Hollywood, endless sandy beaches, and beautiful nature around – Los Angeles is a great place to rent a car and go on a trip. Yes, an abundance of amazing sights, high-quality roads, cheap fuel, and well-established roadside service are ideal conditions for an unforgettable road trip. Plus, the huge selection of Ace, Budget, Hertz, and Sixt car rentals Los Angeles makes it easy to find the right vehicle exactly where you need it.
Although the procedure for renting a car is rather hassle-free, any traveler may face some questions. We have collected the most common of them and prepared a small guide on car rental in Los Angeles…
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Where to Pick up a Rental Car in Los Angeles?
As a renter, you can pick up a car either at the airport or in one of the many city locations. Most often, travelers grab a car at Los Angeles LAX Airport immediately upon arrival. This provides more freedom of action.
About 20 car rental companies are operating at LAX Airport, including international suppliers. This means you have access to the best Avis, Enterprise, Hertz, Alamo, Dollar, and SIXT rental deals as soon as you land.
Their offices are not located in the airport building, but in the Consolidated Center, so you can get to any of them on a free shuttle bus. When you return your vehicle at the end of the road journey, the same shuttle will also take you to the airport to the terminal you need. This makes it very convenient to pick up a car at the airport.
What Car Rental Company to Choose in Los Angeles?
Many companies in the Los Angeles car rental market coexist in a tightly competitive environment, so you are free to choose. You can compare them by the following criteria: prices and options included in the price; a number of pickup points; an assortment of cars; additional or exclusive services, etc.
If you are looking for a reliable supplier at a great price, consider SIXT rental car company. It has a huge selection of well-serviced cars, while the agency’s pricing policy allows you to rely on an affordable cost. Plus, SIXT rental car offers often include discounts and free extras.
Alternatively, you can choose a different supplier. For example, Thrifty, Dollar, or Alamo will also be nice options.
What are The Driver’s Requirements?
You can enjoy a car rental in Los Angeles if you’re over 20 years of age with at least 1 year of driving experience. At the same time, drivers from 20 to 24 years old fall into the category of young drivers and pay an additional fee of about $25-35 per day. Under 25 drivers with less than three years of driving experience can’t rent vans, full-size SUVs, premium, luxury, exotic and convertible cars.
As for the documents, first of all, you need a valid domestic driver’s license or an International Driving Permit (IDP) if your original license is not in Latin. Also, companies require a passport as an additional way of identification, as well as a credit card issued in the name of the main driver. If you booked your car online, you need to print and present the voucher to the company too.
What Type of Insurance to Choose?
Choosing insurance is a very important step when renting a car. In Los Angeles, you must have DW and SLP insurance, which is a basic requirement:
- DW – Damage Waiver This is an option that avoids financial losses due to theft and damage to your vehicle. Its cost depends on the class of the car and the company.
- SLP – Supplemental Liability Protection. It assumes third-party liability insurance. If you are the culprit of an accident, this insurance will cover the damage.
You are not allowed to drive your rental car without these covers. Most often, Enterprise, Alamo, Budget, SIXT rental cars, as well as vehicles from other large companies have Damage Waiver and Supplemental Liability Protection included in the base price.
In Los Angeles, you can also take additional insurance options, such as:
- PAI – Personal Accident Insurance (or PPP – Personal Plan Protection) – medical insurance in case of an accident. If your life and health in the event of an accident are already insured in some other way, then you don’t need to buy this type of insurance.
- Roadside Assistance – this insurance means roadside assistance in the event of any technical problems.
How to Rent a Car in Los Angeles at The Best Price?
The cost of car rental in Los Angeles directly depends on the rental period. For example, a day of using a car can cost about $60, while a weekly rental is about $240. This is the total rental price, which includes insurance, unlimited mileage, breakdown assistance, and the required taxes and fees.
Please note that the particular company also affects the price. Similar Avis, Budget, Dollar, Hertz, Enterprise and SIXT rental cars often have different prices.
Car rental rates at different pickup spots, but within the same company may differ as well. Try to get the best price by going through nearby locations. By the way, choosing alternative dates can also reduce the price.
