✈️Car Hire in Los Angeles – Check it all out in this guide

If you are thinking of traveling to Los Angeles, renting a car can be a good option. Here we help you with all your doubts in this very complete guide!

When searching for Los Angeles car rentals, many doubts arise in the minds of those who travel, don't they?

You may need to know the paperwork needed to rent a car;
Or don't know if it's better to close your car insurance with your credit card or rental company?
How to find out which is the best Los Angeles car rental website?

There are so many questions that accumulate that it is impossible to discover everything on one site.

Did you identify yourself?

No problems. That's why we decided to research all the doubts that our readers have about car rentals in Los Angeles to answer them one by one, in one place – here in this post.

So you don't have to go from site to site looking for answers. We have everything here! Including how to get good deals on car rental Los Angeles.

In this comprehensive guide, you will find out all about car rental in Los Angeles. Come on?

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Car Hire in Los Angeles – Check it all out in this guide — Renting a car in Los Angeles to take a stroll under the city's colorful sky can be a good thing!

Click the link in the table of contents below to be directed to the topic:

Is it worth renting a car in Los Angeles?
How to Rent a Car in Los Angeles
Best site to rent cars Los Angeles
What you need to know BEFORE renting a car
Required Documentation
Do I need to buy car insurance?
Child safety seat rules
How to drive in Los Angeles
Troubleshoot on road
Find out how to get good deals on renting a car in Los Angeles

Is it worth renting a car in Los Angeles?

Renting a car in Los Angeles, in the United States, is worth it, especially if your idea is to visit other destinations in the surroundings. There are excellent highways, which connect all the major cities in this region of the country. It's worth a trip to San Francisco, San Diego or even Las Vegas.

Despite the intense traffic, having a car in the city of Los Angeles is a good convenience. With it you have the freedom to go, for example, from Santa Monica to Beverly Hills, whenever you want. The region is full of interesting sights, great for a road trip. Having a car at your disposal is very good in a destination like Los Angeles.

How to rent a car Los Angeles

If you're wondering how to rent a car in Los Angeles, know that it's pretty easy. You don't need to be an expert in English or anything. We give the step-by-step here. However, you can rent a car in Los Angeles if you be at least 21 years old.

Além disso, if you are under 25 years old and you are the main driver, you will need to pay a extra fee of about USD 35 USD per day. To certify that you meet all the prerequisites, check that your Brazilian driver's license is valid.

Check out all the information on how to rent a car below. The menu below is for easy reading. Click on the information you want to know to jump there! ?

What is the best site to rent a car in Los Angeles?
How to find the best price
How to get IOF discount and still pay in 12 installments

What is the best car rental site in Los Angeles?

The best place to rent a car in Los Angeles is through websites that make a price comparison among car rental companies. So you can compare different car models, what each offer includes, coverages, in addition to the prices offered by each company.

We always use and recommend the site RentCars. It is one of the best comparators on the market today for indicating only rental companies that are really reliable, such as Avis, Budget, Localiza, Hertz, among other giants in the industry. In addition, it is the only comparator that you can pay in 12 installments without interest and not pay IOF.

Compare prices on Rent Cars by clicking here!

Cheap car rental in Los Angeles: How to find the best price

You have to be aware: Not always finding the best price means you'll pay cheaper in the end, lol. Okay, now you must be asking yourself: "How so?".

People explain. Websites often feature very low prices on car rentals in Los Angeles. However, his insurance is not included.

Let's say you are going to pay R$600 for 10 days of car rental. However, when you arrive at your destination, the rental company forces you to take out basic insurance against damage to the vehicle. This can greatly increase the final rental amount.

Generally, mandatory insurance is around USD 20 a day. In other words, at the end of the day you think you will pay R$600 for 10 days by car, but then you are forced to pay another USD 200 dollars (in the current conversion, R$700). Believe it or not, but unfortunately this happens a lot with those who rent a car outside the country.

So it's always good to keep an eye out! Try to find offers that already offer full insurance so there are no surprises later.

Combine a car with complete protection of the vehicle and third parties, with online payment without IOF to get better prices. Pay up to 12 interest-free installments with RentCars clicking here!

