Uber’s traditional on-demand ride service remains a no-go on Vancouver Island, but the company is hitting the gas on bringing “Uber Rent” to Victoria.
On Monday, the ride-hailing giant announced that it was introducing the rental service this week across Canada, including in B.C.’s capital and Kelowna, where customers can now rent a car from companies like Avis, Hertz and Budget using its app.
“This is a seamless way to rent a car when you need a vehicle to head out of town, run an errand, or take a weekend getaway. Booking is fast and easy using your Uber account and payment methods,” reads a news release.
“More transportation options like this in the Uber app provide more options to help Canadians get anywhere and provide an alternative to personal car ownership, helping reduce overall congestion and greenhouse gas emissions.”
According to the company, car rentals in its app will be available in the two B.C. cities even though British Columbia’s Passenger Transportation Board (PTB) has yet to approve ride-sharing applications in either municipality.
The PTB is an independent tribunal whose primary responsibility is to make decisions on applications relating to passenger-directed vehicle authorizations.
READ ALSO:
- Uber still waiting for the go-ahead to operate in Victoria
- Uber Eats launches cannabis delivery service in Vancouver, Victoria
In December 2021, the board rejected Uber’s application to expand to Victoria, saying the proposed expansion would harm existing rideshare and taxi companies in the area. The following August, Uber reapplied to operate locally but was without luck.
Last month, a partnership between Uber Eats and cannabis resource company Leafly was announced, and, at the time, the companies said people over 19 in Victoria and Vancouver could now use the app to order cannabis from local, licensed retailers.
More information about Uber Rent, including frequently asked questions, is online here.
To rent a car, open the Uber app, tap the “Rental Cars” icon and enter a pickup and dropoff address along with the times and dates of the reservation. Then, customers can browse vehicles and compare prices before booking, and Uber says those who pick up a car at a rental location will receive $10 off.
The Uber app is available in the Apple and Google Play stores.
Ethan Morneau
