Pacific Car Rentals

We planned to spend a few days in Vancouver on foot and bike and then rent a car to head to Tofino and Victoria. Rates at Pacific Car Rentals were cheaper than all the chains we considered. They’re located downtown so we were able to walk over from our hotel and fetch the car (which they even offered to let us keep in their garage) as opposed to hoofing it out to the airport.
The folks here were friendly at pick up and drop off and even called us a cab to the airport. For a rental car in downtown Vancouver, Pacific Car Rentals is an obvious choice and one I’d make again.

Great service! They closed at 6 and I called them at 550 on a Friday to see if they had any cars available. They did and held a Honda Civic for me. We got there at 605 and they did the whole walk through and notifications very quickly and efficiently so we didn’t have to wait too long to get the car!

AVOID this place at all costs. This place SUCKS. We decided to rent through this company because they were on-​site near our hotel (the Renaissance Harbor side). What a huge mistake. We called to reserve a mid-​size car in advance. When we arrived, they had one employee working the desk. By time it was our turn we were told that all the mid-​sized cars had been rented. The employee told us that a full-​size was available. We agreed to the larger car, but then we were rung up at a higher price. When we contested that we should not be subjected to a higher price because they failed to provide the car they reserved for us, we were told we were SOL. Conveniently, a compact became available right then. We agreed to take the compact, but then the clerk tried to charge us for the mid-​size claiming that he was giving us the «reservation discounted rate.» WE MADE A RESERVATION. It made no sense. The clerk was very unapologetic and totally not helpful. We ended up taking the car just to get out of there.
When we went to drop off the car, we found out that the rental company has no overnight parking spots at our pickup location. Rather they tell you to park the car at a meter and drop off the keys. However, you’re responsible for the meter fee and any parking tickets if the company doesn’t move the car first thing. We decided to take the car to their off-​site lot and drop it there. When we arrived, the company had additional terms which were not in the contract which they claim applied. This included costs for any harm done to the car while it was in their overnight lot, or if the keys were stolen from inside the storefront.
Overall, the entire experience was terrible. The only reason I gave 2 stars rather than 1 is that the car was nice. We got a versa and it was pretty new and clean. It ran fine.
ONE last note — the company charges for milage (kilometers in BC). Unlike every major car rental company which allows you unlimited rental miles, Pacific Car Rentals only allows you a very small amount, then you pay for each additional kilometer.
There is a Hertz just a few blocks from the Marriott location, a Budget across the street from their main location, and tons of other rental options throughout town. Avoid this one at all costs. It’s worth a short walk!
There is a Hertz just a few blocks from the Marriott location, a Budget across the street from their main location, and tons of other rental options throughout town. Avoid this one at all costs. It’s woth a short walk!

Staying at the Marriott and being a little lazy, this place seemed like the perfect place to rent a car. That and the fact that other places were out.
It was so good I rented from them the next time I was in town.
The first time I rented a car to head down towards Washington state I got a convertible which had limited mileage presumably as I was taking it across the border. The border crossing into the US was crazy busy and took ages. I was able to enjoy myself in the convertible so it wasn’t so bad. It was still reasonably priced and they were upfront about it.
The second time I stuck with a regular mid-​size to take up to Whistler. This time as not going out of province it was unlimited mileage and again they were professional, friendly and helpful.
If you bring it back after they close, that’s fine as well. Just drop the keys in the drop box.
Easy peasy.

The roof of the cargo van is destroyed courtesy of the low clearance of the parking garage. Just make sure you note it. Other than that I had no issues with the van. I was able to rent it for a thursday with one days notice.

I went with this company to support a smaller local business. I rented a large cargo van to move a bunch of gear around for a weekend-​long fundraiser event for a local non-​profit. The customer service seemed nice at first, and the lady was honest enough to tip me off that insurance was way cheaper with a lower deductible across the street at London Drugs. She managed to somewhat gracefully laugh off the van’s duct tape covered roof (no joke!) and inform me that it does not fit in the parkade that they store it in. Um, ok.
The van wouldn’t start after i left it parked with the hazard lights on for 15 minutes. I had to get someone to come jumpstart it for me in the pouring rain. The company offers no after hours customer support or roadside assistance. I left several messages that evening, but they never called me back. The whole reason we rented a van instead of borrowing one for free was so that it would be nice and new and would work well. THIS VAN WAS NOT NICE OR NEW AND IT DIDN’T START!
The mileage charges racked up like crazy. Even with just half a dozen trips between Granville Island and East Van, it ended up being WAY more expensive than any of the other car rental company rates that I had looked at. I called them to discuss the van’s mechanical problems several times and was repeatedly brushed off and told that they’d «review the case» or «talk to a manager» and «get back to me» but NOBODY EVER GOT BACK TO ME! When i finally managed to get a manager on the line, he just told me over and over that the van was brand new and he’d had it checked out and there is no problem with the van. Well the van was clearly not brand new and clearly there was a problem because it didn’t start. The man was condescending and implied repeatedly that I’d left the lights on, which i absolutely did not. The hazard lights were on and that was it. If you can’t leave the hazard lights on for 15 minutes without draining the battery then what’s the point of hazard lights? He didn’t even apologize for the inconvenience (which was huge), he just repeated that there was nothing wrong with the van. I would have expected (and been satisfied with) a small discount or recompense, but absolutely nothing was offered except for some grumpy jerk’s condescension.
And the whole VAN NOT STARTING problem wasn’t even the most stressful part of my Pacific Car Rentals ordeal; returning the stupid oversized van to their not-​oversized parking lot was. Grinding the van’s roof into one low-​hanging cement beam after another was enough to make my skin crawl. How incredibly unprofessional to rent a van without having a proper place to store it. I WILL NEVER RENT HERE AGAIN!