California car rentals

Driver's age: 26-65

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Useful Info
Recommended by KAYAK

Cheap car hire in California

Discover the best prices for you by selecting your travel dates on KAYAK.
Mitsubishi Mirage car
Mitsubishi Mirage
or similar Small
2
2
4-5
M
AED 75/day
Ford Focus car
Ford Focus
or similar Small
4
2
2/4
M
AED 114/day
Volkswagen Jetta car
Volkswagen Jetta
or similar Medium
5
3
4-5
M
AED 64/day
Volkswagen Jetta car
Volkswagen Jetta
or similar Medium
5
3
4-5
M
AED 114/day
Toyota Camry car
Toyota Camry
or similar Large
5
2
4-5
M
AED 76/day
Chrysler Pacifica car
Chrysler Pacifica
or similar Van
5
5
4-5
M
AED 199/day
Jeep Grand Cherokee L car
Jeep Grand Cherokee L
or similar SUV
5
2
4-5
M
AED 196/day
Nissan Maxima car
Nissan Maxima
or similar Large
5
5
2/4
M
AED 130/day
Dodge Grand Caravan car
Dodge Grand Caravan
or similar Van
5
3
4-5
M
AED 440/day
Chrysler 300 car
Chrysler 300
or similar Luxury
5
5
4-5
M
AED 149/day
Ford Mustang Convertible car
Ford Mustang Convertible
or similar Convertible
5
3
2/4
M
AED 248/day
Audi Q3 car
Audi Q3
or similar SUV
5
5
4-5
M
AED 212/day
Ford EcoSport car
Ford EcoSport
or similar SUV
5
3
4-5
M
AED 97/day
Hyundai Santa Fe car
Hyundai Santa Fe
or similar SUV
5
3
4-5
M
AED 100/day
Class Special Car car
Class Special Car
or similar Category
5
5
2/4
M
AED 105/day
Nissan Kicks car
Nissan Kicks
or similar SUV
4
2
4-5
M
AED 109/day
Best prices found by KAYAK users in the past 48 hours.
Useful Info

Good to know

Most popular agency

Budget

Most popular car type

Standard

Average price

AED 217/day

Good deal

AED 166/day

KAYAK’s insights & trends for California car hire

Check out the latest trends and booking tips to hire a car in California with confidence.

How far in advance should you book a rental car in California?

You should book your rental car in California around 7 days before your trip in order to get a below-average price.

What is the cheapest car rental company in California?

In the past 72 hours, the cheapest rental cars were found at Sixt (AED 88.22/day), Budget (AED 97.40/day) and Hertz (AED 113.96/day).

What is the most popular rental car in California?

Intermediate rentals (Honda Civic or similar) are the most popular type of vehicle to rent in California. Intermediate cars in California cost AED 176/day on average, though some users have found deals as low as AED 151/day.

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

The cheapest month to hire a car in California is February at an average cost of AED 152/day. July is the most expensive month to hire a car in California when prices are AED 219/day on average, which tends to be 338% above the yearly average hire price for California.

What car hire company in California has the most locations?

Enterprise Rent-A-Car operates 106 locations in California, more than any other car hire company.

Top tips for hiring a car in California

  • All car hirers in California are required to produce a valid driver's licence with an expiration date that does not fall within the present hire period. You can also hire a car even if you don't have a licence issued by the US government. All you need to do is present a passport and either an international licence or your licence from Australia.
  • When two cars meet on a steep road and neither can pass, the car facing downhill is required to back up to let the other pass, since when backing up a slope, the car that is facing downhill has more control. When it comes to stop signs in California, they are more frequent than traffic lights. All motorists must come to a full stop at any stop sign.
  • If your blood alcohol level is 0.08% or more, you are not allowed to operate a motor vehicle in California. Also, you are only allowed to operate a cellphone while driving if you’re using a hands-free device or when you need to call for assistance in an emergency.
  • 25% of our users found rental cars in California for AED 166 or less
  • Standard rental cars in California are around 34% cheaper than other car types, on average

FAQs about hiring a car in California

  • How much does it cost to hire a car in California?

    On average a car hire in California costs AED 217 per day.

  • How can I find car hires near me in California?

    Take a look at our extensive car hire location map to find the best car hire deals near you.

  • Where should I hire a car in California?

    Based on car searches on KAYAK, the most popular cities to hire a car in California are Los Angeles (68% of total searches of users looking to hire a car in California), San Francisco (21%) and San Diego (3%).

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

    On average a car hire in California costs AED 1,517 per week (AED 217 per day).

  • How much does it cost to hire a car long term for a month in California?

    On average a car hire in California costs AED 6,500 per month (AED 217 per day).

  • Should I hire a car in California?

    Given that California is quite large with numerous sprawling cities, hiring a car is a practical and economical way to get around the area. Even though the majority of large cities have their own public transportation networks, driving is still often faster and easier. Los Angeles, Sacramento and San Diego are a few cities in California that are best navigated with a vehicle. Having access to your own car can also come in handy, especially if you plan on visiting a more rural city or taking a road trip.

  • What is driving like in California?

    California is typically warm and sunny. However, it’s at times rainy, which is a critical time to drive yourself around. When it's raining, go at a slower speed and make sure to utilise your windscreen wipers and headlights. Also, ensure that you have the appropriate tyre chains for your hire car's tyres if you plan to drive in the snow during winter. Try to stay in the right lane whenever you are on a road or freeway with numerous lanes, unless when overtaking. Remember that a left turn from one one-way street to another one-way street can only be made when the signal is red. Unless it’s clearly banned, you can usually turn right at a red light after stopping completely and checking for approaching traffic. You have to pre-pay for your petrol in California. If you are using a credit card, you’ll need to swipe your card at the pump to activate the pump. You’ll also be required to provide your postal code to prevent credit card fraud.

  • How old do you have to be to hire a car in California?

    Most car hire companies require that you be at least 21 years old in order to hire a vehicle in California. If you’re between the ages of 21 and 24 and need to hire a car, you’ll likely pay a young hirer fee and may only be allowed to hire certain classes of vehicles.

Car rental directory

  • enterprise

    Enterprise Rent-A-Car car hire locations in California

    230 Locations

  • hertz

    Hertz car hire locations in California

    189 Locations

  • avis

    Avis car hire locations in California

    117 Locations

  • budget

    Budget car hire locations in California

    117 Locations

  • dollar

    Dollar car hire locations in California

    93 Locations

  • thrifty

    Thrifty car hire locations in California

    85 Locations

  • sixtrentacar

    Sixt car hire locations in California

    29 Locations

  • national

    National car hire locations in California

    26 Locations

  • midwaycarren

    Midway car hire locations in California

    25 Locations

  • eaglerac

    Eagle Rent A Car car hire locations in California

    22 Locations

  • airportvanre

    Airport Van car hire locations in California

    21 Locations

  • sunnycars

    Sunnycars car hire locations in California

    21 Locations

Car rental locations in California

Everything you need to know for your car rental in California

Complete your trip to California

Search for cheap rental cars in California with KAYAK and rent a car that suits you best. KAYAK searches hundreds of travel sites to help you find and book the best rental car deal at car rental locations across California.

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