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California Car Rental
Car Rental in California
Car rental in California will ensure you have the best opportunity to discover every shining corner of the Golden State. You’ll take in breathtaking views as you drive some of the world’s most famous routes in an area made for road trips – and best explored with four wheels.
Hertz has many pick-up points for your rental car across California so, you can arrive in San Francisco and travel down to Los Angeles or start your trip in the capital Sacramento and make your way to the coastline from there.
Here at Hertz, you’ll find a wide range of rental cars perfect for California. But, if it is the traditional Californian road trip experience you’re after, consider a convertible. That way you can feel the sea breeze as you drive down the Pacific Coast Highway.
An amazing adventure awaits whatever you choose. Collect your car rental in California to explore the USA’s west coast, stopping to see some of the state’s most beautiful beaches and famous cities.
Why Choose Hertz Car Rental in California?
Our Locations
Planning a California road trip? Ensure the adventure is always moving forward with one-way rental. Simply pick up your car rental in one Californian location and drop it off in a different spot. Hertz has locations across California and the US, so whether you want to keep it in the same state from San Fran to LA or fancy crossing borders to Nevada with a visit to Las Vegas, you can do so seamlessly with locations at airports and within cities.
Top Cities to Rent a Car in California
Other Car Rental Locations in California
California Car Rental FAQs
What are the main roads and highways in California?
This state is home to some of the USA’s most famous roads. Below you can find the best ones in California to take your rental car along.
- The Pacific Coast Highway clings to 660 miles of coastline from San Diego to Oregon.
- Route 66 sees 315 miles of this iconic old road pass through California, ending at the sun-and-fun of Santa Monica Pier.
- Interstate 5 (I-5) takes you through all of California – from the Mexican border to the edge of Oregon. However, this route passes through the interior of the state rather than the coastline as the Pacific Coast Highway does.
- Interstate 15 (I-15) is known as the road to Vegas – this starts in San Diego, heads towards the outskirts of Los Angeles and then alongside the Mojave Desert up towards Las Vegas and continues beyond towards Salt Lake City in Utah.
What are the state laws for driving in California?
When driving your rental car through California, it’s good to know about the rules of the road.
- You can pass on the right if you're on an open highway with two or more lanes in your direction.
- On a steep hill where neither side can pass, the driver facing downhill must yield and reverse safely to allow the driver coming up the hill to pass.
- Your headlights must always be used 30 minutes after sunset and 30 minutes before sunrise.
Speed limits
- Multi-lane freeways tend to be 65mph but the limit sometimes increases to 70mph (this will be well signposted if it's the case).
- Two-lane highways observe a 55mph limit.
- Stick to 35mph on city streets and 25 mph in residential areas.
Speed limits are displayed on signs and are enforced by aircraft.
Traffic
The heaviest traffic in California can be found around the freeway which takes you through Hollywood and Los Angeles. During rush hour, drivers can spend more time in traffic here than in any other city in the world on average. Plan ahead to sidestep this time.
Are there tolls to pay when driving in California?
California has a few toll roads you may encounter in your car rental. You might want to consider opting in to PlatePass, Hertz’s pre-paid all-inclusive tolling. This will take care of all payments and can sometimes help you skip the busy queues. While it’s available across more of California, it doesn’t cover I-15 Express Lanes from SR 78 to SR 163 in San Diego.
- 17-Mile Drive (Carmel Gate to Sunset Drive/Pacific Grove Gate
- Golden Gate Bridge
- Antioch Bridge
- Benicia-Martinez Bridge
- Carquinez Bridge
- Dumbarton Bridge
- Richmond-San Rafael Bridge
- San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge
- San Mateo-Hayward Bridge
- 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
- I-10 and I-110 Express Lanes
- SR 73
- SR 133
- SR 241
- SR 261
- SR 91 Express Lanes
- San Diego South Bay Expressway (SR 125)
Find out more about California toll roads.
Have a question? Our support page could help.
Fancy a Road Trip in California?
It will take about six hours to drive from San Francisco to LA in your California rental car, following the I-5 S the entire way. However, you may like to take the Pacific Coast Highway – this will double the time but there are plenty of places to stop and explore en route.
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