What an exciting trip! You don’t need to rent a car in Vancouver if you and your family plan to stay in the metro area. Parking downtown and at certain parkades can get expensive—ranging from $1.00 to $7.00 per hour—but it’s a very walkable city with a great, affordable public transportation system.
You and your family can take advantage of the rapid transit SkyTrain lines, buses, trolleys, and community shuttles. Best of all, children 12 and under get to ride the public transit for free!
However, renting a car may be necessary if you’re staying outside the city center or plan to take any day trips to nearby cities like Whistler or Victoria. You do not need an International Driving Permit (IDP) to legally drive in Canada if you have a U.S. driver’s license, but you will need a Canadian non-resident insurance card before you can legally hit the road.