California

Cheap Car Rentals in California from $33

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 22/7 and drop-off date of 29/7. 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 rentals 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 17 July 2025.

Most popular company

Thrifty

Most common car type

Standard

Average price per day

$78

Cheapest price per day

$33

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 17 July 2025.

There are, in total, 17,577 car hire locations in California that are operated by 356 companies. In the past week, small car is the cheapest car type users can hire (cheapest price last found: $33/day). Explore 6 car types currently offered from California hire providers:

Economy

Economy

Compact

Compact

Intermediate

Intermediate

Standard

Standard

Full-size

Full-size

People mover

People mover

Full-size SUV

Full-size SUV

Premium

Premium

Luxury

Luxury

Compact SUV

Compact SUV

Supplier choice

Supplier choice

Intermediate SUV

Intermediate SUV

Standard SUV

Standard SUV

Luxury SUV

Luxury SUV

Compare car rental 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 van 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:

Toyota Prius c$33/day
2
5
M
A/C
Toyota Prius c
BYD ATTO 3$37/day
4
M
A/C
BYD ATTO 3
Mitsubishi Mirage$46/day
2
5
M
A/C
Mitsubishi Mirage

Best car rental deals found in California

Browse through a selection of recently found affordable car hire deals in California. Plan your trip with ease and find the perfect hire option for your needs. There are currently 8 hire car agencies in California with an average daily rate of $76. Data was last updated on 17 July 2025.
Have a look at some of the deals we've found on rental cars in California including options serving Los Angeles, San Francisco and San Diego. Come back soon if you don't find what you're looking for as deals are updated often.
Toyota Prius c$33/day
2
5
M
A/C
Toyota Prius c
Tesla Model Y$36/day
5
M
A/C
Tesla Model Y
Audi A1$37/day
4
M
A/C
Audi A1

Cheapflights insights for California car rentals

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?

Book your rental car in California 7 days before your pickup date to maximise your savings. Car rental prices are around $70/day on average when booked 7 days ahead, which saves you 33% off the average price.

What is the cheapest car hire company in California?

Fox is currently the cheapest car hire company in California with deals as low as $37.87/day found in the past two weeks. Economy Rent a Car is another inexpensive option with rates as low as $45.60/day.

What is the best car rental company in California?

Based on Cheapflights user feedback, the highest-rated car rental company in California is Hertz (rated 5.9/10 with 1,143 reviews). Alamo (rated 8.5/10 with 180 reviews) is also highly rated by our users.

What is the cheapest month to hire a car in California?

Planning to hire a car in California? January is the cheapest month, costing about $73 per day. In contrast, July is the most expensive, with an average daily rate of $102. Monthly average car hire prices are listed below. Remember, prices can change based on when you book, the type of car, and availability.

January

$73

February

$75

March

$82

April

$86

May

$89

June

$93

July

$102

August

$99

September

$90

October

$90

November

$84

December

$94

What car do most people hire in California?

SUV cars (Chevrolet Equinox, for example) are the most popular in California. Full-size (Chevrolet Impala) and Standard (Ford Explorer) cars are also often chosen by our users when visiting California.

Which car hire company has the most locations in California?

Enterprise Rent-A-Car has 98 locations throughout the area, more than any other company. Hertz has the second-highest number of locations in California at 78.

What are the car rental 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 359 pickup locations in California to choose from. Price data has been averaged over the last 12 months and was last updated on 17 July 2025.

Among the most popular cities in California, Los Angeles offers the lowest average rental price at just $48/day. Other affordable options include San Francisco ($55/day), Long Beach ($75/day), and San Diego ($109/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 17 July 2025.
Browse through some of the top rental car agencies in California, including pickup locations serving Los Angeles, San Francisco and San Diego. See what past customers have to say, compare prices, and review other key details before deciding.

Hertz

5.9
Fair
1143 reviews78 locations
Overview

Cleanliness

6.8

Comfort

6.7

Overall

5.9

Pick-up/drop-off

5.9

Value

6.1

Alamo

8.5
Very Good
180 reviews10 locations
Overview

Cleanliness

8.9

Comfort

8.7

Overall

8.5

Pick-up/drop-off

8.6

Value

8.1

Enterprise Rent-A-Car

7.5
Good
388 reviews98 locations
Overview

Cleanliness

7.8

Comfort

7.8

Overall

7.5

Pick-up/drop-off

7.4

Value

7.5

Sixt

7.3
Good
355 reviews15 locations
Overview

Cleanliness

7.9

Comfort

7.9

Overall

7.3

Pick-up/drop-off

7.3

Value

7.2

Budget

6.3
Okay
897 reviews50 locations
Overview

Cleanliness

7.0

Comfort

7.1

Overall

6.2

Pick-up/drop-off

6.3

Value

6.4

Avis

6.2
Okay
575 reviews51 locations
Overview

Cleanliness

7.0

Comfort

7.0

Overall

6.2

Pick-up/drop-off

6.2

Value

6.4

Midway

6.2
Okay
500 reviews15 locations
Overview

Cleanliness

7.1

Comfort

6.9

Overall

6.2

Pick-up/drop-off

5.9

Value

6.7

Dollar

5.5
Fair
487 reviews42 locations
Overview

Cleanliness

6.8

Comfort

6.6

Overall

5.5

Pick-up/drop-off

5.5

Value

5.8

Car rental FAQs

Find answers to frequently asked questions about car hires in California, including policies, requirements, and more. FAQs were last updated on 17 July 2025.
  • What is the cheapest hire car found in California?

    In the past two weeks, Cheapflights users have found many deals under $77/day when booking a car hire in California. The absolute best deal a user found was for $54/day from Economy Rent a Car, booked on Jul. 13.

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

    Thrifty is one of the most popular car hire companies in California, offering car hire for around $700 per week on average.

  • Can I rent a car for a month in California?

    Yes, cars are available to be rented out for an entire month in California.

  • How much does it cost to rent a car in California for a month?

    The monthly cost of a car rental in California is $2,999 ($100/day) on average.

Car rentals by fuel type in California

Browse car rentals by fuel type in California. Currently, Hybrid cars are the cheapest to rent in California. Deals were last updated on 17 July 2025.

Browse through car rental deals by fuel type in California. There are currently 3 fuel types to choose from with Hybrid being the cheapest ($29+).

Electric

Electric

Hybrid

Hybrid

Petrol/Diesel

Petrol/Diesel

Browse thousands of different options on Cheapflights for your next trip

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Free cancellation

Plans change — we get it. And that’s why you can search and book car hire on Cheapflights from agencies that offer free cancellation