California driving guide

California is a treasure trove for sightseers, beach lovers and movie fans, making it the ultimate road trip destination, whatever your interest. But if your travel plans involve exploring everything California has to offer – or even half of it – you’re going to need to learn to get around.

So, settle in and buckle up for a run through of the speed limits, toll roads and regulations for driving in California. Here’s everything you need to know to navigate the Golden State.

Jump to a section:

• Quick rules of the road
• Speed limits
• Toll roads
• Driving ages
• Essential equipment
• Speed violations
• Driving with children
• Gas prices
• Electric car charging
• Driving between California and other states
• Driving conditions

Quick rules of the road

• You should always give priority to traffic and pedestrians already in, or just entering, an intersection. If vehicles (including bicycles) are at the intersection before you, they have the right of way.
• If you arrive at an intersection alongside another vehicle, the one furthest to the right has priority.
• Headlights should be used when it’s dark, as well as in fog, rain or other weather conditions that limit visibility.
• Drivers cannot use a cell phone while holding it in their hands. Voice commands, speaker phone and other hands-free solutions are acceptable. Drivers under 18 years of age cannot use a cell phone for any reason.
• Children over eight years of age or 4’9” tall need to wear a safety belt at least, if not a booster seat. You and all your passengers should wear a seatbelt.

Speed limits in California

Maximum speed limits in California can vary depending on your vehicle type, as well as the road. There are severe penalties for breaking these limits.

Toll roads in California

There are many toll roads in California, including along the scenic 17-Mile Drive, the Golden Gate Bridge and various other state routes.

17-Mile Drive

17-Mile Drive circles the coastline of Carmel, Pacific Grove and Pebble Beach – a scenic and famed route for road trips on the West Coast.

From: Carmel Gate

To: Sunset Drive/Pacific Grove Gate

Cost for car: $11.25 (reimbursed with a purchase of $35 at community restaurants)

Cost for truck: $11.25 (also reimbursed with a purchase of $35)

How to pay: Payment on admission.

Golden Gate Bridge

There are several tolls along the Golden Gate Bridge, towards the Highway and Transportation District.

From: Golden Gate Bridge

To: Transportation District

Cost for car: $8.40 with FasTrak / $8.80 one-time payment / $9.40 for invoice

Cost for truck: From $25.20 with FasTrak / $26.40 one-time payment / $28.20 for invoice

How to pay: Golden Gate Bridge is an all-electric toll, which means it only accepts payment using a FasTrak account, License Plate Account or one-time payment. One-time payments need to be made within 48 hours of crossing the toll, or up to 30 days before.

If you do not use any of the above, a toll invoice will be sent to the registered owner of the vehicle around a week after you’ve crossed the bridge – which you will have to pay.

Bay Area Bridges

The Bay Area also includes seven other toll bridges:

• Antioch Bridge – eastbound from Antioch to Rio Vista via State Route 160.
• Benicia-Martinez Bridge – heading northbound along the I-680 between Benicia and Martinez.
• Carquinez Bridge – travelling eastbound from Crockett to Vallejo along the I-80 in northeast San Francisco Bay.
• Dumbarton Bridge – westbound toll plaza between Fremont and Menlo Park, along State Route 82.
• Richmond-San Rafael Bridge – for those heading westbound across the San Francisco Bay, as part of the I-580.
• San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge – popular route connecting Oakland and San Francisco, with tolls payable on the eastern side of the bridge when driving west.
• San Mateo-Hayward Bridge – part of State Route 92 between Foster City and Hayward.

Cost for car: $7

Cost for truck: $17

How to pay: FasTrak Toll Tag, License Plate Account, one-time payment or toll invoice.

Bay Area Express Lanes

You’ll also find several express lanes in the San Francisco Bay Area, which require a pay-per-use toll payment at certain times of day – usually based on real-time traffic levels. These include:

• Interstate 580 Express Lane
• State Route 237/Silicon Valley Express Lane
• Interstate 680 Sunol Express Lane
• Interstate 680 Contra Costa Express Lane
• Interstate 880 Express Lane
• 101 San Mateo Express Lane
• 101/SR-85 Santa Clara Express Lane

Hours of operation: Monday to Friday, 5am to 8pm

Cost for car: Dynamic prices based on real-time traffic

Cost for truck: Dynamic prices based on real-time traffic

How to pay: FasTrak, FasTrak Flex, FasTrak CAV

I-10 and I-110 Express Lanes

The I-10 and I-110 Express Lanes operate under Metro Expresslanes in Los Angeles County.

From: I-10

To: I-110

Cost for car: Dynamic based on traffic levels

Cost for truck: Dynamic based on traffic levels

How to pay: FasTrak account or you’ll be sent a toll invoice, which includes the standard toll charge plus a $4 processing fee and must be paid within 30 days.

Orange County Toll Roads

The Orange County Toll Roads include State Routes 73 (SR 73), 133 (SR 133), 241 (SR 241) and 261 (SR 261).

Cost for car: Rate depends on toll point, direction and time of day.

