California Car Rentals from $25/day

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Save up to 40% off rental cars with Priceline

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If a VIP member finds a better price elsewhere, we’ll refund up to 200% of the difference

Flexible Bookings

Plans change. That’s why we offer free cancellation on most rental cars

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Best Time to Book

When to book, the cheapest season, pick-up day and car type, and how rental length changes the rate in California.

Low Season

January

Rentals average $49/day in January, the cheapest month to rent in California.

$10/day below the yearly average of $59/day.

When to Book

Within a week

Renters who booked within a week of pick-up paid the least in California, about $57/day. Reserve a free-cancellation rate now and check again closer to pick-up.

$14/day less than booking 2 to 3 months ahead ($71/day).

Rental Length

Rent for a week

7-day rentals average $45/day in California, as weekly rates kick in.

$21/day less than a 1–3 day rental ($66/day).

Cheapest Car Type

Let the supplier choose

The cheapest option in California is often to let the supplier pick the car from what’s available, about $44/day. You’ll usually get an economy car, but when those are taken you may drive away in a mid-size or something nicer.

$4/day less than the cheapest named type, Economy Car ($48/day).

Good to Know

Car rental rates in the top cities in California, per day — select a row for details.

Cheapest Car	Good Deal	Typical Price	Cars Listed
$25	$28	$32	1,652
The cheapest car rental found in San Diego is $25/day, $7 below its typical $32/day. A car at or under $28/day is a good deal in San Diego: 75% of the rates we found cost more. Cheapest by class: Economy Car $25, Compact Car $25, Supplier's Choice $26 per day. See all San Diego car rentals →
$26	$28	$29	3,292
The cheapest car rental found in Los Angeles is $26/day, $3 below its typical $29/day. A car at or under $28/day is a good deal in Los Angeles: 75% of the rates we found cost more. Cheapest by class: Supplier's Choice $26, Compact SUV - Electric $26, Economy Car $26 per day. See all Los Angeles car rentals →
$41	$59	$69	947
The cheapest car rental found in San Francisco is $41/day, $28 below its typical $69/day. A car at or under $59/day is a good deal in San Francisco: 75% of the rates we found cost more. Cheapest by class: Mid-Size Car $41, Compact Car $43, Economy Car $43 per day. See all San Francisco car rentals →
$36	$47	$55	757
The cheapest car rental found in Sacramento is $36/day, $19 below its typical $55/day. A car at or under $47/day is a good deal in Sacramento: 75% of the rates we found cost more. Cheapest by class: Economy Car $36, Compact Car $36, Mid-Size Car $36 per day. See all Sacramento car rentals →
$26	$31	$50	356
The cheapest car rental found in Anaheim is $26/day, $24 below its typical $50/day. A car at or under $31/day is a good deal in Anaheim: 75% of the rates we found cost more. Cheapest by class: Economy Car $26, Supplier's Choice $26, Compact Car $26 per day. See all Anaheim car rentals →
$43	$62	$78	519
The cheapest car rental found in San Jose is $43/day, $35 below its typical $78/day. A car at or under $62/day is a good deal in San Jose: 75% of the rates we found cost more. Cheapest by class: Economy Car $43, Compact Car $43, Mid-Size Car $43 per day. See all San Jose car rentals →
$36	$40	$57	615
The cheapest car rental found in Fresno is $36/day, $21 below its typical $57/day. A car at or under $40/day is a good deal in Fresno: 75% of the rates we found cost more. Cheapest by class: Economy Car $36, Compact Car $36, Mid-Size Car $37 per day. See all Fresno car rentals →
$36	$41	$52	272
The cheapest car rental found in Ontario is $36/day, $16 below its typical $52/day. A car at or under $41/day is a good deal in Ontario: 75% of the rates we found cost more. Cheapest by class: Economy Car $36, Supplier's Choice $37, Compact Car $37 per day. See all Ontario car rentals →
$33	$39	$44	510
The cheapest car rental found in Bakersfield is $33/day, $11 below its typical $44/day. A car at or under $39/day is a good deal in Bakersfield: 75% of the rates we found cost more. Cheapest by class: Economy Car $33, Compact Car $34, Mid-Size Car $35 per day. See all Bakersfield car rentals →
$28	$47	$51	715
The cheapest car rental found in Long Beach is $28/day, $23 below its typical $51/day. A car at or under $47/day is a good deal in Long Beach: 75% of the rates we found cost more. Cheapest by class: Economy Car $28, Compact Car $28, Mid-Size Car $29 per day. See all Long Beach car rentals →

