California

Cheap Car Hire in California from R476

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 17/9 and drop-off date of 31/10. 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: 26-65
Here’s why our users search for rental cars through Cheapflights

Price trackingHolding out for a great deal? Get notified when prices are reduced.

Customized resultsFilter by rental agency, car type, price range and more.

Unlimited free useSearch as many times as you want with no hidden charges or fees.

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 18 August 2025.

Most popular company

Avis

Most common car type

Standard

Average price per day

R656

Cheapest price per day

R476

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 18 August 2025.

There are 357 hire agencies servicing California. These agencies, altogether, have 17 540 hire locations available. Need an affordable hire? small car is the cheapest car type to hire in California with prices from R476 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 214+

Full-size SUV

Full-size SUV

Premium

Premium

Luxury

Luxury

Convertible

Convertible

Pick-up truck

Pick-up truck

Premium SUV

Premium SUV

R1 161+

Compact SUV

Compact SUV

Intermediate SUV

Intermediate SUV

Standard SUV

Standard SUV

Supplier choice

Supplier choice

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:

Toyota CorollaR476/day
4
M
A/C
Toyota Corolla
GWM Ora Good CatR476/day
2
M
A/C
GWM Ora Good Cat
Suzuki Swift DzireR609/day
4
M
A/C
Suzuki Swift Dzire

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 R665. Data was last updated on 18 August 2025.
Toyota CorollaR476/day
4
M
A/C
Toyota Corolla
GWM Ora Good CatR476/day
2
M
A/C
GWM Ora Good Cat
Audi A3R496/day
5
4
M
A/C
Audi A3

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 R743/day – about 1 387% less than the yearly average.

What is the cheapest car hire company in California?

Fox is currently the cheapest car hire company in California with deals as low as R427,76/day found in the past two weeks. Budget is another inexpensive option with rates as low as R505,07/day.

What is the best car rental company in California?

Based on Cheapflights user feedback, the highest-rated car hire company in California is Budget (rated 6.3/10 with 1 136 reviews). Hertz (rated 6.1/10 with 1 236 reviews) 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 R733. Conversely, July is the priciest month, averaging R1 013 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 R733. Conversely, July is the priciest month, averaging R1 013 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

R733

February

R761

March

R808

April

R846

May

R879

June

R924

July

R1 013

August

R971

September

R889

October

R902

November

R879

December

R957

What car do most people hire in California?

The most popular types of cars to hire in California are the following: Intermediate cars (Toyota RAV4 or similar), SUV cars (Class Luxury SUV or similar), and Compact cars (Hyundai Accent 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 84.

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 18 August 2025.

Budget

6,3
Okay
1136 reviews57 locations
Overview

Cleanliness

7,1

Comfort

7,1

Overall

6,3

Pick-up/drop-off

6,4

Value

6,4

Hertz

6,1
Okay
1236 reviews84 locations
Overview

Cleanliness

6,9

Comfort

6,8

Overall

6,1

Pick-up/drop-off

6,1

Value

6,2

Alamo

8,5
Very Good
206 reviews14 locations
Overview

Cleanliness

8,9

Comfort

8,8

Overall

8,5

Pick-up/drop-off

8,6

Value

8,1

Enterprise Rent-A-Car

7,5
Good
443 reviews106 locations
Overview

Cleanliness

7,9

Comfort

7,8

Overall

7,5

Pick-up/drop-off

7,5

Value

7,5

Sixt

7,4
Good
343 reviews17 locations
Overview

Cleanliness

8,0

Comfort

7,9

Overall

7,4

Pick-up/drop-off

7,3

Value

7,2

Avis

6,2
Okay
664 reviews57 locations
Overview

Cleanliness

7,0

Comfort

7,0

Overall

6,2

Pick-up/drop-off

6,3

Value

6,4

Midway

6,2
Okay
488 reviews16 locations
Overview

Cleanliness

7,1

Comfort

6,8

Overall

6,2

Pick-up/drop-off

5,8

Value

6,7

Dollar

5,6
Fair
539 reviews46 locations
Overview

Cleanliness

6,9

Comfort

6,6

Overall

5,6

Pick-up/drop-off

5,6

Value

5,9

Car hire FAQs

Find answers to frequently asked questions about car hires in California, including policies, requirements, and more. FAQs were last updated on 18 August 2025.
  • What is the cheapest hire car found in California?

    In the past two weeks, Cheapflights users have found many deals under R927/day when booking a car hire in California. The absolute best deal a user found was for R563/day from Avis, booked on Aug. 17.

  • 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 R6 203 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 R26 585. 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 18 August 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 (R30+).

Electric

Electric

Hybrid

Hybrid

Petrol/Diesel

Petrol/Diesel

Browse thousands of different options on Cheapflights for your next trip

Toggle through the tabs below to find thousands of options on Cheapflights for your next trip.

Best Car Hire Deals

We make it easy and fast to find and compare deals from 70,000+ hire locations and hundreds of agencies.

No Surprises

Prices shown to you will be completely in full, without any hidden charges or fees.

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