Edmonton is Alberta’s capital and known for the recreated historic streets and sites at Fort Edmonton Park. The Muttart Conservatory and the Art Gallery of Alberta are downtown along the North Saskatchewan River and are top destinations of the cultural center of Edmonton. Edmonton is also famous for having the largest mall in North America, the West Edmonton Mall. There are about 30 car rental locations in Edmonton split between the city center and the Edmonton International Airport. Affordable and cheap car rentals in Edmonton are available throughout the different agencies. Parking a car rental in Edmonton is easy enough as there are various options from on-street parking to parking lots and garages. On-street parking downtown is regulated and enforced by meters but it’s free on Sundays for your economy car rental.
While visiting, is it worthwhile to rent a car while visiting Edmonton?
Edmonton is full of biking and walking trails throughout the city to explore. However, it’s Alberta’s second largest city and the sites are spread out. A rental car in Edmonton is a great means of getting around. The city is known to get snow all winter, so as long as you drive with caution, you’ll still see the top attractions. If you’re visiting and looking for some time in the wilderness, drive your Edmonton car rental a couple hours west to see the Hard Luck Canyon and its waterfall. Lacombe is a city less than two hours south of Edmonton. It is known for its picturesque historic downtown streets, buildings and murals.
What different driving laws should I keep in mind while driving in Edmonton?
In Canada, they drive on the right-hand side of the road as well as use the metric system. All distances and speed limits will be marked in kilometers. When driving your car rental in Edmonton through residential areas at night, you’re not allowed to drive in a way that may disturb the neighbors. It’s illegal to text and drive or use handheld devices while behind the wheel. Also, all passengers of the vehicle must wear a seatbelt. Edmonton gets a lot of snow during winter, so be sure to check the weather and road conditions before driving as well as clear your windshield, head and brake lights and the top of your vehicle of any snow. Right turns on red lights are legal in Alberta as long as there aren’t signs indicating the contrary and only after coming to a full stop first. Nonetheless, you should look up Edmonton’s department of motor vehicles to confirm that the laws have not been updated or changed.
Will I need a special driver’s license or permit to drive a rental car in Edmonton if I’m visiting from another country?
When traveling to Edmonton from out of Canada, you won’t need a special permit or license as long as the driver’s license from your country of origin is in the Roman alphabet. If not, you’ll be required to present an International Driver’s Permit along with your original document when picking up your vehicle. On a different note, you will probably be restricted from renting luxury car rentals in Edmonton if you’re under the age of 24.