Los Angeles Car Rental

 

Car Rental in Los Angeles

Get a car rental in Los Angeles and explore this sunny, sprawling metropolis on the West Coast.

Driving along Sunset Boulevard is like hitting play on a Hollywood movie. The City of Angels overflows with glitz, glamor and legendary tales – its movie-making history looming large with the Hollywood sign, Walk of Fame and Universal Studios.

Renting a car in Los Angeles makes it easier to get around. In low traffic, it only takes 20 minutes to drive from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) to downtown LA or Venice Beach. Whether you spend the day at Griffith Observatory, the Getty, Rodeo Drive or Santa Monica Beach, your Los Angeles rental car is your ticket to adventure.

Our wide selection of vehicles is suitable for any trip to LA. We’ve got everything from road-ready Chevrolets for escapades along the beach to electric Polestars to whip around the city to family-friendly SUVs.

Planning a road trip down the Californian coast to San Diego or up to San Francisco? Simply drop off your Los Angeles car rental at a different location for free.

Hit Hollywood in style. Discover your inner Angeleno when you arrange car rental in Los Angeles with Hertz. 

 

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Map data ©2026 Google, INEGI
Map data ©2026 Google, INEGI

Popular Vehicles to Rent in Los Angeles

A BWM series 2 car model

Cars

  • 4-5 people
  • 2-5 suitcases
  • 4 doors
A convertible MINI car

Convertibles

  • 4-5 people
  • 3 suitcases
  • 2-4 doors
A Range Rover SUV model

SUVs

  • 5-7 people
  • 4 suitcases
  • 2-4 doors

Los Angeles Car Rental FAQs

Parking lots, garages and on-street parking prices vary in LA. Remember, when parking on the street you must be within 18 inches of the curb to avoid a ticket.

Parking places in and around Los Angeles’ popular areas include:

  • Cinerama Dome (1400 Ivar Avenue) is just around the corner from the Hollywood Walk of Fame with around 1,000 spaces for your Los Angeles car rental.
  • 530 South Spring Street is available just a few blocks from Grand Central Market on the edge of Downtown.
  • Lot 1 North (1550 Appian Way), locally referred to as ‘the beach lot’, is the prime parking spot for Santa Monica beach. The entrance is under the pier and has 1,200 spaces.
  • Interstate 405 (I-405 – the San Diego Freeway) is one of the busiest in the country. It runs from the San Fernando Valley down through west LA towards Long Beach. Renting a car in Los Angeles makes traversing the area an independent endeavor, as there’s no need to rely on public transport.
  • Interstate 10 (I-10 – the Santa Monica/San Bernardino Freeway) connects Downtown and Santa Monica.
  • Interstate 105 (I-105 – the Glen Anderson/Century Freeway) is a key route to LAX that runs further south and parallel to the I-10.
  • US 101 (Hollywood/Ventura Freeway) is the longest highway in California that links LA to the Central Coast – key for reaching Hollywood.

Drive from our car rental location at Los Angeles Airport to downtown LA:

  1. Leave the car rental parking lot at LAX and head south on Airport Boulevard towards Westchester Parkway.
  2. Turn left on to West Century Boulevard, then right on to Aviation Boulevard.
  3. Turn left on to Imperial Highway, then turn right to merge on to I-105 East.
  4. Continue on I-105 E, then take I-110 North and CA-110.
  5. Take exit 24A to merge on to US-101 South towards I-5 South.
  6. Finally, take exit 2C for North Broadway.

Top Tips for Driving a Rental Car in Los Angeles

Drivers in LA must be at least 16 years old with a full driver’s license. To rent a car in Los Angeles, you’ll need to be at least 20. If you’re under the age of 25, you may need to pay a Young Renter daily fee.

You will also need:

  • A valid driver’s license (specifically, one in good standing for over a year).
  • A valid debit or credit card under the name of your driver’s license.
  • We may also ask to see your passport.

In California, the law requires that everyone in a vehicle must wear a seatbelt, whether they are the driver or a passenger. Motorcyclists must also wear a helmet.

It’s also against the law to send or read text messages while driving. Instead, drivers are encouraged to use a hands-free device to take calls.

Once you collect your Los Angeles car rental, you’ll also be expected to adhere to local speed limits. These limits are much of the same across California unless otherwise posted.

California highways

65 mph

Two-lane undivided highways

55 mph

Vehicles towing trailers

55 mph

Alleys

15 mph

Blind intersections

15 mph

Blind railroad crossings

25 mph

Residence and business districts

25 mph

School zones and playground areas

25 mph

Senior citizen facilities

25 mph

 

Speed limits in Los Angeles may be posted or unposted, so it’s important to know the maximum limits in different areas when driving your rental car.

California also has a ‘Basic Speed Law’ that states that no one may drive a vehicle on a highway at a speed greater than what is reasonable for the conditions and surroundings. This means you should consider:

  • Weather
  • Visibility
  • Traffic
  • The surface and width of the highway
  • Speeds that may endanger a member of the public or property.

