Car hire

Most major car rental firms have branches at Halifax International Airport. While some rentals are “all-inclusive”, check your agreement carefully, as others add a daily surcharge to the rental fee for airport pick up, and for other charges.

Avis Car Inc
Budget
Enterprise Rent-a-Car
Thrifty
Dollar Rent-a-Car
Hertz
National
Alamo
Discount Car and Truck Rentals (NB car pick-up/drop-off is from a nearby airport hotel – shuttle bus service is available)

Your can also book your car rental through travel websites such as
www.tigercarrental.com
www.airline-network.com
www.expedia.co.uk
www.atlaschoice.com


Driving tips

Driving in Nova Scotia is a novel experience for people coming from the UK. In addition to the obvious – they drive on the right side of the road and distances are listed in kilometres – there are a number of other differences.

Petrol (“gas”) is sold by the litre, as in the UK, but the price is roughly half of what one pays in Great Britain. Petrol stations, especially in rural communities, can be scarce and hours are limited, so don’t expect a lot of 24-hour service stations. Drivers are best advised to fill up when the opportunity presents, and not let the tank get too low when planning a trip outside urban centres.

Except in Halifax and Dartmouth during rush hours, traffic is generally light on roads and highways in Nova Scotia. It not uncommon to drive for long stretches on rural roads without encountering another vehicle.

Speed limits on highways (motorways) range from 90km/hr to 110km/hr and are clearly signposted.

On the whole Canadian drivers are courteous, and obey the speed limits and the rules of the road. British drivers, used to a faster pace on motorways, should be warned that the Government of Nova Scotia advises: “There is no level of tolerance for travelling above the posted speeds.”

Pedestrians: British visitors may be caught unawares when standing on the sidewalk (pavement) in a town or village. Even if there is no pedestrian crosswalk, cars will frequently stop to let you cross the road. Some locals assume that all drivers will stop automatically and it’s not unknown for a pedestrian to step into the road without looking.