California car rentals

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Car Rental Deals
Useful Info
Car Rental Deals

Cheap car rentals in California

Discover the best prices and deals for your travel.
Kia Rio car
Kia Rio
or similar Small
2
2
4-5
$12/day
View Deal
Ford Focus car
Ford Focus
or similar Small
4
2
4-5
$15/day
View Deal
Fiat 500 car
Fiat 500
or similar Small
2
2
2-3
$20/day
View Deal
Kia Rio car
Kia Rio
or similar Small
2
2
4-5
$12/day
View Deal
Ford Focus car
Ford Focus
or similar Small
4
2
4-5
$15/day
View Deal
Fiat 500 car
Fiat 500
or similar Small
2
2
2-3
$20/day
View Deal
* These are the best rates found by KAYAK users in the past 48 hours and may change
Useful Info

Good to know

Most popular agency

Most popular car type

Average price

Good deal

Ace
Standard
$46/day
$34/day

KAYAK’s insights & trends for California car rentals

Check out the latest trends and booking tips to rent a car in California with confidence.

How far in advance should you book a rental car in California?

You should book your rental car in California around 7 days before your trip in order to get a below-average price.

What is the cheapest car rental company in California?

In the past 72 hours, the cheapest rental cars were found at Fox ($14.45/day), Dollar ($15.87/day) and Hertz ($18.40/day).

What is the most popular rental car in California?

Intermediate rentals (Hyundai Elantra or similar) are the most popular type of vehicle to rent in California. Intermediate rentals in California cost $51/day on average, though some users have found deals as low as $32/day.

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

The cheapest month to rent a car in California is January at an average cost of $42/day. July is the most expensive month to rent a car in California when prices are $59/day on average, which tends to be 18% above the yearly average rental price for California.

What rental car company in California has the most locations?

Enterprise Rent-A-Car operates 106 locations in California, more than any other rental company.
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Top tips for renting a car in California

  • California is an incredibly vast and geographically diverse state, so there are some important things to remember when deciding about renting a car here. One thing to keep in mind is the type of driving you'll be doing in your rental car. If you will be staying in a major city, such as Los Angeles or San Francisco, a compact car is a great idea for traveling short distances and being able to find places to park when you arrive. If you will be traveling over long distances or you will be taking part in many of the outdoor adventures you can find in the state, a van or an SUV would be a better choice. There are some parts of the state that can have snowy and icy roads during wintertime, especially in some of the mountainous regions, so plan your rental accordingly if you are renting during this time of the year.
  • When you are driving a car in California, it is important to remember the laws governing children riding in cars. In California, if a child is two years old or younger, they must ride in a car seat that is rear-facing. The exception to this rule is if the child weighs more than 40 pounds or is more than 40 inches tall. For any children that are under the age of eight, they must sit in a car seat or a booster seat in the backseat. Any passenger in a vehicle that is over sixteen years old is subject to California's Mandatory Seatbelt Law.
  • Because California sits right on the border with Mexico, a question that often comes up is if a rental car can be driven into Mexico. Most rental car companies will let you take your car into Mexico but the rental will have certain restrictions, such as the need to purchase additional insurance to legally drive the car in Mexico. It is also important to remember that most rental car companies will not allow you to book one-way rentals into Mexico.
  • 25% of our users found rental cars in California for $34 or less
  • Intermediate rental cars in California are around 64% cheaper than other car types, on average

FAQs about renting a car in California

  • Should I rent a car in California?

    The choice about whether or not to rent a car in California comes down to how you plan on traveling while you are in the state. If you plan on staying in a large city, you can usually rely on public transportation or other transportation options, such as taxis and rideshare cars. While you can find public transportation options or flight options to take you longer distances in the state, in general, having a car is a much more convenient way to travel long distances in the very large state of California. Even if you plan on staying in a major city, if you will be making long trips from one side of the city to the other, a car is going to be a very convenient way to do that.

  • What is driving like in California?

    Driving in the larger cities in California, such as Los Angeles, San Diego, and San Francisco, can be a bit of a challenge for those that are not accustomed to driving here. You will often find very heavy traffic during many times of the day in and around the center of all the cities. For those that are not accustomed to trying to merge on and off congested freeways, this type of driving can be somewhat nerve-wracking. There are several toll roads that you will find throughout the state of California, especially as you get into major cities, so take that into account as you plan your route.

  • How old do you have to be to rent a car in California?

    For the most part, most rental car companies will let anybody that is twenty one years or older rent a car. A couple of exceptions to this age limit is if you plan on renting a luxury car or a premium SUV. In this case, the rental car company may expect you to be twenty five years old to rent a car. This age limit may also be imposed if you plan on using a debit card for your rental rather than a credit card.

  • How much does it cost to rent a car in California?

    On average a rental car in California costs $46 per day.

  • How can I find car rentals near me in California?

    Take a look at our extensive car rental location map to find the best rental cars near you.

  • Where should I rent a car in California?

    Based on car searches on KAYAK, the most popular cities to rent a car in California are Los Angeles (28% of total searches of users looking to rent a car in California), San Francisco (19%) and San Diego (14%).

  • How much does it cost to rent a car for a week in California?

    On average a rental car in California costs $319 per week ($46 per day).

  • How much does it cost to rent a car long term for a month in California?

    On average a rental car in California costs $1,365 per month ($46 per day).

Car rental directory

  • enterprise

    Enterprise Rent-A-Car car rental locations in California

    277 Locations

  • hertz

    Hertz car rental locations in California

    224 Locations

  • avis

    Avis car rental locations in California

    142 Locations

  • budget

    Budget car rental locations in California

    142 Locations

  • dollar

    Dollar car rental locations in California

    119 Locations

  • thrifty

    Thrifty car rental locations in California

    112 Locations

  • national

    National car rental locations in California

    27 Locations

  • sixtrentacar

    Sixt car rental locations in California

    27 Locations

  • midwaycarren

    Midway car rental locations in California

    26 Locations

  • easirent

    Easirent car rental locations in California

    25 Locations

  • eaglerac

    Eagle Rent A Car car rental locations in California

    23 Locations

  • alamo

    Alamo car rental locations in California

    21 Locations

Car rental locations in California

Everything you need to know for your car rental in California

Search for cheap rental cars in California with KAYAK and rent a car that suits you best. KAYAK searches hundreds of travel sites to help you find and book the best rental car deal at car rental locations across California.

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