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California

Cheap Car Hire in California from R396

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 15/7 and drop-off date of 20/7. 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 1 July 2025.

Most common car type

Full-size

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 July 2025.

There are 354 hire agencies servicing California. These agencies, altogether, have 17 558 hire locations available. Need an affordable hire? small car is the cheapest car type to hire in California with prices from R396 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 664+

Full-size SUV

Full-size SUV

Premium

Premium

Luxury

Luxury

Convertible

Convertible

R1 127+

Premium SUV

Premium SUV

R1 494+

Intermediate SUV

Intermediate SUV

Compact SUV

Compact SUV

Standard SUV

Standard SUV

Supplier choice

Supplier choice

Luxury SUV

Luxury SUV

R1 130+

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:

Volkswagen PoloR396/day
4
M
A/C
Volkswagen Polo
GWM Ora Good CatR396/day
2
M
A/C
GWM Ora Good Cat
Volkswagen PoloR583/day
2
M
A/C
Volkswagen Polo

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 033. Data was last updated on 1 July 2025.
We've found these great deals on car hires in California, including options within the Los Angeles, Redding and San Francisco 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.
Volkswagen PoloR396/day
4
M
A/C
Volkswagen Polo
GWM Ora Good CatR396/day
2
M
A/C
GWM Ora Good Cat
Volkswagen PoloR427/day
5
M
A/C
Volkswagen Polo

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 R769/day – about 1 426% less than the yearly average.

What is the cheapest car hire company in California?

Hertz is currently the cheapest car hire company in California with deals as low as R528,55/day found in the past two weeks. Dollar is another inexpensive option with rates as low as R562,63/day.

What is the best car rental company in California?

Based on Cheapflights user feedback, the highest-rated car hire company in California is Hertz (rated 6.0/10 with 1 196 reviews). Alamo (rated 8.4/10 with 185 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 R737. Conversely, July is the priciest month, averaging R1 050 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 R737. Conversely, July is the priciest month, averaging R1 050 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

R737

February

R767

March

R814

April

R851

May

R886

June

R937

July

R1 050

August

R1 012

September

R910

October

R912

November

R895

December

R966

What car do most people hire in California?

The most popular types of cars to hire in California are the following: SUV cars (Class Luxury SUV or similar), Standard cars (Chrysler 200 or similar), and Passenger van cars (Chrysler Pacifica or similar).

Which car hire company has the most locations in California?

Enterprise Rent-A-Car has 112 locations throughout the area, more than any other company. Hertz has the second-highest number of locations in California at 88.

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

Hertz

6,0
Okay
1196 reviews88 locations
Overview

Cleanliness

6,8

Comfort

6,7

Overall

6,0

Pick-up/drop-off

5,9

Value

6,1

Alamo

8,4
Very Good
185 reviews14 locations
Overview

Cleanliness

8,8

Comfort

8,7

Overall

8,4

Pick-up/drop-off

8,5

Value

8,1

Enterprise Rent-A-Car

7,7
Good
405 reviews112 locations
Overview

Cleanliness

8,0

Comfort

7,9

Overall

7,7

Pick-up/drop-off

7,7

Value

7,6

Sixt

7,4
Good
353 reviews16 locations
Overview

Cleanliness

8,0

Comfort

7,9

Overall

7,3

Pick-up/drop-off

7,3

Value

7,2

Avis

6,3
Okay
554 reviews56 locations
Overview

Cleanliness

7,1

Comfort

7,1

Overall

6,2

Pick-up/drop-off

6,4

Value

6,4

Budget

6,3
Okay
984 reviews56 locations
Overview

Cleanliness

7,1

Comfort

7,1

Overall

6,3

Pick-up/drop-off

6,4

Value

6,3

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

5,6
Fair
518 reviews48 locations
Overview

Cleanliness

6,8

Comfort

6,6

Overall

5,5

Pick-up/drop-off

5,5

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 1 July 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 R5 781 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.

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 1 July 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 (R36+).

Electric

Electric

Hybrid

Hybrid

Petrol/Diesel

Petrol/Diesel

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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