Car Rental in California
✓ No Hidden Costs ✓ 24/7 Support ✓ Free Cancellation
500+ Trusted Providers:
Cheapest Car Rental Rates
San Francisco South Car Rental
Economy
Kia Rio
or similar
$29.51
per day
San Francisco South Car Rental
Compact
Toyota Yaris iA
or similar
$29.72
per day
San Francisco South Car Rental
Intermediate
Kia Forte
or similar
$29.93
per day
San Francisco South Car Rental
Premium
Mercedes-Benz A-Class
or similar
$35.79
per day
Most Popular Car Rental Deals
San Francisco South Car Rental
Intermediate
Toyota Rav4
or similar
$35.94
/ per day
San Francisco South Car Rental
Luxury
Mercedes-Benz C-Class
or similar
$37.37
/ per day
San Francisco South Car Rental
Compact Elite
Mini John Cooper Works *guaranteed model*
or similar
$39.29
/ per day
Westchester Car Rental
Economy
Kia Rio
or similar
$45.94
/ per day
The above prices are only approximate and were last updated at 22:49 on 2022-08-10. Prices may vary based on the booking dates, length of rental, and car class.
Awards
World Travel Awards - World's Leading Car Rental Booking Website 2020
World Travel Awards - World's Leading Car Rental Booking App 2020
2021 Magellan Awards Silver Winner
Travel & Hospitality Awards 2021
2021 FT 1000: Europes Fastest Growing Companies - Top 100 Companies
2020 FT 1000: Europe's Fastest Growing Companies - Top 100 Companies
Uzakrota Travel Awards - World’s Leading Car Rental Website 2020
2019 Inc. 5000 Europe - Top 500 Companies
Travel Information
Language
English
Currency
USD
Traffic direction
Right-hand
Country code
1
Economy car rental price
$68.41 / per day
Average car rental length
3 days
Speed limit within town
40 - 120 km/h
25 - 75 mi/h
Speed limit out of town
72 - 120 km/h
45 - 75 mi/h
Acceptable limit of BAC
0.05%
Why rent a car in California?
California, the most populous state in the US, is a large and diverse state with a plethora of tourist attractions. From Hollywood and Disneyland to San Francisco, there are a wealth of destinations that travelers from all over the world flock to.
The Pacific Coast beaches are a surfing mecca, the mountains of the Sierra Nevada a climber's paradise, and the vineyards of Nappa and Sonoma Valley a wine lover's dream.
And of course, it is almost essential to have a car to be able to take it all in. Some of the best drives in the US (and perhaps the world) are to be found in the state. Chief among them is driving along the Pacific Highway overlooking the coast.
One-way Car Rentals in California
Here are the most popular one-way rental options for pickup in California and drop off in another country:
- From California to Nevada - 342 offers from US$ 40.13 per day
- From California to Arizona - 68 offers from US$ 52.43 per day
- From California to Colorado - 125 offers from US$ 81.12 per day
- From California to New York - 120 offers from US$ 79.15 per day
- From California to Texas - 27 offers from US$ 85.31 per day
Top ways to enter California
- Los Angeles Airport: The busiest in California, second busiest in the US, and one of the largest in the world, LAX almost feels like a travel destination in its own right.
- San Diego Airport: Despite only having one runway, San Diego Airport manages to serve more than 20 million passengers annually.
- San Francisco Airport: The busiest airport in North California, it serves not only San Francisco, but the larger Bay Area.
- By land: It is also possible to pick up a car in a neighboring state and then drive to California. Some large airports near California are Las Vegas Airport in Nevada, Phoenix Airport in Arizona, and Portland Airport in Oregon.
Top cities and places to visit
- Los Angeles. One of the most famous cities on the planet, L.A. is packed with attractions and excitement. There are too many to list them all, but no trip would be complete without visiting Hollywood, Venice Beach, and at least one of the major film studios. Los Angeles is also home to LAX, the busiest airport in California.
- San Francisco. Most visitors associate San Francisco with the Golden Gate Bridge. While it might be the first thing that you see in the city (if you’re arriving from the north, anyway), it is only the beginning of things to see and do. Other attractions include famous neighborhoods like Fisherman’s Wharf, the Alcatraz prison, and the largest Chinatown in the U.S.
- San Diego. Located in the far southwestern part of the state, San Diego is another amazing city. Home to a number of famous beaches like Mission, Ocean, and Black Beaches, the city is also home to one of the best-preserved old towns on the U.S. Pacific Coast, as well as family-oriented attractions like the San Diego Zoo, often named among the best in the country.
