Find Rentals
Popular Cars
Price Trends
Agencies
Rental Deals
FAQs
California

Cheap Car Rentals in California from RM 125

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 27/2 and drop-off date of 6/3. 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
Here’s why our users search for rental cars through Cheapflights

Save over 22%Compare Cheapflights against other travel sites with one search.

Price trackingHolding out for a great deal? Get notified when prices are reduced.

Customized resultsFilter by rental agency, car type, price range and more.

Unlimited free useSearch as many times as you want with no hidden charges or fees.

California car rentals in 2025

Get helpful information to start your search for the perfect car rental in California. The average price data is based on the last 12 months and was last updated on 22 February 2025.

Most popular company

Ace

Most common car type

Standard

Average price per day

RM 162

Cheapest price per day

RM 125

California car rental prices in popular cities

Discover the price range for renting 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 22 February 2025.

Price

RM 98 - RM 153

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 22 February 2025.

January

RM 159

February

RM 172

March

RM 207

April

RM 203

May

RM 189

June

RM 194

July

RM 229

August

RM 220

September

RM 194

October

RM 203

November

RM 185

December

RM 225

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 rent in California and choose the one that suits your needs. The price data is sourced from various car rental companies and was last updated on 22 February 2025.

There are currently 17,198 hire locations operating in California spread across 335 car hire agencies. In the past week, the cheapest car type to hire in California is medium car at RM 125 a day. Below are all the 5 car types available for hiring in the area, along with estimated starting prices:

Economy

Economy

RM 165+

Compact

Compact

RM 173+

Intermediate

Intermediate

RM 161+

Standard

Standard

RM 157+

Full-size

Full-size

RM 165+

People carrier

People carrier

RM 250+

Full-size SUV

Full-size SUV

RM 276+

Premium

Premium

RM 227+

Luxury

Luxury

RM 222+

Convertible

Convertible

RM 363+

Intermediate SUV

Intermediate SUV

RM 164+

Compact SUV

Compact SUV

RM 173+

Standard SUV

Standard SUV

RM 200+

Compare available car types for rental in California

Compare and contrast the various car types offered for rental 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 22 February 2025.

Small cars

RM 186 - RM 293

All Car Types

RM 205 - RM 365

To rent a small car in California, you would pay an average price of RM 240/day. January is the cheapest month to rent a small car in California (~RM 186/day), while the most expensive month to rent that same car type is February (~RM 293/day). In fact, January is about 23% cheaper than prices during the rest of the year to book a small car rental for California. When comparing with other car types available for rental in California, renting a small car saves you 13% 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 rent a medium car in California, you would pay an average price of RM 234/day. April is the cheapest month to rent a medium car in California (~RM 174/day), while the most expensive month to rent that same car type is July (~RM 310/day). In fact, April is about 26% cheaper than prices during the rest of the year to book a medium car rental for California. When comparing with other car types available for rental 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 rent a large car in California, you would pay an average price of RM 369/day. November is the cheapest month to rent a large car in California (~RM 248/day), while the most expensive month to rent that same car type is August (~RM 493/day). In fact, November is about 33% cheaper than prices during the rest of the year to book a large car rental for California. When comparing with other car types available for rental in California, renting a large car is 26% 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 rent a SUV in California, you would pay an average price of RM 280/day. June is the cheapest month to rent a SUV in California (~RM 202/day), while the most expensive month to rent that same car type is March (~RM 431/day). In fact, June is about 29% cheaper than prices during the rest of the year to book a SUV rental for California. When comparing with other car types available for rental in California, renting a SUV is 2% 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 SUV hire prices found by Cheapflights users in the past 7 days:

To rent a van in California, you would pay an average price of RM 308/day. September is the cheapest month to rent a van in California (~RM 296/day), while the most expensive month to rent that same car type is December (~RM 595/day). In fact, September is about 5% cheaper than prices during the rest of the year to book a van rental for California. When comparing with other car types available for rental in California, renting a van is 11% 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 rent a luxury car in California, you would pay an average price of RM 253/day. July is the cheapest month to rent a luxury car in California (~RM 330/day), while the most expensive month to rent that same car type is January (~RM 837/day). In fact, July is about 29% cheaper than prices during the rest of the year to book a luxury car rental for California. When comparing with other car types available for rental in California, renting a luxury car saves you 8% 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 rent a convertible in California, you would pay an average price of RM 240/day. March is the cheapest month to rent a convertible in California (~RM 165/day), while the most expensive month to rent that same car type is August (~RM 806/day). In fact, March is about 32% cheaper than prices during the rest of the year to book a convertible rental for California. When comparing with other car types available for rental in California, renting a convertible saves you 13% 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 convertible hire prices found by Cheapflights users in the past 7 days:

