Hire Car Los Angeles Tips, Experiences & Comparison

Exploring Los Angeles by Hire Car

Los Angeles, the movie capital, beckons with gorgeous beaches, a vibrant city life, charming museums and excellent restaurants and bars.

Even when you leave the sea of houses behind, there’s plenty to discover.

Without a hitch, you can do this with your own hire car. For a carefree trip, we have compiled a few tips.

Receiving the hire car

Finding the hire car station at the Los Angeles airport is not without its problems. You will have to be prepared for a bit of a journey. This is because the rental companies have their stations outside the airport. The customers are brought there by shuttle service.

Some rental companies have permission to pick up their customers right at the terminal. You can find them under the purple sign that says “Hire Car Shuttles” outside the baggage claim area. If you booked with another provider, just follow the signs to the Visitor Information Center. There you will find toll-free phones that you can use to reach your rental agent.

Finding the right hire car

For drivers, the USA is a dream. On endless and well-developed highways it is possible to travel relaxed. And it’s most fun with a big car. Since the price differences between small cars and large sedans are usually not very large, you should treat yourself to the fun of a larger car. Then also the luggage fits easily in the trunk.

Hire car prices

Hire car prices in Los Angeles are in the mid-range. If you book well in advance of your trip, you are most likely to get a good deal.

hire car price comparison Los Angeles

Insurance

To be best protected in the event of an accident, you should take out comprehensive insurance without excess. Then the insurance takes effect even if only a small fender bender has occurred. Pay attention to the amount of coverage of your liability insurance. It should be at least one million.

In Germany, even 7.5 million for personal injury and 1.12 million for property damage are mandatory. If the sum insured of your rental company seems to be too low, you can take out a so-called “traveller policy” for additional protection. You can find more information on the subject of insurance in our special.

age limit

You must be at least 21 years old to hire car from most rental companies. Many companies additionally charge drivers under the age of 25. Find out what the conditions are before booking.

Accessories

If you need accessories, such as a navigation system, you should find out before you rent if your rental company has them in stock and at what prices.

Free kilometers

In the US, the distances between places are often huge. Therefore, make sure to sign a contract with free kilometers. After all, if the mileage is limited, you will be charged extra for every kilometer over a certain distance driven. And that can be really expensive.

Customer Review Hire Car

In Los Angeles, most customers are satisfied with the rental companies. However, due to staff changes, it can always happen that the service at a station deteriorates rapidly. It’s best to read our recent customer reviews before choosing a rental company.

Safety Hire Car

In the US, you can expect to get a roadworthy vehicle. Nevertheless, you should always test the lights, turn signals, brake lights and brake function before your first drive.

Automatic vehicles

In the US, you will almost always get an automatic vehicle. Even if you’re driving a stick shift car at home, you’ll have made the switch in no time. For tips and tricks on handling automatics, check out our special.

Bail

Be careful to book with a rental company that only blocks the deposit on the credit card. After all, if the money is actually debited and then transferred back after you return the car, it may take a while to get the amount back in your account.

Sights in Los Angeles

Walk of Fame: Stars of the Stars
Perhaps start your stroll at the place where stars have immortalized themselves for decades, on the Walk of Fame. 2000 copper stars bearing the names of notable actors are now embedded in the walkway, commemorating the celebrity performers. Afterwards, you can visit the Dolby Theatre. This is the place the world looks to once a year – because this is where the Oscars are awarded every year. Guided tours are offered daily from 10:30 am to 4:00 pm. A ticket costs $17.

Autry Museum: the Wild West comes alive
If you’ve always wanted to know how the Wild West was actually really conquered, you could now visit the Autry Museum. Many exhibits from the time of the first settlers bring the past to life. The museum is open daily from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm. On Saturday and Sunday, you can visit the exhibit until 5:00 pm. A ticket costs ten dollars.

Griffith Park: Nature in the Midst of the Metropolis
After your tour, you’ll have a chance to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city in the expansive Griffith Park that surrounds the museum. Don’t get lost, the grounds are five times the size of Central Park in New York. Also located here is the Los Angeles Zoo, with over 1,200 different species of animals. Every day from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm you can admire zebras, chimpanzees, crocodiles or tigers there. A ticket costs $18.

Griffith Observatory: experience stars
The California night sky can be explored when you visit Griffith Observatory. The planetarium is open from noon to 10 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. on weekends. Admission is free. Admission is charged for some shows at the planetarium, at which time it is posted.

Sunset Strip: Turbulent City Life
No visit to Los Angeles is complete without a stroll down the famous Sunset Strip. There, you can stock up on all sorts of kitsch in numerous shops or watch the hustle and bustle in a sidewalk café.

Rodeo Drive: Shopping mile of the rich and beautiful
If you like it a little more exclusive, you can still visit the Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills at the end of the city tour. It’s where the city’s rich and famous gather to fill their shopping bags in exclusive boutiques.

Find the special restaurant

Whether you prefer Japanese, American, Chinese or Brazilian cuisine, you’ll find it in Los Angeles. If you want to try innovative Californian cuisine with French touches, you can visit Patina restaurant on South Grand Ave.

Find a good hotel

Countless good hotels make it hard to choose. You might book your room at the Georgian Hotel. With its Art Deco style, the hotel, which opened in 1933, is both cozy and classy.

A worthwhile destination in the area

San Diego, near the Mexican border, is a worthwhile destination for a hire car trip, with many museums, a charming downtown and lovely beaches. You will need to calculate about two hours for the drive. In San Diego, you can admire American dream cars at the San Diego Automotive Museum, stroll through the charming Gaslamp Quarter in downtown and treat yourself to a drink in one of the numerous bars before plunging into the waters of the Pacific Ocean at Ocean Beach. On the drive back to Los Angeles, you’ll have plenty of time to consider where you’d like to steer the hire car next.

Suggestion for a round trip

Palm Springs: Resort for Hollywood Stars
Palm Springs is a nice first destination for a round trip by hire car. You can reach the city from Los Angeles in less than two hours. In Palm Springs, you can expect magnificent nature with palm groves amidst a barren desert landscape. The place has always been a recreational destination for the stars of Hollywood.

Escondido: Spanish influences and a Buddhist monastery
From Palm Springs it is not far to Escondido. With your hire car you can be there in just under two hours. In Escondido you will find a typical American small town, which does not deny its Spanish roots. In addition, you will find one of the few Buddhist monasteries in the USA. You can visit the temple every Sunday from 9:00 am to 2:00 pm. On other days of the week, you’ll have to ask a monk to open the doors for you.

Laguna Beach: enjoy the beach and ocean
As a final destination before you steer the hire car back to Los Angeles, Laguna Beach is a good choice. From Escondnido, it will take you about an hour to drive. In Laguna Beach, you can relax on the gorgeous beach and enjoy a dip in the ocean.

Now you have just under an hour’s drive before you can park your hire car in Los Angeles and reflect on the eventful day.