Car rental in
Los Angeles

All of our car hire in Los Angeles branches have rental cars or minibuses for every budget and party size, ranging from economy saloons and estates to rugged 4x4s. For cruising the Californian coastline from Long Beach to Malibu and beyond luxurious convertibles and sports cars are perfect. Our car hire in Los Angeles fleet is supplied by well-known marques such as BMW, Porsche, Mercedes-Benz and Audi and includes vehicles adapted to suit different mobility needs. Choose from our attractive range of extras when you make your rental vehicle booking. Sat Navs are perfect for navigating this large city while child seats ensure younger family members travel safely. Look out for our special deals on unlimited mileage, extra insurance and additional driver options. We are happy to welcome younger drivers under 25.

When you arrive at Los Angeles International Airport take the shuttle bus that stops at terminals one to seven to the car rental area. The A405 links the airport to the city just a few minutes drive away. We also have a desk at the Renaissance Airport Hotel. Our Beverly Hills office is on La Cienega Boulevard near Culver City while the Venice Beach branch is near Pacific Avenue and the Marina del Rey. There are two Santa Monica offices, one in the lobby of the Shore Hotel near the Pier Aquarium and one on Santa Monica Boulevard.

Los Angeles is a large and busy city intersected by numerous freeways. Individual districts have roads laid out in numbered grid plans and in peak hours and at weekends journeys are often faster if these roads are used rather than the freeways. A Sat Nav is almost essential for navigating Los Angeles without getting lost.

Parking is Los Angeles varies from free street zones and expensive hourly meters to underground or multistorey parks with reasonable daily rates. Be careful not to park in a residential permit zone.

Like many large American cities, public transport in Los Angeles is limited meaning just about everybody drives so start your visit with a cruise around the city in your rental vehicle. This is the ideal way to get an overview of Los Angeles and its eight main districts. The city's historical heart is Olvera Street where the first Spanish-Mexican village was built in the late 18th-century. Here you can visit the oldest building in Los Angeles as well as enjoy traditional Mexican food. Close to Olvera Street is the 19th and early 20th-century area of downtown Los Angeles. The impressive City Hall, brick-built homes and old movie palaces can all be seen here. Further North in the city is the Heritage Square Museum which documents the development of Southern California. Film buffs can take guided tours of the city's Hollywood past, taking in film locations and studios including Universal City. The city also abounds in museums and art galleries catering to every interest.

One museum with a difference is the La Brea Tar Pits just off Miracle Mile. This is unique for being the only urban, active Ice Age excavation site in the world. Tar has seeped through the ground, rising to the surface over tens of thousands of years while trapping and preserving the remains of plants and animals. Many of the fossils recovered are on display in the Page Museum where you can see the remains of mammoths, wolves and sabre-toothed cats. A fascinating part of the tour is walking along the edge of the pits where tar is still bubbling up exposing new fossils every day.

No trip to Los Angeles would be complete without heading to Anaheim. Here you will find Disneyland and the Disney California Adventure Park. You need at least a couple of days to take in all of the adventures and thrilling rides at these huge theme parks.

Distances to Anaheim

• From Los Angeles International Airport: 33.5 miles, about 40 minutes
• From our Venice Beach branch: 41 miles, about 45 minutes

The Malibu beaches and coastline are famous for their regular appearances in everything from adverts to films and TV shows like Hannah Montana and Two and a Half Men. Malibu Lagoon is great for surfers but if you just want to relax and sunbathe head to Westward Beach.

Distances to Malibu

• From Los Angeles International Airport: 28 miles, about 40 minutes
• From our Venice Beach branch: 20.5 miles, about 35 minutes

If you want to really soak up the atmosphere of California's Orange County, relax on beautiful beaches and enjoy freshly caught seafood and fish then the small town of St Clement is the perfect destination.

Distances to San Clemente

• From Los Angeles International Airport: 65.5 miles, about 1 hours 20 minutes
• From our Venice Beach branch: 71 miles, about 1 hours 20 minutes

Los Angeles was founded in 1781 but it was the discovery of oil in the mid-19th century that led to the city's rapid growth. Today it has a diverse economy which includes six major film studios, as well as media, fashion, medical research, information technology and science-based industries. The huge Los Angeles Convention Centre hosts almost one event a day ranging from conferences and trade shows to exhibitions and live performances.

Distances to the Los Angeles Convention Centre

• From Los Angeles International Airport: 16 miles, about 20 minutes
• From our Venice Beach branch: 14 miles, about 20 minutes