Learn more about driving in LA with our Los Angeles driving guide. For more information about exploring the Golden State in your rental car, check out our guide to driving in California.

In Los Angeles, daily traffic is often at its peak on freeways during the morning and evening commute:

  • Weekday mornings: 7am to 10am
  • Weekday evenings: 4pm to 7pm and later

On weekends, roads leading in or out of downtown LA and Hollywood can become congested.

It’s advised to use alternate routes for busy freeways. This includes surface streets, which are any streets that are not a freeway or limited-access highway, such as an expressway.

When you arrive at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), look for purple signs for ‘Rental Car Shuttles’ to find our Hertz pickup location. You’ll find them outside baggage claim on the Lower/Arrivals level. Shuttles run every 15 to 20 minutes, with a quick journey of around three to five minutes.

You can also find shuttles and public transport that take you into Los Angeles, where you can collect a rental car from a HLE pick up location. 

Find out more about booking a car rental with our Hertz Support Center. Find out more about managing your booking or contact us with any questions. 

A Quick Travel Guide to Los Angeles


Hollywood Walk of Fame

Hollywood Walk of Fame

Hollywood Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90028

Find the city’s other stars closer to the ground, along the world’s most famous sidewalk. Wander down Hollywood Boulevard and find more than 2,600 stars in tribute to a variety of actors – past and present. You’ll pass the TLC Chinese Theater – renowned for hosting movie premieres and the Academy Awards. Hop in your Los Angeles holiday car rental and bring the family here.

Santa Monica Pier

Santa Monica Pier

200 Santa Monica Pier, Santa Monica, CA 90401

This picturesque pier stretches out into the Pacific Ocean, breaking up one of the city’s most beautiful beaches. At over 100 years old, it provides a throwback to simpler times, with traditional amusements and rides. Expect a party atmosphere with regular concerts, firework displays and events.

La Brea Tar Pits

La Brea Tar Pits

5801 Wilshire Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90036

Possibly the oldest and oddest attraction in LA is the La Brea Tar Pits. Free to visit, watch asphalt bubble up in these dark pools as they have done for the last 65 million years. Step into the Ice Age and discover why the pits offer such a unique fossil environment.

Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA)

Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA)

5905 Wilshire Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90036

LACMA is a huge art museum packed with pieces from the Islamic, Asian and Latin worlds. Walk through the Urban Light installation outside where 202 restored cast iron streetlamps are arranged in height order.

Griffith Observatory

Griffith Observatory

2800 East Observatory Road, Los Angeles, CA 90027

Offering some of the best views across the city – even before you use a telescope – Griffith Observatory is an impressive building overlooking LA. Hike up through Griffith Park, catch your breath then lose it again as you admire the vast skyline. Once a month the venue hosts star parties, where amateur astronomers guide you through the night sky.

SLS Beverly Hills

465 La Cienega Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90048

Teacup-shaped chairs, futuristic bathrooms and the Bazaar restaurant are unique to SLS Beverly Hills. Around 300 rooms are filled with the latest technology and features for a deluxe stay in this exclusive area. Rest here after a long day of driving in Los Angeles in your Hertz rental car.

Magic Castle Hotel

7025 Franklin Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90028

This family-friendly hotel is a couple of blocks from central Hollywood, with more than 40 rooms in its bright yellow buildings. Clean, contemporary and roomy, enjoy a relaxing stay with a complimentary continental breakfast.

Oceana Beach Club Hotel

849 Ocean Avenue, Santa Monica, CA 90403

Featuring rooms with balconies surrounding a crystal-clear pool and located minutes from Santa Monica beach, the hotel creates a real 1950s Art Deco vibe. Rise with the sun and take a relaxing morning stroll along the beachfront.

Providence

5955 Melrose Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90038

Tuck into a Michelin-star menu with a focus on local seafood in season, such as Santa Barbara spot prawns, at the Providence seafood restaurant on Melrose Avenue. The luxurious tasting menu is the height of LA sophistication.

Pizzana

11712 San Vicente Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90049

This Brentwood eatery is renowned for its wood-fired Neapolitan pizzas and limited-edition sandwiches – only available for a few days at a time. Get in your Los Angeles business car rental and bring your work colleagues here for some top grub in this upscale Los Angeles neighborhood.

The Apple Pan

10801 West Pico Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90064

The Apple Pan – near Rancho Park – has been serving up traditional burgers and delectable, sweet pies in the city for more than 75 years. Perfect for that all-American meal you’re craving.

Fancy a Road Trip from Los Angeles?

 

We recommend driving your Los Angeles rental car to the sleepy, sunny surfer town of Ventura, only an hour and a half away from LA.

Stroll the historic downtown area and sample flavorsome seafood caught fresh and local. For more tips on the best eats in the Ventura area, read our foodie road trip guide to traveling from Los Angeles to Ventura.

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