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California car rentals

Driver's age: 26-65
Tue 26.03
Tue 02.04

Search hundreds of rental car sites at once for car rental deals in California

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Cheap car rentals in California

Economy₪122/day
Compact₪122/day
Intermediate₪118/day
Standard₪124/day
Full-size₪135/day
Minivan₪237/day
Full-size SUV₪210/day
Premium₪138/day
Luxury₪202/day
Convertible₪171/day
Intermediate SUV₪129/day
Compact SUV₪131/day
Supplier choice₪140/day
Standard SUV₪158/day
Best rates found by KAYAK users in the past 48 hours.

Top tips for renting a car in California

  • All car hirers in California are required to produce a valid driver's licence with an expiration date that does not fall within the present hire period. You can also hire a car even if you don't have a licence issued by the US government. All you need to do is present a passport and either an international licence or your licence from Australia.
  • When two cars meet on a steep road and neither can pass, the car facing downhill is required to back up to let the other pass, since when backing up a slope, the car that is facing downhill has more control. When it comes to stop signs in California, they are more frequent than traffic lights. All motorists must come to a full stop at any stop sign.
  • If your blood alcohol level is 0.08% or more, you are not allowed to operate a motor vehicle in California. Also, you are only allowed to operate a cellphone while driving if you’re using a hands-free device or when you need to call for assistance in an emergency.
  • 25% of our users found rental cars in California for ₪159 or less
  • Book your rental car in California at least 1 day before your trip in order to get a below-average price
  • Off-airport rental car locations in California are around 6% more expensive than airport locations on average
  • Intermediate rental cars in California are around -2% cheaper than other car types, on average

FAQs about renting a car in California

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

    On average a rental car in California costs ₪155 per day.

  • What is the cheapest car rental company in California?

    In the past 72 hours, the cheapest rental cars were found at Dollar (₪118/day), Avis (₪128/day) and Thrifty (₪129/day).

  • What is the best rental car company in California?

    Based on ratings and reviews from real users on KAYAK, the best car rental companies in California are Enterprise Rent-A-Car (8.3, 167 reviews), Alamo (8.2, 133 reviews), and Avis (7.2, 83 reviews).

  • 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 Monterey (43% of total searches of users looking to rent a car in California), Oakland (29%) and Burbank (7%).

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

    On average a rental car in California costs ₪701 per week (₪100 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 ₪3,006 per month (₪100 per day).

  • Should I hire a car in California?

    Given that California is quite large with numerous sprawling cities, hiring a car is a practical and economical way to get around the area. Even though the majority of large cities have their own public transportation networks, driving is still often faster and easier. Los Angeles, Sacramento and San Diego are a few cities in California that are best navigated with a vehicle. Having access to your own car can also come in handy, especially if you plan on visiting a more rural city or taking a road trip.

  • What is driving like in California?

    California is typically warm and sunny. However, it’s at times rainy, which is a critical time to drive yourself around. When it's raining, go at a slower speed and make sure to utilise your windscreen wipers and headlights. Also, ensure that you have the appropriate tyre chains for your hire car's tyres if you plan to drive in the snow during winter. Try to stay in the right lane whenever you are on a road or freeway with numerous lanes, unless when overtaking. Remember that a left turn from one one-way street to another one-way street can only be made when the signal is red. Unless it’s clearly banned, you can usually turn right at a red light after stopping completely and checking for approaching traffic. You have to pre-pay for your petrol in California. If you are using a credit card, you’ll need to swipe your card at the pump to activate the pump. You’ll also be required to provide your postal code to prevent credit card fraud.

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

    Most car hire companies require that you be at least 21 years old in order to hire a vehicle in California. If you’re between the ages of 21 and 24 and need to hire a car, you’ll likely pay a young hirer fee and may only be allowed to hire certain classes of vehicles.

Car rental directory

  • enterprise

    Enterprise Rent-A-Car car rental locations in California

    32 Locations

  • hertz

    Hertz car rental locations in California

    22 Locations

  • budget

    Budget car rental locations in California

    11 Locations

  • avis

    Avis car rental locations in California

    10 Locations

  • thrifty

    Thrifty car rental locations in California

    5 Locations

  • sunnycars

    Sunnycars car rental locations in California

    4 Locations

  • alamo

    Alamo car rental locations in California

    3 Locations

  • dollar

    Dollar car rental locations in California

    3 Locations

  • easirent

    Easirent car rental locations in California

    3 Locations

  • national

    National car rental locations in California

    3 Locations

  • airportvanre

    Airport Van car rental locations in California

    2 Locations

  • europcar

    Europcar car rental locations in California

    2 Locations

Good to know

Most popular agency

Avis

Most popular car type

Intermediate

Average price

₪191/day

Good deal

₪159/day

When to book a rental car in California

Average daily price per month
Rental car prices as pick-up date approaches