Toronto Public-Transport

Toronto Public-Transport information

Driving

You only really need a car if you plan to sightsee in the region surrounding the city. Parking is expensive downtown and at the hotels. You can often park on the streets, but make sure to check if you are legally parked and if there is a nearby pay station (otherwise you risk a heavy fine or being towed). There are many one way streets making driving in the city a pain plus there are few gas stations downtown. Speed limits are between 80-110km per hour on highways and 50-70km per hour within cities and towns, with limits expressed in kilometres on road signs. Driving is on the right and you must overtake on the left. The driver and all passengers are obliged to wear seatbelts at all times. You are recommended to apply for an international driving licence to rent a car and drive in Canada if your licence is not written in English or French; otherwise a valid licence from your own country should be acceptable. It is best to check with the car hire company before travelling, though, to be on the safe side. Car rental companies generally insist on drivers being over 25 and if they do rent out vehicles to drivers under this age, they tend to demand high surcharges to cover insurance. Rental companies almost always request a credit card for payment. You can usually obtain discounts for weekends and long-term rentals, but bear in mind that it can be difficult to find a car during holiday periods, so it is worth booking ahead.

Rent a Car

click here to find a great deal on car rentals in Toronto.

Taxis

Downtown, taxis are easy to hail and the drivers are very familiar with the city. Cabs are run on a meter starting with a base charge of CAD2.50 and the fare increasing going up by the kilometre and by waiting time in traffic. If you need to call to request a cab in advance, look under "Taxis" in the Yellow Pages.