Cheap Car Rental in Los Angeles

Tips for renting a cheap car in Los Angeles

Looking for a cheap car rental in Los Angeles? With Economybookings, you can easily compare multiple providers to find the best possible deal in LA. With so much to experience across Southern California, a quick comparison can save you time and money on a car that will help you reach it all.

• Compare pickup locations – Select the broader urban area instead of a specific location to unlock more deal options, including off-airport savings.
• Slightly adjust pickup times and dates – Even changing your booking by an hour can reveal lower rates.
• Choose economy or compact cars – Unless you’re planning a longer road trip up the Central Coast or into the mountains, a compact car will likely meet all your needs in LA, Orange County, and the Inland Empire.
• Book early – LA is most definitely a year-round destination, but rental demand spikes even higher during popular travel times like summer (June to August), major holidays, and large events like cultural festivals and major entertainment industry events. Booking in advance helps secure lower prices and better vehicle selection.

Tips When Renting and Driving a Car in Los Angeles

• Rent a car if you plan to visit places outside the city, where mass transit options may be limited.
• Avoid rush hour traffic on the I-5, I-405, US 101, I-10, I-210, SR 91, SR 57, and SR 55 freeways.
• You can pick up your car at major airports like Los Angeles International (LAX), Long Beach, John Wayne-Orange County (SNA), and Ontario, and at various storefronts around the city.
• Choose a small car for better mileage and easier parking around the city.
• Pick a car with four-wheel drive for longer drives into rural mountain and desert areas, and along the coast.
• Inspect the car and take photos before and after rental.

Driving Tips in Los Angeles

• Drive on the right side of the road, and prepare to wait your turn when you need to turn left.
• Look out for stop lights—green means go, yellow signals that you must prepare to stop, and red is stop. At most intersections with stop lights, there will also be dedicated stop lights for left-turn lanes.
• Traffic calming circles, which function similarly to roundabouts, can be found in various neighborhoods around town – give way to traffic coming from the left.
• California law requires headlight use from 30 minutes after sunset to 30 minutes before sunrise, during inclement weather (like heavy rain and fog), and whenever else outside visibility falls below 1,000 feet.
• Horn use should be reserved for emergencies or warnings.
• Traffic usually moves faster in the left lanes on highways.
• Expect to pay anywhere from $5 to $50 per day for parking in LA. When in the city, you can use the PayTix and ParkMobile apps for contactless payment.
• NEVER cross a set of double yellow lines.
• Try the GasBuddy app to locate area gas stations and check prices. If you have a Costco membership, you can refuel there and take advantage of their very cheap gas.
• Keep your driver’s license, rental papers, and proof of insurance with you at all times. (Due to ongoing federal immigration raids in the region, you may also want to keep your passport or proof of valid passport within easy reach as well.)
• I-5 is the main north-south freeway that runs through the heart of LA, while I-405 is the north-south freeway that reaches LAX, LA’s Westside, and the San Fernando Valley, and both these freeways extend into Orange County (OC). Meanwhile US 101, I-10, and I-210 are LA’s major east-west freeways, and SR 91 connects LA’s South Bay communities to OC and the Inland Empire. Beyond LA County, SR 55 is Orange County’s central north-south freeway, while I-15 extends north-south through the Inland Empire. These freeways can be useful for reaching more of Southern California and beyond, but expect heavy traffic during weekday rush hours (7:00 to 10:00 AM, and 4:00 to 7:00 PM).

Speed Limits

Under California law, speed limits are 65 mph (105 km/h) on most multi-lane freeways (with some rural freeways allowing up to 70 mph or 113 km/h), 55 mph (89 km/h) on two-lane highways, 35 mph (56 km/h) on most city streets, and 25 mph (40 km/h) on streets in residential neighborhoods and school zones.

When driving in the City of Los Angeles, note that the city is implementing new efforts to make neighborhood streets safer for pedestrians and bicyclists, including fixed-speed camera units and stepped-up traffic law enforcement. Always watch for posted signs, as limits can vary.

Road Signs

U.S. road signs are typically noticeable and well-placed. They are almost always in English and use symbols for quick understanding. Speed limit signs are in miles per hour (mph). In Los Angeles, look out for signs marking dedicated rail crossings, bus lanes, bike lanes, and school lanes, which may have special speed limits and other restrictions.

Tolls, Fees, and Restrictions

Over the years, Southern California has opened a long network of toll roads. Though LA County doesn’t have that many, you will run into pay-to-use Express Lanes alongside the standard I-10 and I-110 freeway lanes. Heading south, Orange County has many more toll roads, including Express Lanes on I-405 and SR 91, and fully designated Toll Roads at SR 73, SR 133, SR 241, and SR 261. And in the Inland Empire, I-10, I-15, and SR 91 have Express Lanes. 

