Car Rental in California
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Cheapest Car Rental Rates
San Francisco Airport Car Rental
Economy
Chevrolet Spark
or similar
$45.90
per day
Los Angeles Arcadia Car Rental
Standard
Volkswagen Jetta
or similar
$49.51
per day
Downtown Car Rental
Intermediate
Nissan Sentra
or similar
$51.12
per day
San Francisco Union Square Downtown Car Rental
Compact
Nissan Versa
or similar
$61.82
per day
Most Popular Car Rental Deals
San Francisco Convention Center Car Rental
Full-size Elite
Infiniti Q50
or similar
$74.29
/ per day
Sacramento International Airport Car Rental
Premium
Nissan Maxima
or similar
$80.10
/ per day
Palm Springs Airport Car Rental
Full-size
Chevrolet Malibu
or similar
$86.11
/ per day
Burbank Airport Car Rental
Minivan
Dodge Grand Caravan
or similar
$87.27
/ per day
The above prices are only approximate and were last updated at 06:25 on 2023-03-19. Prices may vary based on the booking dates, length of rental, and car class.
Why book with us?
Special offers
As a market leader (see SimilarWeb), we get special offers like contactless pick-ups, great prices, and free upgrades.
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A combined rating of 4.5 with 90k total reviews on platforms like Trustpilot, Google, and Review Center.
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Have already booked on one of the fastest-growing car rental booking websites.
Awards
World Travel Tech Awards - World's Best Car Rental Booking Website 2022
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Travel & Hospitality Awards 2021
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FT 1000: Europe's Fastest Growing Companies - Top 100 Companies 2020
Uzakrota Travel Awards - World’s Leading Car Rental Website 2022
Inc. 5000 Europe - Top 500 Companies 2019
Travel Information
Language
English
Currency
USD
Drive on
Right-hand side
Country code
1
Average car rental price
$58.82 / per day
Average car rental length
2 days
Speed limit within town
40 - 120 km/h
25 - 75 mph
Speed limit out of town
72 - 120 km/h
45 - 75 mph
Acceptable limit of BAC
0.05%
Average gasoline price
$1.00 / 1 liter
Highest gasoline price
$1.52 / 1 liter
Lowest gasoline price
$0.78 / 1 liter
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 $41.62 per day
- From California to Arizona - 68 offers from $54.38 per day
- From California to Colorado - 125 offers from $84.13 per day
- From California to New York - 120 offers from $82.08 per day
- From California to Texas - 27 offers from $88.47 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 $128 per day
- Large cars - from $90 per day
- Medium cars - from $83 per day
- Vans - from $126 per day
- Premium cars - from $99 per day
- Small cars - from $90 per day
- SUVs - from $111 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 20 Most Popular Cities in California
-
Car Rental in San Francisco from $65.71 per day
-
Car Rental in San Diego from $54.47 per day
-
Car Rental in Burbank from $59.72 per day
-
Car Rental in Santa Ana from $59.71 per day
-
Car Rental in San Jose from $65.69 per day
-
Car Rental in Sacramento from $65.82 per day
-
Car Rental in Oakland from $61.55 per day
-
Car Rental in Long Beach from $82.83 per day
-
Car Rental in Palm Springs from $67.04 per day
-
Car Rental in Ontario from $55.51 per day
-
Car Rental in Fresno from $62.48 per day
-
Car Rental in Santa Monica from $88.62 per day
-
Car Rental in Beverly Hills from $81.36 per day
-
Car Rental in Santa Barbara from $70.11 per day
-
Car Rental in Santa Rosa from $83.46 per day
-
Car Rental in Monterey from $72.17 per day
-
Car Rental in Bakersfield from $84.77 per day
-
Car Rental in McKinleyville from $79.70 per day
Top 20 Most Popular Locations in California
-
Car Rental at Los Angeles Airport from $63.49 per day
-
Car Rental at San Francisco Airport from $45.90 per day
-
Car Rental at Burbank Airport from $59.72 per day
-
Car Rental at San Diego Airport from $54.47 per day
-
Car Rental at John Wayne Airport from $59.71 per day
-
Car Rental at San Jose Airport from $65.69 per day
-
Car Rental at San Diego Cross Border Xpress from $92.55 per day
-
Car Rental at Sacramento International Airport from $65.82 per day
-
Car Rental at Oakland Airport from $61.55 per day
-
Car Rental at Long Beach Airport from $82.83 per day
-
Car Rental at Palm Springs Airport from $67.04 per day
-
Car Rental at Ontario Airport from $55.51 per day
-
Car Rental at Fresno Airport from $62.48 per day
-
Car Rental at Santa Barbara Airport from $70.11 per day
-
Car Rental at Charles M. Schulz–Sonoma County Airport from $83.46 per day
-
Car Rental at Monterey Airport from $72.17 per day
-
Car Rental at Meadows Field Airport from $84.77 per day
-
Car Rental at Arcata-Eureka Airport from $79.70 per day
-
Car Rental at Los Angeles Arcadia from $49.51 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 help you find the best offer.
