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California

Cheap Car Hire in California from R399

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 16/6 and drop-off date of 20/6. 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
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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 10 June 2025.

Most popular company

Dollar

Most common car type

Full-size

Average price per day

R791

Cheapest price per day

R399

California car hire prices in popular cities

Discover the price range for hiring a car in popular cities across California, helping you budget and make informed decisions for your upcoming travel. There are 386 pickup locations in California to choose from. Price data has been averaged over the last 12 months and was last updated on 10 June 2025.

Price

R776 - R813

Cheapest time to rent a car in California

Discover the most affordable period to rent a car in California and save money on your trip. The monthly average price data is based on historical data over the last year and was last updated on 10 June 2025.

January

R638

February

R638

March

R691

April

R833

May

R762

June

R780

July

R904

August

R868

September

R762

October

R797

November

R726

December

R904

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 June 2025.

There are 352 hire agencies servicing California. These agencies, altogether, have 17 489 hire locations available. Need an affordable hire? medium car is the cheapest car type to hire in California with prices from R399 a day in the previous 7-day period. Here are 5 car types you can hire in California:

Economy

Economy

Compact

Compact

Intermediate

Intermediate

Standard

Standard

Full-size

Full-size

People carrier

People carrier

R1 202+

Full-size SUV

Full-size SUV

R1 046+

Premium

Premium

Luxury

Luxury

Convertible

Convertible

R1 681+

Compact SUV

Compact SUV

Supplier choice

Supplier choice

Intermediate SUV

Intermediate SUV

Standard SUV

Standard SUV

Luxury SUV

Luxury SUV

R1 784+

Compare available car types for rental in California

Compare and contrast the various car types offered for hire in California to find the perfect fit for your trip. Price data is based on averages over the last 12 months and was last updated on 10 June 2025.

Small cars

R457 - R1 701

All Car Types

R783 - R1 685

To hire a small car in California, you would pay an average price of R881/day. January is the cheapest month to hire a small car in California (~R457/day), while the most expensive month to rent that same car type is February (~R1 701/day). In fact, January is about 49% cheaper than prices during the rest of the year to book a small car hire for California. When comparing with other car types available for hire in California, renting a small car saves you 22% in costs. Please note that average prices are based on historical data and can vary depending on how early you book, availability for your travel dates, and vehicle popularity. Here are the best California small car hire prices found by Cheapflights users in the past 7 days:

To hire a medium car in California, you would pay an average price of R907/day. February is the cheapest month to hire a medium car in California (~R669/day), while the most expensive month to rent that same car type is July (~R1 483/day). In fact, February is about 27% cheaper than prices during the rest of the year to book a medium car hire for California. When comparing with other car types available for hire in California, renting a medium car saves you 20% in costs. Please note that average prices are based on historical data and can vary depending on how early you book, availability for your travel dates, and vehicle popularity. Here are the best California medium car hire prices found by Cheapflights users in the past 7 days:

To hire a large car in California, you would pay an average price of R1 450/day. August is the cheapest month to hire a large car in California (~R1 018/day), while the most expensive month to rent that same car type is January (~R4 650/day). In fact, August is about 30% cheaper than prices during the rest of the year to book a large car hire for California. When comparing with other car types available for hire in California, renting a large car is 23% more expensive. Please note that average prices are based on historical data and can vary depending on how early you book, availability for your travel dates, and vehicle popularity. Here are the best California large car hire prices found by Cheapflights users in the past 7 days:

To hire a SUV in California, you would pay an average price of R1 008/day. February is the cheapest month to hire a SUV in California (~R613/day), while the most expensive month to rent that same car type is December (~R1 393/day). In fact, February is about 40% cheaper than prices during the rest of the year to book a SUV hire for California. When comparing with other car types available for hire in California, renting a SUV saves you 11% in costs. Please note that average prices are based on historical data and can vary depending on how early you book, availability for your travel dates, and vehicle popularity. Here are the best California SUV hire prices found by Cheapflights users in the past 7 days:

