Nanaimo car hire

The average price of fuel in Nanaimo is $7.32 per litre over the past 30 days. Filling up a tank of fuel costs between $88 and $117, depending on the car size.

Standard (Toyota 4Runner or similar) is the most frequently booked car hire type in Nanaimo.

Car hire companies onsite at Vancouver Intl airport include Europcar, Economy Rent a Car, U-Save and NU Car.

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

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

A Standard car hire in Nanaimo costs $26 per day, on average.

In Nanaimo, cars are most frequently hired at Budget 90 Front Street (1 km from city centre ).

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. 

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. 

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).