Edmonton Car Rental

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Edmonton is located in the northern part of the Prairie Province of Alberta, about 400 km east of the Rocky Mountains. The city functions on Mountain Standard Time, which is two hours earlier than Toronto and New York, and 8 hours earlier than Western Europe.

Edmonton is home to over 648,284 people, making it the seventh largest metropolitan area in Canada. Edmonton is the centre of operation for the large oil and gas fields to the north, the east, and just to the south.

Daytime and nighttime temperatures can differ widely in Edmonton because of the dry air and its proximity to the mountains. In the summer, it is generally warm and humid, with daytime highs in the 20-30 degrees (70-90 Fahrenheit) range. Because Edmonton is so far north, it has early sunrises and very late sunsets in the summertime. Winter temperatures tend to be cold. Once the snow arrives, it stays until April. The city's Christmases are consistently white.

Driving Regulations In Alberta
Non-Canadians holding an International driver's license may use their license in Alberta for one year. However, you cannot obtain insurance for your vehicle unless you obtain an Alberta license. Seat belts are mandatory for all drivers and passengers; caught offenders will be fined.

Speed Limits In Alberta
Speeding is one of the most common causes of accidents on Alberta's streets and highways.

Drinking And Driving Laws In Alberta
The legal blood alcohol limit is 0.08. A first offense may result in a fine of up to $2,500, driving license confiscated or imprisonment for six months with Zero Tolerance.

Parking In Edmonton
Parking in downtown Edmonton is easy. There are an abundance of parkades, lots, and metered street parking in the city core. Be sure to have a roll of loonies ($1 coins) and quarters in your car, to plunk into empty meters. Outside the downtown core, parking is generally plentiful.

In the downtown core, be careful driving on Edmonton's one-way streets to get to the right parking lot; however, the good thing is that you can make both right and left turns on a red light onto a one-way street.

Tipping in Edmonton
Some hotels include tips or gratuities with group programs to simplify bookkeeping. This will usually include gratuities for housekeeping, bell service and food service. In a hotel, bell service should be tipped about $1 per bag, and housekeeping $1 to $5 dollars a day (in proportion to your room rate). Visitors should know that the standard tip in restaurants is 10%-15%, with 20% for very outstanding service. Tip a similar proportion for taxis, or at least round fares up to the nearest dollar.

Helpful Telephone Numbers
Here are some telephone numbers that you may find useful during your trip in Edmonton.

• Alberta Motor Association (AMA)
  Emergency Road Service Numbers:
  Edmonton (780) 430-7700
  Cellular *222 or *2222
  1-800-222-4357 (1-800-CAA-HELP)
• Police, Fire, Ambulance: 911
  Police, Fire, Ambulance (Non-emergency): 780-423-4567