Pick-up location | Costa Mesa |
---|---|
Car types | Compact, Economy, Full-size, Intermediate, Intermediate SUV, Minivan, Passenger van, Premium, Standard, Standard SUV, Supplier choice |
Rental locations | 17 |
Airport locations | 8 |
Popular agencies | Turo, Budget, Hertz |
Economy | $22/day |
Compact | $22/day |
Intermediate | $24/day |
Standard | $23/day |
Full-size | $24/day |
Minivan | $35/day |
Premium | $37/day |
Passenger van | $35/day |
Intermediate SUV | $24/day |
Supplier choice | $26/day |
Standard SUV | $32/day |
Since you will probably be doing a lot of freeway driving in Costa Mesa, we recommend you check out a compact or standard SUV for comfort and safety. It will also give you plenty of space to lug around your gear from beach to beach and maybe even try renting a surfboard if you’ve always dreamed about trying a new sport.
The maximum speed limit when driving on highways in California is usually 65mph. The maximum speed limit goes down to 55mph on two-lane highways. Within the city limits of Costa Mesa, particularly in residential areas and around schools, the speed limits drop to 25-35mph.
Parking is free and usually plentiful around Costa Mesa. The one exception would be along Highway 101 which might be more difficult, especially on the weekends and some posted areas which only permit one or 2h parking. There is a parking garage along the Main Street Promenade if you need long-term parking.
On average a rental car in Costa Mesa costs $49 per day. But prices differ between operators and you can save money through a price comparison of car rental deals from different agencies. The cheapest price for a car rental in Costa Mesa found in the last 2 weeks is $27.
The average gas price in Costa Mesa is $3.52 per gallon over the past 30 days. Filling up a gas tank costs between $42 and $56, depending on the car size.
Standard (Kia Sorento or similar) is the most frequently booked rental car type in Costa Mesa.
Take a look at our extensive car rental location map to find the best rental cars near you.
A Standard car rental in Costa Mesa costs $27 per day, on average.
A Compact car rental in Costa Mesa costs $27 per day, on average.
An Economy car rental in Costa Mesa costs $33 per day, on average.
On average a rental car in Costa Mesa costs $341 per week ($49 per day).
On average a rental car in Costa Mesa costs $1,462 per month ($49 per day).
Most car rental providers in Costa Mesa offer insurance but the level of protection can differ substantially. If you're unsure whether to get extra protection for your car rental in Costa Mesa, check out KAYAK's car rental insurance guide.
KAYAK has deals for you to compare from 13 car rental agencies in Costa Mesa.
Finding the right price, understanding the add-ons and staying up to date with policy changes can be a challenge. That’s why KAYAK has produced the ultimate guide to renting a car to help you cut though the jargon and make the right choice for your rental car. Find tips and insights for how to book your rental, what car rental insurance you’ll need, how to deal with a car rental agency and what extra fees to expect (and avoid!).
KAYAK searches thousands of car rental agencies to provide you with offers from all car rental agencies operating in Costa Mesa so that you can compare car rental rates, reviews and pick-up and drop-off locations to find the best deal for you.
Kids under the age of 8 need to be in a car seat in the back seat and should be protected by a seat belt. Children under two years old sit in a rear-facing car seat until they weigh 40 pounds or more. A child under the age of six years old who weighs less than 60 pounds cannot be allowed to sit in the front.
You can set off to Berry Farm, about 21 miles from Costa Mesa which will take about 20 minutes. Here you can see the strawberries and sunflower farm and also have a lot of fun with activities for your kids. Take 45 minutes to drive to Los Angeles about 35 miles away and visit Universal Studios Hollywood and get to see a real-life working movie studio. You can also take a drive to San Diego City, about 80 miles away which will take about an hour and a half. The city boasts the most famous parks, zoos, museums, beaches, natural reserves, and many other attractions in southern California.
One location in Costa Mesa
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8.0 Very good
Mar 2021
Pros:
The staff outside in the lot was very helpful and friendly.Cons:
Car could have been a bit cleaner8.0 Very good
Mar 2021
Cons:
Check in was a little long due to no other representatives being on desk.2.0 Poor
Mar 2021
Pros:
Very bad customer service only 3-4 people are working inside and outside long wait my car was not ready on timeCons:
Customer service2.0 Poor
Mar 2021
Cons:
Waited well over an hour for the car to get cleaned before I picked it up, making me very late for a couple meetings. The checkout counter was also incredibly slow, with no urgency shown by the staff.8.0 Very good
Mar 2021
Pros:
Car was excellent and a very good value.Cons:
Pick-up and drop off were slow and drawn out. Stood by for 15 minutes waiting to check out while one agent worked and two others walked in and out without a word. Finally someone noticed me standing there and said someone would soon help me. Another 5 mintes with no attention!2.0 Poor
Feb 2021
Pros:
Nothing.Cons:
They canceled my rental AFTER i called them and emailed them that i was arriving late due to flight cancellations and wearher. When i arrived the next morning the counter guy said my trip was canceled and theres nothing i can do about it. I want a refund.2 locations in Costa Mesa
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10.0 Wonderful
Oct 2020
Pros:
Everything was easyCons:
Everything was perfect!10.0 Wonderful
Feb 2020
Pros:
The staff were amazing, both the representatives i dealt with were super professional, friendly and went above and beyond to make me satisfied4.0 Mediocre
Apr 2023
8.0 Very good
Aug 2022
10.0 Wonderful
Jan 2022
One location in Costa Mesa
