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California

Cheap Car Hire in California from R475

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 6/12 and drop-off date of 13/12. 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 1 December 2025.

Most popular company

Avis

Most common car type

Full-size

Average price per day

R774

Cheapest price per day

R475
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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 1 December 2025.
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There are 366 hire agencies servicing California. These agencies, altogether, have 17 565 hire locations available. Need an affordable hire? small car is the cheapest car type to hire in California with prices from R475 a day in the previous 7-day period. Here are 5 car types you can hire in California:

Economy

Economy

R476+

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Compact

Compact

R475+

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Intermediate

Intermediate

R508+

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Full-size

Full-size

R505+

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People carrier

People carrier

R1 099+

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Full-size SUV

Full-size SUV

R1 026+

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Premium

Premium

R780+

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Pick-up truck

Pick-up truck

R578+

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Compact SUV

Compact SUV

R476+

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Intermediate SUV

Intermediate SUV

R553+

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Standard SUV

Standard SUV

R649+

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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:

Toyota Corolla CrossR475/day
4
M
A/C
Toyota Corolla Cross
Found 11/29/25
Nissan AlmeraR476/day
2
M
A/C
Nissan Almera
Found 11/29/25

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 R591. Data was last updated on 1 December 2025.
Toyota Corolla CrossR475/day
4
M
A/C
Toyota Corolla Cross
Found 11/29/25
Volkswagen T-CrossR476/day
4
M
A/C
Volkswagen T-Cross
Found 11/29/25
Toyota YarisR476/day
2
M
A/C
Toyota Yaris
Found 11/29/25

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 R712/day – about 1 341% less than the yearly average.

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What is the cheapest car hire company in California?

Avis is currently the cheapest car hire company in California with deals as low as R574,74/day found in the past two weeks. Dollar is another inexpensive option with rates as low as R584,82/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 8.6/10). Enterprise Rent-A-Car (rated 7.5/10) is also highly rated by our users.

Alamo
Alamo
8.6
Enterprise Rent-A-Car
Enterprise Rent-A-Car
7.5
Sixt
Sixt
7.3
Midway
Midway
6.3

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 R694. Conversely, July is the priciest month, averaging R973 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 R694. Conversely, July is the priciest month, averaging R973 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

R694

February

R730

March

R780

April

R817

May

R847

June

R893

July

R973

August

R950

September

R803

October

R899

November

R823

December

R911

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 80.

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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 1 December 2025.

Alamo

14 locations
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Enterprise Rent-A-Car

106 locations
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Sixt

19 locations
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Midway

17 locations
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Avis

57 locations
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Budget

56 locations
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Hertz

80 locations
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Thrifty

42 locations
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Car hire FAQs

Find answers to frequently asked questions about car hires in California, including policies, requirements, and more. FAQs were last updated on 1 December 2025.

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

    From Avis you can hire a car in California from about R4 633 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.

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