Methodology: learn how we calculate these figures

Every figure in this table comes from a recent Priceline car rental search in each city: daily rates including taxes and fees.

Typical is the median of the daily rates found; the good-deal price is their 25th percentile. Cities are listed most-booked first.

Best San Diego Hotel + Car Packages

San Diego packages

Best Western Seven Seas

San Diego, 411 Hotel Circle South

7.12,312 Reviews3-Star Hotel

Car rental

Pick-up: San Diego (SAN)

8% Package Savings

^$389/person

$842 $778 total

Incl. Hotel + Car

The Sofia Hotel

San Diego, 150 West Broadway

7.8543 Reviews3.5-Star Hotel

Car rental

Pick-up: San Diego (SAN)

42% Package Savings

^$492/person

$1,687 $983 total

Incl. Hotel + Car

Sheraton San Diego Resort

San Diego, 1380 Harbor Island Drive

8.11,696 Reviews4-Star Hotel

Car rental

Pick-up: San Diego (SAN)

10% Package Savings

^$633/person

$1,410 $1,266 total

Incl. Hotel + Car

Heritage Inn San Diego

San Diego, 3333 Channel Way

6.11,420 Reviews2-Star Hotel

Car rental

Pick-up: San Diego (SAN)

14% Package Savings

^$328/person

$764 $656 total

Incl. Hotel + Car

Crowne Plaza San Diego Mission Valley By IHG

San Diego, 2270 Hotel Circle North

7.81,156 Reviews3.5-Star Hotel

Car rental

Pick-up: San Diego (SAN)

19% Package Savings

^$555/person

$1,364 $1,110 total

Incl. Hotel + Car

Legacy Resort Hotel and Spa

San Diego, 875 Hotel Circle South

8.7532 Reviews4-Star Hotel

Car rental

Pick-up: San Diego (SAN)

20% Package Savings

^$535/person

$1,333 $1,069 total

Incl. Hotel + Car

Super 8 by Wyndham San Diego Hotel Circle

San Diego, 445 Hotel Cir S

6.21,364 Reviews2-Star Hotel

Car rental

Pick-up: San Diego (SAN)

17% Package Savings

^$354/person

$848 $708 total

Incl. Hotel + Car

Manchester Grand Hyatt San Diego

San Diego, 1 Market Place

8.72,203 Reviews4-Star Hotel

Car rental

Pick-up: San Diego (SAN)

17% Package Savings

^$806/person

$1,948 $1,612 total

Incl. Hotel + Car

Which days have the lowest car rental rates?

Cheapest on Tuesdays at about $58/day

Tuesday pick-ups average $58/day in California, the lowest of any day of the week.

Show the data

Which days have the lowest car rental rates?
Day	Average daily rate
Mon	$60
Tue	$58
Wed	$58
Thu	$59
Fri	$59
Sat	$61
Sun	$61

Which month has the best car rental rates?

Cheapest in January at about $49/day

Rentals average $49/day in January, the cheapest month to rent in California. March is the priciest at about $65/day.

Show the data

Which month has the best car rental rates?
Month	Average daily rate
Jan	$49
Feb	$58
Mar	$65
Apr	$62
May	$60
Jun	$62
Jul	$63
Aug	$61
Sep	$59
Oct	$62
Nov	$54
Dec	$52

How far in advance should I book?

