California

Cheap Car Hire in California from R580

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 6/11 and drop-off date of 13/11. 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 November 2025.

Most popular company

Thrifty

Most common car type

Full-size

Average price per day

R720

Cheapest price per day

R580

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 November 2025.

There are 364 hire agencies servicing California. These agencies, altogether, have 17 557 hire locations available. Need an affordable hire? small car is the cheapest car type to hire in California with prices from R580 a day in the previous 7-day period. Here are 6 car types you can hire in California:

Economy

Economy

Compact

Compact

Intermediate

Intermediate

Standard

Standard

Full-size

Full-size

People carrier

People carrier

R1 065+

Full-size SUV

Full-size SUV

R1 030+

Premium

Premium

Convertible

Convertible

R1 009+

Pick-up truck

Pick-up truck

Premium SUV

Premium SUV

R1 297+

Compact SUV

Compact SUV

Standard SUV

Standard SUV

Intermediate SUV

Intermediate 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:

Citroen C3 AircrossR580/day
2
2
5
M
A/C
Citroen C3 Aircross
Volkswagen PoloR584/day
4
M
A/C
Volkswagen Polo
Citroen C3 AircrossR611/day
2
2
5
M
A/C
Citroen C3 Aircross

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 R791. Data was last updated on 1 November 2025.
Hyundai VenueR580/day
4
M
A/C
Hyundai Venue
Citroen C3 AircrossR580/day
2
2
5
M
A/C
Citroen C3 Aircross
Suzuki Swift DzireR584/day
4
M
A/C
Suzuki Swift Dzire

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 R726/day – about 1 364% less than the yearly average.

What is the cheapest car hire company in California?

Thrifty is currently the cheapest car hire company in California with deals as low as R497,27/day found in the past two weeks. Dollar is another inexpensive option with rates as low as R563,75/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 7.7/10) 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 R709. Conversely, July is the priciest month, averaging R987 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 R709. Conversely, July is the priciest month, averaging R987 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

R709

February

R743

March

R792

April

R830

May

R861

June

R905

July

R987

August

R962

September

R813

October

R911

November

R852

December

R926

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 81.

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 November 2025.

Alamo

14 locations

Enterprise Rent-A-Car

106 locations

Sixt

18 locations

Avis

57 locations

Midway

17 locations

Budget

57 locations

Hertz

81 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 1 November 2025.
  • What is the cheapest hire car found in California?

    In the past two weeks, Cheapflights users have found many deals under R720/day when booking a car hire in California. The absolute best deal a user found was for R506/day from Dollar, booked on Oct. 26.

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

    From Thrifty you can hire a car in California from about R4 656 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 R19 956. 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. Currently, Hybrid cars are the cheapest to rent in California. Deals were last updated on 1 November 2025.

Browse through car hire deals by fuel type in California. There are currently 3 fuel types to choose from with Hybrid being the cheapest (R48+).

Electric

Electric

Hybrid

Hybrid

Petrol/Diesel

Petrol/Diesel

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