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California

Cheap Car Rentals in California from RM 96

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 27/1 and drop-off date of 3/2. 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 rental in California. The average price data is based on the last 12 months and was last updated on 21 January 2025.

Most popular company

Fox

Most common car type

Mini

Average price per day

RM 212

Cheapest price per day

RM 96

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

Price

RM 172 - RM 199

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 January 2025.

January

RM 161

February

RM 179

March

RM 205

April

RM 205

May

RM 192

June

RM 197

July

RM 232

August

RM 223

September

RM 197

October

RM 205

November

RM 183

December

RM 228

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 21 January 2025.

There are currently 17,181 hire locations operating in California spread across 331 car hire agencies. In the past week, the cheapest car type to hire in California is medium car at RM 96 a day. Below are all the 6 car types available for hiring in the area, along with estimated starting prices:

Economy

Economy

RM 138+

Compact

Compact

RM 100+

Intermediate

Intermediate

RM 135+

Full-size

Full-size

RM 102+

People carrier

People carrier

RM 224+

Full-size SUV

Full-size SUV

RM 179+

Premium

Premium

RM 152+

Luxury

Luxury

RM 357+

Convertible

Convertible

RM 242+

Supplier choice

Supplier choice

RM 134+

Compact SUV

Compact SUV

RM 138+

Intermediate SUV

Intermediate SUV

RM 140+

Standard SUV

Standard SUV

RM 150+

Luxury SUV

Luxury SUV

RM 513+

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 21 January 2025.

Small cars

RM 194 - RM 364

All Car Types

RM 208 - RM 400

To rent a small car in California, you would pay an average price of RM 248/day. November is the cheapest month to rent a small car in California (~RM 194/day), while the most expensive month to rent that same car type is April (~RM 364/day). In fact, November 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 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 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 247/day. December is the cheapest month to rent a medium car in California (~RM 191/day), while the most expensive month to rent that same car type is March (~RM 344/day). In fact, December is about 23% 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 16% 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 251/day), while the most expensive month to rent that same car type is August (~RM 539/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 22% 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 304/day. June is the cheapest month to rent a SUV in California (~RM 205/day), while the most expensive month to rent that same car type is March (~RM 490/day). In fact, June is about 33% 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 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. 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 321/day. September is the cheapest month to rent a van in California (~RM 300/day), while the most expensive month to rent that same car type is December (~RM 603/day). In fact, September is about 7% 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 10% 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 249/day. December is the cheapest month to rent a luxury car in California (~RM 224/day), while the most expensive month to rent that same car type is August (~RM 544/day). In fact, December is about 11% 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 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 luxury car hire prices found by Cheapflights users in the past 7 days:

To rent a convertible in California, you would pay an average price of RM 229/day. December is the cheapest month to rent a convertible in California (~RM 222/day), while the most expensive month to rent that same car type is August (~RM 817/day). In fact, December is about 4% 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 21% 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:

Proton SagaRM 101/day
2
M
A/C
Proton Saga
Honda CityRM 101/day
4
M
A/C
Honda City
Proton SagaRM 116/day
2
M
A/C
Proton Saga

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 21 January 2025.
Browse through some of the top rental car agencies in California, including pickup locations serving Los Angeles, San Francisco and Huntington Beach. See what past customers have to say, compare prices, and review other key details before deciding.

Hertz

5.9
Fair
1072 reviews72 locations
Overview

Cleanliness

6.8

Comfort

6.7

Overall

5.9

Pick-up/drop-off

5.8

Value

6.1

Alamo

8.6
Very Good
113 reviews7 locations
Overview

Cleanliness

8.9

Comfort

8.8

Overall

8.6

Pick-up/drop-off

8.7

Value

8.1

Enterprise Rent-A-Car

7.6
Good
296 reviews89 locations
Overview

Cleanliness

7.9

Comfort

7.9

Overall

7.6

Pick-up/drop-off

7.5

Value

7.5

Sixt

7.3
Good
344 reviews15 locations
Overview

Cleanliness

7.9

Comfort

7.8

Overall

7.3

Pick-up/drop-off

7.2

Value

7.1

Avis

6.2
Okay
410 reviews44 locations
Overview

Cleanliness

7.1

Comfort

7.1

Overall

6.2

Pick-up/drop-off

6.4

Value

6.4

Budget

6.2
Okay
712 reviews44 locations
Overview

Cleanliness

7.0

Comfort

7.1

Overall

6.2

Pick-up/drop-off

6.3

Value

6.2

Midway

6.2
Okay
495 reviews11 locations
Overview

Cleanliness

7.1

Comfort

6.8

Overall

6.2

Pick-up/drop-off

5.8

Value

6.7

Dollar

5.5
Fair
408 reviews39 locations
Overview

Cleanliness

6.8

Comfort

6.5

Overall

5.4

Pick-up/drop-off

5.4

Value

5.9

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 218. Data was last updated on 21 January 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 Huntington Beach. Make sure to examine important information for each deal, including price, car type, and pickup location.
Proton PrevéRM 96/day
5
M
A/C
Proton Prevé
Proton SagaRM 101/day
2
M
A/C
Proton Saga
Honda CityRM 101/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 21 January 2025.
  • What is the cheapest hire car found in California?

    In the past two weeks, Cheapflights users have found many deals under RM 135/day when booking a car hire in California. The absolute best deal a user found was for RM 111/day from Budget, booked on Jan. 12.

  • 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 96/day), Thrifty (RM 101/day), and Ace (RM 121/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 (9.2 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 4.03/litre over the past month, costing you anywhere between RM 181 and RM 262 to fill up a car’s fuel tank.

  • 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 RM 1,315 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 31%. 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 48% on a month-long rental by booking with Budget. Budget is the cheapest rental company available within the next few months. Renting a car in California can cost you on average RM 5,634 a month or RM 188 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 239 per day. Price data was last updated on 21 January 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 Huntington Beach. Make sure to take a close look at each offer to ensure no unwanted surprises.
BMW 3 SeriesRM 163/day
5
M
A/C
BMW 3 Series
BMW 3 SeriesRM 167/day
5
M
A/C
BMW 3 Series
BMW 3 SeriesRM 167/day
5
M
A/C
BMW 3 Series

Car rentals by fuel type in California

Browse car rentals by fuel type in California. Currently, Petrol/Diesel cars are the cheapest to rent in California. Deals were last updated on 21 January 2025.

Browse through car rental deals by fuel type in California. There are currently 3 fuel types to choose from with Petrol/Diesel being the cheapest (RM 24+).

Electric

Electric

RM 26+

Hybrid

Hybrid

RM 32+

Petrol/Diesel

Petrol/Diesel

RM 24+

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