Cheapest booked within a week of pick-up at about $57/day

Renters who booked within a week of pick-up paid the least in California, about $57/day. Reserve a free-cancellation rate now and check again closer to pick-up.

Show the data

How far in advance should I book? (selected points, lowest and highest included)
Days before pick-up	Average daily rate
90 days	$73
86 days	$73
82 days	$72
78 days	$71
74 days	$71
70 days	$69
66 days	$71
62 days	$68
58 days	$69
54 days	$67
50 days	$66
46 days	$66
42 days	$64
38 days	$64
34 days	$63
30 days	$62
26 days	$60
22 days	$60
18 days	$59
14 days	$58
10 days	$58
6 days	$57
2 days	$57
1 day	$57
0 days	$58

How does the daily rate change with rental length?

A week averages about $45/day

7-day rentals average $45/day in California, against $66/day for 1 to 3 days.

Show the data

How does the daily rate change with rental length? (selected points, lowest and highest included)
Rental length	Average daily rate
1 day	$71
5 days	$61
9 days	$48
13 days	$41
17 days	$42
21 days	$35
25 days	$37
29 days	$37
33 days	$37
37 days	$40
41 days	$39
45 days	$39
49 days	$40
53 days	$39
57 days	$36
61 days	$38
65 days	$38
69 days	$36
73 days	$41
77 days	$36
81 days	$40
85 days	$35
87 days	$35
89 days	$37
90 days	$36

How much do rentals cost by car type?

Letting the supplier choose is cheapest at about $44/day

Show the data

How much do rentals cost by car type?
Car type	Average daily rate
Supplier Choice Car	$44
Economy Car	$48
Compact Car	$49
Mid Size Car	$50
Standard Car	$53
Full Size Car	$54
Compact SUV	$55
Mid Size SUV	$58
Standard SUV	$70
Mini Van	$87

Methodology: learn how we calculate these charts

The charts “Which days have the lowest car rental rates?”, “Which month has the best car rental rates?”, “How far in advance should I book?”, “How does the daily rate change with rental length?” and “How much do rentals cost by car type?” are built from the daily rates Priceline customers actually paid for rental cars in California, grouped by pick-up month, day of the week, how far ahead they booked (up to 90 days), how many days they rented and the type of car. A city’s charts include rentals picked up at its airports.

Where a location has too few rentals to fill every point in a chart, we borrow the shape of the curve from nearby locations with similar prices and fit it to the rates booked here.

These are historical averages; the current rates on this page come from a recent search.

The Good to Know deal cards and the cars listed on this page come directly from that recent search, not from historical bookings.

California Car Rental Agency Directory

Addresses, phone numbers, reviews and ratings for all the rental agencies in California.

Midway Car Rental

9.27

29 reviews

Beverly Hills, 8931 Wilshire Blvd

Sixt Rent a Car

8.72

48 reviews

Anaheim, 231 W Katella Avenue

Enterprise Rent-A-Car

8.65

283 reviews

Alameda, 2307 Blanding Ave Unit A

Avis Rent a Car

8.29

269 reviews

Alhambra, 330 S Garfield Ave - Ste 108

Budget Rent a Car

7.92

330 reviews

Alhambra, 539 W Valley Blvd

Hertz Corporation

7.87

331 reviews

Anaheim, 221 West Katella Ave

Thrifty Car Rental

7.54

50 reviews

Albany, 1061 San Pablo Avenue

Dollar Rent A Car

7.36

62 reviews

Albany, 1061 San Pablo Ave.

Priceless Car Rental

8.4

1 reviews

Bakersfield, 2813 Hanger Way Suite A

National Car Rental

7.6

8 reviews

Anaheim, 711 W Katella Ave

Alamo Rent a Car

7.6

24 reviews

Anaheim, 711 W Katella Ave

See all 11 rental agenciesShow fewer agencies

Frequently Asked Questions

Why should I consider renting a car for my California adventure?

