Minibus hire - Canada?

October 28, 2006 2:38 AM

Minibus hire in Canada?

I'm planning a skiing trip to Canada with friends in January. I cannot seem to hire a minibus (I need a 9-12 seater), from anyone from the majors to the locals. Is there some local law that I'm unaware of, restricting the number of passengers in a hire vehicle?

posted by fullysic to Travel & Transportation around Canada (6 answers total)

Best answer: Not knowing your destination, I used Travelocity to search for van rentals in Calgary and turned up a 12 passenger Ford E-350 passenger van at Budget.
posted by buggzzee23 at 3:22 AM on October 28, 2006

Your first problem may be your Australian vocabulary. We say "rent a (mini)van" in Canada.

Your other problem may be your driver's license. With a passenger-car driver's license in British Columbia, you may drive a vehicle that seats up to ten people (including driver). I would imagine the restriction is similar in other provinces.
posted by randomstriker at 3:47 AM on October 28, 2006

randomstriker is correct about the passenger limit on a normal license, in Quebec you need a special certification when it goes over 10 peeps. If you're that many you might be better off getting two vehicles just as a matter of storage space convenience. It might also help you if you specify where in Canada you want to rend one. Second biggest country in the world, eh?
posted by furtive at 10:41 AM on October 28, 2006

Response by poster: Thanks guys - to clarify:

I'm looking to rent a mini van, in Vancouver, in January 07, for about 2 weeks, to carry 9 people.
posted by fullysic at 7:49 PM on October 28, 2006

Best answer: http://budget.ca/en/cars/specialty/
12-passenger van
posted by metaname at 2:07 PM on October 29, 2006

Response by poster: Many thanks everyone.
posted by fullysic at 7:49 PM on October 30, 2006