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California

Cheap Car Hire in California from $22

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 26/6 and drop-off date of 24/7. 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 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 13 June 2025.

Most popular company

Priceless

Most common car type

Standard

Average price per day

$66

Cheapest price per day

$22

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 13 June 2025.

In California, there are 17,429 active hire locations from 352 car hire companies. small car is the cheapest car type to hire in California in the past week - currently priced from $22/day. View deals for 6 car types available to hire in this destination:

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

Pick-up truck

Pick-up truck

Premium SUV

Premium SUV

Supplier choice

Supplier choice

Compact SUV

Compact SUV

Intermediate SUV

Intermediate SUV

Standard SUV

Standard SUV

Luxury SUV

Luxury SUV

Compare car hire 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:

Holden Barina$22/day
2
M
A/C
Holden Barina
Kia Rio$23/day
4
4
M
A/C
Kia Rio
Nissan Micra$40/day
2
M
A/C
Nissan Micra

Best car hire 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 $58. Data was last updated on 13 June 2025.
These are some of the best options we've found for those looking for car hires in California, including options within a close proximity to Los Angeles, San Francisco and Fresno. If these deals don't match what you're looking for, not to worry -- deals are updated on a regular basis.
Holden Barina$22/day
2
M
A/C
Holden Barina
Kia Rio$23/day
4
4
M
A/C
Kia Rio
Holden Commodore$28/day
5
M
A/C
Holden Commodore

Cheapflights insights for California car hires

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?

For the best savings on car hire in California, make your reservation 7 days before pickup. The average price then is just $67/day – about 29% less than the yearly average.

What is the cheapest car hire company in California?

In California, the most affordable car hire company right now is Priceless, offering prices from just $25.15/day over the past two weeks. Another budget-friendly choice is Avis, with rates starting at $35.62/day.

What is the best car rental company in California?

Based on Cheapflights user feedback, the highest-rated car hire company in California is Hertz (rated 6.0/10 with 1,205 reviews). Alamo (rated 8.4/10 with 187 reviews) is also highly rated by our users.

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

At California, the best time to hire a car is in February, with an average daily rate of just $67. Conversely, July is the priciest month, averaging $94 per day. Below youll find the monthly average car hire prices. Note that costs can fluctuate depending on availability, booking time, and vehicle type.|1#In California, the best time to hire a car is in February, with an average daily rate of just $67. Conversely, July is the priciest month, averaging $94 per day. Below youll find the monthly average car hire prices. Note that costs can fluctuate depending on availability, booking time, and vehicle type.

January

$68

February

$67

March

$72

April

$76

May

$81

June

$84

July

$94

August

$88

September

$82

October

$80

November

$80

December

$85

What car do most people hire in California?

Compact cars (Chevrolet Equinox or similar) are the most popular option for those visiting California. SUV cars (Chevrolet Tahoe or similar) are also a popular choice, followed by Full-size cars (Chevrolet Tahoe or similar).

Which car hire company has the most locations in California?

Enterprise Rent-A-Car has 112 locations throughout the area, more than any other company. Hertz has the second-highest number of locations in California at 90.

What are the car hire 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 408 pickup locations in California to choose from. Price data has been averaged over the last 12 months and was last updated on 13 June 2025.

If you're looking for the best car hire deals in California, start with Los Angeles, where rates average $26/day. You can also find good prices in San Diego ($45/day), San Francisco ($71/day), and Palm Springs ($75/day).

Top hire 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 13 June 2025.
Browse through some of the top car hire agencies in California, including pickup locations serving Los Angeles, San Francisco and Fresno. Check out reviews from past customers, confirm pickup locations, and other critical details before booking your reservation.

Hertz

6.0
Okay
1205 reviews90 locations
Overview

Cleanliness

6.8

Comfort

6.7

Overall

5.9

Pick-up/drop-off

5.9

Value

6.1

Alamo

8.4
Very Good
187 reviews14 locations
Overview

Cleanliness

8.7

Comfort

8.6

Overall

8.3

Pick-up/drop-off

8.4

Value

8.0

Enterprise Rent-A-Car

7.7
Good
418 reviews112 locations
Overview

Cleanliness

8.0

Comfort

7.9

Overall

7.7

Pick-up/drop-off

7.7

Value

7.6

Sixt

7.3
Good
357 reviews16 locations
Overview

Cleanliness

7.9

Comfort

7.9

Overall

7.3

Pick-up/drop-off

7.3

Value

7.2

Avis

6.3
Okay
549 reviews56 locations
Overview

Cleanliness

7.1

Comfort

7.1

Overall

6.3

Pick-up/drop-off

6.4

Value

6.4

Budget

6.3
Okay
981 reviews56 locations
Overview

Cleanliness

7.1

Comfort

7.1

Overall

6.3

Pick-up/drop-off

6.4

Value

6.3

Midway

6.2
Okay
492 reviews16 locations
Overview

Cleanliness

7.1

Comfort

6.8

Overall

6.2

Pick-up/drop-off

5.8

Value

6.7

Dollar

5.6
Fair
519 reviews48 locations
Overview

Cleanliness

6.8

Comfort

6.6

Overall

5.6

Pick-up/drop-off

5.5

Value

5.9

Car hire FAQs

Find answers to frequently asked questions about car hires in California, including policies, requirements, and more. FAQs were last updated on 13 June 2025.
  • What is the cheapest hire car found in California?

    In the past two weeks, Cheapflights users have found many deals under $61/day when booking a car hire in California. The absolute best deal a user found was for $32/day from GREEN MOTION , booked on Jun. 8.

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

    Priceless is one of the most popular car hire companies in California, offering car hire for around $354 per week on average.

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

    Typically, how long you can hire a car for depends on the inventory of the supplier. For California however, it is certainly possible to rent a car for an entire month.

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

    Typically, a monthly car hire in California can be found for $1,518. You can find car hire deals to be on average $51 a day.

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 13 June 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 ($17+).

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