Search
Deals
Tips
FAQs
Locations
Agencies
When to book

Southern California car rentals

Driver's age: 26-65

Search hundreds of rental car sites at once for car rental deals in Southern California

Here is why travellers choose KAYAK

Save up to 40%Compare multiple travel sites with one search.

Free to useThere are no hidden charges or fees.

Filter your dealsFilter by car type, brand and more. Instantly customise your results.

Book with flexibilityUse our "free cancellation" filter for maximum flexibility at no extra cost.

Cheap car hire in Southern California

Discover the best prices and deals for you by selecting your travel dates
Choose your dates
Mitsubishi Mirage car
Mitsubishi Mirage
or similar SMALL
2
2
4-5
M
$38/day
View Deal
Hyundai Accent car
Hyundai Accent
or similar SMALL
4
2
4-5
M
$32/day
View Deal
Toyota Corolla car
Toyota Corolla
or similar MEDIUM
5
3
2/4
M
$35/day
View Deal
Volkswagen Jetta car
Volkswagen Jetta
or similar MEDIUM
5
3
4-5
M
$52/day
View Deal
Nissan Altima car
Nissan Altima
or similar LARGE
5
2
4-5
M
$42/day
View Deal
Chrysler Pacifica car
Chrysler Pacifica
or similar VAN
5
5
4-5
M
$62/day
View Deal
Nissan Pathfinder car
Nissan Pathfinder
or similar SUV
5
2
4-5
M
$80/day
View Deal
Dodge Charger car
Dodge Charger
or similar LARGE
5
5
4-5
M
$50/day
View Deal
Ford Transit car
Ford Transit
or similar VAN
5
2
4-5
M
$185/day
View Deal
Chrysler 300 car
Chrysler 300
or similar LUXURY
5
5
4-5
M
$142/day
View Deal
Class Convertible car
Class Convertible
or similar CONVERTIBLE
5
3
2/4
M
$75/day
View Deal
Nissan Frontier car
Nissan Frontier
or similar PICKUPTRUCK
5
3
2/4
M
$97/day
View Deal
Chevrolet Suburban car
Chevrolet Suburban
or similar SUV
5
5
4-5
M
$138/day
View Deal
Class Special Car car
Class Special Car
or similar Category
5
5
2/4
M
$42/day
View Deal
Nissan Kicks car
Nissan Kicks
or similar SUV
4
2
4-5
M
$42/day
View Deal
Kia Sportage car
Kia Sportage
or similar SUV
5
3
4-5
M
$44/day
View Deal
Hyundai Santa Fe car
Hyundai Santa Fe
or similar SUV
5
3
4-5
M
$52/day
View Deal
Best prices found by KAYAK users in the past 48 hours.

Top tips for hiring a car in Southern California

  • Southern California offers one of the finest travel destinations in America. Many people prefer traveling to Southern California in rental cars. Whereas renting a vehicle to tour Southern California is economical in the long run, you should prepare for your car rental in advance. Start by identifying the different car dealers near the places you want to visit. Check out the cars and identify which car model fits your Southern California tour. Go through the rental agreement with a suitable car rental dealer before committing yourself to a contract. Inspect the car thoroughly before embarking on your trip and ensure it doesn’t have any damages. Furthermore, fuel the car before starting your road trip, other than waiting for the dealer to fuel the car for you since they will include the gas in your rental car price.
  • Some car rental firms in Southern California allow car renters to use their travel insurance to pay for rental cars. Thus, you should check with a prospective car rental company as to whether they accept a travel insurance policy as an option for renting cars. Furthermore, check the car rental options the dealer will offer you courtesy of your travel insurance policy. Travelers with a comprehensive travel insurance policy have an advantage when booking and paying for rental cars. A comprehensive insurance plan, for instance, can pay for gas while driving a rental car in Southern California.
  • Driving in Southern California is different from driving in other places. The region has some of the country’s busiest roads. Hence, all drivers, and primarily rental drivers, should observe safety precautions to keep safe while driving on Southern California’s highways. For instance, while driving a rental car in Southern California, you should follow the recommended speed limit, always keep right, make correct lane changes, and maximize your visibility.
  • There are many car rental firms in Southern California offering their services. But no website offers more car rental options than KAYAK. Car rental drivers should take advantage of the KAYAK website to choose a car rental company. KAYAK will give you an originality boost by allowing you to select a car that offers better performance than your everyday car. You can then book a car directly through the KAYAK website.
  • 25% of our users found rental cars in Southern California for $65 or less
  • Book your rental car in Southern California at least 1 day before your trip in order to get a below-average price
  • Compact rental cars in Southern California are around 33% cheaper than other car types, on average

FAQs about hiring a car in Southern California

  • Should I hire a car in Southern California?