Average Rental Price in California
The cheapest month of the year to rent a car in California is January — prices start from $43.27 for an Economy class vehicle. This is 34% cheaper than the yearly average and 53% cheaper than renting a car in the month of October (when prices start at $91.14 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 how far in advance you book. Just enter your dates in the form at the top of the page to see exact prices.
What’s the average rental length in California?
The average length differs from month to month. The longest rental periods are in July — an average of 10 days. The shortest are in October — an average of 2 days.
Average Rental Length in California
What's the most popular time of year to rent a car in California?
DiscoverCars.com 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 October, while the least popular is November.
Popularity of Car Rental in California by Monthly Searches
Car Rental Information
| Car rental locations | 43 |
| Airport locations | 20 |
| Popular suppliers | Alamo, MEX RENT A CAR, Dollar, GreenMotion, Europcar |
| Popular car categories | SUVs, Large cars, Small cars, Medium cars |
| Lowest price | $46 per day |
| Cheapest supplier | NUCarrentals |
Most Popular Car Models of Rental Suppliers
| Rental Supplier | Model | Doors | Luggage | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MEX RENT A CAR | Kia Rio | 4 | 1 | Small cars |
| GreenMotion | Nissan Versa | 5 | 1 | |
| Dollar | Mazda 3 | 5 | 3 | Large cars |
| Dollar | Nissan Rogue | 5 | 3 | SUVs |
| Alamo | Nissan Kicks | 5 | 2 | SUVs |
| Alamo | Nissan Rogue | 5 | 3 | SUVs |
| MEX RENT A CAR | Volkswagen Vento | 4 | 2 | Medium cars |
| GreenMotion | Hyundai Accent | 4 | 2 | Small cars |
| Alamo | Ford Edge | 4 | 3 | SUVs |
| Elita Rent A Car | Chevrolet Cruze | 4 | 2 | Medium 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 car. This way, you know that all reviews are authentic, verified, and trustworthy.
EC
United States of America (USA)
Nissan Sentra
September 6, 2022
I drove through hot spots and the car made it; drove through windy roads and car was perfect in safety and speed; GAS was wonderful after driving 300miles there and back. - cost efficient.
KR
United States of America (USA)
Nissan Kicks
August 19, 2022
We only drove the car around 200 miles over the 5 day period, but we were able to see some beautiful scenery and enjoy some delicious dinners.
RV
Australia
Nissan Kicks
August 7, 2022
5 national parks were amazing- Joshua tree, Grand canyon, Zions, Sequoia, and Yosemite. Trip from San Francisco to Los Angeles along coast also amazing - Big Sur, beautiful coastal towns.
CH
Israel
Ford Focus 3d
August 6, 2022
Family visit
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...
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
AB
United States of America (USA)
Fiat 500
March 29, 2021
Anthony at the car rental was helpful and a lifesaver!!!
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.
Car Rental Statistics
Highest rated company
Alamo
9.4 / 10
Lowest rated company
Economy rent a car
6.36 / 10
Total number of reviews
70
Total rental companies
26
Average daily price
$58.82
Lowest daily price
$15.51
Total cars available
2001
Top 26 Suppliers in California in 2023
Alamo
16 locations
$62 - $210
Enterprise
18 locations
$84 - $338
SIXT
11 locations
$51 - $226
National
24 locations
$74 - $338
Hertz
14 locations
yesaway
2 locations
Carwiz
1 location
Avis
15 locations
Payless
7 locations
Airport Van Rental
3 locations
Rent a Wreck
1 location
Dollar
12 locations
$62 - $83
Advantage
2 locations
Budget
14 locations
$83 - $198
NextCar
3 locations
Elita Rent A Car
2 locations
$88 - $88
Thrifty
12 locations
$65 - $177
FOX
8 locations
$83 - $625
MEX RENT A CAR
2 locations
$93 - $122
Europcar
4 locations
$56 - $90
Priceless
6 locations
NUCarrentals
5 locations
$46 - $62
Midway
8 locations
Ace Rent a car
5 locations
$94 - $366
GreenMotion
6 locations
$50 - $181
Economy rent a car
3 locations
$56 - $382
Highly recommended by our customers
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