Unlike other metropolitan areas in the USA, public transportation is not particularly dominant in Los Angeles, even when arriving from the airports. For this reason, as well as the geographical size of the city, renting a car in Los Angeles is ideal for the tourist who wants to move from attraction to attraction or move around the city as part of a trip to the west coast. The entire metropolis is networked with highways and wide freeways, which provide a wide variety of alternatives even during rush hour.
 

Exclusive for rentals with Alamo
 

◾ The freedom to choose

At the main airports in the USA, including the Los Angeles and San Francisco airports in California, the exclusive program called – Choice, is activated and offers the car renter a selection of models to choose from in each group.
For the list of stations where Choice option is available, click here.
 

◾ Save time

you can also speed up standing in line with the Save Time service that allows you to check in online in advance for the car rental and also at central stations you can get the rental voucher from a kiosk instead of standing in line! To check in online, click here.

◾ Departure from Los Angeles

Los Angeles serves as a wonderful departure station for a trip to the West Coast or towards Las Vegas. If you want to continue towards San Francisco, it is recommended to get on Interstate 5, and those interested in a beautiful trip along the shores of the Pacific Ocean - Highway 101 is the right choice. San Diego is a two-hour drive south along the coast, again on Interstate 5.

Interstate 15 leads from the Ontario area towards Las Vegas, on a drive that turns into a desert over time. It is recommended to stock up on water, food and also a small fuel tank, as the distance between the service stations on this road may be far. Those wishing to travel to Flagstaff, Arizona, will get on Interstate 15 and continue from there to Highway 40 and if you want to drive to Phoenix - get on Interstate 10 near Riverside.

As mentioned, driving on the roads of Los Angeles is quite comfortable, but there are some rules and customs of the road that you should know when you drive on the streets of the city of glamour, especially those concerning the types of lanes and the use of cell phones.
 

◾ Carpool/HOV lanes

On most highways in the city, at least one lane is designated as a carpool lane or HOV-high occupancy vehicle. You can identify them by the diamond markings painted on the road. Access to them is limited and you can join or leave them only in sections that are not bounded by a double yellow line. Some routes require a minimum of two passengers in the car, and some even three.
 

◾ Toll roads

In the USA there are many toll roads. In order to save unnecessary dealing with small change during your trip, the car rental stations offer renting a Tollpass device ( similar to the Route 6 device) with which you can pass on these roads and receive the charge in a centralized manner from the rental company and pay via CC.

Please note that some toll roads are exempt by the TollPass device, for example in Montreal, Kansas and South Carolina. It is your responsibility to verify this before traveling on toll roads. Driving on a toll road without payment is subject to fines.

For more information about the included and excluded roads, visit the following website: https://www.tollpassgo.com/
 

◾ Using a mobile phone

Not all US states have a ban on the use of mobile phones, but in Los Angeles and California as a whole, the ban on using a phone without a hands-free does exist. Similar to Israel, even while driving in Los Angeles, holding the phone will cost you a heavy fine. We of course recommend to avoid touching the phone while driving in any state.
 

◾ Turns on US roads

In some US states, different rules are applied than in Israel regarding right and left turns at traffic lights.
Turning right: In some areas turning right is allowed even when the traffic light is red, when of course there is still an obligation to give the right of way to pedestrians and crossing vehicles. If you are not sure what the rule is in the state you are traveling to, you can wait for a green light.
Turning left: In addition, there are states where even when the traffic light is fully green, turning left does not always give you the right of way, but the right of way is first of all the traffic coming in front.

The exception to this case is when your traffic light also shows a green arrow - then the right of way is yours.
 

◾ Credit cards in the USA

Please note - the rental companies in the USA do not allow Diners or Debit credit cards to be presented as a deposit credit card. An international credit card in the name of the driver of other credit companies must be presented.

For more tips on renting a car in the USA click here.

Renting a car in Los Angeles with Ofran will allow you to explore its sites and attractions, in the pace that's comfortable to you and experience Los Angeles in comfort and ease. We will be happy to stand by your side and accompany your trip in Los Angeles, while making sure to rent a car of the highest standards.