California’s toll roads accept several payment options, with FasTrak electronic transponders being the most widely accepted. Throughout the region, drivers without a transponder should be able to pay online by providing their license plate number in advance or within five days of driving. Wherever you begin your Southern California trip, check with your rental car agency in advance to see if they provide a FasTrak transponder and ask about their toll road coverage policies.

Discover Los Angeles and Southern California by Car

If you intend to primarily stay in the city and not venture farther than inner ring suburbs like Pasadena and Santa Monica, you may be able to pull off a car-free trip. But if you’re thinking about exploring more of Southern California, a car can really help you get where you want to go. With a rental car, you won’t have to worry about limited rail service and pricey Uber and Lyft rides.

A car offers flexibility and freedom to discover hidden spots that are much harder to reach via public transportation in the US. This especially rings true in SoCal, from the acclaimed wineries and vineyards of Santa Barbara County, to the exciting theme parks in Orange County and the resort towns in the Coachella Valley. 

When to Visit

Though LA works great as a year-round destination, some areas are affected by seasonal conditions. In winter, the San Bernardino Mountains’ ski resorts open for the season, and the combination of visitor traffic and snowy/icy roads can make for tricky drives up there. On the flip side, hot summer weather brings large crowds from the Inland Empire, Arizona, and Nevada to SoCal’s cooler beach cities.

For the best road trip weather, try the winter and spring months in the coastal areas, when you will run into mild weather and fewer crowds. Winter and spring also tend to be the best times to visit the Coachella Valley thanks to the cooler weather in the desert. Whenever you plan to hit the open road, make sure to pack water and sunscreen, and to check weather forecasts before leaving.

Languages & Communication

English is spoken nearly everywhere in and around Los Angeles. With that said, LA is a very multicultural city, so you may also hear Spanish, Chinese, Vietnamese, Tagalog, Korean, Japanese, and Persian/Farsi in certain neighborhoods. Most signage is in English, and visitors rarely face language barriers.

Currency & Payments

Since California is part of the United States, the U.S. dollar ($, or USD) is used everywhere. Credit and debit cards are widely accepted, and contactless payments have largely become commonplace around LA. ATMs are easy to find throughout the city and suburbs, but keep in mind that ATMs will charge extra fees if they are not affiliated with your bank.

Top Driving Routes in and Around Los Angeles

• Even if you’re not planning to stay in a hotel in the city, Los Angeles itself is worth at least a day trip to explore the vibrant neighborhoods downtown (or DTLA), the cinematic magic of Hollywood, and the funky vibes at Venice Beach
• Malibu – About 50-60 minutes west of Downtown LA; come for legendary golden sand beaches like Zuma and Point Mugu, and stay to go hiking and biking in the Santa Monica Mountains 
• Ojai – Around 1.5 hours northwest of LA; here’s where you will find a number of farm-fresh eateries, unique boutiques with artisan-crafted goods, and beautiful mountain scenery at Los Padres National Forest
• Santa Barbara – About 2 hours northwest of LA; along the coast you will find beautiful beaches like Butterfly Beach and Arroyo Burro, while the inland region has grown into a highly regarded wine country region with adorable towns like Solvang, Los Olivos, and Los Alamos
• Lake Arrowhead & Big Bear – About 2-2.5 hours east; this is the closest you will get to an authentic alpine experience in SoCal, including wintertime skiing and snowboarding at Big Bear Mountain Resort
• Palm Springs & the Coachella Valley – About 2-3 hours east; home to major springtime music festivals like Coachella and Stagecoach, this desert region also boasts a year-round LGBTQ-friendly oasis in Palm Springs, and ritzy resorts in Rancho Mirage, Palm Desert, and La Quinta
• Anaheim – About 30-60 minutes south; long heralded as “The Happiest Place on Earth” thanks to the presence of Disneyland, Anaheim is growing into a more well-rounded destination with major sports offerings and OC-style urban cool in the Packing District downtown
• Newport Beach & Laguna Beach – About 1-1.5 hours south; OC’s premier beach towns boast luxurious oceanfront resorts like Pelican Hill and Montage, cute urban villages like Corona del Mar and Downtown Laguna, and some of SoCal’s most spectacular beaches like Crystal Cove, Heisler Park, and Treasure Island/Goff Cove
• San Diego – About 2.5-3.5 hours south; Southern California’s other major urban area may be worth a field trip if you crave epic surf beaches like Windansea and Swamis, as well as tasty bars, breweries, and restaurants in funky neighborhoods like Little Italy, North Park, and Ocean Beach

In recent years, we’ve seen a lot of talk about crime in Los Angeles and elsewhere in California. Though LA suffered a crime spike during the worst days of the COVID-19 pandemic, violent and property crime rates have been dropping since then. And while the US government has conducted high-profile immigration raids in 2025, most of the city remains open and safe for visitors. Still, if you run into any security concerns, contact your home country’s embassy for guidance and assistance. (Many countries do have local consulate offices in LA.)