Most popular rental car
The most popular rental car in California is the Nissan Versa, closely followed by the Hyundai Accent and the Hyundai Elantra.
Crossing Borders
California borders Mexico, and a trip south of the border is a popular thing for those visiting San Diego. Most rental companies, however, do not allow their vehicles to be driven to Mexico, though. You could, however, rent a separate car on the Mexican side of the border.
While it's normal to think about including other states as part of a longer road trip, keep in mind that some rental companies only allow their cars to be driven to certain states. Midway, for example, only allows traveling to Nevada, Utah, and Arizona. The usual major rental companies (Alamo, Enterprise, Dollar, and Thrifty, for example) allow their cars to be taken to any state.
Toll roads
There are a few toll roads in California in addition to express lanes and bridges (primarily in the Bay Area).
In the Los Angeles Area, there are a few toll roads in Orange County. While these roads don't have toll booths, you can preregister your rental car here and the tolls will be charged to your credit card. This means you don't need a FastTrak transponder and don't need to take any toll package offered by the rental company.
Los Angeles has express lanes on I-10 and I-110. They require a FastTrak transponder to use. If your rental car doesn't have one, or you want to not take the company's toll package, simply avoid these lanes.
In the Bay Area, all bridges are tolled. Some of them have tolls in both directions while others just in one direction. There are still toll booths at all of them except the Golden Gate Bridge. For the Golden Gate Bridge, you can register your rental car's license plate online. Keep in mind if you don't do this, the toll will be charged to the rental company which will then charge it to you with an additional administration fee.
While a FastTrack transponder would be convenient in the Bay Area, it is not necessary and you can get by without and save money by avoiding the fees the rental companies charge for use of it.
In other parts of the state, you won't have to worry about toll roads at all.
Most popular types of rental car
The most popular rental car type in California is an economy, followed by intermediate and compact.
Top driving routes
- Yosemite National Park. California is home to a number of protected areas, but Yosemite might just take the prize as the most scenic one. A national park since 1864 and also a World Heritage site, it is known for the stunning Yosemite Valley. The park can be explored by car, though there is also a hiking trail network of about 800 miles (1,290 km). Yosemite National Park is about a three-hour drive east of San Francisco, three hours southeast of Sacramento, and less than five hours from Los Angeles.
- Death Valley National Park. Very different from the likes of Yosemite, but equally impressive, the otherworldly Death Valley is a unique place. Made up of a large portion of the Southern California Desert and home to some of the highest temperatures ever recorded on our planet, its haunting landscapes and the surprising diversity of the desert flora and fauna will make for a memorable trip. Death Valley National Park is about 3 hours and 30 minutes from L.A., and less than two hours from Las Vegas in neighboring Nevada. Its southern neighbors, Mojave National Preserve and Joshua Tree National Park offer similar experiences (if not quite the same desolation), and are closer to both L.A. and San Diego.
- North Coast. Taking up the state’s Pacific shoreline from San Francisco in the south and the border with Oregon in the north, the North Coast is a wild and beautiful part of California. The region is characterized by rugged beaches and some of the most scenic coastal drives in all of the U.S., but also the stunning Redwood National Park which is home to the tallest trees on the planet.
Car Rental Prices
- Convertibles - from $186 per day
- Large cars - from $121 per day
- Medium cars - from $91 per day
- Vans - from $199 per day
- Premium cars - from $143 per day
- Small cars - from $98 per day
- SUVs - from $146 per day
How can I save money on my rental car?
You can do a number of things to get a good car rental deal in California:
- Compare rates of different rental car providers
- Book your rental car well in advance
- Plan your route before you go
- Know your fuel and mileage requirements
- Visit on the month when the rental prices are the cheapest. According to our data, visiting California is the cheapest in March when renting a car is about 21% cheaper than the yearly average and about 37% cheaper than renting a car in July.
