Car Hire in California

Driving in California: Essential Rules

• Side of the road: California drives on the right, the same as the rest of the United States.
• Right of way at intersections: priority goes to whichever vehicle — car or bicycle — is already in or entering the intersection first, rather than by any other rule of thumb.
• Toll roads and bridges: California operates an extensive electronic toll network, including the Bay Area's state-owned bridges, the Golden Gate Bridge, Orange County's toll roads, and dynamically priced Express Lanes on routes such as the 91 and 405. Several of these, including the Golden Gate Bridge, no longer accept cash at all — payment is by FasTrak transponder, licence-plate billing, or an invoice sent after your journey. Confirm with your supplier how tolls incurred during your hire are billed, since there's often no way to pay at the point of crossing yourself, and toll rates are revised periodically.
• Wildfire season: California's fire season historically runs roughly May to November, though dry, windy conditions can bring risk outside that window too. If your route takes you through an active fire area, follow evacuation orders immediately rather than waiting to see how serious it looks, evacuate right away if you smell smoke even without an official order, and drive cautiously through any recently burned area — signage and guardrails may be missing, and weakened trees or power poles can come down without warning. Caltrans' QuickMap tool (quickmap.dot.ca.gov) gives current road closure information and is worth checking before a longer drive during fire season.
• Mobile phones: handheld phone use while driving is prohibited statewide; a hands-free set is required for calls on the move.
• Seatbelts: seatbelts are required in the front and rear of the vehicle.
• Move Over law: when passing a stopped emergency, law enforcement, or roadside assistance vehicle with its lights active, drivers must move over a lane where possible or slow down significantly if a lane change isn't safe.
• Driving licence: visitors can drive in California on a valid licence from their home country. An International Driving Permit is strongly recommended for EU licence holders and, depending on your supplier, may be required at collection — the original document is needed, as photocopies are not accepted. Your licence must have been held for at least one year.
• Documents to carry: keep your driving licence, the rental agreement, and proof of insurance in the car at all times, in case you're stopped for a routine traffic check.
• Fog and coastal driving: coastal roads such as Highway 1 are prone to sudden fog, particularly in the mornings and along stretches near Big Sur and Half Moon Bay. Reduce speed, use dipped headlights or fog lights rather than full beam, and give yourself extra following distance in poor visibility on these winding routes.
• Minimum driving age: car hire suppliers set their own minimum age for renting, typically from 21, with a young driver surcharge common for those under 25 and some vehicle categories requiring drivers to be 25 or older — this is confirmed at the point of booking.

Freeway limits vary by stretch, with some rural sections in the Central Valley and desert signed as high as 70 mph, while urban freeways through Los Angeles and the Bay Area often run lower in practice due to traffic. Always follow the posted limit for the road you're on.

California Car Hire Insurance

Every car hire booked through eCarBookers in California includes the supplier's standard collision damage waiver (CDW/LDW) in the basic rate. Standard cover carries an excess — or deductible, in US terminology — the amount you would be responsible for in the event of damage. Excess amounts vary by supplier and vehicle class, and the exact figure is displayed clearly before you confirm your booking, so there are no surprises at the desk.

If you prefer to drive with no excess at all, fully comprehensive zero-deductible cover is available directly from your supplier when you collect the car in California. The cover comes from the hire company itself, not from a third-party insurer — so there is no separate policy, no paying the excess upfront, and no reimbursement claim to file once it has been added. Because your booking confirmation shows the standard excess that applies, you arrive knowing exactly what the cover replaces.

It is worth noting that certain situations fall outside standard cover across the car hire industry. Tyres, glass, underbody damage, lost or damaged keys, and a flat battery caused by driver error are typically not covered and may result in a separate charge if they occur. These situations are uncommon in everyday driving, but it is good practice to check your booking confirmation for the specific cover terms applicable to your hire, as scope can vary by supplier.

Toll charges sit outside the insurance and excess conversation entirely, but they're worth raising with your supplier at the same time you confirm your cover: ask exactly how FasTrak or licence-plate tolls incurred during your hire are billed, so an unexpected charge after your trip doesn't come as a surprise once you're home and the bill lands weeks later.

Popular Car Hire Locations

California is served through eCarBookers' wider US supplier network, with car hire available across the state. Los Angeles, with its sprawling freeway network and easy reach of the coast, mountains, and desert alike, is the busiest arrival point for most visitors. San Francisco is the natural base for exploring the Bay Area and heading north into Wine Country, while San Diego offers a more relaxed pace close to the Mexican border. Further inland, Sacramento and the Central Valley serve as practical stopping points for road trips toward Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada, and Palm Springs is a popular base for desert trips out toward Joshua Tree. Dedicated city and airport pages for California locations are planned as the network expands; check back for direct links as those pages go live.