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California

Cheap Car Hire in California from R400

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 3/5 and drop-off date of 29/5. 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 21 February 2025.

Most popular company

Ace

Most common car type

Full-size

Average price per day

R778

Cheapest price per day

R400

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 401 pickup locations in California to choose from. Price data has been averaged over the last 12 months and was last updated on 21 February 2025.

Price

R330 - R1 135

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 21 February 2025.

January

R663

February

R718

March

R866

April

R848

May

R792

June

R811

July

R958

August

R921

September

R811

October

R848

November

R774

December

R940

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 21 February 2025.

There are 334 hire agencies servicing California. These agencies, altogether, have 17 200 hire locations available. Need an affordable hire? small car is the cheapest car type to hire in California with prices from R400 a day in the previous 7-day period. Here are 5 car types you can hire in California:

Economy

Economy

Compact

Compact

Intermediate

Intermediate

Full-size

Full-size

People carrier

People carrier

R1 050+

Full-size SUV

Full-size SUV

Premium

Premium

Convertible

Convertible

Pick-up truck

Pick-up truck

Compact SUV

Compact SUV

Intermediate SUV

Intermediate SUV

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 21 February 2025.

Small cars

R599 - R1 460

All Car Types

R764 - R1 576

To hire a small car in California, you would pay an average price of R1 018/day. January is the cheapest month to hire a small car in California (~R599/day), while the most expensive month to rent that same car type is October (~R1 460/day). In fact, January is about 42% 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 12% 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 R989/day. February is the cheapest month to hire a medium car in California (~R648/day), while the most expensive month to rent that same car type is July (~R1 498/day). In fact, February is about 35% 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 15% 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 242/day. February is the cheapest month to hire a large car in California (~R598/day), while the most expensive month to rent that same car type is January (~R2 062/day). In fact, February is about 52% 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 8% 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 101/day. February is the cheapest month to hire a SUV in California (~R712/day), while the most expensive month to rent that same car type is September (~R1 419/day). In fact, February is about 36% 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 5% 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 R784/day. January is the cheapest month to hire a van in California (~R845/day), while the most expensive month to rent that same car type is February (~R1 992/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 33% 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 R1 212/day. August is the cheapest month to hire a luxury car in California (~R947/day), while the most expensive month to rent that same car type is January (~R4 835/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 5% 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 452/day. February is the cheapest month to hire a convertible in California (~R754/day), while the most expensive month to rent that same car type is September (~R4 540/day). In fact, February is about 49% 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 21% 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.

Hyundai i20R400/day
2
M
A/C
Hyundai i20
Toyota Corolla QuestR412/day
4
M
A/C
Toyota Corolla Quest
Toyota Corolla QuestR560/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 21 February 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
1117 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
1258 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

8,5

Value

8,1

Enterprise Rent-A-Car

7,6
Good
493 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
369 reviews17 locations
Overview

Cleanliness

7,9

Comfort

7,8

Overall

7,3

Pick-up/drop-off

7,2

Value

7,1

Avis

6,2
Okay
660 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
492 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
530 reviews46 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 R660. Data was last updated on 21 February 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.
Hyundai i20R400/day
2
M
A/C
Hyundai i20
Toyota Corolla QuestR412/day
4
M
A/C
Toyota Corolla Quest
Ford EcoSportR524/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 21 February 2025.
  • What is the cheapest hire car found in California?

    In the past two weeks, Cheapflights users have found many deals under R484/day when booking a car hire in California. The absolute best deal a user found was for R307/day from Ace, booked on Feb. 16.

  • 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 (R400/day), Yesaway (R623/day), and Dollar (R970/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 (9,1 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 R16,60/litre over the past month, costing you anywhere between R747 and R1 078 to fill up a car’s fuel tank.

  • 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 388 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 32% 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 090. 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. Currently, Electric cars are the cheapest to rent in California. Deals were last updated on 21 February 2025.

Browse through car hire deals by fuel type in California. There are currently 2 fuel types to choose from with Electric being the cheapest (R38+).

Electric

Electric

Hybrid

Hybrid

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