Top 19 Most Popular Cities in California
-
Car Rental in San Francisco from $83.99 per day
-
Car Rental in Burbank from $67.28 per day
-
Car Rental in San Jose from $73.66 per day
-
Car Rental in Santa Ana from $71.22 per day
-
Car Rental in Oakland from $68.60 per day
-
Car Rental in Sacramento from $73.48 per day
-
Car Rental in Long Beach from $112.63 per day
-
Car Rental in Ontario from $71.10 per day
-
Car Rental in Palm Springs from $73.06 per day
-
Car Rental in Fresno from $70.60 per day
-
Car Rental in Santa Barbara from $75.25 per day
-
Car Rental in Santa Monica from $89.86 per day
-
Car Rental in Monterey from $83.22 per day
-
Car Rental in Santa Rosa from $88.48 per day
-
Car Rental in Bakersfield from $117.89 per day
-
Car Rental in McKinleyville from $78.11 per day
Top 20 Most Popular Locations in California
-
Car Rental at Los Angeles Airport from $45.61 per day
-
Car Rental at San Francisco Airport from $69.16 per day
-
Car Rental at Burbank Airport from $67.28 per day
-
Car Rental at San Diego Airport from $80.95 per day
-
Car Rental at San Diego Cross Border Xpress from $53.67 per day
-
Car Rental at San Jose Airport from $73.66 per day
-
Car Rental at John Wayne Airport from $71.22 per day
-
Car Rental at Oakland Airport from $68.60 per day
-
Car Rental at Sacramento International Airport from $73.48 per day
-
Car Rental at Long Beach Airport from $112.63 per day
-
Car Rental at Ontario Airport from $71.10 per day
-
Car Rental in Westchester from $45.94 per day
-
Car Rental at Palm Springs Airport from $73.06 per day
-
Car Rental at Fresno Airport from $70.60 per day
-
Car Rental at Santa Barbara Airport from $75.25 per day
-
Car Rental at Monterey Airport from $83.22 per day
-
Car Rental at Charles M. Schulz–Sonoma County Airport from $88.48 per day
-
Car Rental at Meadows Field Airport from $117.89 per day
-
Car Rental at Arcata-Eureka Airport from $78.11 per day
Map of Car Rental Locations
Which is the cheapest month to rent a car in California?
The cost of renting a car in California depends on the time of year. This graph compares price changes from month to month in order to find the best offer.
Average Rental Price in California
The cheapest month of the year to rent a car in California is October — prices start from $34.42 for an Economy class vehicle. This is 28% cheaper than the yearly average and 48% cheaper than renting a car in the month of July (when prices start at $66.02 for a Compact class). This information can help you identify the low season. But these are only average numbers. The exact price for your trip will depend on the length of your rental and the number of days until your rental period begins. Just enter your dates in the form at the top of the page to see exact prices and offers.
What’s the average rental length in California?
The average length differs from month to month. The longest rental periods are in June — an average of 8 days. The shortest are in February — an average of 6 days.
Average Rental Length in California
What’s the most popular time for renting a car in California?
Discover Cars users search for cars in a lot of locations daily. We gathered this information in order to analyze car rental popularity in California. The most popular month is January, while the least popular is June.
Popularity of Car Rental in California by Monthly Searches
Most Popular Car Models of Rental Suppliers
| Rental Agency | Model | Doors | Luggage | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GreenMotion | Hyundai Accent | 4 | 2 | Small cars |
| Europcar | Jeep Compass | 4 | 3 | SUVs |
| Ace Rent a car | Kia Sportage | 5 | 2 | SUVs |
| GreenMotion | Nissan Versa | 5 | 1 | |
| Ace Rent a car | Hyundai Santa Fe | 5 | 4 | SUVs |
| Ace Rent a car | Kia Rio | 4 | 1 | Small cars |
| GreenMotion | Nissan Versa | 4 | 3 | |
| GreenMotion | Nissan Altima | 4 | 3 | Large cars |
| Ace Rent a car | Hyundai Accent | 4 | 1 | Medium cars |
| MEX RENT A CAR | Kia Rio | 4 | 1 | Small cars |
Our Customers Reviews
Because we want to make sure each review listed here is left by a real customer, we don’t have an option to post a review here. Instead, we ask each and every customer to leave a review after they return their rental. This way, you know that all reviews are authentic, verified, and trustworthy.
JH
United States of America (USA)
Nissan Pathfinder
June 30, 2022
To visit LAS VEGAS.
ML
Mexico
Nissan Sentra
April 22, 2022
We stay at Hollywood area Hotel however we spent two days at Disney Parks, it would be better to stay closer to the parks and travel by car to the attractions at Hollywood or LA downtown, because you want to be at the parks very early and leave very late...
EB
Italy
Toyota Yaris
March 31, 2022
The location was perfect and out of all the airport confusion. The office was clean and the service was very helpful. I would recommend using this service
EM
United States of America (USA)
Nissan Versa
September 8, 2021
Contact by phone is horrible. Otherwise, everything was good. Tried to rebook and have a hard time finding website and same price.
WT
Switzerland
Toyota Camry
September 2, 2021
Navigation System should not cost extra 150 dollar. That is additional half the care rent price. I did not make use of this offer becsuse i felt betrayed paying so much.