• SR 73: $6.60 - $9.00 with a FasTrak account, $9.00 without
• SR 133: $3.04 - $3.50 with a FasTrak account, $3.50 without
• SR 241: $3.73 - $4.40 with a FasTrak account, $4.40 without
• SR 261: $2.69 - $3.32 with a FasTrak account, $3.32 without

Cost for truck (3-4 axles): Rate depends on toll point, direction and time of day.

• SR 73: $13.20 - $18.00 with a FasTrak account, $18.00 withou
• SR 133: $6.08 - $7.00 with a FasTrak account, $7.00 without
• SR 241: $7.46 - $8.80 with a FasTrak account, $8.80 withou
• tSR 261: $5.38 - $6.64 with a FasTrak account, $6.64 without

How to pay: FasTrak, online payment within five days before or after you use the toll road or with cash at a participating 7-Eleven or CVS.

91 Express Lanes

This 18-mile toll road connects Anaheim in Orange County to Corona, as part of the Riverside Freeway.

From: Interchange between SR 55 and SR 91

To: Interchange between SR 91 and I-15

Cost for car: Varies depending on payment method, route taken, vehicle, and time of day. Find out more.

Cost for truck: Not allowed on the SR 91 Express Lanes.

How to pay: FasTrak

San Diego South Bay Expressway (SR 125)

The San Diego South Bay Expressway covers 10-miles from eastern Chula Vista toward San Diego and Mexico.

From: Chula Vista

To: San Diego

Cost for car: $0.50-$2.75 with FasTrak / $2.50-$3.50 with cash or card / $4.50-$5.50 by plate (based on distance)

Cost for truck: $1.00-$5.50 with FasTrak / $5.00-$7.00 with cash or card / $9.00-$11.00 by plate (based on distance)

How to pay: Cash, card, pay-by-plate or FasTrak.

Driving ages and license requirements in California

• The minimum legal age of driving in California is 17 years old with a full license.
• The minimum age to rent a car in California with Hertz is 20 years old.

For more tips about renting a car under the age of 25, read our useful guide for young drivers.

Essential equipment to carry in your car in California

Storage space can be tight, but there are some items worth making room for. Here’s some essential equipment you should carry in your car in California:

• Driver’s License – you’re required by law to keep this on you while driving.
• First Aid Kit – a well-stocked first aid kit can help in case of an emergency on the road.
• GPS – if you’re unfamiliar with the area or need a reminder, a GPS can get you where you need to go quickly, easily and with all the information you need.
• Steering Wheel & Seat Covers – while that golden Cali sun is a high point, you’ll appreciate interior covers or reflective screen covers to keep your interior cool.
• Puncture Kit, Tire Jack, Spare Tire, Lung Wrench – in the event you puncture your tires, you can make quick or temporary repairs to get you to a garage.
• Owner’s Manual – a must-have for any rental car, so you can find out everything you need to know about the vehicle.

California speed violations, infractions and penalties

Speeding tickets and reckless driving charges can be severe in California. Speeding may be punished by fines, which could cost anywhere from $35 up to $200 for a basic fine, plus one to two points on your license. So, make sure you pay attention to the speed limit in California, and remember this can change between states.

Driving with children in California

• Children under two years old need fastening into a rear-facing child-friendly seat. If they weigh more than 40 pounds, they may not require this.
• Children under eight years old or less than 4’9” tall need securing with a child-friendly restraint. Those eight years old or taller than 4’9” may use a secured seatbelt.
• Children under eight years old may ride upfront in the following circumstances:
  • No rear seat exists.
  • Rear seats are side-facing jump seats.
  • Rear seats are rear-facing.
  • Child passenger restraints cannot be installed correctly in rear seating.
  • Rear seats are occupied by younger children.
  • Medical reasons prevent the child from safely riding in the back.
• Rear-facing child passenger seats must not be in front of an airbag equipped vehicle.
• It’s illegal to leave a child six years old or under unattended in a vehicle.

Gas prices in California

The average gas price in California is $6.28 per gallon.

Based on manufacturers’ average fuel figures:

• For a small car like a Chevrolet Spark, that’s about $0.11 per mile.
• For a larger family car like a Toyota Camry, it works out at $0.12 per mile.
• And for an SUV like a Ford Expedition, it’s around $0.31 per mile.

Gas price figure last updated October 11, 2022.

Electric car charging in California

California is incredibly pro-electric, with plenty of public charging stations across the state. Some are free and some come with fees. While there’s subscription-based options, most charging points should be available on pay-as-you-go.

Driving between California and other states

With locations like Nevada, Arizona, and Oregon close to California, the adventure can continue beyond the Golden State. But you’ll want to learn some of the dos and don’ts of driving in those locations first.

Worried about your rental car? Most of our Hertz rental locations allow you to drive across state lines. So, you can pick up your rental in Los Angeles and drop it off elsewhere along the West Coast or further afield.  

Driving conditions in California

In California, you can expect warm, dry summers around 70°F, spiking up to 80°F. So, proper ventilation and sun protection is essential for a comfortable drive. You may also encounter floods, drought and intense heat – even during a downpour. If you’re venturing out and around California, you may find temperatures even higher.

Winters rarely hit freezing, but you may encounter a lot of wet weather. That means using your lights and driving with caution.