Cheap Car Rental in Oakland

Car Rental in Oakland: Love the Life in California’s Fertile Land

Oakland is California’s eighth largest city, though it has the distinction of being the largest in the East Bay area. Its main function is that of a trade city, and it has the largest and busiest port in the area. The city itself is in a vast area of fertile flatlands where there is a lot of oak and redwood to be found, all of which lends itself to the area being a popular agricultural district and has a hand in its modern-day success. As the area grew in popularity, more people flocked to Oakland, ensuring that the city’s infrastructure developed along with its improved housing. In addition to this, the city makes every effort to adopt sustainable practices, and is highly-regarded for creating electricity from a number of different renewable sources.

What to See In Oakland

The bustling city of Oakland offers both its inhabitants and visitors an enormous range of things to see and do. If you are a sports’ fan, there’s nothing like getting a seat in Section 149 and enjoying the Oakland A’s play a home game. If sports are not your thing, then a visit to the historic, 1928-built Fox Theatre is a must.

If you wish to get out of the city and hit up some nature, then the drive up to Grizzly Peak is unmissable. Be sure to pick a clear day and you will be rewarded with a panorama of San Francisco. Beware, though, because the roads are windy and usually have a number of cyclists occupying them. A gondola cruise on Lake Merritt will take you away from the frenetic city center and allow you to watch the city go about its business from afar. Are you here with kids? We recommend heading on over to the magical Fairyland theme-park for a day of family fun.

How to Save On Rental Costs

Auto-hire prices will change depending on several factors, including the time of year, the length of the rental and the class of the car. The best budget-deals in Oakland are around $25 per day for the smallest car class, with the larger cars being as much as $40.

• Kia Rio (economy class) - $26 per day
• Nissan Note (compact class) - $30 per day
• Hyundai Elantra (intermediate class) - $31 per day
• Volkswagen Jetta (standard class) - $34 per day
• Ford Fusion (fullsize class) - $35 per day

The above list roughly outlines some car prices based on rental for a week, though of course these will vary slightly depending on the dates that you choose to travel. To find the best match for you, simply use the search function at the top of the page.

How to Get the Cheapest Car Hire

Car hire is always on the expensive side, but there are a few small tricks that you can use to reduce the price. Firstly, it is always a good idea to check the off-peak times. In Oakland, this tends to be in the winter months, where you can find cars for around $23 per day. Summer prices jump significantly, with similar cars being priced at around $35 per day. Using our comparison site, you will able to compare a number of different companies as well; we always make sure to offer the best options. In line with this, it does pay to be organized. Often, booking ahead will reward you with lower deals.

Booking for extended periods of time will also see a drop in the price. Generally, it is prudent to book a car for a week rather than a few days (if you can) as the price difference can be as much as $5 per day.

Cars can also be rented from various areas within Oakland, and these too, offer different prices. Renting a car from Oakland Airport costs around $23, whereas renting from Oakland Downtown increases to $48 per day. In addition to this, it is always a good idea to return the car to the same pick-up point, unless this is absolutely impossible. Returning a car to a different drop-off will incur fees from the rental company, as they will have to get the car back to the original depot somehow.

Road Rules in Oakland

1. Oakland, like the rest of the USA, drives on the right-hand-side of the road
2. Cars must respect the right of way of pedestrians, and it is forbidden to pass another car stopped at a pedestrian crossing
3. When arriving at a crossroads, it is the first car to arrive that has right of way, otherwise give way to the right
4. When a school bus stops, the car behind it must stop and not pass until the sign has been raised