Car Rental in California

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700+ Trusted Suppliers:

Cheapest Car Rental Rates

San Diego Cross Border Xpress
Compact
Chevrolet Onix or similar
Chevrolet Onix
  • 5
  • 2
  • 4
  • A/C
  • Auto.
MEX RENT A CAR
$21.02 per day
Los Angeles Airport
Standard
Volkswagen Jetta or similar
Volkswagen Jetta
  • 5
  • 2
  • 4
  • A/C
  • Auto.
Thrifty
$40.59 per day
Fresno Airport
Intermediate
Honda Civic or similar
Honda Civic
  • 5
  • 2
  • 4
  • A/C
  • Auto.
Dollar
$41.56 per day
Los Angeles Airport
Special
Nissan Versa or similar
Nissan Versa
  • 5
  • 3
  • 4
  • A/C
  • Auto.
U-Save
$48.87 per day

Most Popular Car Rental Deals

San Francisco Union Square Downtown
Economy
Mitsubishi Mirage or similar
Mitsubishi Mirage
  • 4
  • 1
  • 2
  • A/C
  • Auto.
Alamo
$50.08 per day
Pasadena East
Full-size
Full-size (Toyota Camry) or similar
Full-size (Toyota Camry)
  • 5
  • 2
  • 4
  • A/C
  • Auto.
SIXT
$51.45 per day
Oakland Airport
Premium
Dodge Charger or similar
Dodge Charger
  • 5
  • 4
  • 4
  • A/C
  • Auto.
Europcar
$56.29 per day
San Francisco Convention Center
Full-size Elite
Audi A5 Sportback or similar
Audi A5 Sportback
  • 5
  • 2
  • 5
  • A/C
  • Auto.
National
$68.59 per day
The above prices are only approximate and were last updated at 1:47 AM on 10/10/24. Prices may vary based on the booking dates, length of rental, and car class.

Travel Information

Languages
English, Spanish
Currency
USD
Drive on
Right-hand side
Country code
+1
Average car rental price
$47 per day
Average car rental length
8 days
Speed limit within town
40 - 48 km/h or 25 - 30 mph
Speed limit out of town
88 - 104 km/h or 55 - 65 mph
Acceptable limit of BAC
0.08%
Rating
9.3 / 10
Average gas price
$0.96 per liter or $3.63 per gallon
Lowest gas price
$0.76 per liter or $2.88 per gallon
Highest gas price
$1.38 per liter or $5.22 per gallon

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. 

California

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 $42.63 per day
  • From California to Arizona - 68 offers from $55.69 per day
  • From California to Colorado - 125 offers from $86.16 per day
  • From California to New York - 120 offers from $84.06 per day
  • From California to Washington - 64 offers from $96.24 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 $78 per day
  • Large cars - from $22 per day
  • Medium cars - from $21 per day
  • Vans - from $60 per day
  • Premium cars - from $49 per day
  • Small cars - from $49 per day
  • SUVs - from $35 per day

Money-saving and other tips

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.
This information was written, fact-checked, and/or translated by our content creators.

Learn more about our Editorial Policy.

Map of Car Rental Locations

What is the cheapest month to rent a car in California?

The cost of renting a car in California varies by season. The table and graph below can help you find the best time of year to save on a rental car.
Average rental costs per day in California
$38.41
January
$46.70
February
$53.11
March
$48.06
April
$46.36
May
$51.23
June
$55.34
July
$55.28
August
$46.00
September
$50.30
October
$48.42
November
$53.66
December
The cheapest month of the year to rent a car in California is January — when rental costs average $38.41 per day. This is 22% cheaper than the yearly average and 31% cheaper than renting a car in July (when prices average $55.34 per day).

This information can help you identify the low season. But these are only average numbers. How much your car rental will cost will depend on the type of vehicle you rent, how long you’ll rent it for, and how far ahead you book. Simply enter your dates in the form at the top of the page to see the exact prices.

What’s the average rental length in California?

How long renters typically keep their vehicle sometimes varies depending on the time of year. Travelers tend to keep their rental cars longer in June — an average of 9 days. They tend to keep them for a shorter time in November — an average of 6 days.
Average number of rental days in California
8
January
7
February
7
March
7
April
7
May
9
June
9
July
9
August
9
September
7
October
6
November
7
December

What's the most popular month to rent a car in California?

