Just landed in Montréal for your studies or a new job? Then you probably don’t have a Canadian credit card yet — and here’s the frustrating part: most rental agencies won’t rent to you without one. U-Lease is built differently. Here’s how newcomers and international students can rent a car in Montréal with no Canadian credit card and no credit history.

The credit-card problem newcomers run into

When you first arrive in Canada, you have no local credit history, so getting a Canadian credit card can take weeks or months. Yet nearly every rental counter insists on a credit card (not a debit card) and freezes a large hold on it as a deposit. For a new arrival, that’s a wall — you’re ready to rent, but the payment rule shuts you out.

How U-Lease solves it: no credit card required

U-Lease never requires a credit card. You simply leave a security deposit, which you can pay by debit card, cash, credit card, or Interac e-Transfer. Interac e-Transfer is a free, instant bank-to-bank payment that comes with virtually every Canadian chequing account — so once you’ve opened a local bank account (one of the first things most newcomers do), you can pay by debit or e-Transfer right away. (More in our guide to renting without a credit card in Montréal.)

Your licence: you can drive on your foreign one at first

Good news on the licence side too. The SAAQ lets you drive in Québec with a valid licence from your home country for up to six months. If your licence isn’t written in French or English, bring an International Driving Permit. After six months, you’ll exchange your licence for a Québec one. (See the SAAQ’s rules for non-resident drivers.)

Quick checklist for newcomers and students

• Be 18 or older (U-Lease’s minimum age).
• A valid driver’s licence (your foreign licence works for six months; add an IDP if it isn’t in French or English).
• A security deposit by debit, cash, credit, or Interac e-Transfer.
• No Canadian credit card and no credit history required.

For the full breakdown, see what you need to rent a car in Québec.

Why renting makes sense when you’re new here

Buying a car when you’ve just arrived is hard — financing needs credit history, and insurance is pricier without a Canadian record. A flexible rental (or a monthly rental) gets you mobile immediately: apartment hunting, that first IKEA run, groceries, and getting to campus or work — without a long-term commitment while you settle in.

Requirements and policies can change and may vary by situation. Please confirm the current details with U-Lease when you book.