California

Cheap Car Rentals in California from RM 120

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 26/1 and drop-off date of 28/2. 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: 25-65
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California car rentals in 2026

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 19 January 2026.

Most popular company

Thrifty

Most common car type

Compact

Average price per day

RM 146

Cheapest price per day

RM 120

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 19 January 2026.

There are currently 17,620 hire locations operating in California spread across 369 car hire agencies. In the past week, the cheapest car type to hire in California is small car at RM 120 a day. Below are all the 4 car types available for hiring in the area, along with estimated starting prices:

Economy

Economy

RM 120+

Compact

Compact

RM 139+

Intermediate

Intermediate

RM 141+

Standard

Standard

RM 190+

Full-size

Full-size

RM 155+

People carrier

People carrier

RM 280+

Full-size SUV

Full-size SUV

RM 232+

Premium

Premium

RM 178+

Premium SUV

Premium SUV

RM 247+

Supplier choice

Supplier choice

RM 113+

Compact SUV

Compact SUV

RM 147+

Intermediate SUV

Intermediate SUV

RM 150+

Standard SUV

Standard SUV

RM 177+

Compare car rental 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:

Proton SagaRM 120/day
2
M
A/C
Proton Saga
Honda JazzRM 139/day
4
M
A/C
Honda Jazz

Best car rental deals found in California

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 170. Data was last updated on 19 January 2026.
Proton SagaRM 120/day
2
M
A/C
Proton Saga
Honda JazzRM 139/day
4
M
A/C
Honda Jazz
Honda JazzRM 141/day
5
M
A/C
Honda Jazz

Cheapflights insights for California car rentals

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?

To get the best deal on car hire in California, book about 7 days before your trip. At that point, average daily prices are around RM 161, which is about 236% cheaper than the typical rate.

What is the cheapest car hire company in California?

Dollar is currently the cheapest car hire company in California with deals as low as RM 103.04/day found in the past two weeks. Thrifty is another inexpensive option with rates as low as RM 106.69/day.

What is the best car rental company in California?

Based on Cheapflights user feedback, the highest-rated car rental company in California is Alamo (rated 8.6/10). Enterprise Rent-A-Car (rated 7.6/10) is also highly rated by our users.

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

At California, the best time to rent a car is at January, with an average daily rate of just RM 156. Conversely, December is the priciest month, averaging RM 227 per day. Below youll find the monthly average rental prices. Note that costs can fluctuate depending on availability, booking time, and vehicle type.|1#In California, the best time to rent a car is in January, with an average daily rate of just RM 156. Conversely, December is the priciest month, averaging RM 227 per day. Below youll find the monthly average rental prices. Note that costs can fluctuate depending on availability, booking time, and vehicle type.

January

RM 156

February

RM 160

March

RM 177

April

RM 193

May

RM 197

June

RM 211

July

RM 221

August

RM 197

September

RM 187

October

RM 212

November

RM 193

December

RM 227

What car do most people hire in California?

The most popular types of cars to hire in California are the following: Economy cars (Honda Fit or similar), Mini cars (Chrysler Pacifica or similar), and Passenger van cars (Chrysler Pacifica or similar).

Which car hire company has the most locations in California?

Enterprise Rent-A-Car has 106 locations throughout the area, more than any other company. Hertz has the second-highest number of locations in California at 79.

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 390 pickup locations in California to choose from. Price data has been averaged over the last 12 months and was last updated on 19 January 2026.

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 19 January 2026.

Alamo

14 locations

Enterprise Rent-A-Car

106 locations

Sixt

19 locations

Avis

57 locations

Midway

17 locations

Budget

56 locations

Hertz

79 locations

Thrifty

42 locations

Car rental FAQs

Find answers to frequently asked questions about car rentals in California, including policies, requirements, and more. FAQs were last updated on 19 January 2026.
  • How much does it cost to hire a car in California for a week from Dollar?

    Dollar is one of the most popular car hire companies in California, offering car hire for around RM 2,078 per week on average.

  • 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.

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 19 January 2026.

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 52+).

Electric

Electric

RM 81+

Hybrid

Hybrid

RM 108+

Petrol/Diesel

Petrol/Diesel

RM 52+

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