Based on how many customers search for a car in California, the most popular month is August, while the least popular is November.
Monthly searches in California by pick-up date relative to the average
74%
January
58%
February
78%
March
140%
April
147%
May
107%
June
119%
July
152%
August
124%
September
71%
October
53%
November
77%
December

Car rental information

Car rental locations 229
Airport locations 32
Popular suppliers FOX, Dollar, Thrifty, Alamo, MEX RENT A CAR
Popular car categories SUVs, Large cars, Medium cars, Small cars
Lowest price $21 per day
Cheapest supplier MEX RENT A CAR

Most popular car models of rental suppliers

Rental Supplier Model Doors Luggage Type
FOX Kia Sportage 5 2 SUVs
FOX Toyota Corolla 4 1 Large cars
FOX Hyundai Santa Fe 5 2 SUVs
FOX Chrysler Pacifica 5 2 Vans
FOX Mitsubishi Mirage 4 2 Small cars
FOX Nissan Altima 4 2 Large cars
Dollar Honda CR-V 5 3 SUVs
FOX Nissan Versa 4 2 Medium cars
Alamo Nissan Rogue 5 3 SUVs
Thrifty Jeep Compass 5 2 SUVs

Our customers' reviews

Because we want to make sure each review listed here is left by a real customer, we don’t have the 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.

Canada
Hyundai Santa Fe
8/4/24
Great state to visit, very scenic routes
United States of America (USA)
Mazda CX-5
7/20/24
Visited 3 national parks!
United States of America (USA)
Honda Civic
7/18/24
Point Reyes, Capital Air Show, Monterey Bay, Consumnes WR
United States of America (USA)
Kia Sportage
6/12/24
All of the above.
United States of America (USA)
Toyota Corolla
5/29/24
Low traffic, clean rest stops, good food on the way.
United States of America (USA)
Nissan Versa
5/5/24
Highly recommend to researched the company you book with, give them a call before starting your trip, it made my car pick up EASY. I knew what to expect because the guy over the phone was helpful and answered all my questions!
Spain
Nissan Rogue
4/22/24
We toured California and a few national parks (Grand Canyon, Death Valley, Sequoias, and Yosemite). Amazing experience and forever memories.
United States of America (USA)
Nissan Versa
4/19/24
I had a business meeting in downtown Los Angeles, there was traffic, but there is always traffic in Los Angeles.
Photo 1 by Bobby I. about renting a Nissan Versa in California (4/19/24) Photo 2 by Bobby I. about renting a Nissan Versa in California (4/19/24)
United States of America (USA)
Chrysler Pacifica
12/23/23
i need my refund back ASAP
Serbia
Nissan Rogue
11/4/23
Everything was great
Photo by Aleksandar P. about renting a Nissan Rogue in California (11/4/23)
United States of America (USA)
Chevrolet Equinox
9/26/23
We drove Hwy 1 from LA to Portland… what a beautiful trip
Italy
Chevrolet Suburban
8/27/23
National parks are fantastic. American food is not my favorite…
Switzerland
Ford Mustang Convertible
7/20/23
Canyons and Vegas for 10 days 2300 miles .. fab !
Hungary
Hyundai Elantra
5/31/23
Muir woods & Yosemite National Parks, visiting sport events as LA Angels MLB & LA Sparks basketball, WB studio tour, San Diego Zoo and American food - unbelievably great experiences
Czech Republic
Ford Edge
4/18/23
We didnt get the car we expected (ford edge) and there was only one to choose
United States of America (USA)
Nissan Sentra
9/6/22
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.
United States of America (USA)
Nissan Kicks
8/19/22
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.
Australia
Nissan Kicks
8/7/22
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.
Israel
Ford Focus 3d
8/6/22
Family visit
United States of America (USA)
Nissan Pathfinder
6/30/22
To visit LAS VEGAS.
Mexico
Nissan Sentra
4/22/22
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...
United States of America (USA)
Nissan Versa
9/8/21
Contact by phone is horrible. Otherwise, everything was good. Tried to rebook and have a hard time finding website and same price.
Switzerland
Toyota Camry
9/2/21
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.
United States of America (USA)
Nissan Versa
8/21/21
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
Switzerland
Toyota Corolla
8/18/21
Folks were helpful and friendly.
Israel
Toyota Camry
7/19/21
We just visited our daughter at Los Gatos
United States of America (USA)
Toyota Yaris
7/9/21
Love Santa Monica. Hollywood..LA
France
Ford Mustang Convertible
4/29/21
I love Los Angeles C u next Time
United States of America (USA)
Fiat 500
3/29/21
Anthony at the car rental was helpful and a lifesaver!!!
United States of America (USA)
Kia Sportage
9/23/20
Check out Fox Rental before booking another another
United Kingdom
Mazda 3
3/12/20
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.
United States of America (USA)
Toyota Camry
3/11/20
Fun but very trafficy
Taiwan
Toyota Rav4
2/10/20
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.
United States of America (USA)
Toyota Yaris
12/10/19
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.
United States of America (USA)
Hyundai Elantra
10/15/19
EST value and nice people
Canada
VW Jetta
3/28/19
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.
United States of America (USA)
Toyota Camry
9/20/18
Love San Diego

