California

Cheap Car Hire in California from R617

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 15/4 and drop-off date of 14/5. 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
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 2026

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 10 March 2026.

Most popular company

Alamo

Most common car type

Full-size

Average price per day

R981

Cheapest price per day

R617

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 10 March 2026.

There are 372 hire agencies servicing California. These agencies, altogether, have 17 602 hire locations available. Need an affordable hire? small car is the cheapest car type to hire in California with prices from R617 a day in the previous 7-day period. Here are 7 car types you can hire in California:

Economy

Economy

Compact

Compact

Intermediate

Intermediate

Full-size

Full-size

People carrier

People carrier

R1 188+

Full-size SUV

Full-size SUV

R1 285+

Passenger van

Passenger van

R2 127+

Luxury

Luxury

R1 160+

Convertible

Convertible

R1 189+

Pick-up truck

Pick-up truck

Premium SUV

Premium SUV

R1 241+

Compact SUV

Compact SUV

Intermediate SUV

Intermediate SUV

Supplier choice

Supplier choice

Standard SUV

Standard SUV

Luxury SUV

Luxury SUV

R1 026+

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 Urban CruiserR617/day
4
M
A/C
Toyota Urban Cruiser
Toyota Urban CruiserR623/day
4
M
A/C
Toyota Urban Cruiser
Toyota YarisR632/day
2
M
A/C
Toyota Yaris

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 R1 232. Data was last updated on 10 March 2026.
Toyota Urban CruiserR617/day
4
M
A/C
Toyota Urban Cruiser
Toyota Urban CruiserR623/day
4
M
A/C
Toyota Urban Cruiser
Toyota YarisR632/day
2
M
A/C
Toyota Yaris

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 R721/day – about 1 315% less than the yearly average.

What is the cheapest car hire company in California?

Yesaway is currently the cheapest car hire company in California with deals as low as R452,50/day found in the past two weeks. Budget is another inexpensive option with rates as low as R606,16/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 7.6/10) 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 R738. Conversely, July is the priciest month, averaging R950 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 R738. Conversely, July is the priciest month, averaging R950 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

R738

February

R842

March

R781

April

R806

May

R825

June

R881

July

R950

August

R931

September

R787

October

R887

November

R809

December

R943

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 110 locations throughout the area, more than any other company. Hertz has the second-highest number of locations in California at 73.

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 10 March 2026.

Alamo

14 locations

Enterprise Rent-A-Car

110 locations

Sixt

20 locations

Avis

56 locations

Midway

15 locations

Budget

55 locations

Hertz

73 locations

Thrifty

39 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 10 March 2026.
  • 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 R7 645 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.

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+ car hire locations and hundreds of agencies.

No surprises

Prices shown to you will be final, 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