned the car I had forgotten to fill it up w/ fuel. The counter guy didn't want to let me fill it up myself and I had to demand that he did! Very poor service. They really rip you off. I will never rent another car from National again!

2.0 Poor

Sept 2017

KAYAK

Cons:

I reserved a compact car weeks in advance and when I arrived I was told National does rent to N drivers. Neither the website nor confirmation email indicated this, which is pretty important restriction. The lady said it's corporate policy and there's nothing she can do. Where is the accountability? Had to reserve last minute with another company 20min away at double the price.

8.0 Very Good

July 2017

KAYAK

Pros:

service & tining eas good

Cons:

Extra charge on kilometers ... allowed 100 and went 117 ... extra $6.00

1 out of 5

Sunnycars

No score available yet

2 locations in Nanaimo

Show locations

Locations in Nanaimo

1602 Northfield Road

Opening times not available

3350 Spitfire Road

Opening times not available

Filters

No reviews available

Discount Car & Truck Rentals

No score available yet

One location in Nanaimo

Show locations

Locations in Nanaimo

2474 Kenworth Road

Opening times not available

Filters

No reviews available

80 travellers who hired a car in Nanaimo gave the car agency they used an average rating of 8.5

Car hire locations in or near Nanaimo

Good to know

Most popular agency

Budget

Most popular car type

Economy

Average price

$99/day

Good deal

$79/day

When to book a car hire in Nanaimo

Average daily price per month
Car hire prices as pick-up date approaches