Car Rental Statistics

Highest-rated company
Enterprise
9.2 / 10
)
Lowest-rated company
RightCars
4.9 / 10
)
Total number of reviews
55
Total rental companies
29
Average daily price
$47.31
Lowest daily price
$21.02
Total cars available
10067

Top 29 suppliers in California in 2024

Alamo
Alamo
Exceptional 9.2 / 429 reviews
18 locations
$50 - $162
Enterprise
Enterprise
Exceptional 9.2 / 79 reviews
25 locations
$53 - $355
SIXT
SIXT
Very good 8.6 / 85 reviews
21 locations
$50 - $392
Black&White Car Rental
Black&White Car Rental
Very good 8.6 / 10 reviews
2 locations
$129 - $604
National
National
Very good 8.1 / 34 reviews
24 locations
$54 - $376
yesaway
yesaway
Very good 8 / 94 reviews
2 locations
$128 - $199
Hertz
Hertz
Good 7.8 / 39 reviews
47 locations
Flexways
Flexways
Good 7.8 / 1 review
2 locations
$70 - $84
Payless
Payless
Good 7.6 / 6 reviews
7 locations
U-Save
U-Save
Good 7.6 / 5 reviews
4 locations
$49 - $243
Carwiz
Carwiz
Good 7.6
1 location
Thrifty
Thrifty
Good 7.4 / 205 reviews
72 locations
$39 - $209
Elita Rent A Car
Elita Rent A Car
Good 7.4 / 66 reviews
2 locations
$79 - $85
Advantage
Advantage
Good 7.4 / 25 reviews
2 locations
Dollar
Dollar
Good 7.3 / 354 reviews
37 locations
$39 - $183
Budget
Budget
Good 7.3 / 30 reviews
156 locations
$54 - $225
Surprice
Surprice
Good 7.3 / 3 reviews
1 location
$48
York Car Rental
York Car Rental
Good 7.2
1 location
Zezgo
Zezgo
Good 7.1
1 location
$54 - $180
NextCar
NextCar
Good 7 / 8 reviews
3 locations
$167 - $196
FOX
FOX
Satisfactory 6.9 / 429 reviews
7 locations
$63 - $228
MEX RENT A CAR
MEX RENT A CAR
Satisfactory 6.8 / 629 reviews
3 locations
$21 - $214
Europcar
Europcar
Satisfactory 6.4 / 186 reviews
7 locations
$51 - $101
Priceless
Priceless
Poor 5.7 / 32 reviews
7 locations
Midway
Midway
Poor 5.7 / 22 reviews
8 locations
$101 - $1,891
Ace Rent a car
Ace Rent a car
Poor 5.6 / 241 reviews
4 locations
$69 - $668
NUCarrentals
NUCarrentals
Poor 5.6 / 54 reviews
3 locations
GreenMotion
GreenMotion
Poor 5.4 / 213 reviews
5 locations
$55 - $107
RightCars
RightCars
Poor 4.9 / 263 reviews
1 location
$72 - $97
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