Cross border Car Hire, Canada to USA

Feu

We are going to a wedding in the US in December and decided to make a family holiday of it, and take in some sights. Flights to Toronto are currently quite good value and this would give us the chance to see the city, and Niagra on our journey south to Kentucky.

However I can't seem to find any information on hiring a car in Canada and crossing the border to drop off in the USA? Plenty of forums and information sites say that crossing the border with a rental is ok, but the car hire companies don't let you price this on line.

I've done one way hire in the USA before without issues in booking, so does anyone know if any companies do this, is it dreadfully expensive and am I just going to have to pick up the phone and call them all?

Cheers me dears!

jamesbrownontheroad

I don't know the answer to your question (but I suspect it will not be very easy to arrange) but might I suggest an alternative is to allow time to take the train?

Amtrak don't have much service to Kentucky itself, but there is a daily service from Toronto - Niagara - Buffalo - New York City, from where you can connect onto all manner of other services. Alternatively, change en route (at Buffalo IIRC) for the daily overnight Lake Shore Limited train towards Chicago, see the windy city and then head south from there. NYC and Chicago are your two best hubs to plan trips through. You'll have to do the last bit by car or bus though, KY is one of those states that is not well served by train.

Taking the train in America is generally very slow, but it's scenic, stress free and gives you a wonderful overland journey to enjoy, rather than stressful Interstate driving or airport connections. You also get an excuse to stop off in cities along the way.

Feu

We did consider the train but the place we need to go in Kentucky is literally in the middle of nowhere, and not served by the rail network. The closest main stop is Lexington, but that's a couple of hours drive away, there aren't really any cities on the way after Buffalo.

Both my parents have limited mobility, so a car really is the only option, and it allows us to travel at our own pace with frequent stops at any points of interest that we pass.

No, I'm guessing it won't be at all simple, I'm just perplexed that there's so little information out there?

Alan_Bowen

I am not sure you will find any agency who will offer one way from Canada to Kentucky They will not be able to rent a non US licence plate car and would have to pay to have it driven back, and its not a question of just a few miles. This certainly won't be available on line, you need to phone Avis and Hertz in the UK and see what they can do, if anything. Begin by looking to see who has rental facilities in the town you intend to drop the cra, go to the.com websites of the two companies suggested and see if they have facilities to rent there, if they don't and there is no where close by, then there is nothing you can do. If they do have an agency, start calling but I would anticpate drop off charges, if available at all, will be huge, $1000 or more