How to get IOF discount and still pay in 12 times

Car rental comparison sites in Los Angeles usually charge IOF (6,38% more on purchase) and don't give you the option to pay in installments. Therefore, the website RentCars ended up becoming our favorite option to find the best prices.

The site does not charge IOF (already guaranteeing almost 7% off) and lets you pay in 12 interest-free installments. To top it off, you always pay in reais – and you don't have to pray for the exchange rate to go down when you buy. It is the only one today that gives these payment terms. It is worth it.

To find the best price, enter RentCars by clicking here.

Rent a Car Los Angeles: Which model to choose?

There are several models of cars for rent in the United States. You can choose from categories that suit different budgets: compact, intermediate, full-size, economy, standard, SUV, premium, special, luxury, minivan, convertible and vans.

To choose the best model, it all depends on the profile of your trip. If you're with your family, it's worth opting for cars like an SUV, while couples can save on a compact or splurge on a beautiful sports car. Groups of friends can even rent vans.

What you need to know BEFORE renting a car

Check out all the information you need to know BEFORE renting a car in Los Angeles. The menu below is for easy reading. Click on the information you want to know to jump there! ?

Required Documentation
What is the deposit amount on car rental?
Is it worth taking out car insurance?
Types of car rental insurance
Rent at Los Angeles airport or in the city?
Returning the Car in Another City
Tips for renting a car in Los Angeles
car gps in usa
Is a child car seat mandatory in the US?
Is it worth buying a car seat instead of renting it?

Required Documentation

An international license is not required to rent a car in Los Angeles. Just a valid driver's license is enough for you to drive away. We made a checklist for you to write down and not forget anything when renting a car there:

Be over 21 years old
Valid Brazilian CNH (driver's license)
Passport
Credit Card (for security deposit)
Proof of Car Reservation

#DicaImportant: Notify your bank that you are going to travel! As the car is one of the first things you come across when you arrive in the United States, it is likely that your card will not pass if you forget to make the travel notice. Notify your manager or travel through your bank's Internet Banking.

What is the deposit amount on car rental?

The security deposit is a value that the rental companies “block” on the credit card when picking up the car when arriving in Los Angeles. This value is blocked only by “precaution”. In this way, the rental company is prevented from any theft, unpaid accident or any other expense that the lessee decides not to pay.

Generally, the deposit amount is a little scary, although it varies according to the category, duration of the car rental and type of car. However, there is no need to worry. They will not charge you anything if everything goes smoothly during the rental.

Therefore, it is always important to ensure that your car is insured so that there are no unforeseen circumstances during the trip.

Is it worth taking out car rental insurance in Los Angeles?

Car insurance in the US is always a necessary expense. We never know what might happen along the way. A tap in the parking lot, an accident or even theft of the car.

In outlets, for example, we've already heard reports of cars having their glass broken to steal what's inside. So it's always important to prevent yourself.

However, there are two ways to buy car insurance in Los Angeles:

By Credit Card
Direct with the Lessor

Credit Card Car Insurance

Generally, cards with Platinum, Black and other premium brands offer automatic coverage for the vehicle, if the purchase is made through it. So, you don't have to pay extra for car insurance.

However, you have to remember: credit card car insurance only covers damage to the vehicle! Third party damage is not covered by credit card insurance.

Therefore, even when purchasing car insurance through the card, the rental company will try to sell you the coverage to third parties. However, it's up to you whether you want to take a chance without it or not.

Direct Car Insurance with the Rental Company

In the case of purchasing car insurance directly from the rental company, then you will need to pay a little more. Especially if you decide to hire at the counter, when picking up the car. Generally, rental companies charge close to the value of the car rental itself. That is, it doubles the amount you were expecting to pay.

Therefore, our tip is to try to find through the RentalCars cars that already come with full coverage for damage to the vehicle and third parties. In addition, you already pay in real, here in España, so you don't fall for any prank from the rental companies. To complete, you can also spread up to 12 interest-free installments and not pay IOF.

To find fully insured cars, enter RentCars by clicking here.

