From hitting the beach and the Hollywood Walk of Fame to luxury shopping, there’s never a shortage of things to do in Los Angeles.
But because it’s so big, one of the best ways to explore the city is by car.
We found this to be a good idea as even getting to and from your place to stay each night back into the city can take over an hour of driving!
Plus, there are so many road trips out of Los Angeles you can take.
But there are a lot of car rental companies out there - so which one should you go for?
Today, we’ll be talking about our top 10 car rentals in Los Angeles.
Let’s get stuck in!
When comparing different car rentals in Los Angeles, one of our top tips is to use a comparison site like DiscoverCars.
It seems simple but will save you a lot of time as opposed to comparing them manually.
This will also ensure that you can find the perfect car from the perfect company for your travel dates!
DiscoverCars is a popular car rental comparison website that works with more than 500 companies in 10,000 locations across the globe.
They have a 4.6-star rating on Trustpilot, offer free cancellation, and no hidden fees.
We also love these things about DiscoverCars:
Enterprise was founded in 1957 and has since made incredible growth and expansion worldwide.
It’s a fantastic car and vehicle rental company that operates in Los Angeles across more than 45 points in addition to three airport locations!
It’s also possible to rent one-way at participating car rental locations, so be sure to check with your preferred destination when planning out your trip.
In terms of insurance, Enterprise has Damage Waiver, Personal Accident Insurance, Personal Effects Coverage, Supplemental Liability Protection, as well as Roadside Assistance Protection.
What we love about this brand is their commitment to the community and environment. They have many initiatives like the Fill Your Tank program and 50 Million Tree pledge.
In fact, we'd say that they're one of the best rental companies in the USA!
The vehicle options at Enterprise are truly extensive, and you’ll be able to find the perfect car no matter what you need.
Whether you’re going on a California road trip or exploring the city, travelling solo or with a family, there is something for everyone.
From convertibles and SUVs to luxury cars and trucks. While you can find specific campervan rentals in LA, Enterprise’s fleet also includes some van options!
They also offer all sorts of sports cars, including classic performance cars such as a Mustang and Corvette.
Midway Car Rental is the go-to for luxury and sports car rental in Los Angeles.
So, if you’re travelling in style and want a car with high performance and excellent specs, this might be the choice for you.
Their customer service is known to be top notch too.
With airport locations at both LAX (Los Angeles International Airport) and Burbank, plus many more, it’s easy to pick up your car the moment you land in Los Angeles.
Not to mention that Midway is the largest independently owned rental car company in LA.
They have flexible policies so you can rent a car for up to a season or longer, including monthly rentals and subscription-based ownership.
The fleet at Midway is a huge selection of cars, ranging from convertibles and minivans to exotic models.
Whether you’re wanting to drive a Ferrari, Land Rover, or Tesla, you can definitely find the car of your dreams here!
An example from their exotics collection is the McLaren 570S Spider, which is perfect for a business trip or romantic getaway.
Elita Rent A Car is located just 1.4 miles from LAX and offers free pick-up and drop-off for most rentals.
They also have a delivery service within 10 miles of LAX if you book monthly.
Granted, they’re not the most flexible option in terms of location, but Elita is independently owned and thus offers the best customised and personalised services.
Moreover, prices at Elita include full insurance coverage and taxes, which will make budgeting much easier.
Elita Rent A Car offers all the basic options that should suit most travellers.
We’d recommend them for couples and small groups, as they have cars for 1-2 passengers, all the way to 6 passengers.
The rates are pretty reasonable for the quality of product and service that you get!
For example, an intermediate car for 5 passengers and up to 7 bags will cost you $53.09 daily.
Are you worried about your carbon footprint and want to make the most sustainable choices when travelling?
If so, Green Motion may be the right car rental for you.
They were founded in 2007 and are now known as one of the best sustainable car rentals in the world.
Whether you’re renting for leisure or business, you can contribute to minimising global CO2 emissions simply by choosing the right road travel options.
They even have a full environmental policy that includes offsetting the company footprint whenever possible.
In terms of their vehicle fleet, Green Motion provides everything from Volkswagen Ups to 4x4s for your adventures.
They also cater to a variety of budgets from affordable to premium, all depending on what you need!
From Toyota Corolla Cross to Nissan Pathfinder and Dodge Charger, the list goes on.
Thrifty Car Rental is part of the Hertz Corporation (you may have heard of Hertz, which we’ve included further down this list).
It has been running since 1958 and is best known among budget business and leisure travellers. In fact, they offer some of the cheapest car rentals in Los Angeles!
They often have great deals and promotions, including the ability to lock in low rates, free upgrades, AAA members discount, and many more…
Thrifty also offer car rentals in Canada (including Vancouver), making them a great option for those looking to explore more of North America in the future.
Despite the affordable price range, your options are far from limited!