Renting a car in California gives you the ultimate freedom to explore at your own pace. It's perfect for road trips along scenic coastlines, exploring national parks, or simply getting around diverse cities. You'll unlock more opportunities to see what makes California special.

What's the typical age requirement to rent a car in California?

Generally, you'll need to be at least 21 years old to rent a car in California. If you're under 25, be aware that most rental companies apply a 'young renter' surcharge. It's always smart to confirm the specific age policies with your chosen rental provider when you book.

What kind of car rental insurance do I need in California?

When renting a car, you'll typically be offered various insurance options. While some personal auto insurance policies or credit cards might offer coverage, you'll often encounter options like Collision Damage Waiver (CDW) or Loss Damage Waiver (LDW), Supplemental Liability Insurance (SLI), and Personal Accident Insurance (PAI). It's wise to review your existing coverage and the rental company's offerings to ensure you're comfortably covered.

Are there popular car rental pickup locations across California?

Absolutely! California offers numerous convenient pickup locations. Major airports like Los Angeles International (LAX), San Francisco International (SFO), and San Diego International (SAN) are primary hubs. You'll also find plenty of downtown and neighborhood locations in cities like Sacramento, San Jose, and Anaheim, making it easy to grab your wheels wherever you are.

What are the common additional fees or add-ons I might encounter when renting in California?

Beyond the base rental rate, you might encounter fees for things like additional drivers, GPS navigation systems, child safety seats, or fuel options. Tolls are also common in California, so consider an electronic toll pass if available. It's always a good idea to review the total cost and what's included before finalizing your booking.

What type of vehicle is best for exploring California?

The best car depends on your California adventure! A compact or mid-size car is perfect for city driving and parking. If you're planning a scenic coastal drive or a trip to wine country, a convertible or a comfortable sedan might enhance the experience. For mountain adventures or carrying more gear, an SUV or crossover could be ideal. Consider your itinerary and passenger count to choose wisely.

What do I need to bring to pick up my rental car in California?

When picking up your rental, you'll typically need a valid driver's license, a major credit card in the primary renter's name, and often your booking confirmation. International travelers may also need an International Driving Permit (IDP) alongside their home country's license.

Are there any specific driving rules or road conditions I should know about in California?

California's roads are generally well-maintained. You'll drive on the right side of the road, and seatbelt use is mandatory for all occupants. Be aware of High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lanes, often called carpool lanes, which require multiple passengers during peak hours. Also, if you're heading to mountain areas in winter, be prepared for potential chain controls.

Can I pick up my rental car in one California city and drop it off in another?

Yes, one-way rentals within California are often possible and can be incredibly convenient for road trips. Be aware that one-way rentals usually incur a 'drop-off' fee, which varies by rental company and distance. It's a great option for maximizing your exploration without backtracking.

What's the best way to handle fuel when renting a car in California?

Rental companies offer various fuel options. You can typically choose to pre-purchase a tank of gas, refuel the car yourself before returning it to avoid a refueling charge, or opt for the company to refuel it for you (often at a higher per-gallon rate). Decide which option fits your travel plans best to save money.

What if my travel plans change after I've booked my rental car?

Priceline often offers flexible booking options. Many car rental bookings can be modified or canceled, sometimes without a fee, depending on the terms of your specific reservation. It's always best to check the cancellation policy at the time of booking so you're clear on your options if your plans shift.

How can I find the best deals on car rentals in California?

To find great deals, it's smart to compare prices across multiple rental companies. Priceline makes this easy by showing you options from various providers. Consider booking in advance, being flexible with your pick-up and drop-off times, and looking for promotional codes to unlock even more savings.

Is it easy to navigate and park in California cities?