Types of car rental insurance

What often confuses us are the types of car rental insurance. What is the difference in LDW or PAI coverage, among other things. To explain it better, we did a detailed research on what each type of coverage offered by rental companies and credit card means:

CDW and LDW are common terms used in car rental insurance jargon. In the end, they refer to the same thing – loss or damage to your rental car.

CDW insurance

It is short for Collision Damage Waiver – This provides coverage in the event of a collision or damage to the vehicle.

LDW insurance

This is short for Loss Damage Waiver – This provides coverage in the event of theft or total loss of the vehicle.

ALI Insurance

Additional Liability Insurance means that if you are involved in an accident with your rental car, you (the driver) are insured against bodily injury and property damage to third parties up to a certain monetary amount.

PAI insurance

Personal Accident Insurance (PAI) provides coverage in the event of accidental death and covers emergency medical expenses for the renter and all passengers in the car. The amount of coverage varies according to the rental company.

PEP insurance

It also concerns passenger coverage. Personal Accident Insurance covers the renter and passengers in the event of an accident during the rental as a driver or passenger. It covers accidental death, some medical expenses, assistance and rescue.

Which better: thecar hire in Los Angeles airport or in the city?

A good tip is to compare car rental in Los Angeles at the airport and downtown. Often, prices are more attractive if you want to pick up the car at a rental company far from the airport. But first, it's worth doing the math to see what the difference is.

To compare, check the Uber app or see the price of transfers from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) to the location of the rental company. Don't forget to calculate the fares for the round trip, if you return the car at the same place. If the financial difference is still advantageous, it is worth renting a car in the city center.

However, if your focus is convenience, don't think twice: choose to pick up the car at the airport.

Returning the car in another city

Taking the car and driving to another city is a common practice for those who rent cars in Los Angeles. After all, with so many beaches and destinations nearby, it is worth stretching the trip a bit. And if you are going on a roadtrip through California, also visiting San Diego, Las Vegas and San Francisco, you will probably choose to return the car in another city.

It is important, however, to know that some rental companies do not allow you to return the car in another country. So, if you are planning to go to Mexico or Canada with a rental car in the United States, it is best to check if this is possible directly with the rental company.

care for car rental los angeles

Who warns friend is: renting cars in Los Angeles may seem very easy, but it can involve pranks. So, if you already know before, you won't fall for them when picking up the car at the rental counter.

You can lock a car here for a great price, but then you arrive at the counter and they will want to charge you USD 19 per day for additional driver, travel insurance or even warn you that you have a limit of km to use during the travel.

So, before closing your Los Angeles car rental, make sure your car includes the following:

unlimited mileage
Travel Insurance for Vehicle and Third Parties
Define how many drivers will drive the car and see if it is worth paying the extra for an additional driver.

Rental car upgrade

Another important tip: Often, when you arrive at the counter, the rental company will not have the car of the category you chose on the website. So they usually give you a car upgrade when you get there.

However, we have been through situations where the employee kept insisting that we pay for the upgrade BEFORE saying that the car in our category was finished. Denying the upgrade, the employee said that she would give her a better car anyway.

#NoteTip: Stay tuned and don't accept to pay more for upgrades right away! See first what they will offer you within what you have already paid.

car gps in usa

Let's tell you something: it's not worth hiring the GPS in car rental Los Angeles. You would pay about USD 10 a day to have the GPS, meaning a 10-day trip would cost about USD 100 more because of it.

First, if you take a car in categories above economy, your car will probably already come with an integrated GPS. To replace GPS, there are several more cost-effective – and effective – ways to get around cities across the United States. We tell you two below:

Learn to download maps offline

If you want to save money, a good tip is to download the map of the city that you go offline on your cell phone. Look how to download offline map in google maps app in this post here.

However, if you visit more than one city, take roads or even need to know traffic information, this is not the best solution.

Find out how to get unlimited internet while traveling

In this case, to stay connected and go with peace of mind to more than one city, the best option is to buy an international SIM card for your cell phone. This is our favorite option, which we always choose on every trip.

In addition to having GPS, you have unlimited calls, access to WhatsApp, unlimited 4G and much more. You buy the cell phone chip, receive it at your house here in España, and insert it when you are on the plane. When you get there, you can use your cell phone normally, like here in España. The price is also much better than buying a car GPS.

