California

Cheap Car Hire in California from R499

This price is the cheapest per day rate found by a Cheapflights user in the last 48 hours by searching for a car hire in California with a pick-up date of 1/1 and drop-off date of 1/2. Fares are subject to change and may not be available at all agencies or on all dates of hire. Click the price to replicate the search for this deal.
Driver's age: 25-65
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California car hires in 2025

Get helpful information to start your search for the perfect car hire in California. The average price data is based on the last 12 months and was last updated on 23 December 2025.

Most popular company

Alamo

Most common car type

Full-size

Average price per day

R1 065

Cheapest price per day

R499

Popular car types in California

Explore the most popular car models available for hire in California and choose the one that suits your needs. The price data is sourced from various car hire companies and was last updated on 23 December 2025.

There are 368 hire agencies servicing California. These agencies, altogether, have 17 594 hire locations available. Need an affordable hire? large car is the cheapest car type to hire in California with prices from R499 a day in the previous 7-day period. Here are 5 car types you can hire in California:

Economy

Economy

Compact

Compact

Intermediate

Intermediate

Full-size

Full-size

People carrier

People carrier

Full-size SUV

Full-size SUV

R1 097+

Premium

Premium

Luxury

Luxury

Convertible

Convertible

Compact SUV

Compact SUV

Intermediate SUV

Intermediate SUV

Standard SUV

Standard SUV

Compare car hire deals in California by type

Here are the best California small car hire prices found by Cheapflights users in the past 7 days:

Here are the best California medium car hire prices found by Cheapflights users in the past 7 days:

Here are the best California large car hire prices found by Cheapflights users in the past 7 days:

Here are the best California SUV hire prices found by Cheapflights users in the past 7 days:

Here are the best California luxury car hire prices found by Cheapflights users in the past 7 days:

Honda JazzR500/day
4
M
A/C
Honda Jazz
Nissan AlmeraR500/day
2
M
A/C
Nissan Almera

Best car hire deals found in California

Browse through a selection of recently found affordable car hiredeals in California. Plan your trip with ease and find the perfect rental option for your needs. There are currently 8 hire car agencies in California with an average daily rate of R668. Data was last updated on 23 December 2025.
BMW M3R499/day
5
M
A/C
BMW M3
Volkswagen PoloR500/day
4
M
A/C
Volkswagen Polo
Suzuki JimnyR500/day
4
M
A/C
Suzuki Jimny

Cheapflights insights for California car hires

Get relevant, data-driven information to help you hire a car in California, including pricing trends, ideal booking times, and more.

How far in advance should I hire a car in California?

For the best savings on car hire in California, make your reservation 7 days before pickup. The average price then is just R705/day – about 1 311% less than the yearly average.

What is the cheapest car hire company in California?

Sixt is currently the cheapest car hire company in California with deals as low as R474,68/day found in the past two weeks. Avis is another inexpensive option with rates as low as R561,92/day.

What is the best car rental company in California?

Based on Cheapflights user feedback, the highest-rated car hire company in California is Alamo (rated 8.5/10). Enterprise Rent-A-Car (rated 7.5/10) is also highly rated by our users.

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

At California, the best time to hire a car is in January, with an average daily rate of just R685. Conversely, July is the priciest month, averaging R957 per day. Below youll find the monthly average car hire prices. Note that costs can fluctuate depending on availability, booking time, and vehicle type.|1#In California, the best time to hire a car is in January, with an average daily rate of just R685. Conversely, July is the priciest month, averaging R957 per day. Below youll find the monthly average car hire prices. Note that costs can fluctuate depending on availability, booking time, and vehicle type.

January

R685

February

R721

March

R781

April

R805

May

R832

June

R886

July

R957

August

R939

September

R793

October

R890

November

R812

December

R903

What car do most people hire in California?

The most popular types of cars to hire in California are the following: SUV cars (Chevrolet Trax or similar), Standard cars (Volkswagen Jetta or similar), and Convertible cars (Ford Mustang Convertible or similar).

Which car hire company has the most locations in California?

Enterprise Rent-A-Car has 106 locations throughout the area, more than any other company. Hertz has the second-highest number of locations in California at 79.

Top rental agencies in California

Explore the leading car hire agencies in California known for their outstanding service and extensive range of vehicles to choose from. There are currently 8 car hire companies in California. Reviews were last updated on 23 December 2025.

Alamo

14 locations

Enterprise Rent-A-Car

106 locations

Sixt

19 locations

Avis

57 locations

Midway

17 locations

Budget

56 locations

Hertz

79 locations

Thrifty

42 locations

Car hire FAQs

Find answers to frequently asked questions about car hires in California, including policies, requirements, and more. FAQs were last updated on 23 December 2025.
  • What is the cheapest hire car found in California?

    In the past two weeks, Cheapflights users have found many deals under R1 065/day when booking a car hire in California. The absolute best deal a user found was for R1 065/day from Alamo, booked on Dec. 13.

  • How much does it cost to hire a car in California for a week from Alamo?

    From Alamo you can hire a car in California from about R8 051 per week on average.

  • Can I rent a car for a month in California?

    Yes, hiring a vehicle in California for a month is certainly possible.

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

    The average cost of a car hire in California for a month is R34 502. Check Cheapflights to compare pricing and options for your rental car.

Car hires by fuel type in California

Browse car hires by fuel type in California. Deals were last updated on 23 December 2025.

Browse through car hire deals by fuel type in California. There is currently 1 fuel type to choose from.

Petrol/Diesel

Petrol/Diesel

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Free Cancellation

Plans change – we get it. And that’s why you can search and book car hire on Cheapflights from agencies that offer free cancellation