Ofran wishes you a safe and pleasant trip with your rental car in Los Angeles

Whether you have visited here in the past or not, you surely know that this big, shiny and sunny city offers endless entertainment and recreation options.
So how do you still focus on a number of highly recommended attractions when your time here is limited? We will try to make some order for you.
 

Santa Monica Pier

In order to explore the pier located in Santa Monica Beach you will want to dedicate at least a whole day.
It is actually a kind of open amusement park, which includes a giant wheel, an aquarium, game booths and of course, cotton candy.
While you play, the locals will be practicing dozens of outdoor sports or sunbathing around you, and you can join them and feel like LA residents for a day.
 

Griffith Park

In the eastern part of the Santa Monica Mountains, lies the largest park in California.
In Griffith Park you will find the Los Angeles Zoo, Griffith Observatory, planetarium, Greek theatre, equestrian center, golf and tennis courts, hiking trails and much more to do and see.
If you prefer to stay in an air-conditioned vehicle, even driving in the beautiful mountainous area with an overhead view of the city and outside it, is an equally enjoyable option.
The Griffith Observatory is one of the city's main attractions, and it's free. It includes exhibits and telescopes for observing the sun during the day and the moon and stars at night.
 

Hollywood

Of course we couldn't skip this suburb of the stars. Hollywood is a destination in itself, which includes a unique history and iconic sites mostly associated with the film industry and glamour.
The familiar sign on the hill, the Avenue of the Stars and Rodeo Drive, are just the tip of the iceberg of sites you'll want to visit when you arrive in the area, and you might even spot a star or two.

At this point we already know that the city offers us a huge selection of adventures and entertainment, and this is exactly the time to see how renting a car in Los Angeles will enable the perfect vacation with children, where is the most worthwhile shopping, and everything else that is important to know.

Los Angeles with children

Family experiences on the streets of LA are not difficult to find, especially if you travel by car and can easily move between areas of the city. We have compiled a few of the options for you.
 

Universal Studios

A visit to Universal is a 'must' when visiting Los Angeles with the family. The facilities, displays and meeting favorite characters from movies we all love will make your visit unforgettable. One shuttle ride away, you can find yourself in a beloved and familiar world, such as "Harry Potter World", whose details are so meticulous, that you literally feel like you are inside the pages of the book, and even those who do not yet consider themselves big fans of the series will enjoy the experiential visit.
 

Kidspace museum

The experience at this children's museum, which is actually intended for the whole family, begins already at the entrance to the kaleidoscope.
There are over 40 interactive displays, activity programs and changing events.
All displays and activities encourage growth and development through exploration of the natural environment and science.
Therefore, you will be happy to know that even in this part of the trip, the children will be able to enjoy themselves and create memories, through an educational activity that will provide hours of fun for all family members.
 

Beach Day in Venice Beach

When you travel in Los Angeles with the whole family you don't always have to look far, just experience the city itself.
A tour of the boardwalk in Venice Beach will take you on a journey between street shows, fortune tellers sitting all along it, crazy shops, artists, amazing and crazy murals, and lots of colorfulness and fun.
It's the best place to soak up local culture, especially if you're into a family bike trip.

Shopping in Los Angeles

An American vacation and shopping go hand in hand naturally, and of course in a big city like Los Angeles you can find an answer to all your shopping needs. Most shopping centers also offer convenient parking lots and packing services, so you don't have to worry about unnecessary carrying.
 

Westfield Century City Mall

The recently renovated mall is considered one of the best shopping centers in Southern California with over 200 stores and restaurants added to it since the massive renovation - from Apple store and Macy's to Michael Kors. Every well-known shopping brand you can think of can probably be found in this mall.
In addition, the mall offers about 15 movie theaters, in case you want to sit and rest a little from all the shopping.
 

The Grove

The Grove of Los Angeles is considered one of the best outlet centers in all of California. It offers clothing, cosmetics, huge department stores, and of course excellent restaurants where you can rest and dine between one shopping trip and another. You can also find here a variety of changing events for your enjoyment. This is one of the best and most diverse shopping experiences that California can offer.