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California

Cheap Car Hire in California from R577

This price is the cheapest per day rate found by a Cheapflights user in the last 72 hours by searching for a car hire in California with a pick-up date of 13/6 and drop-off date of 15/6. 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
Mon 20/5
Mon 27/5

California car hires in 2024

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 13 May 2024.

Most popular company

Budget

Most common car type

Standard

Average price per day

R1 235

Cheapest price per day

R577

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 297 pickup locations in California to choose from. Price data has been averaged over the last 12 months and was last updated on 13 May 2024.

Price

R860 - R2 842

What is the 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 13 May 2024.

January

R587

February

R716

March

R844

April

R826

May

R789

June

R826

July

R918

August

R918

September

R789

October

R826

November

R753

December

R771

Currently, the cheapest month to rent a car in California is January. The most expensive time to rent a car is July. The cheapest prices for each month are shown above, but prices will vary based on availability, how far out you book your rental car, and of course, car type.

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 13 May 2024.

There are 306 hire agencies servicing California. These agencies, altogether, have 15 455 hire locations available. Need an affordable hire? small car is the cheapest car type to hire in California with prices from R699 a day in the previous 7-day period. Here are 4 car types you can hire in California:

Economy

Economy

Compact

Compact

Intermediate

Intermediate

Standard

Standard

Full-size

Full-size

People carrier

People carrier

R1 741+

Full-size SUV

Full-size SUV

R1 423+

Premium

Premium

Luxury

Luxury

Intermediate SUV

Intermediate SUV

Compact SUV

Compact SUV

Supplier choice

Supplier choice

Standard SUV

Standard SUV

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 13 May 2024.

Small cars

R637 - R1 208

All Car Types

R859 - R1 849

To hire a small car in California, you would pay an average price of R891/day. October is the cheapest month to hire a small car in California (~R637/day), while the most expensive month to rent that same car type is March (~R1 208/day). In fact, October is about 29% 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 24% 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 R1 061/day. May is the cheapest month to hire a medium car in California (~R836/day), while the most expensive month to rent that same car type is October (~R1 381/day). In fact, May is about 22% 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 10% 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.

To hire a large car in California, you would pay an average price of R1 304/day. October is the cheapest month to hire a large car in California (~R646/day), while the most expensive month to rent that same car type is July (~R2 732/day). In fact, October is about 51% 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 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 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 135/day. November is the cheapest month to hire a SUV in California (~R697/day), while the most expensive month to rent that same car type is July (~R1 719/day). In fact, November is about 39% 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 3% 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.

To hire a luxury car in California, you would pay an average price of R818/day. November is the cheapest month to hire a luxury car in California (~R797/day), while the most expensive month to rent that same car type is February (~R2 197/day). In fact, November is about 3% 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 saves you 30% 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.

To hire a convertible in California, you would pay an average price of R1 253/day. May is the cheapest month to hire a convertible in California (~R909/day), while the most expensive month to rent that same car type is September (~R2 319/day). In fact, May is about 28% 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 7% 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.

Volkswagen PoloR699/day
2
M
A/C
Volkswagen Polo
Suzuki CiazR716/day
4
M
A/C
Suzuki Ciaz
Volkswagen PoloR780/day
2
M
A/C
Volkswagen Polo

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 13 May 2024.
Book your reservation with one of the top car hire agencies located in California, including those serving the greater Los Angeles, San Francisco and Escondido area. Helpful information on each car hire agency is available, including reviews, pricing, pickup location, and more.

Alamo

8,7
Very Good
1006 reviews9 locations
Overview

Cleanliness

8,7

Comfort

8,8

Overall

8,7

Pick-up/drop-off

8,7

Value

8,3

Enterprise Rent-A-Car

7,9
Good
1341 reviews87 locations
Overview

Cleanliness

8,2

Comfort

8,2

Overall

7,9

Pick-up/drop-off

7,8

Value

7,8

Budget

6,2
Okay
1232 reviews40 locations
Overview

Cleanliness

7,0

Comfort

7,1

Overall

6,2

Pick-up/drop-off

6,2

Value

6,2

Hertz

6,0
Okay
2539 reviews73 locations
Overview

Cleanliness

6,8

Comfort

6,7

Overall

5,9

Pick-up/drop-off

5,9

Value

6,1

Thrifty

5,8
Fair
1307 reviews16 locations
Overview

Cleanliness

6,9

Comfort

6,6

Overall

5,7

Pick-up/drop-off

5,6

Value

5,9

Dollar

5,6
Fair
1290 reviews16 locations
Overview

Cleanliness

6,9

Comfort

6,6

Overall

5,5

Pick-up/drop-off

5,5

Value

5,9

Sixt

7,4
Good
640 reviews14 locations
Overview

Cleanliness

7,9

Comfort

7,9

Overall

7,4

Pick-up/drop-off

7,3

Value

7,2

Avis

6,4
Okay
826 reviews42 locations
Overview

Cleanliness

7,2

Comfort

7,2

Overall

6,3

Pick-up/drop-off

6,4

Value

6,4

Best California car hire deals found

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 133. Data was last updated on 13 May 2024.
We've found these great deals on car hires in California, including options within the Los Angeles, San Francisco and Escondido 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 PoloR699/day
2
M
A/C
Volkswagen Polo
Suzuki CiazR716/day
4
M
A/C
Suzuki Ciaz
Volkswagen PoloR780/day
2
M
A/C
Volkswagen Polo

Car hire FAQs

Find answers to frequently asked questions about car hires in California, including policies, requirements, and more. FAQs were last updated on 13 May 2024.
  • What is the cheapest hire car found in California?

    In the past two weeks, Cheapflights users have found many deals under R1 051/day when booking a car hire in California. The absolute best deal a user found was for R631/day from Thrifty, booked on May 12.

  • Which car hire company is considered to be the best in California?

    Taking our users’ ratings and reviews into consideration, Silvercar (8,6 rating), Alamo (8,5 rating) and Yesaway (8,5 rating) seem to be the best car hire companies in California.

  • What are petrol prices like in California?

    The average price of petrol in California is R19,11/litre over the past month, costing you anywhere between R860 and R1 242 to fill up a car’s fuel tank.

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

    From Budget you can hire a car in California from about R7 006 per week on average.

  • How far in advance should I hire a car in California for the best price?

    Booking early almost always ensures you have more options of car models to choose from, as well as prices reduced by up to 28% to make it a great deal in California. Try to book at least 7 days prior to when you need the car hire to close on a rate below the 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 R30 025. Check Cheapflights to compare pricing and options for your rental car.

See more FAQs

Small car hires in California

Find small car hire deals in California from well-known providers in the area and save on gas mileage with the options provided below. small car hires in California cost an average of R577 per day. Price data was last updated on 13 May 2024.
Renault KwidR577/day
2
M
A/C
Renault Kwid

Car hires by fuel type in California

Browse car hires by fuel type in California. Currently, Electric cars are the cheapest to rent in California. Deals were last updated on 13 May 2024.

Browse through car hire deals by fuel type in California. There are currently 2 fuel types to choose from with Electric being the cheapest (R36+).

Electric

Electric

Hybrid

Hybrid

Best Car Hire Deals
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