The car covered with wax stripes also over the windows.
JS
United States of America (USA)
Nissan Versa
August 21, 2021
It was a bit concerning at first when I landed, not knowing where and why we were going into an industrial off location type of area
NK
Switzerland
Toyota Corolla
August 18, 2021
Folks were helpful and friendly.
MA
Israel
Toyota Camry
July 19, 2021
We just visited our daughter at Los Gatos
DD
United States of America (USA)
Toyota Yaris
July 9, 2021
Love Santa Monica. Hollywood..LA
JB
United States of America (USA)
Fiat 500
March 29, 2021
Anthony at the car rental was helpful and a lifesaver!!!
JM
United States of America (USA)
Toyota Corolla
October 26, 2020
First of all it was very quick, quicker than going to the airport & also finding a parking space & the airport you don't find that, also I like the fact that their is a shuttle waiting for you how awesome is that! You just can't beat that.
JB
United States of America (USA)
Kia Sportage
September 23, 2020
Check out Fox Rental before booking another another
AP
United Kingdom
Mazda 3
March 12, 2020
Travelled to LAX rather than Las Vegas from England as airfares were significantly cheaper. Hired car at LAX. Traffic to/from Las Vegas was good on this occasion, but traffic conditions in LA can be really bad and this is worrying if you have a plane to catch.
EW
United States of America (USA)
Toyota Camry
March 11, 2020
Fun but very trafficy
HL
Taiwan
Toyota Rav4
February 10, 2020
I am not sure why I have to use international driver license to rent the car. Other than that, I think you have an efficient system.
AB
United States of America (USA)
Toyota Yaris
December 10, 2019
Honestly, I have a lot of memories to cherish from when I was younger back in the 1990's and in the early 2000's. I do not like how expensive, crowded and dirty the city of San Francisco is. The homeless and drug addicts need to be helped and not ignored.
GS
United States of America (USA)
Hyundai Elantra
October 15, 2019
EST value and nice people
BL
Canada
VW Jetta
March 28, 2019
Rent a car over Uber or Lyfting everywhere. It's much more pleasant and the Highway system in San Diego is amazingly fast literally EVERYWHERE you want to go.
ML
United States of America (USA)
