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California

Cheap Car Rentals in California from RM 138

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 12/4 and drop-off date of 12/5. 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 18 March 2025.

Most popular company

Hertz

Most common car type

Standard

Average price per day

RM 264

Cheapest price per day

RM 138

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 305 pickup locations in California to choose from. Price data has been averaged over the last 12 months and was last updated on 18 March 2025.

Price

RM 187 - RM 357

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 18 March 2025.

January

RM 159

February

RM 159

March

RM 199

April

RM 204

May

RM 191

June

RM 195

July

RM 226

August

RM 217

September

RM 195

October

RM 204

November

RM 182

December

RM 226

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 18 March 2025.

There are currently 17,255 hire locations operating in California spread across 343 car hire agencies. In the past week, the cheapest car type to hire in California is small car at RM 138 a day. Below are all the 5 car types available for hiring in the area, along with estimated starting prices:

Economy

Economy

RM 141+

Compact

Compact

RM 138+

Intermediate

Intermediate

RM 140+

Standard

Standard

RM 141+

Full-size

Full-size

RM 144+

People carrier

People carrier

RM 276+

Full-size SUV

Full-size SUV

RM 229+

Premium

Premium

RM 190+

Convertible

Convertible

RM 552+

Compact SUV

Compact SUV

RM 149+

Intermediate SUV

Intermediate SUV

RM 156+

Standard SUV

Standard SUV

RM 186+

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 18 March 2025.

Small cars

RM 193 - RM 294

All Car Types

RM 206 - RM 367

To rent a small car in California, you would pay an average price of RM 243/day. November is the cheapest month to rent a small car in California (~RM 193/day), while the most expensive month to rent that same car type is August (~RM 294/day). In fact, November is about 21% 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 238/day. April is the cheapest month to rent a medium car in California (~RM 175/day), while the most expensive month to rent that same car type is March (~RM 315/day). In fact, April is about 27% 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 383/day. November is the cheapest month to rent a large car in California (~RM 249/day), while the most expensive month to rent that same car type is August (~RM 496/day). In fact, November is about 35% 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 285/day. November is the cheapest month to rent a SUV in California (~RM 212/day), while the most expensive month to rent that same car type is March (~RM 442/day). In fact, November 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 is 1% 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 van in California, you would pay an average price of RM 302/day. September is the cheapest month to rent a van in California (~RM 297/day), while the most expensive month to rent that same car type is August (~RM 581/day). In fact, September is about 2% 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 7% 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 262/day. July is the cheapest month to rent a luxury car in California (~RM 332/day), while the most expensive month to rent that same car type is January (~RM 842/day). In fact, July is about 26% 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 237/day. December is the cheapest month to rent a convertible in California (~RM 220/day), while the most expensive month to rent that same car type is August (~RM 810/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 17% 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:

Perodua MyviRM 138/day
4
M
A/C
Perodua Myvi
Proton SagaRM 141/day
2
M
A/C
Proton Saga
Proton SagaRM 141/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 18 March 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.

Alamo

8.6
Very Good
117 reviews8 locations
Overview

Cleanliness

8.8

Comfort

8.7

Overall

8.5

Pick-up/drop-off

8.7

Value

8.1

Enterprise Rent-A-Car

7.5
Good
311 reviews84 locations
Overview

Cleanliness

7.8

Comfort

7.8

Overall

7.6

Pick-up/drop-off

7.5

Value

7.5

Sixt

7.3
Good
352 reviews16 locations
Overview

Cleanliness

7.9

Comfort

7.8

Overall

7.2

Pick-up/drop-off

7.2

Value

7.1

Budget

6.3
Okay
735 reviews41 locations
Overview

Cleanliness

7.0

Comfort

7.1

Overall

6.3

Pick-up/drop-off

6.3

Value

6.3

Avis

6.2
Okay
425 reviews40 locations
Overview

Cleanliness

7.1

Comfort

7.1

Overall

6.2

Pick-up/drop-off

6.4

Value

6.4

Midway

6.2
Okay
492 reviews11 locations
Overview

Cleanliness

7.1

Comfort

6.8

Overall

6.2

Pick-up/drop-off

5.8

Value

6.7

Hertz

5.8
Fair
992 reviews69 locations
Overview

Cleanliness

6.7

Comfort

6.6

Overall

5.8

Pick-up/drop-off

5.8

Value

6.0

Dollar

5.4
Fair
402 reviews36 locations
Overview

Cleanliness

6.7

Comfort

6.5

Overall

5.3

Pick-up/drop-off

5.3

Value

5.7

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 197. Data was last updated on 18 March 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.
Perodua MyviRM 138/day
4
M
A/C
Perodua Myvi
Proton PrevéRM 140/day
5
M
A/C
Proton Prevé
Proton SagaRM 141/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 18 March 2025.
  • What is the cheapest hire car found in California?

    In the past two weeks, Cheapflights users have found many deals under RM 243/day when booking a car hire in California. The absolute best deal a user found was for RM 131/day from Hertz, booked on Mar. 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: Thrifty (RM 144/day), Hertz (RM 162/day), and Sixt (RM 180/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 4.00/litre over the past month, costing you anywhere between RM 180 and RM 260 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 1,947 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 34%. 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 61% on a month-long rental by booking with Hertz. Hertz is the cheapest rental company available within the next few months. Renting a car in California can cost you on average RM 8,346 a month or RM 278 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 337 per day. Price data was last updated on 18 March 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 206/day
5
M
A/C
BMW 3 Series
BMW 3 SeriesRM 207/day
5
M
A/C
BMW 3 Series
BMW 3 SeriesRM 215/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 18 March 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 34+).

Electric

Electric

RM 34+

Hybrid

Hybrid

RM 106+

Petrol/Diesel

Petrol/Diesel

RM 189+

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