Car rental in Los Angeles at the Best Prices

Los Angeles, the city of dreams, encompassing everything that southern California has to offer, is one of the best known cities in the USA. Located on the west coast, Los Angeles is where Hollywood, the home of motion picture and a global entertainment destination are located. A cultural oasis with over one hundred museums, Los Angeles is not only a major player in the global tech industry, but also due to its perfect weather, a beach lover’s paradise. With a car rental in Los Angeles, you’ll be able to also explore some trendy vibrant beaches, such as Venice, San Pedro and the very popular Malibu Beach.

With over 60 years car rental industry experience and having partnered with numerous local, national and international car rental brands, such as Hertz, Avis and Europcar, Auto Europe is well positioned to offer you great car hire quotations. With a large vehicle fleet to choose from, at numerous locations, you’re sure to find the right car at the right locality. Besides offering a wide range of special promotions, we also provide motorhome rentals and a luxury car hire service. Contact one of our reservations agents today to find out how we can help.

How is the traffic in Los Angeles?

Famous for its traffic congestion, Los Angeles can often be a headache when driving on its motorways. The city itself is however, quite pleasant to drive through, with traffic often flowing nicely. But you should still aim to avoid rush hour and major interchanges. The 405 motorway is well known for high congestion, however, Los Angles does have in operation carpool lanes, which can be used for any vehicle with occupancy of two, three or more passengers. Such lanes are well-signposted with white diamond markings.

A crisscross of motorways connects Los Angeles with the rest of the US. Interstate 5 links Los Angeles with San Diego and northwards to Seattle and Canada. The interstate 10E runs from central Los Angeles to the airport and will take you generally 40 minutes to drive. When in the US we advise keeping the following road rules and regulations in mind:

• Drive on the right-side of the road
• Overtake on the left-side
• Seatbelts must be worn by all on-board
• A hands-free kit must be used when using a mobile
• A child car seat is compulsory if required
• You must be at least 16 years of age to drive in LA
• Rental car suppliers may impose their own age restrictions and young driver fees.

Where can I park my car rental in Los Angeles?

With a combined 118 city car parks and over 40,000 on street metered car spaces, Los Angeles shouldn’t be too problematic when looking for parking. Car parks are by their very nature more secure and often cheaper if planning to park for longer periods of time. Free street parking is available although in much higher demand. Metered parking will have an appropriate sign post indicating operating times. It is important you obey all road rules and regulations whilst in Los Angeles as they are heavily enforced.

It is also good to note that most tourist attractions, museums, theme parks and theatres charge for parking on their premises. Hotels, shopping malls and beachfronts tend to provide free parking or a reduced rate for customers. Some high-class establishments and restaurants will along with free parking, also provide a charged valet parking service.

Los Angeles Airport

With nine terminals spread over two floors, Los Angeles Airport is the fourth busiest airport in the USA, handling over 61 million passengers annually. The airport serves Los Angeles and its surrounding areas, with shuttle buses available throughout the day, to and from downtown LA. The airport also has at its disposal over 10,000 parking bays, with a further 22,000 nearby.

Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)
Address: 1 World Way, Los Angeles, CA 90045
Website: Los Angeles Airport
Telephone: +1 (855) 463-5252

What to do in Los Angeles

Home to Hollywood, the Getty Centre and Griffith Observatory, to name but a few, Los Angeles is a city of wonder and amazing experiences. From Malibu Beach to impressive shopping malls serving up everything you’d ever need, LA is a mecca of capitalism and world class entertainment. Following is a small selection of things you shouldn’t miss whilst in Los Angeles.

• Hollywood Walk of Fame: When in Hollywood you must take a stroll along the Hollywood Walk of Fame and enjoy some of Hollywood’s famous past and present stars. Initially starting in the 1930’s, the tradition of Hollywood stars imprinting their feet or hands into the cement has lasted the test of time. Now containing more than 1,600 imprints, this star filled pavement draws in many tourists per year.


• Venice Beach Boardwalk: Renowned for its great beachfront lifestyle, Venice Beach can be reached quickly from Los Angeles. Packed with numerous performers, entertainers, artists, magicians, weightlifters and even fortune-tellers, a day at this beachfront will surely be one to remember. Along the way you can also pick up a tasty hot dog, burger or a drink. Consider hiring a bicycle to make your journey along the boardwalk, whilst avoiding the seasonal rollerblade users. Lastly, pop into one of the many souvenir stores to choose something that’ll help you remember Venice Beach for years to come.


• Rodeo Drive: This shopping oasis is perfect for some retail therapy. With world renowned luxury brands, the street just oozes glamour. From picturesque storefronts, by Prada, Versace, Cartier, Gucci and others, you’re sure to make your wallet lighter. Via Rodeo is also perfect should you be looking for a nice restaurant to dine in.


• The Getty Centre: Designed by Richard Meier, the Getty Centre receives around 1.8 million visitors per year. The centre comprises of a museum and gardens, spread over a hillside overlooking Brentwood. On display you will find European paintings and Greek antiquities, amongst other exhibitions. The lush garden also contains a restaurant with panoramic views over the local landscape.


• Santa Monica Pier: If you’d love to admire the vast open Pacific Ocean, and astounding sunsets, then head over to Santa Monica Pier, located only 20 minutes’ drive from Los Angeles. Enjoy the big ferries wheel, antique carousel or spend some quality time playing traditional beachside games, the choice is yours! The pier is teaming with street entertainment and establishments serving up mouth-watering ice cream and candy floss.

