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California

Cheap Car Rentals in California from RM 141

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 13/5 and drop-off date of 20/5. 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 30 April 2025.

Most popular company

Hertz

Most common car type

Standard

Average price per day

RM 364

Cheapest price per day

RM 141

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 30 April 2025.

January

RM 155

February

RM 155

March

RM 168

April

RM 203

May

RM 181

June

RM 186

July

RM 220

August

RM 212

September

RM 190

October

RM 199

November

RM 177

December

RM 220

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 30 April 2025.

There are currently 17,355 hire locations operating in California spread across 347 car hire agencies. In the past week, the cheapest car type to hire in California is large car at RM 141 a day. Below are all the 5 car types available for hiring in the area, along with estimated starting prices:

Economy

Economy

RM 154+

Compact

Compact

RM 157+

Intermediate

Intermediate

RM 157+

Standard

Standard

RM 147+

Full-size

Full-size

RM 141+

People carrier

People carrier

RM 338+

Full-size SUV

Full-size SUV

RM 277+

Convertible

Convertible

RM 265+

Premium SUV

Premium SUV

RM 291+

Compact SUV

Compact SUV

RM 153+

Intermediate SUV

Intermediate SUV

RM 160+

Standard SUV

Standard SUV

RM 182+

Supplier choice SUV

Supplier choice SUV

RM 270+

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 30 April 2025.

Small cars

RM 180 - RM 288

All Car Types

RM 201 - RM 359

To rent a small car in California, you would pay an average price of RM 240/day. May is the cheapest month to rent a small car in California (~RM 180/day), while the most expensive month to rent that same car type is July (~RM 288/day). In fact, May is about 26% 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 12% 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 220/day. April is the cheapest month to rent a medium car in California (~RM 154/day), while the most expensive month to rent that same car type is August (~RM 284/day). In fact, April is about 31% 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 19% 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 360/day. November is the cheapest month to rent a large car in California (~RM 242/day), while the most expensive month to rent that same car type is August (~RM 483/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 25% 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 265/day. June is the cheapest month to rent a SUV in California (~RM 198/day), while the most expensive month to rent that same car type is March (~RM 376/day). In fact, June is about 26% 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 saves you 3% 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 van in California, you would pay an average price of RM 341/day. October is the cheapest month to rent a van in California (~RM 287/day), while the most expensive month to rent that same car type is July (~RM 577/day). In fact, October is about 17% 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 21% 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 294/day. July is the cheapest month to rent a luxury car in California (~RM 324/day), while the most expensive month to rent that same car type is January (~RM 820/day). In fact, July is about 9% 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 is 9% 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 convertible in California, you would pay an average price of RM 231/day. December is the cheapest month to rent a convertible in California (~RM 214/day), while the most expensive month to rent that same car type is August (~RM 789/day). In fact, December is about 8% 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 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 convertible hire prices found by Cheapflights users in the past 7 days:

Proton SagaRM 154/day
2
M
A/C
Proton Saga
Proton SagaRM 155/day
2
M
A/C
Proton Saga
Proton SagaRM 167/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 30 April 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
1160 reviews87 locations
Overview

Cleanliness

6.8

Comfort

6.7

Overall

5.9

Pick-up/drop-off

5.9

Value

6.1

Alamo

8.3
Very Good
174 reviews13 locations
Overview

Cleanliness

8.7

Comfort

8.6

Overall

8.3

Pick-up/drop-off

8.4

Value

8.0

Enterprise Rent-A-Car

7.6
Good
392 reviews107 locations
Overview

Cleanliness

7.9

Comfort

7.8

Overall

7.6

Pick-up/drop-off

7.6

Value

7.5

Sixt

7.4
Good
360 reviews15 locations
Overview

Cleanliness

8.0

Comfort

7.9

Overall

7.3

Pick-up/drop-off

7.3

Value

7.2

Budget

6.3
Okay
852 reviews51 locations
Overview

Cleanliness

7.0

Comfort

7.1

Overall

6.3

Pick-up/drop-off

6.3

Value

6.3

Avis

6.3
Okay
500 reviews50 locations
Overview

Cleanliness

7.1

Comfort

7.1

Overall

6.3

Pick-up/drop-off

6.4

Value

6.4

Midway

6.2
Okay
492 reviews11 locations
Overview

Cleanliness

7.0

Comfort

6.8

Overall

6.2

Pick-up/drop-off

5.8

Value

6.7

Dollar

5.5
Fair
455 reviews46 locations
Overview

Cleanliness

6.8

Comfort

6.6

Overall

5.5

Pick-up/drop-off

5.5

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 225. Data was last updated on 30 April 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.
Hyundai SonataRM 141/day
5
M
A/C
Hyundai Sonata
Proton InspiraRM 147/day
5
M
A/C
Proton Inspira
Proton SagaRM 154/day
2
M
A/C
Proton Saga

Car rental FAQs

Find answers to frequently asked questions about car rentals in California, including policies, requirements, and more. FAQs were last updated on 30 April 2025.
  • 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 141/day), Hertz (RM 157/day), and Dollar (RM 277/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 (9.0 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 3.90/litre over the past month, costing you anywhere between RM 175 and RM 253 to fill up a car’s fuel tank.

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

    Hertz is one of the most popular car hire companies in California, offering car hire for around RM 1,605 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 36%. 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.

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 805 per day. Price data was last updated on 30 April 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 246/day
5
M
A/C
BMW 3 Series
BMW 3 SeriesRM 302/day
5
M
BMW 3 Series
BMW 3 SeriesRM 304/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 30 April 2025.

Browse through car rental deals by fuel type in California. There are currently 3 fuel types to choose from with Electric being the cheapest (RM 32+).

Electric

Electric

RM 32+

Hybrid

Hybrid

RM 40+

Petrol/Diesel

Petrol/Diesel

RM 91+

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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