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California

Cheap Car Hire in California from R409

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 10/12 and drop-off date of 20/12. 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 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 20 November 2024.

Most popular company

Alamo

Most common car type

Standard

Average price per day

R1 208

Cheapest price per day

R409

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 20 November 2024.

January

R558

February

R702

March

R828

April

R810

May

R792

June

R792

July

R936

August

R882

September

R792

October

R828

November

R720

December

R774

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 20 November 2024.

There are 328 hire agencies servicing California. These agencies, altogether, have 16 628 hire locations available. Need an affordable hire? small car is the cheapest car type to hire in California with prices from R409 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

R1 783+

Full-size

Full-size

People carrier

People carrier

Full-size SUV

Full-size SUV

Premium

Premium

Luxury

Luxury

R1 772+

Convertible

Convertible

R1 846+

Pick-up truck

Pick-up truck

R1 739+

Compact SUV

Compact SUV

Standard SUV

Standard SUV

Intermediate SUV

Intermediate SUV

Supplier choice

Supplier choice

Luxury SUV

Luxury SUV

R1 992+

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 20 November 2024.

Small cars

R651 - R1 185

All Car Types

R833 - R1 609

To hire a small car in California, you would pay an average price of R959/day. January is the cheapest month to hire a small car in California (~R651/day), while the most expensive month to rent that same car type is March (~R1 185/day). In fact, January is about 33% 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 19% 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 068/day. June is the cheapest month to hire a medium car in California (~R790/day), while the most expensive month to rent that same car type is September (~R1 633/day). In fact, June 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 9% 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 111/day. February is the cheapest month to hire a large car in California (~R584/day), while the most expensive month to rent that same car type is December (~R1 762/day). In fact, February is about 48% 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 saves you 6% 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 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 167/day. February is the cheapest month to hire a SUV in California (~R805/day), while the most expensive month to rent that same car type is October (~R1 524/day). In fact, February is about 32% 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 1% 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 van in California, you would pay an average price of R768/day. January is the cheapest month to hire a van in California (~R826/day), while the most expensive month to rent that same car type is February (~R1 947/day). In fact, January is about 7% cheaper than prices during the rest of the year to book a van hire for California. When comparing with other car types available for hire in California, renting a van saves you 35% 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 R771/day. November is the cheapest month to hire a luxury car in California (~R782/day), while the most expensive month to rent that same car type is September (~R1 533/day). In fact, November is about 1% 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 35% 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 401/day. February is the cheapest month to hire a convertible in California (~R899/day), while the most expensive month to rent that same car type is September (~R4 438/day). In fact, February is about 36% 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 17% 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 PoloR409/day
2
M
A/C
Volkswagen Polo
Toyota Corolla QuestR460/day
4
M
A/C
Toyota Corolla Quest
Hyundai i20R566/day
2
M
A/C
Hyundai i20

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 20 November 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 Ontario area. Helpful information on each car hire agency is available, including reviews, pricing, pickup location, and more.

Hertz

5,9
Fair
1234 reviews85 locations
Overview

Cleanliness

6,8

Comfort

6,7

Overall

5,9

Pick-up/drop-off

5,9

Value

6,1

Alamo

8,7
Very Good
154 reviews10 locations
Overview

Cleanliness

9,0

Comfort

8,8

Overall

8,6

Pick-up/drop-off

8,7

Value

8,2

Enterprise Rent-A-Car

7,7
Good
354 reviews98 locations
Overview

Cleanliness

8,0

Comfort

7,9

Overall

7,6

Pick-up/drop-off

7,6

Value

7,6

Sixt

7,3
Good
393 reviews16 locations
Overview

Cleanliness

7,9

Comfort

7,8

Overall

7,3

Pick-up/drop-off

7,2

Value

7,2

Avis

6,4
Okay
452 reviews49 locations
Overview

Cleanliness

7,2

Comfort

7,2

Overall

6,4

Pick-up/drop-off

6,5

Value

6,5

Budget

6,3
Okay
833 reviews49 locations
Overview

Cleanliness

7,1

Comfort

7,1

Overall

6,2

Pick-up/drop-off

6,3

Value

6,2

Midway

6,3
Okay
500 reviews15 locations
Overview

Cleanliness

7,1

Comfort

6,9

Overall

6,3

Pick-up/drop-off

5,9

Value

6,8

Dollar

5,7
Fair
478 reviews33 locations
Overview

Cleanliness

6,9

Comfort

6,7

Overall

5,7

Pick-up/drop-off

5,6

Value

6,1

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 161. Data was last updated on 20 November 2024.
We've found these great deals on car hires in California, including options within the Los Angeles, San Francisco and Ontario 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 PoloR409/day
2
M
A/C
Volkswagen Polo
BMW 3 SeriesR430/day
5
M
A/C
BMW 3 Series
Ford EcoSportR458/day
4
M
A/C
Ford EcoSport

Car hire FAQs

Find answers to frequently asked questions about car hires in California, including policies, requirements, and more. FAQs were last updated on 20 November 2024.
  • What is the cheapest hire car found in California?

    In the past two weeks, Cheapflights users have found many deals under R1 208/day when booking a car hire in California. The absolute best deal a user found was for R623/day from Alamo, booked on Nov. 17.

  • What car hire company is typically the cheapest in California?

    According to our data, users have found the cheapest deals when booking a car hire in California from the following companies over the past two weeks: Fox (R409/day), Ace (R460/day), and Sixt (R605/day).

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

    Taking our users’ ratings and reviews into consideration, Alamo (8,4 rating), National (8,1 rating) and Carl's (8,0 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 R16,22/litre over the past month, costing you anywhere between R730 and R1 054 to fill up a car’s fuel tank.

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

    From Fox you can hire a car in California from about R5 404 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 31% 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 R23 159. Check Cheapflights to compare pricing and options for your rental car.

See more FAQs

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 20 November 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

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