Honda CityRM 140/day
4
M
A/C
Honda City
Proton SagaRM 140/day
2
M
A/C
Proton Saga
Honda CityRM 149/day
4
M
A/C
Honda City

Top rental agencies in California

Explore the leading car rental agencies in California known for their outstanding service and extensive range of vehicles to choose from. There are currently 8 car rental companies in California. Reviews were last updated on 22 February 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.

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

6.3
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
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 rental deals found

Browse through a selection of recently found affordable car rental deals in California. Plan your trip with ease and find the perfect rental option for your needs. There are currently 8 rental car agencies in California with an average daily rate of RM 194. Data was last updated on 22 February 2025.
These are some of the best options we've found for those looking for car rentals in California, including options within a close proximity to Los Angeles, San Francisco and San Diego. Make sure to examine important information for each deal, including price, car type, and pickup location.
Proton PrevéRM 125/day
5
M
A/C
Proton Prevé
Hyundai SonataRM 132/day
5
M
A/C
Hyundai Sonata
Honda CityRM 140/day
4
M
A/C
Honda City

Car rental FAQs

Find answers to frequently asked questions about car rentals in California, including policies, requirements, and more. FAQs were last updated on 22 February 2025.
  • What is the cheapest hire car found in California?

    In the past two weeks, Cheapflights users have found many deals under RM 162/day when booking a car hire in California. The absolute best deal a user found was for RM 112/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 rental car in California from the following companies over the past two weeks: Sixt (RM 125/day), Thrifty (RM 140/day), and Dollar (RM 140/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 RM 3.98/litre over the past month, costing you anywhere between RM 179 and RM 258 to fill up a car’s fuel tank.

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

    Ace is one of the most popular car hire companies in California, offering car hire for around RM 683 per week on average.

  • How far in advance should I hire a car in California for the best price?

    Booking your car hire early can save you up to 32%. Aim to book your car hire at least 7 days in advance to take advantage of a below average price in California.

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

    Yes, you can rent a car for a month in California check Cheapflights for the latest prices and car type availability.

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

    You can potentially save up to 60% on a month-long rental by booking with Ace. Ace is the cheapest rental company available within the next few months. Renting a car in California can cost you on average RM 2,926 a month or RM 98 a day. For extended stays in a location, this option will usually save you the most.

Luxury car rentals in California

Find luxury car rental deals in California from well-known providers in the area and save on gas mileage with the options provided below. luxury car rentals in California cost an average of RM 296 per day. Price data was last updated on 22 February 2025.
Take a look at some of the best options when it comes to luxury car rentals in California, with locations not far from Los Angeles, San Francisco and San Diego. Make sure to take a close look at each offer to ensure no unwanted surprises.
BMW 3 SeriesRM 191/day
5
M
A/C
BMW 3 Series
BMW 3 SeriesRM 205/day
5
M
A/C
BMW 3 Series
BMW 3 SeriesRM 205/day
5
M
A/C
BMW 3 Series

Car rentals by fuel type in California

Browse car rentals by fuel type in California. Currently, Electric cars are the cheapest to rent in California. Deals were last updated on 22 February 2025.

Browse through car rental deals by fuel type in California. There are currently 2 fuel types to choose from with Electric being the cheapest (RM 36+).

Electric

Electric

RM 36+

Hybrid

Hybrid

RM 51+

Browse thousands of different options on Cheapflights for your next trip

Toggle through the tabs below to find thousands of options on Cheapflights for your next trip.
Best Car Hire Deals
We make it easy and fast to find and compare deals from 70,000+ hire locations and hundreds of agencies.
No Surprises
Prices shown to you will be completely in full, without any hidden charges or fees.
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