    Anyone driving to Southern California has several reasons for getting a rental car. Even if you already have a vehicle, renting a car to explore Southern California remains a brilliant idea for virtually every driver. A rental car will save your vehicle from wear and tear over time. Rental cars are also more comfortable since these vehicles are designed for long road trips. You can save gas while driving to some of California’s best destinations, including Santa Barbara, Long Beach, and Catalina Island.

  • What is driving like in Southern California?

    Whether you want a long road trip or a short scenic drive, driving in Southern California is ultimately rewarding. You can experience fascinating scenes while driving in the region. You can have an incredible lifetime experience navigating the mountainous region as you drive to Southern California’s pristine beaches, such as Malibu and Long Beach. Driving in South California can be full of fun since you will encounter some of the region’s finest attractions. You can stop your rental car at various eateries and enjoy drinks and tasty Southern California dishes with your family.

  • How old do you have to be to hire a car in Southern California?

    Every driver must be, at minimum, twenty one years old to rent a vehicle in Southern California. All drivers should provide proof of having requisite driving training before renting a car. Visiting drivers need to have a driving permit from their home state six months before driving to Southern California. Besides meeting the minimum driving age, renters should also present a valid driver’s license to their car rental dealers. Foreign drivers should also submit their non-US driving licenses to the authorities in Southern California.

  • How much does it cost to hire a car in Southern California?

    On average a car hire in Southern California costs $97 per day.

  • What is the most popular car hire in Southern California?

    Mini (Chrysler Pacifica or similar) is the most frequently booked car hire type in Southern California.

  • What is the cheapest car hire company in Southern California?

    In the past 72 hours, the cheapest car hires were found at Ace ($35/day), Economy Rent a Car ($42/day) and Fox ($44/day).

  • What is the best car hire company in Southern California?

    Based on ratings and reviews from real users on KAYAK, the best car hire companies in Southern California are Alamo (8.4, 326 reviews), Enterprise Rent-A-Car (7.4, 672 reviews), and Sixt (7.0, 426 reviews).

  • How can I find car hires near me in Southern California?

    Take a look at our extensive car hire location map to find the best car hire deals near you.

  • Where should I hire a car in Southern California?

    Based on car searches on KAYAK, the most popular cities to hire a car in Southern California are Los Angeles (90% of total searches of users looking to hire a car in Southern California), Palm Springs (3%) and San Diego (3%).

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

    On average a car hire in Southern California costs $643 per week ($92 per day).

  • How much does it cost to hire a car long term for a month in Southern California?

    On average a car hire in Southern California costs $2,757 per month ($92 per day).

Car rental locations in Southern California

Car rental directory

  • enterprise

    Enterprise Rent-A-Car car hire locations in Southern California

    89 Locations

  • hertz

    Hertz car hire locations in Southern California

    74 Locations

  • avis

    Avis car hire locations in Southern California

    42 Locations

  • budget

    Budget car hire locations in Southern California

    42 Locations

  • dollar

    Dollar car hire locations in Southern California

    38 Locations

  • thrifty

    Thrifty car hire locations in Southern California

    37 Locations

  • midwaycarren

    Midway car hire locations in Southern California

    19 Locations

  • sixtrentacar

    Sixt car hire locations in Southern California

    17 Locations

  • eaglerac

    Eagle Rent A Car car hire locations in Southern California

    8 Locations

  • sunnycars

    Sunnycars car hire locations in Southern California

    8 Locations

  • alamo

    Alamo car hire locations in Southern California

    7 Locations

  • easirent

    Easirent car hire locations in Southern California

    7 Locations

Good to know

Most popular agency

Avis

Most popular car type

Compact

Average price

$92/day

Good deal

$65/day

When to book a rental car in Southern California

Average daily price per month
Car hire prices as pick-up date approaches

Everything you need to know for your car rental in Southern California

Search for cheap rental cars in Southern California with KAYAK and rent a car that suits you best. KAYAK searches hundreds of travel sites to help you find and book the best rental car deal at car rental locations across Southern California.

Not what you’re looking for? Find thousands of other hotels, flights, car hires and package deals with KAYAK.