Buy now the international cell phone chip with AMERICA CHIP by clicking here!

Chair by car for children in the US is mandatory?

A car seat is mandatory in the United States for children under 5 years old. Car rental companies offer car seat rental when you pick up the car at the counter.

The price of Child Seats, as they are known, ranges from USD 10 to USD 15 per rental day.

In addition, it is good to pay attention to the positioning of the car seat. Children under 2 years old must ride with the “Child Seat” with their back to the driver. Children over 2 years old and up to 4 years old can walk forward-facing. Up to 12 years old, they must only ride in the back seat (it's law there).

For those who have children over 4 years old, a good option is to check the so-called Booster Seat. These car seats help children to position themselves better in the car and become more comfortable with the safety five. It's like a cushion for them to get taller when sitting in the car seat.

Check for Booster Seat availability upon arrival at the counter. If the rental company does not offer it, it is worth going to a Wall Mart or supermarket and buy one.

Is it worth buying a car seat instead of renting it?

We didn't find this option practical. Even because, you need to leave the airport or rental company with the child in the car seat. So, for you to buy the car seat in another store, you would need to do the following:

Rent a car seat from the rental company for a day, go out to buy another car seat and return to return the car seat you borrowed to the rental company.

This idea is only worthwhile for those who really want to buy a car seat for children in the United States and bring it to España. If not, it is even better to rent the car seat from the rental company and enjoy your vacation time.

How to drive in Los Angeles – Tips for your safety

Check out all the information you need to know about driving in Los Angeles. The menu below is for easy reading. Click on the information you want to know to jump there! ?

US traffic rules to be aware of
How US car parks work and prices
Supplying in the United States
US Gasoline Price: How Much Does Gasoline Cost in the US?
How tolls in the US work

US traffic rules to be aware of

There are some traffic rules in the United States that are different from Spain. So, after you rent a car in Los Angeles, it's good to be aware to avoid honking the horn or even an accident.

It's like they say: if you're from São Paulo or any big Brazilian city, you're prepared to drive anywhere in the world, lol! Jokes aside, if you're wondering how to drive in the US, it's super easy.

The roads are excellent, without potholes, well signposted and have wide lanes for cars. Some cities have traffic, but it is very easy to get around there.

"Stop" hair plate

The stop sign, unlike España, really means stop! No taking a peek and passing by, without fully braking the car. This gives a fine there and can even cause an accident.

Generally, “Stop” signs are located at intersections. The preference is always given to those who arrived first, stopped the car and are ready to cross again.

Free traffic light to turn right

With this rule I've already been honked a lot! In the United States, traffic lights are free to turn right. That is, even if the traffic light at the intersection is red, you can enter the street on your right without any problems.

It's good to stay tuned: the rule always applies, EXCEPT in cases where there is a sign saying that turning to the right on that street is prohibited. Stay tuned!

Carpool track “Ride”

One of the things I love about the US traffic rules is the carpool lane. You will see on the roads and highways a continuous line in the left lane, like the bus lanes in España. However, there this track is called Carpool.

It is only allowed to walk in this lane if you have more than two people in the car! This track saves many times in LA traffic. But be aware of this rule. Worth using if traveling with more than one person.

traffic lights before entering nas Highways "Highways”

In some places, before the junction of a street with a highway, there is a traffic light that changes quickly between green and red. It is a traffic light for you to be careful and not to enter the express lane for good. Stay tuned!

How do the US parking lots and prices

Parking lots in the United States vary depending on the city visited. In Los Angeles you can stop on the street in some places and pay the famous “parking meter”.

Parking meters are like the “blue zone” of São Paulo. However, it is a small pole on the street that you need to supply with coins. The more coins you put in, the more parking time you have.

Parking meters are generally expensive in busy areas. Therefore, it is always good to compare the price of it with the on-site parking lot.

Parking prices in the US can range from $1 an hour (in rare public parking lots) to $10 an hour.

