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California

Cheap Car Hire in California from R567

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 13/5 and drop-off date of 20/5. 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: 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 14 April 2025.

Most popular company

Alamo

Most common car type

Full-size

Average price per day

R831

Cheapest price per day

R567

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 402 pickup locations in California to choose from. Price data has been averaged over the last 12 months and was last updated on 14 April 2025.

Price

R678 - R1 013

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 14 April 2025.

January

R686

February

R686

March

R743

April

R858

May

R800

June

R819

July

R972

August

R934

September

R839

October

R877

November

R781

December

R972

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 14 April 2025.

There are 347 hire agencies servicing California. These agencies, altogether, have 17 317 hire locations available. Need an affordable hire? small car is the cheapest car type to hire in California with prices from R567 a day in the previous 7-day period. Here are 3 car types you can hire in California:

Economy

Economy

Compact

Compact

Intermediate

Intermediate

Standard

Standard

Full-size

Full-size

People carrier

People carrier

R1 266+

Full-size SUV

Full-size SUV

R1 045+

Premium

Premium

Luxury

Luxury

Premium SUV

Premium SUV

R1 188+

Compact SUV

Compact SUV

Intermediate SUV

Intermediate SUV

Supplier choice

Supplier choice

Standard SUV

Standard SUV

Luxury SUV

Luxury SUV

R1 108+

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 14 April 2025.

Small cars

R492 - R1 829

All Car Types

R843 - R1 812

To hire a small car in California, you would pay an average price of R1 027/day. January is the cheapest month to hire a small car in California (~R492/day), while the most expensive month to rent that same car type is February (~R1 829/day). In fact, January is about 53% 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 16% 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 R990/day. February is the cheapest month to hire a medium car in California (~R719/day), while the most expensive month to rent that same car type is July (~R1 549/day). In fact, February is about 28% 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 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 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 485/day. August is the cheapest month to hire a large car in California (~R1 095/day), while the most expensive month to rent that same car type is January (~R5 001/day). In fact, August is about 27% 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 19% 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.

To hire a SUV in California, you would pay an average price of R1 116/day. February is the cheapest month to hire a SUV in California (~R659/day), while the most expensive month to rent that same car type is September (~R1 468/day). In fact, February is about 42% 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 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 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 (~R980/day), while the most expensive month to rent that same car type is January (~R5 001/day). In fact, August is about 22% 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 3% 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.

To hire a convertible in California, you would pay an average price of R1 261/day. November is the cheapest month to hire a convertible in California (~R1 083/day), while the most expensive month to rent that same car type is September (~R4 696/day). In fact, November is about 15% 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 4% 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 QuestR567/day
4
M
A/C
Toyota Corolla Quest
Hyundai i20R567/day
2
M
A/C
Hyundai i20
Toyota Corolla QuestR590/day
4
M
A/C
Toyota Corolla Quest

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 14 April 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
1125 reviews57 locations
Overview

Cleanliness

7,1

Comfort

7,2

Overall

6,3

Pick-up/drop-off

6,4

Value

6,4

Hertz

6,1
Okay
1257 reviews90 locations
Overview

Cleanliness

6,9

Comfort

6,8

Overall

6,1

Pick-up/drop-off

6,1

Value

6,2

Alamo

8,4
Very Good
221 reviews14 locations
Overview

Cleanliness

8,8

Comfort

8,7

Overall

8,4

Pick-up/drop-off

8,4

Value

8,1

Enterprise Rent-A-Car

7,6
Good
492 reviews106 locations
Overview

Cleanliness

7,9

Comfort

7,9

Overall

7,6

Pick-up/drop-off

7,5

Value

7,6

Sixt

7,3
Good
365 reviews17 locations
Overview

Cleanliness

7,9

Comfort

7,9

Overall

7,3

Pick-up/drop-off

7,2

Value

7,2

Avis

6,2
Okay
661 reviews56 locations
Overview

Cleanliness

7,0

Comfort

7,1

Overall

6,2

Pick-up/drop-off

6,3

Value

6,4

Midway

6,2
Okay
491 reviews15 locations
Overview

Cleanliness

7,1

Comfort

6,8

Overall

6,2

Pick-up/drop-off

5,8

Value

6,7

Dollar

5,7
Fair
537 reviews47 locations
Overview

Cleanliness

6,9

Comfort

6,7

Overall

5,7

Pick-up/drop-off

5,7

Value

6,0

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 R794. Data was last updated on 14 April 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.
Toyota Corolla QuestR567/day
4
M
A/C
Toyota Corolla Quest
Hyundai i20R567/day
2
M
A/C
Hyundai i20
Toyota Corolla QuestR590/day
4
M
A/C
Toyota Corolla Quest

Car hire FAQs

Find answers to frequently asked questions about car hires in California, including policies, requirements, and more. FAQs were last updated on 14 April 2025.
  • 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: Avis (R590/day), Dollar (R617/day), and Sixt (R1 173/day).

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

    Taking our users’ ratings and reviews into consideration, Resla (10,0 rating), Silvercar (9,0 rating) and Alamo (8,4 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 R17,17/litre over the past month, costing you anywhere between R772 and R1 116 to fill up a car’s fuel tank.

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

    From Alamo you can hire a car in California from about R6 304 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 36% 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.

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 14 April 2025.

Browse through car hire deals by fuel type in California. There are currently 3 fuel types to choose from with Electric being the cheapest (R33+).

Electric

Electric

Hybrid

Hybrid

Petrol/Diesel

Petrol/Diesel

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