Thrifty has plenty of hiqh-quality cars to choose from, including SUVs and sports cars as well as sedans and minivans.
From the Nissan Altima and Ford Focus to the larger Ford Escape, Chevrolet Traverse, and even Suburban.
They even have a Ford Mustang if you want a more stylish car, and the Jeep Wrangler to explore rugged terrains.
Dollar Car Rental, as the name suggests, is also a budget car rental company that could be a great alternative to Thrifty.
They’re actually sister companies and have similar products, so you can go for either one according to the availability for your preferences and dates.
With a location at LAX and several more across the city, including Downtown LA, you can easily plan your road trip with Dollar.
This company also offers car rentals in San Francisco and Las Vegas, among plenty of other destinations.
At Dollar, you will find a similarly extensive fleet of affordable and slightly more premium cars.
Their vehicles are all non-smoking and are continuously becoming more fuel-efficient.
Examples of their smaller cars include the Chevrolet Spark and Nissan Versa Note. You can also get more luxury models such as the Chrysler 300 and larger vans like the Ford E-350.
Yesaway Car Rental has an impressive customer rating of 9.8/10 from more than 150 thousand people.
They’re a customer-first company that offers quick processes, great car rental rates, and no hidden charges.
Not only that, Yesaway actually provides 24-hour Chinese service, which is truly unique for a multinational car rental company in the US!
This makes them especially great for travellers coming in from overseas as the customer support is top notch.
Plus, they have a no-deposit policy and free shuttle services from LAX.
From Toyota Corollas for couples and small families, to a Toyota Highlander which fits up to 7 passengers comfortably, they have quite the selection of cars.
Yesaway also has more premium options and convertibles, including the Ford Mustang Convertible.
It all comes down to the size and type of car that you want!
Another excellent car rental company in Los Angeles is Ace Rent A Car.
They’re on the affordable end of the price range, which can be great if you’re on a budget.
But they also have more premium options, so don’t worry if that’s what you’re looking for.
Whatever you're after, this company is a great choice when it comes to car hire in Los Angeles.
They offer quite a wide selection of vehicles, including small cars and sedans as well as SUVs and vans.
The Dealer's Choice is an affordable option which gives you a “mystery” car of varying passenger capacity, but at a much cheaper rate.
Ace’s vehicle range also includes everything from a Toyota Corolla to a Jeep Wrangler Rubicon!
National Car Rental is part of the Enterprise Holdings family, which runs Enterprise, and is another car rental company to go for in Los Angeles.
While they don’t have the most extensive pick-up locations, they still serve major locations including three airports and Anaheim Resort District.
But the good thing about National is that you can return your car in a different state, which is perfect for road trips.
There’s quite a huge range of cars that National offers.
Most of them are pretty affordable and would suit those travelling on a budget or as a family.
This includes cars like the Toyota Corolla and Chevrolet Malibu, but you can still find more premium models such as the Chrysler 300.
Last but not least, we have Hertz. They’re usually a popular place for renting a car in various locations worldwide, including LA.
The company has a high cleaning standard which includes an improved 15-point cleaning process before your arrival.
You can pick up your chosen car across the city from one of their 20 pick-up and drop-off points, including LAX (making them one of the best options for car rentals at Los Angeles Airport).
If you’re planning to drive along the coast down to San Francisco, you’ll be able to drop off the vehicle at a different location for free.
Just make sure to choose the correct city when booking!
Hertz has a selection of cars to suit a variety of traveller types.
This includes EVs, SUVs, sedans, vans, and convertibles.
Whether you’re looking for a car on the lower end of the budget (such as the Chevrolet Spark) or a more high performance car (like the BMW X7), you can find it at Hertz.
The requirements to rent a car in Los Angeles are a valid driver’s licence and a credit card. You might need to provide your passport as an international visitor.
Yes, especially if you’re planning a West Coast road trip. A car allows you to travel from city to city easily at your own pace, and discover off-the-beaten destinations along the way.
The exact minimum age for renting a car in LA ranges from company to company, but you can generally rent a car from 21 years old. However, you may have to pay a young driver’s fee if you’re younger than 24 years old.
Yes, you need to meet a minimum required liability coverage when you rent a car in LA. Some car rental companies will include basic insurance in your rates, while providing more add-ons for a fee.
That’s all for our version of the best car rentals in Los Angeles.
Hopefully that answered most of the questions you had!
Now over to you…
Which one are you going to choose?
Can you think of any great car rental we’ve missed here?
We’d love to hear from you in the comments below!
It's now time to plan your trip if you've got an idea of which rental you'll pick.
There are so many awesome things to do in California, as well as places to visit.
Popular options include San Francisco, Santa Barbara, Yosemite, San Diego, and Joshua Tree, honestly the list is endless!
If your rental company allows, you could always opt for a one-way rental and explore more of the United States too.
Here are some other guides that you may find helpful:
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