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Car rental in California
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Car rental in
California

4.6
Our customers love us
4.6 stars from 53,768 reviews in California.
Easy pickup and returns
Our 28 locations in SIXT California make renting a car hassle-free.
More flexibility
Change or cancel bookings at no extra cost at most of our locations worldwide.

Our top branches in California

4.5
LAX
24h Return
9000 Bellanca Ave
Los Angeles
90045-4708
USA
4.6
San Francisco Airport
24h Return
Car Rental Center 780 N McDonnell Rd
San Francisco
94128-3103
USA
4.6
San Diego Int Airport
24h Return
RENTAL CAR CENTER 3355 Admiral Boland Way
San Diego
92101-1100
USA
4.6
San Jose Airport
24h Return
Rental Car Center 1659 Airport Blvd
San Jose
95110-1234
USA
4.6
John Wayne Airport SNA
24h Return
Orange County Airport 18601 Airport Way
Santa Ana
92707-5200
USA
4.7
San Francisco Mission District
475 S Van Ness Ave
San Francisco
94103-3629
USA
4.6
Los Angeles Downtown
990 W 8th St
Los Angeles
90017-2830
USA
4.7
West Hollywood
8305 Sunset Boulevard, Unit B
West Hollywood, Los Angeles
90069-1515
USA
4.4
Beverly Hills
264 S La Cienega Blvd
Beverly Hills
90211-3302
USA
4.6
Santa Monica/Shore Hotel
1515 Ocean Ave
Santa Monica, Los Angeles
90401-2118
USA

Our services at California

SIXT Car Rental in California

Find SIXT at strategic locations including Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), San Francisco Airport (SFO), San Diego Airport (SAN) and other major city centers across the state. Our knowledgeable staff and premium vehicle fleet ensure a seamless start to your travels. With the freedom of a rental car in California, you can access diverse landscapes, vibrant cities, and breathtaking coastlines whenever you wish. Flexible rent a car California services work perfectly for trips that cross multiple regions.

Choose the Right Car Rental for Your California Adventure

  • Compact Cars—Perfect for urban settings and convenient street parking
  • Convertibles—Ideal for open-air adventures and stylish city cruising
  • SUVs—Great for mountainous drives and state/national parks
  • Luxury Cars—Enjoy California’s scenic routes in top-class style

Car Rental California: Prices

Key factors influencing SIXT booking costs include:

  • Rental duration: Longer bookings typically deliver a lower average daily rate. From single days to multi-week journeys, options are flexible.
  • Pick-up locale: Larger airports and popular city branches such as LAX or San Francisco can lead to price differences due to demand and convenience.
  • Seasonality: Rates may rise during peak times, including the summer travel season, holidays, and special event weekends.

Book ahead to seize the best offers, and check for car rental California promotions during off-peak times.

Extras & Protection Packages

Personalize your rental with helpful add-ons:

Secure your booking to receive a transparent rate and ongoing support during your California drive.

Driving Tips for California

California’s extensive road system is best explored in a SIXT vehicle—ideal for traversing cities, coastlines, and wine regions. The choice to rent a car in California allows you to have flexible journeys branching beyond a single city.

Major Driving Rules

  • Lane splitting is legal for motorcycles, so cars must not block or crowd motorcyclists who are driving between the lanes
  • Standard speed limits: 25 mph (40 km/h) in built-up areas, 55-65 mph (88-105 km/h) on non-urban roads, and up to 70 mph (113 km/h) on highways
  • Watch for restricted zones in urban centers, such as congestion pricing areas in downtown LA or San Francisco
  • California has a “move over law,” which means you must move one lane away or slow down when passing stationary emergency or tow vehicles with flashing lights

California Driving Norms

  • Pedestrians have right-of-way at crosswalks; always stop until they are all the way across.
  • Carpool (HOV) lanes are widely used and monitored—pay attention to signs for eligibility.

Road Conditions & Navigation

  • Expect a mix of expressways, winding coastal routes, and mountainous curves.
  • Construction or wildfire-related closures can impact highways; use real-time navigation.
  • In some cities, cyclists and scooters share traffic lanes.

Parking Knowledge

  • Urban parking often features meters or colored curb regulations—study posted rules.
  • Look for Park-and-Ride facilities on the outskirts of major metro areas to avoid downtown congestion.

Toll System

Toll roads, bridges, and FasTrak electronic lanes require close attention to signage and payment instructions in California.

Top Attractions to Visit by Car in California

Discover California with Complete Freedom

With a SIXT car rental in California, you can effortlessly reach some of the state’s most remarkable sights.

Yosemite National Park—Grand Natural Beauty

  • Distance from Sacramento Downtown: 140 miles (225 km)
  • Estimated driving time: 3 hours

Explore dramatic cliffs, waterfalls, and iconic sequoias in California’s beloved wilderness area like El Capitan or Yosemite Falls.

Big Sur Coastline—Rugged Pacific Views

  • Distance from Monterey: 30 miles (48 km)
  • Estimated driving time: 45 minutes

Experience windswept cliffs, scenic highways, and ocean vistas perfect for a day road trip. Popular stops include Bixby Bridge and Pfeiffer Beach.

Napa Valley—Wine Country Delight

  • Distance from San Francisco Union Square: 54 miles (87 km)
  • Estimated driving time: 1 hour 10 minutes

Spend a day sampling wines and gourmet cuisine amid picturesque vineyards.

Joshua Tree National Park—Desert Wonder

  • Distance from Los Angeles International Airport: 130 miles (209 km)
  • Estimated driving time: 2 hours

Discover spectacular desert landscapes and unique rock formations.

Customer reviews & feedback

4.6
4.5786433
Based on 53768 reviews
from our Customer Excitement Score survey*

What our customers are saying

4.9
Vehicle handover
4.7
The way to SIXT
4.7
At the SIXT branch
Edwin H.
5.0
checking in and getting the car was a breeze, thank you Jessy for the wonderful service!
Ronald W.
5.0
Jesse, Jason, and Zack helped out our 3 parties all at once. Really great hospitality and management! 5/5 stars.
Rachel D.
5.0
The staff here are so great. They are helpful, friendly, accommodating and always go the extra mile to make our experience pleasant. Thanks!

*Our Customer Excitement Score is based on a survey sent to all customers who booked in California. The score is an average of all customer responses.

Good to know when renting in California

Bookable extras

Make your visit to California more enjoyable by adding extras to your rental. GPS is a must when visiting cities like LA or San Francisco. Express Toll Unlimited allows you to breeze through toll booths, and SIXT Connect Wi-Fi service keeps you in the loop.

Car rental under 25 in California

You can rent a car from the age of 21 with SIXT. However, some specialty categories and larger vehicles have a minimum rental age of 25. An underage driver fee applies to those under 25.

What type of car should I rent in California?

Long road trips through this huge state call for a spacious SUV. Smaller groups can enjoy the sun in a sporty convertible.

It is possible to rent a car at one station in California and return it to another. Not all car categories can be rented one-way, and additional fees may apply.