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10.0 Wonderful
Nov 2023
2.0 Poor
Oct 2023
10.0 Wonderful
Oct 2023
10.0 Wonderful
Oct 2023
2.0 Poor
Oct 2022
8.0 Very good
Mar 2019
Pros:
Small office in Costa Mesa, CA with no wait to pick up my car!Cons:
Everything went well with my car rentalOne location in Costa Mesa
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2.0 Poor
Sep 2020
Cons:
They could have a car! They said there’s no car. Messed up a job interview.9.2 Wonderful
Dec 2016
Pros:
Easy in and out for pickup.2.0 Poor
Jan 2022
3 locations in Costa Mesa
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2.0 Poor
Dec 2021
Pros:
They lied and said they had the car there, but they had no car available at the pick up time and place. The manager lied and said he called me but phones records show this man was just lying.Cons:
Every possible thing could have been better.4.8 Mediocre
Sep 2020
Pros:
They provided the incorrect address on the confirmation, they never have staff to come and pick you up or drop you You off after dropping off the car. When I called and told them that the address provided is incorrect and my Uber driver had to drop me off else where they didn’t even bother trying to help me, I had to pay for two Uber meanwhile I live bout 3miles away but they just kept saying they don’t have drivers.Cons:
Get more staff that works during operations hours and not after 1pm. Not sure how you can run a business like that.8.0 Very good
Apr 2019
Pros:
Friendly and helpful staffs4.4 Mediocre
Apr 2017
Pros:
Picking up and dropping off was nice and easy.Cons:
Took forever to get somebody to actually help me. The car smelled like vomit Staff was rude10.0 Wonderful
Jul 2022
1.9 Poor
Jul 2021
One location in Costa Mesa
One location in Costa Mesa
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2.0 Poor
May 2017
Cons:
Never got the car. In fact, was swindled and lied to when picking up the vehicle, was told they had no more cars to rent out because they were tired and didn't want to help anymore people since they were closing. Instead they lied to us and then put us on a shuttle to go find a car at Avis in the airport and said they would refund the difference. Well now I am disputing the charge because they lied to me and said they don't honor reimbursing the difference because they are not affiliated with Avis when the representative at Payless said they were. STOP offering deals to pick up rentals from Payless in Costa Mesa.7.6 Good
Apr 2017
Pros:
It was cheap, easy to rent, no line, not busy. Away from the airportCons:
The Kia I had rented smelled like smoke and the car had multiple stains on the interior on all seats.10.0 Wonderful
Apr 2017
Pros:
Angel, our rep was really helpfulCons:
slow service recommend later in the day when not busy6.0 Okay
Apr 2017
Pros:
Excellent priceCons:
First vehicle offered had severely damaged bumper and dented passenger door (through paint to bare metal) which I refused. Took 2nd vehicle, which I then discovered after leaving on trip to AZ had two tires with slow leaks that I had to inflate daily; left front & right rear.2.0 Poor
Apr 2017
Cons:
Got to the counter and was told a debit card was no good. Payless agent made a call and a third party offered me a rate twice as much as the contract price and a $200 deposit whe I refused they offered another $20 discount. I was insulted and walked away.8.0 Very good
Mar 2017
Pros:
Good priceCons:
Not the most polished experience, car was a bit dirty but acceptable.2 locations in Costa Mesa
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4.0 Mediocre
Oct 2018
Pros:
Not muchCons:
Was not informed of a $25 after hours drop off fee, or a $50 different drop off location fee. Was not informed that Costa Mesa closed before scheduled drop off time, and that drop off subsequently was at airport. I needed special instructions for the airport drop off.10.0 Wonderful
Jul 2018
Pros:
Great Customer Service From All the Staff.10.0 Wonderful
Apr 2017
Pros:
Love it10.0 Wonderful
Feb 2017
Pros:
I would not hesitate to use this company again, and when we go back to this area I will definitely look here first for my rental van. The staff members we encountered were friendly and attentive. When we lost a cell phone Milton the General Manager personally attended to having it overnight shipped back to us, and Raphael, the one who found the phone in our returned van, searched the entire van to find it, which was no easy task because the phone was black on a black mat and under a seat.Cons:
This isn't the rental company's fault, but the city imposes a restriction upon rental pickups, so they have to go to a special parking lot, and I wasn't aware of this.10.0 Wonderful
Jan 2017
Pros:
We worried after reading some reviews, but this rental company was awesome. Friendly service from pick up, to drop off. Quick, clean, and total steal! The van was clean and ran beautifully. If you rent to experience a brand new car with all the bells and whistles, this won't suit you. But we loved it and hope others give them a try.Cons:
It was a little unclear what we needed to do once we got to the airport and even the airport info people hadn't heard of the company. Perhaps a bit more explicit instructions on how to get a ride to the rental facility would help.9.2 Wonderful
Jan 2017
Pros:
I needed a van to carry 8 people (including 3 car seats with kids) and renting a kia sedona from here did the job! Great people, fast service, and overall a pleasant experience.Cons:
Since it's a smaller, outside-of-the-airport shop, the rentals are a bit older and sometimes worn-down. (i.e. color stained but clean seats) No odor problems or anything like that, but you can tell when you get a van that someone used for camping/ snowboarding. Regardless, the price and service makes up for all of that!One location in Costa Mesa
One location in Costa Mesa
One location in Costa Mesa
One location in Costa Mesa
One location in Costa Mesa
Locations in Costa Mesa
Lobby Of Travelodge Hotel
(714) 432-1313
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