Car Rental California
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The above prices are only approximate and were last updated at 21:58 on 2020-02-24. Prices may vary based on the booking dates, length of rental, and car class.
Travel Information
Language
English
Currency
USD
Country code
1
Average car rental length
5 days
Economy car rental price
$69.38 / per day
Traffic direction
Right-hand
Speed limit out of town
72 - 120 km/h
45 - 75 mi/h
Speed limit within town
40 - 120 km/h
25 - 75 mi/h
Acceptable limit of BAC
0.05%
Why rent a car in California?
California is a great place for renting a car. Having your own ride will let you see everything from world-famous cities and beaches to mountains and deserts. A rental car is also the best way to travel further to places like Las Vegas, Oregon, Arizona, or Mexico.
Top ways to enter California
- Los Angeles Airport: Busiest in California, second busiest in U.S., and TOP 5 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 of the world is home to Hollywood, Venice, Bevery Hills, and countless other destinations.
- San Francisco: Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz, and neighborhoods like the Marina are just some of the places you simply have to visit if you travel to San Francisco.
- San Diego: Located on the Pacific Ocean and bordering Mexico, San Diego mixes fantastic beaches and year-round great weather with museums and wildlife protection areas.
- Sierra Nevada: This mountainous region is not only a winter sport mecca, but also home to Yosemite National Park and Lake Tahoe.
- North Coast: Just north of San Francisco, this area with its coastal redwood forests, rugged coastline, and world’s tallest trees is the perfect place to relax.
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.
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
- Los Angeles - Las Vegas (270 mi / 434 km) The Sin City is just about four hours drive east of L.A., although if you’re not in a rush, the Mojave National Preserve that will be on your way is fascinating to explore.
- San Francisco - Los Angeles (382 mi / 615 km) Interstate 5 is the highway connecting California’s two most famous cities, but you can also choose a slightly longer route along the coast that will let you visit places like San Luis Obispo and Monterey on the way.
- San Diego - Los Angeles (120 mi / 193 km) Right on the border with Mexico, San Diego is just two and a half hour drive away from Los Angeles, with the route’s southern portion going right along the Pacific.
Car Rental Prices
- Convertibles - from $131 per day
- Large cars - from $84 per day
- Medium cars - from $83 per day
- People Carriers/Vans - from $181 per day
- Premium cars - from $138 per day
- Small cars - from $76 per day
- SUVs - from $145 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 16 Most Popular Cities in California
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Car Rental in Los Angeles from $43.31 per day
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Car Rental in San Francisco from $67.29 per day
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Car Rental in San Diego from $24.54 per day
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Car Rental in San Jose from $82.30 per day
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Car Rental in Santa Ana from $25.34 per day
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Car Rental in Sacramento from $82.30 per day
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Car Rental in Palm Springs from $58.12 per day
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Car Rental in Ontario from $25.34 per day
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Car Rental in Oakland from $56.27 per day
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Car Rental in Long Beach from $82.30 per day
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Car Rental in Burbank from $25.34 per day
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Car Rental in Fresno from $82.30 per day
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Car Rental in Santa Barbara from $82.30 per day
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Car Rental in Santa Rosa from $55.62 per day
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Car Rental in Monterey from $82.30 per day
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Car Rental in McKinleyville from $82.30 per day
Top 20 Most Popular Locations in California
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Car Rental at Los Angeles Airport from $43.31 per day
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Car Rental at San Francisco Airport from $56.27 per day
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Car Rental at San Diego Airport from $24.54 per day
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Car Rental at San Jose Airport from $82.30 per day
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Car Rental at Santa Ana, John Wayne Airport from $25.34 per day
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Car Rental at Sacramento International Airport from $82.30 per day
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Car Rental at Palm Springs Airport from $58.12 per day
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Car Rental at Ontario Airport from $25.34 per day
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Car Rental at Oakland Airport from $56.27 per day
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Car Rental at Long Beach Airport from $82.30 per day
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Car Rental at Burbank Airport from $25.34 per day
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Car Rental at Fresno Airport from $82.30 per day
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Car Rental at Santa Barbara Airport from $82.30 per day
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Car Rental at Santa Rosa, Charles M. Schulz–Sonoma County Airport from $55.62 per day
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Car Rental at Monterey Airport from $82.30 per day
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Car Rental at McKinleyville, Arcata-Eureka Airport from $82.30 per day
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Car Rental at San Francisco, Downtown from $77.02 per day
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Car Rental at Los Angeles, Downtown from $55.88 per day
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Car Rental at San Francisco Union Square Downtown from $67.29 per day
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Car Rental at San Diego Cross Border Xpress from $100.76 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 $36.27 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 $69.56 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 a lot of locations daily. We gathered this information in order to analyze car rental popularity in California. The most popular month is December, while the least popular is September.
