Car Rentals in California

California, the third biggest state in the US with 163,707 square miles, is smaller than only Alaska and Texas. With that much area, you know that there must be plenty of activities to do, and attractions to see. Once you have arrived in California, you could go skiing in Lake Tahoe in the morning, then go to the beaches of San Francisco in the afternoon. Or, you could visit the vast Death Valley National park the same day that you want to spend a few hours on the beach in Santa Monica. Whatever your adventure is, you can find a California car rental in every major city in the state, so you can start seeing mile after mile right away.

In Los Angeles, most California car rental customer service desks and parking lots are located away from the airport, but provide a free shuttle from the terminals upon your arrival. Advantage, Alamo, Avis, Budget, Dollar, Enterprise, Hertz, Payless, National, and Thrifty can all be found within a few miles of Los Angeles International Airport. Pick up and drop off of your vehicle is easy, and the different car rental agencies are clearly marked for your convenience. Because of the lack of public transportation in Los Angeles, a rental car is almost a necessity.

San Diego is also a popular destination in southern California. Car rental agencies are available all over the city, but they are especially clustered on the coast, in between the military base and the airport. Reservations are strongly recommended, as an influx of visitors can occur at anytime because of graduation ceremonies at the military base.

Cities in northern California are a little different. San Francisco for example, has many car rentals available, and the public transportation trolley can get you just about anywhere else in the city that you may want to see. Every hotel in the downtown San Francisco area has parking available to their guests. Napa Valley also offers rentals through Avis, Budget, and Hertz, though these particular locations are scattered throughout the town, but not one of them are located at The Napa Regional airport. In the Lake Tahoe and Truckee area, a variety of vehicles are offered depending on your preference, from convertibles to 4x4s. It should be noted that a higher deposit is required for specialty vehicles.

Making decisions about legal and financial matters at a car rental counter is something that also needs to be considered while picking up your California rental car. Insurance information about rental cars may be among several policies you already have for your car, credit card, or home. Chances are, if you are fully covered by a major insurance company on your personal vehicle, though some insurance policies have exclusions and limits. Check with your insurance agency prior to reserving your California rent a car.