Toyota Camry
September 20, 2018
Love San Diego
Car Rental Statistics
Highest rated company
Alamo
9.07 / 10
Lowest rated company
GreenMotion
6.51 / 10
Total number of reviews
26
Total rental companies
25
Average daily price
$66.65
Lowest daily price
$24.83
Total cars available
1582
Top 25 Suppliers in California in 2022
Alamo
+18888266893
9020 Aviation Blvd, Inglewood, CA 90301
SIXT
+18887498227
9000 Bellanca Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90045
National
+18888266890
9020 Aviation Blvd, Inglewood, CA 90301
Enterprise
+13106495400
8734 Bellanca Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90045
yesaway
+16504666123
1288 Old Bayshore Hwy, Burlingame, CA 94010
Working hours
Mon:10:00-18:00
Tue:10:00-18:00
Wed:10:00-18:00
Thu:10:00-18:00
Fri:10:00-18:00
Sat:10:00-18:00
Sun:10:00-18:00
Hertz
3105685100
9000 Airport Blvd
Working hours
Mon:00:00-23:59
Tue:00:00-23:59
Wed:00:00-23:59
Thu:00:00-23:59
Fri:00:00-23:59
Sat:00:00-23:59
Sun:00:00-23:59
Advantage
8007775500
1030 W. Manchester Blvd.
Working hours
Mon:00:00-23:59
Tue:00:00-23:59
Wed:00:00-23:59
Thu:00:00-23:59
Fri:00:00-23:59
Sat:00:00-23:59
Sun:00:00-23:59
Airport Van Rental
+13104915448 / +12137848585
5235 W 104th St, Los Angeles, CA 90045
Working hours
Mon:08:00-16:00
Tue:08:00-16:00
Wed:08:00-16:00
Thu:08:00-18:00
Fri:08:00-18:00
Sat:08:00-16:00
Sun:08:00-16:00
Avis
+13103429200
9217 Airport Boulevard
Working hours
Mon:00:00-23:59
Tue:00:00-23:59
Wed:00:00-23:59
Thu:00:00-23:59
Fri:00:00-23:59
Sat:00:00-23:59
Sun:00:00-23:59
Rent a Wreck
+16618437866
1222 Golden State Avenue
Working hours
Mon:07:00-17:30
Tue:07:00-17:30
Wed:07:00-17:30
Thu:07:00-17:30
Fri:07:00-17:30
Sat:08:00-13:00
Payless
9093901750
3450 E Airport Drive
Working hours
Mon:06:00-23:30
Tue:06:00-23:30
Wed:06:00-23:30
Thu:06:00-23:30
Fri:06:00-23:30
Sat:06:00-23:30
Sun:06:00-23:30
Dollar
8664342226
780 Mcdonnell Rd
Working hours
Mon:06:30-23:00
Tue:06:30-23:00
Wed:06:30-23:00
Thu:06:30-23:00
Fri:06:30-23:00
Sat:06:30-23:00
Sun:06:30-23:00
Budget
+17075282195
2266 Airport Boulevard
Working hours
Mon:08:30-19:00
Tue:08:30-19:00
Wed:08:30-19:00
Thu:08:30-19:00
Fri:08:30-19:00
Sat:09:30-18:00
Sun:09:30-18:00
NextCar
+13102160000
9620 Airport Boulevard
Working hours
Mon:06:00-23:59
Tue:06:00-23:59
Wed:06:00-23:59
Thu:06:00-23:59
Fri:06:00-23:59
Sat:09:00-17:00
Sun:09:00-17:00
Routes Car & Truck Rentals
+18447772882
5250-105 West Century Blvd Suite 105. Los Angeles, CA 90245
Working hours
Mon:08:00-20:00
Tue:08:00-20:00
Wed:08:00-20:00
Thu:08:00-20:00
Fri:08:00-20:00
Sat:08:00-20:00
Sun:08:00-20:00
Europcar
+15102544410
7600 Earhart Rd, Oakland, CA 94603
Working hours
Mon:06:00-23:59
Fri:06:00-23:59
Sat:06:00-23:59
Sun:06:00-23:59
Elita Rent A Car
+13234844242
5250 West Century Blvd, Suite 109, Los Angeles, Ca, 90045
Working hours
Mon:08:00-18:00
Tue:08:00-18:00
Wed:08:00-18:00
Thu:08:00-18:00
Fri:08:00-18:00
Sat:08:00-18:00
Sun:08:00-18:00
Thrifty
+18772830898
3400 Tahquitz Canyon Way
Working hours
Mon:08:00-20:00
Tue:08:00-20:00
Wed:08:00-20:00
Thu:08:00-20:00
Fri:08:00-20:00
Sat:08:00-20:00
Sun:08:00-20:00
Priceless
+13108151715
10324 Hawthorne Boulevard
Working hours
Mon:10:00-16:00
Tue:10:00-16:00
Wed:10:00-16:00
Thu:10:00-16:00
Fri:10:00-16:00
Sat:10:00-15:00
Sun:10:00-15:00
FOX
+14087092950 / +18002254369
1659 Airport Blvd.Car Rental Center San Jose.
Working hours
Mon:07:00-23:59
Tue:07:00-23:59
Wed:07:00-23:59
Thu:07:00-23:59
Fri:07:00-23:59
Sat:07:00-23:59
Sun:07:00-23:59
Midway
+12132350770
3737 Beverly Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90004
Working hours
Mon:08:00-17:00
Tue:08:00-17:00
Wed:08:00-17:00
Thu:08:00-17:00
Fri:08:00-17:00
Sat:08:00-12:00
NUCarrentals
+16506517145
1409 Rollins Rd, Burlingame, CA 94010
Working hours
Mon:07:00-16:00
Tue:07:00-16:00
Wed:07:00-16:00
Thu:07:00-16:00
Fri:07:00-16:00
Sat:07:00-16:00
Sun:07:00-16:00
MEX RENT A CAR
6195919150
2745 Otay Pacific Drive; Cbx Cross Border Xpress
Working hours
Mon:07:00-23:00
Tue:07:00-23:00
Wed:07:00-23:00
Thu:07:00-23:00
Fri:07:00-23:00
Sat:07:00-23:00
Sun:07:00-23:00
Ace Rent a car
+17075683387
2200 Airport Blvd Santa Rosa, CA 95403
Working hours
Mon:08:00-22:00
Tue:08:00-22:00
Wed:08:00-22:00
Thu:08:00-22:00
Fri:08:00-22:00
Sat:08:00-22:00
Sun:08:00-22:00
GreenMotion
+16265373818
102 Las Tunas Dr,Arcadia, CA 91007
Working hours
Mon:09:00-18:00
Tue:09:00-18:00
Wed:09:00-18:00
Thu:09:00-18:00
Fri:09:00-18:00
Sat:09:00-18:00
Sun:09:00-18:00