Best day trips with my car hire in Los Angeles

Even though Los Angeles is packed with things to see and do, you’d easily spend more than a week finding and exploring different parts of this marvellous city, it can be just as equally pleasing to take your car rental in Los Angeles beyond the city limits. California has amazing landscapes, the wonderful Pacific Ocean and plenty of wildlife to discover. Here are our recommended road trips when visiting.

San Diego: Driving south from Los Angeles and you’ll come across San Diego, a cosmopolitan yet beach town, close to the Mexican border. This pleasant city successfully merges American with Mexican cultures, giving it an exotic flavour. Take some time during the day to explore Little Italy, Bazaar Del Mundo, the old town and La Jolla, whilst at night check out the city’s lively nightlife.

Santa Barbara: Also known as the American Riviera, the beach town of Santa Barbara is only a couple of hours drive from Los Angeles. With wonderful mountains, gardens, beaches and valleys, this area is a magnet for those seeking the good life. Expect plenty of culture, museums and festivals whilst admiring the town’s Spanish style colonial architecture. The area also has some of the best wines and thus a wine tasting day should always be on the cards.

Disneyland: Full of fun for the whole family, Disneyland Theme Park was inspired by Walt Disney and is a magical place to visit – especially for those brought up on Disney cartoons. The theme park is divided into eight distinctive areas, from fairy princesses to pirates and mystic jungles. Disneyland Resort includes Disney’s California Adventure and downtown Disney, an area full of bars, restaurants and clubs. Not forgetting the beautiful Disneyland palace as centre stage.

Palm Springs: A desert resort, located only 172 km from Los Angeles, is the perfect place to get away and unwind. With lots of outdoor activities to undertake, you’re sure to find what’s right for you. From hiking, swimming, golf, biking and horse riding, Palm Springs offers up a lot of recreational activities. As a main shopping destination, expect this mid-century style city to become busy throughout the year.

Geographic Information & History

Spread over an area of 809 km sq. Los Angeles city boasts extremely diverse landscapes. From hills to flatlands and a desert, you’re never too far away from bliss. The San Gabriel Mountains is located in the north, whilst the Santa Monica Mountains and Los Angeles River divides the rest of the area up. Southern Californian weather is perfect and has contributed to the success of the city’s economy. Growing oranges for example, is one of California’s main agricultural sectors. During the summer, temperatures can reach on average 23°C, whilst during winter it rarely falls below 13°C.

Before the 18th century the area which is now known as Los Angeles was inhabited by the Tongva and Chumash tribes. In 1781 European settlers crossed the desert and established a farming community on the land. Calling it El Pueblo de Nuestra Señora la Reina de los Ángeles de Porciúncula, which later became simply known as Los Angeles. From the initial fourty four settlers and fourteen families, Los Angeles grew into the globally renowned city it is today.

Originally governed by Spain, Mexico took over once it had gained its independence. Mexico eventually ceded the state of California to the US in 1848 through the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo. It only took a further ten years for the first school and trolley lines to be built. Once the railroads reached the town, it grew substantially, annexing nearby localities such as Hollywood.

Nowadays, the city boasts a thriving economy, largely powered by the entertainment sector, orange grows and motion picture, including other multiple cutting edge industries. With more than 47.3 million tourists annually, LA, as it is locally known, is one of the most internationally recognised cities in the world. The city’s four million residents largely enjoy a great way of life, amazing weather, beautiful beaches, a thrilling nightlife and incredible restaurants.

How to get around Los Angeles

Los Angeles has a modern and well integrated public transport network. Relatively cheap to use by comparison, the network consists of buses, trains and a metro system – with taxis serving other harder to reach parts of the city and suburbs. The system is renowned throughout the USA for the best public transport network in America, so getting around shouldn’t be too difficult. If you’re looking to explore central LA, tourist attractions and famous landmarks, then public transport may be a good option.

Bus

Multiple bus routes are provided in the Greater LA area, more than two hundred routes will effortlessly take you to where you want to go – with the majority of buses linking to metro stations. The 217 and 280 bus in particular serves central Los Angeles, connecting also to the Sunset Strip and Hollywood, amongst other famous sites. Smaller buses, known as DASH, operate and serves local neighbourhoods.

Train

Los Angeles trains operate throughout California and consist of seven lines and sixty two routes. Since its founding in 1992, the system now carries an estimated 40,000 daily commuters. Routes run throughout the counties of Los Angeles, Riverside, San Bernardino and Orange. It also links to the San Diego Coaster and with Amtrak Pacific routes. Trains leave from the Los Angeles Union Station, located in the centre of the city.

Taxis

In general LA city taxis are yellow in colour with a taxi sign upon its roof. Taxis are metered but we would advise discussing your journey with the driver beforehand. Within the city limits, you are able to hail a taxi, whilst outside of the city you must wait at a taxi rank. Los Angeles is geographically well spread out; therefore a taxi ride can often be costly. If taking a taxi to the airport, it is important to note that a surcharge is added to your base journey cost.

Metro

Six metro lines exist in Los Angeles and are designated by various colours – with the green line heading towards the airport. Selections of different tickets are available for purchase, from your basic one-way ticket to a day pass or a weekly pass. Tickets can be obtained from a station ticket office or ticket machine. Consider using the metro’s app for detailed trip plans, live information and ticket purchases.

Useful links

Tourism Information