To hire a luxury car in California, you would pay an average price of R1 254/day. August is the cheapest month to hire a luxury car in California (~R911/day), while the most expensive month to rent that same car type is January (~R4 650/day). In fact, August is about 28% cheaper than prices during the rest of the year to book a luxury car hire for California. When comparing with other car types available for hire in California, renting a luxury car is 11% more expensive. Please note that average prices are based on historical data and can vary depending on how early you book, availability for your travel dates, and vehicle popularity. Here are the best California luxury car hire prices found by Cheapflights users in the past 7 days:

To hire a convertible in California, you would pay an average price of R1 300/day. November is the cheapest month to hire a convertible in California (~R1 007/day), while the most expensive month to rent that same car type is September (~R4 367/day). In fact, November is about 23% cheaper than prices during the rest of the year to book a convertible hire for California. When comparing with other car types available for hire in California, renting a convertible is 14% more expensive. Please note that average prices are based on historical data and can vary depending on how early you book, availability for your travel dates, and vehicle popularity.

Toyota Corolla QuestR606/day
4
M
A/C
Toyota Corolla Quest
Toyota Corolla QuestR618/day
4
M
A/C
Toyota Corolla Quest
Kia PicantoR629/day
2
M
A/C
Kia Picanto

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 June 2025.
Book your reservation with one of the top car hire agencies located in California, including those serving the greater Los Angeles, San Francisco and Redding area. Helpful information on each car hire agency is available, including reviews, pricing, pickup location, and more.

Budget

6,3
Okay
1052 reviews54 locations
Overview

Cleanliness

7,1

Comfort

7,2

Overall

6,3

Pick-up/drop-off

6,4

Value

6,4

Hertz

6,0
Okay
1222 reviews82 locations
Overview

Cleanliness

6,9

Comfort

6,8

Overall

6,0

Pick-up/drop-off

6,0

Value

6,2

Alamo

8,4
Very Good
212 reviews14 locations
Overview

Cleanliness

8,7

Comfort

8,6

Overall

8,3

Pick-up/drop-off

8,4

Value

8,0

Enterprise Rent-A-Car

7,5
Good
497 reviews103 locations
Overview

Cleanliness

7,9

Comfort

7,8

Overall

7,5

Pick-up/drop-off

7,5

Value

7,5

Sixt

7,3
Good
357 reviews16 locations
Overview

Cleanliness

7,9

Comfort

7,9

Overall

7,3

Pick-up/drop-off

7,3

Value

7,2

Avis

6,2
Okay
619 reviews54 locations
Overview

Cleanliness

7,0

Comfort

7,1

Overall

6,2

Pick-up/drop-off

6,3

Value

6,4

Midway

6,2
Okay
492 reviews16 locations
Overview

Cleanliness

7,1

Comfort

6,8

Overall

6,2

Pick-up/drop-off

5,8

Value

6,7

Dollar

5,7
Fair
524 reviews47 locations
Overview

Cleanliness

6,9

Comfort

6,6

Overall

5,6

Pick-up/drop-off

5,6

Value

6,0

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 R730. Data was last updated on 10 June 2025.
We've found these great deals on car hires in California, including options within the Los Angeles, San Francisco and Redding area. To make sure you find the deal you're looking for, verify the details of the hire, such as car type, price, and pickup address.
Ford RangerR399/day
5
2
M
A/C
Ford Ranger
Audi A4R399/day
5
2
M
A/C
Audi A4
Hyundai SonataR594/day
5
M
A/C
Hyundai Sonata

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 June 2025.
  • What is the cheapest hire car found in California?

    In the past two weeks, Cheapflights users have found many deals under R776/day when booking a car hire in California. The absolute best deal a user found was for R562/day from Dollar, booked on Jun. 8.

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

    From Dollar you can hire a car in California from about R5 442 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 R23 321. 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, Petrol/Diesel cars are the cheapest to rent in California. Deals were last updated on 10 June 2025.

Browse through car hire deals by fuel type in California. There are currently 3 fuel types to choose from with Petrol/Diesel being the cheapest (R24+).

Electric

Electric

Hybrid

Hybrid

Petrol/Diesel

Petrol/Diesel

Browse thousands of different options on Cheapflights for your next trip

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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