Car Rental California

Electric car hire

Seeking a more eco-friendly way to explore? If you want a lower-emission way to get around, Hertz makes it easy with electric car hire in California.

An EV is a great match for the state’s mix of city driving and longer scenic routes, offering a quiet, comfortable ride without tailpipe emissions.

With car rental in California, you can pick an electric option that fits your trip, whether you are moving between neighborhoods in major cities or planning day drives along the coast.

Car hire in California through Hertz keeps the process simple, while giving you a modern driving experience that feels smooth, efficient, and well-suited to California travel.

Charging points

California has a very strong spread of public EV charging locations across the state, with more than 18,000 charging points available, so it’s usually easy to include charging stops in your route planning. The wider charging network across California continues to expand, which means even more options are being added over time.

That makes hiring an EV through Hertz in California a practical choice, whether you’re keeping your driving local in major cities or heading out on longer trips along the coast, through wine country, or into national park regions.

Congestion charges

If you’re planning a car rental in California with Hertz, there is no statewide congestion charge for driving in California cities. What you will come across instead are toll facilities, especially in larger metro areas.

California has toll bridges, toll roads, and express lanes that charge a fee in certain corridors. Many of these tolls are handled electronically, often through FasTrak. On Bay Area toll facilities, drivers typically pay using a FasTrak toll tag or a license plate account, and if you drive through without one, an invoice can be mailed to the registered owner.

If you plan to use express lanes around major cities, it helps to check the local toll rules and how tolls will be handled on your rental agreement before you set off.

Key roads

• Grant Avenue (San Francisco): Grant Avenue is one of San Francisco’s most well-known streets, running through the heart of Chinatown and into the North Beach area. It’s a great road for short city drives when you want to be close to restaurants, shops, and historic corners of the city, but traffic and parking can be limited, so it’s often best for quick drop-offs and nearby walking.
• Beverly Boulevard (Los Angeles): Beverly Boulevard is a major east–west route that cuts through central Los Angeles, connecting different neighbourhoods and shopping areas. It’s useful for moving between parts of the city without relying only on freeways, and it passes a mix of local eateries, retail strips, and busy city blocks where stop-and-go traffic is common during peak hours.
• Highway 101 (San Diego): Highway 101 is a classic coastal route that links San Diego with beach towns and scenic ocean stretches. It’s a popular drive when you want a slower, more scenic alternative to the interstates, with plenty of places to stop for viewpoints, coastal walks, and short detours into seaside communities.

Toll roads

• San Francisco: Golden Gate Bridge: The Golden Gate Bridge uses all-electronic tolling in the southbound direction into San Francisco, so you do not stop to pay. You can pay using a FasTrak account, a License Plate Account, or via a toll invoice if neither is set up.
• Los Angeles: I-10 ExpressLanes: On the I-10 ExpressLanes, tolls change based on traffic levels. Solo drivers can pay to use the lanes, while carpools that meet the occupancy requirement can ride toll-free when using a FasTrak Flex transponder.

Driving Tips: When you are in California

California is easy to explore with a rental car, but the rules and road culture can feel different if you’re visiting from abroad. A few basics can help you drive more confidently, avoid common fines, and keep your trip running smoothly.

• Drive on the right, and overtake on the left.
• Follow posted speed limits. Many freeways are 65 mph, while 55 mph is common on two-lane undivided roads.
• Seat belts are required for the driver and passengers.
• Use hands-free only. Handheld phone use and texting while driving are restricted.
• Right turn on red is often allowed after a complete stop, unless a sign says otherwise. Yield to pedestrians.
• Tolls are often cashless. Bridges and express lanes may use FasTrak or pay-by-plate/invoice, so check how your rental handles tolls.
• Carpool lanes have strict rules. Look for the diamond marking and follow the posted occupancy/time requirements.