Vehicle Rental & Insurance

University vehicle rental discounts for Faculty, Staff, Students, and Guests.

UBC has access to several types of corporate (discount) agreements: BC post-secondary rates, BC Government; CAUBO rates, and Direct Travel's corporate rates. All of these rate types fluctuate frequently due to supply and demand, as such the best and easiest way to compare rates is to contact Direct Travel or use UBC's online booking tool SAP-Concur (Concur). The least expensive rates are always filtered to the top of the search results. 

How to book a rental vehicle

Firstly, ensure you have an employee profile setup in Concur. New user registration  A Concur profile is required for both the traveller and the travel arranger. 

To be compliant with UBC's Business Expense Policy (FM8) and Expense Rules, we recommend selecting economy type vehicle rentals for university-related travel through:

  • Concur, UBC's secure online booking tool or
  • Email Direct Travel psi.travel@dt.com or phone during business hours at 604-637-1466 or toll-free 1-844-905-3824

Choosing UBC booking methods will save you time and money and provide you with a quick rate comparison of all corporate rates. If you find a cheaper let Direct travel know so they can either match or beat the rate. 

Specialty Vehicles

  • Check directly with vehicle rental companies when speciality vehicles are required (e.g off-road, extra heavy load, towing capability, extra passenger type)
Use these tips to get the most out of your money
  • If you are travelling in British Columbia always ask for, and compare the BC Government rate as they usually represent the best value
  • BC Gov rates only apply for vehicle rental in BC
  • When picking up the vehicle, ensure you have the appropriate corporate identification numbers and UBC identification
    • Ask the car rental company to confirm the rate booked and to verify it against any promotional rates
    • Always check the exterior of the vehicle for any damage before driving off the lot
    • Upon drop-off verify the exterior of the vehicle and report any damage immediately
  • In the event of an accident please ensure you advise the insurance provider within 48 hours (not the credit card company)
  • Changing or cancelling bookings are easily managed within Concur and/or Direct Travel 24/7/365

Rate Codes

BC Post Secondary with National/Enterprise worldwide

  • XVC4UC2 (rate excludes Collision Damage Waiver Insurance)
  • XVC4UC1 (rate includes Collision Damage Waiver Insurance)

UBC Scotia Bank Visa cardholders should only use the rate code which exclude the CDW insurance as it is automatically included on their Visa card.  Important Note: The UBC Visa card must be used for payment and presented upon vehicle pickup and the rental agreement, driver name, and cardholder name must all be the same for CDW insurance coverage.

BC Government rates are valid with various companies for rental only in BC. Restrictions may apply if driving a vehicle outside of BC. Review Daily Vehicle Rental Suppliers By Community (xlsx)

Canadian Association of University Business Officers (CAUBO) rates are valid across Canada, the USA, and International destinations.  If you prefer to book directly with the vendor sites use the following links, login and profiles will be required:

  • Avis      
  • Budget      
  • Enterprise/National
  • Discount:  Enter promo code CAUBU for unlimited KM packages or CAUBL for standard KM packages.
    For Luxury & Premium vehicles/SUV’s and Pick up Truck: reservations can be made by calling 1-888-412-3733 and reference booking code 23538

Vehicle Insurance

It is the responsibility of the traveller to ensure there is adequate insurance for rental vehicles while on university business.

Third Party Liability

  • UBC automatically carries Third Party Liability insurance for UBC related short-term car rental.
  • UBC travellers should decline Third Party Liability insurance if offered by the car rental company.

Collision Damage Waiver (CDW) or Loss Damage Waiver (LDW)

IMPORTANT NOTES:

  • There are restrictions on the types of cars covered by the Visa Card insurance provider. We highly recommend reviewing these restrictions on the following link before making a booking to ensure that your rental vehicle will be insurable.
  • In the event of an accident or damage claim contact your insurance provider within 48 hours of the accident.

Car Sharing Programs with Modo and evo

Car sharing makes the occasional use of a vehicle affordable while providing an incentive to minimize driving and rely on alternative travel options as much as possible. Typically, members pay a small monthly or annual administration fee to cover some of the fixed costs of the car, plus a minimum usage fee.

Learn more