California

Cheap Car Hire in California from R557

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 26/4 and drop-off date of 11/5. 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
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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 3 April 2026.

Most popular company

Thrifty

Most common car type

Standard

Average price per day

R826

Cheapest price per day

R557

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 3 April 2026.

There are 372 hire agencies servicing California. These agencies, altogether, have 17 571 hire locations available. Need an affordable hire? small car is the cheapest car type to hire in California with prices from R557 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

SUV

SUV

R1 027+

People carrier

People carrier

Full-size SUV

Full-size SUV

R1 249+

Premium

Premium

R2 554+

Passenger van

Passenger van

R1 932+

Luxury

Luxury

R1 989+

Premium SUV

Premium SUV

R2 667+

Intermediate SUV

Intermediate SUV

Standard SUV

Standard SUV

Compact SUV

Compact SUV

Supplier choice

Supplier choice

R2 515+

Luxury SUV

Luxury SUV

R3 579+

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:

Ford KaR557/day
2
M
A/C
Ford Ka
Volkswagen PoloR564/day
2
M
A/C
Volkswagen Polo
Toyota Corolla QuestR641/day
4
M
A/C
Toyota Corolla Quest

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 377. Data was last updated on 3 April 2026.
Ford KaR557/day
2
M
A/C
Ford Ka
Volkswagen PoloR564/day
2
M
A/C
Volkswagen Polo
Toyota Corolla QuestR565/day
4
M
A/C
Toyota Corolla Quest

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 R745/day – about 1 348% less than the yearly average.

What is the cheapest car hire company in California?

Budget is currently the cheapest car hire company in California with deals as low as R630,24/day found in the past two weeks. Europcar is another inexpensive option with rates as low as R766,63/day.

What is the best car rental company in California?

Based on Cheapflights user feedback, the highest-rated car hire company in California is Alamo (rated 8.8/10). Enterprise Rent-A-Car (rated 7.5/10) 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 R751. Conversely, July is the priciest month, averaging R964 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 R751. Conversely, July is the priciest month, averaging R964 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

R751

February

R858

March

R899

April

R820

May

R837

June

R897

July

R964

August

R949

September

R803

October

R902

November

R822

December

R960

What car do most people hire in California?

The most popular types of cars to hire in California are the following: Intermediate cars (Toyota Corolla or similar), SUV cars (Chevrolet Trax or similar), and Economy cars (Hyundai Venue or similar).

Which car hire company has the most locations in California?

Enterprise Rent-A-Car has 101 locations throughout the area, more than any other company. Hertz has the second-highest number of locations in California at 72.

What are the car hire prices for popular cities in California?

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 375 pickup locations in California to choose from. Price data has been averaged over the last 12 months and was last updated on 3 April 2026.

Out of all the popular cities in California, Oakland is the cheapest city to hire a car (R512/day). Other popular cities in California to get a cheap car hire are: Sacramento (R528/day), San Diego (R571/day), and San Jose (R603/day).

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 3 April 2026.

Alamo

13 locations

Enterprise Rent-A-Car

101 locations

Sixt

21 locations

Avis

55 locations

Midway

21 locations

Budget

53 locations

Hertz

72 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 3 April 2026.
  • What is the cheapest hire car found in California?

    In the past two weeks, Cheapflights users have found many deals under R765/day when booking a car hire in California. The absolute best deal a user found was for R528/day from Fox, booked on Mar. 28.

  • 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 934 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 R25 429. 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. Deals were last updated on 3 April 2026.

Browse through car hire deals by fuel type in California. There is currently 1 fuel type to choose from.

Petrol/Diesel

Petrol/Diesel

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