Supplying in the United States

Eager to fill up your own car after renting a car in Los Angeles? There's always that doubt about how to fill up the car in the United States, even for those who have been several times.

When you're filling up there, you'll go through a self-service system. You can insert your card directly at the gas station and fill the tank with the amount you think is necessary.

If you are in doubt, run over to @fortravelovers which has a highlight explaining everything straight!

There are two ways to fill up your car in the US:

The first way is by inserting the card into the pump. The machine will give you the choice of petrol or diesel to put in the car. After choosing, she releases the hose. Just open the cap of the car, insert the gasoline and then return the hose to the pump.

The second way is to make a prepayment for gasoline inside the convenience store. Visitors must present an international or Brazilian credit card. Another option is to pay in cash. So, you give the cashier a sum of money, fill up your car, and then come back for change if necessary.

US Gasoline Price: How Much Does Gasoline Cost in the US?

The price of gasoline in the US is calculated by gallons. So the account is a little more complicated. One gallon equals about 3,78 liters of gasoline or diesel.

The national average for a gallon of gasoline in the US is about USD 2,70, which is equivalent to a liter of USD 0,70 cents. If you want to see up-to-date prices, it's worth checking the Global Petrol Prices website.

How tolls in the US work

In almost every Los Angeles car rental, vehicles already come with a “Non-Stop” type, in which you don't have to pay tolls. However, it is always good to ask the rental company if the vehicle is equipped.

Most tolls in the US do not have attendants. You need to throw the coin of its value into a basket. The value depends on toll to toll. That's why it's always good to keep an eye out and have change in hand.

Trouble on the Road US United States – How to solve?

It happens to even the best travelers: the tire is flat, the car is towed, you get a ticket. After all, how to deal with these unforeseen circumstances when renting a car in Los Angeles?

Check out how to troubleshoot on the road below. The menu below is for easy reading. Click on the information you want to know to jump there! ?

Traffic fine in the USA
My car is being towed USA, now what?
How to apply for Car Insurance

Traffic fine in the USA

If you get a traffic ticket in Los Angeles, it's likely that the amount will be charged to the credit card you used for your car rental. In some cases, this amount ends up not even being discounted.

However, it is always good to be super attentive and avoid any kind of fine. Because, if in España it's already expensive, nobody deserves to be fined in dollars, right?

My car is being towed in the US, now what?

This has already happened to us. When you see that your car is being towed in the USA, that despair hits. What to do?

The first thing is: be careful. As? Get everything out of your car, always, lol! Including the car rental agreement, which contains all the necessary telephone numbers and information in case of mishap. Leave it in a place you won't miss it.

Another way to prevent this is obviously to see if parking is allowed in the area. If it is poorly explained, ask someone.

If your car is towed, you need to get it out of the parking lot where the cars are parked. To find out where he is, call your rental company and they will give you all the information.

How to apply for Car Insurance

If you are involved in any accident, always have your car insurance company's phone number handy.

If you paid by credit card, leave the policy number saved in your email, along with the emergency phone number. If you did it directly with the rental company, also keep the pamphlet with the information.

You will need to call car insurance in case of any mishap. Calls can be made to collect.

We also advise you to buy the international cell phone chip, which breaks the biggest hoops in situations like this. That's because it offers unlimited calls and 4G. It is worth the small investment to have comfort during the trip.

Buy your cell phone chip with AMERICA CHIP by clicking here!

How to get good prices in car rental in Los Angeles

We like and use it a lot RentCars to find the cars we use on our travels. It is the only one in Spain that compares the best rental companies in the world, but lets you pay in reais and without IOF. In addition, it is also the only one that lets you pay in 12 interest-free installments. It is worth it!

#Here's a tip: Try to find cars with full car and third party insurance coverage. Thus, you avoid inopportune surprises when picking up the car.

Rent your car without IOF, paying in reais and with all extras at the best prices at RentCars by clicking here!

Los Angeles travel insurance

Taking out travel insurance for Los Angeles is an excellent way to ensure a smooth trip and avoid worries. Having the assistance of insurance gives you the peace you need to enjoy your destination and know that you have support if you need it. Also enjoy our Insurance Promo discount coupon. - SEE PRICES