Navigating California cities can be an exciting part of the journey. Major cities like Los Angeles and San Francisco have extensive road networks. Parking can vary; some areas offer ample street parking and garages, while others might be more challenging or expensive. Using navigation apps is highly recommended, and researching parking options for your specific destinations can save you time.

What's the benefit of adding an additional driver to my rental agreement in California?

Adding an authorized additional driver can be a game-changer for long drives or if you just want to share the responsibility. While there's often a daily fee for an additional driver, it ensures that anyone else behind the wheel is fully covered by the rental agreement's terms and insurance, providing peace of mind.

Top Tips

Book your rental car in advance, especially for popular travel seasons in California, to ensure availability and potentially secure better rates. This savvy move empowers you with more options.
Understand California's insurance requirements. While basic liability coverage is mandatory, consider additional options like collision damage waiver (CDW) for peace of mind on your adventurous journey.
Familiarize yourself with California's 'Rules of the Road,' including speed limits and lane discipline. Knowing these will keep your drive smooth and compliant with state vehicle code regulations.
Utilize your smartphone or a dedicated GPS for navigation. Reliable turn-by-turn directions will confidently guide you through California's diverse landscapes, from city streets to scenic routes.
Be aware of HOV (High Occupancy Vehicle) lanes, often marked with a diamond symbol. Solo drivers generally cannot use these lanes unless specifically indicated as a toll lane for single drivers, ensuring you navigate efficiently.
Prepare for varying toll roads, particularly around major cities like Los Angeles and San Francisco. Some are electronic only, so check if your rental comes with a transponder or plan for online payment.
Always park legally and pay attention to street signs regarding parking restrictions and meters. Parking regulations are strictly enforced, and avoiding fines makes your trip more exciting.
Return your rental car with a full tank of gas to avoid refueling charges unless your rental agreement specifies a pre-paid fuel option. This straightforward tip saves you money.
Inspect your rental car thoroughly before driving off, noting any existing damage on the rental agreement. This confident check ensures you won't be held responsible for pre-existing issues.
Keep emergency contact information and your rental agreement handy. Being prepared for unexpected situations, though rare, ensures a smooth resolution and lets you focus on your adventure.

California Car Rentals from $25/day

Best Time to Book

Top Cities for Car Rentals in California

Good to Know

Best San Diego Hotel + Car Packages

Which days have the lowest car rental rates?

Which month has the best car rental rates?

How far in advance should I book?

How does the daily rate change with rental length?

How much do rentals cost by car type?

California Car Rental Agency Directory

Frequently Asked Questions

Why should I consider renting a car for my California adventure?

What's the typical age requirement to rent a car in California?

What kind of car rental insurance do I need in California?

Are there popular car rental pickup locations across California?

What are the common additional fees or add-ons I might encounter when renting in California?

What type of vehicle is best for exploring California?

What do I need to bring to pick up my rental car in California?

Are there any specific driving rules or road conditions I should know about in California?

Can I pick up my rental car in one California city and drop it off in another?

What's the best way to handle fuel when renting a car in California?

What if my travel plans change after I've booked my rental car?

How can I find the best deals on car rentals in California?

Is it easy to navigate and park in California cities?

What's the benefit of adding an additional driver to my rental agreement in California?

Top Tips

Cars in California

Month	Average daily rate
Jan	$49
Feb	$58
Mar	$65
Apr	$62
May	$60
Jun	$62
Jul	$63
Aug	$61
Sep	$59
Oct	$62
Nov	$54
Dec	$52

Month	Average daily rate
Jan	$49
Feb	$58
Mar	$65
Apr	$62
May	$60
Jun	$62
Jul	$63
Aug	$61
Sep	$59
Oct	$62
Nov	$54
Dec	$52

Month	Average daily rate
Jan	$49
Feb	$58
Mar	$65
Apr	$62
May	$60
Jun	$62
Jul	$63
Aug	$61
Sep	$59
Oct	$62
Nov	$54
Dec	$52