California Car Rental Popularity by Monthly Searches
Most Popular Car Models of Rental Suppliers
| Rental Agency | Model | Doors | Luggage | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MEX RENT A CAR | Kia Rio | 4 | 1 | Small cars |
| FOX | Kia Sportage | 5 | 4 | SUVs |
| FOX | Toyota Yaris | 4 | 2 | Small cars |
| FOX | Toyota Camry | 4 | 2 | Large cars |
| FOX | Dodge Caravan | 4 | 4 | People Carriers/Vans |
| FOX | Toyota Corolla | 4 | 1 | Large cars |
| MEX RENT A CAR | Hyundai Elantra | 4 | 2 | Large cars |
| FOX | Nissan Versa | 4 | 3 | Medium cars |
| FOX | Dodge Journey | 5 | 4 | SUVs |
| yesaway | Toyota Camry | 4 | 2 | Large cars |
FAQ
Should I rent a car in California?
A majority of the ratings and reviews left by Discover Cars’ customers recommend renting a car (7.6 from 9 reviews).
What do you need to rent a car in California?
In most cases, you need a driver’s license, passport or ID card, and a credit card (in the name of the main driver), and the booking voucher to rent a car. Some companies may have additional requirements (be sure to check the rental conditions).
On what side of the road do they drive in California?
Drivers must drive on the right side of the road.
Can I rent a car at 18 in California?
No, you can not rent a car at the age of 18.
How old do you have to be to rent a car in California?
You must be between 25 and 99 years old.
Can you rent automatic cars in California?
Yes, automatic cars are available from Ace Rent a car, Midway, Dollar, National, yesaway, Airport Van Rental, SIXT, FOX, NuCarrentals and Economy rent a car in California.
Can I rent a car with a debit card?
Though most companies require a credit card to leave a deposit, some accept debit cards. Check the rental conditions for more information.
Can I rent a car without a credit card?
Most companies require a credit card to pick up the car. Some may accept debit cards or cash. Check the rental conditions for more information.
What car classes can I rent?
Medium cars, Small cars, Large cars, Premium cars, SUVs, People Carriers/Vans, Convertibles and vehicle types are available in California.
Can I rent a car in California with my home country’s driver's license (for example, U.S., U.K., or Australia)?
In most cases, a driver’s license from your home country is acceptable if it uses the Latin alphabet. In some cases, you will need an International Driving Permit (IDP). Check the rental conditions for more information.
If your driver’s license does not use the Latin alphabet, you need an International Driving Permit (IDP) in California.
Do I need an International Driving Permit in California?
In most cases, if your driver’s license uses the Latin alphabet, you can rent a car in in California without an International Driving Permit (IDP). In some cases, you will need an International Driving Permit (IDP). Check the rental conditions for more information.
If your driver’s license does not use the Latin alphabet, you need an International Driving Permit (IDP) in California.
How much does an additional driver cost? Is there an option for a free additional driver?
No rental company in California offers a free additional driver.
How much does it cost to rent a car in California?
A rental car costs $127 per day, on average. The lowest daily price found in the past 48 hours was $25 at Ace Rent a car, Midway, National, FOX, SIXT and Economy rent a car.
How much is car rental for a week?
The average price for a weekly rental in California is $890. In the past 48 hours, the lowest price for a weekly rental in California was $172.
What car rental companies are located in California?
Ace Rent a car, Midway, Dollar, National, yesaway, Airport Van Rental, SIXT, FOX, NuCarrentals and Economy rent a car can be found in California.
What is the best car rental company in California?
Ratings and reviews left by our users indicate that the best providers are Alamo (9.0, 75 reviews), National (8.6, 2 reviews) and SIXT (8.6, 20 reviews).
Our Customers Reviews
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.
Top 2 Suppliers for California in 2020
Alamo
8443701084
200 FRED KANE DR STE 108,
RightCars
+12132634451 / +18444473227
8622 Bellanca Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90045
Highly recommended by our customers
Why choose us?
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Exclusive rates from a wide range of suppliers
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