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Should You Hire a Car in Los Angeles? This can be broken down into two similar questions - do you need a car in Los Angeles (in other words, will your holiday be ruined without one), and is it worth hiring a car in Los Angeles - i.e. is a car better value than using public transport? We'll weigh up both questions and give you a response generated by AI, together with our own curated opinion before finally giving a yes or no verdict at the end.
âś… Car Score 7
đźš« No Car Score 5
đźš— Should you rent a car?

(0= absolutely not; 10 = rental car or heavy dependence on taxis absolutely essential)

🎬 Los Angeles (LAX): Do You Need a Car? Here’s the Real Hollywood Answer

Los Angeles isn’t just a city — it’s an entire urban region spread across beaches, hills, studios, and neighbourhoods that can take an hour to get between even without traffic. So the question is:

🚗 Yes – in most cases, you do need a car in Los Angeles.
đźš« You can skip the car only if you plan to stay in one small area or rely on rideshares the entire time.

Let’s break it down clearly and realistically.

đźš— Why You Should Rent a Car in Los Angeles

LA is designed for driving. Distances are large, attractions are scattered, and public transport doesn’t efficiently connect the places most visitors want to go.

âś… A Car Gives You:

  • Total freedom over your schedule

  • Access to beaches, hills, studios, observatories, and coastal drives

  • The ability to visit multiple neighbourhoods in one day

  • Faster travel times than public transport (even with traffic!)

Essential LA Experiences That Require a Car:

  • Drive through Hollywood Hills & Mulholland Drive

  • Visit Malibu, Santa Monica, Venice Beach

  • Explore Griffith Observatory

  • Head to Disneyland or Universal Studios

  • Take a day trip to Palm Springs or Joshua Tree

  • Cruise the Pacific Coast Highway

➡ In LA, the car isn’t just transport — it’s part of the culture.

đźš• When You Can Go Car-Free

You can avoid renting a car only if:

  • You’re staying in Downtown, Santa Monica, or Hollywood

  • You’re attending a conference or staying local in one neighbourhood

  • You’re happy using Uber/Lyft for every trip

  • You don’t plan to explore beyond a 5–10 mile radius

Public Transport Reality:

  • Metro Rail exists, but it doesn’t reach everywhere tourists want to go

  • Buses are slow and depend on traffic

  • Rideshares are plentiful, but costs can add up quickly

đźš« If you rely only on Uber for a full sightseeing trip, you may spend more than a car rental.

🧭 Quick Decision Table

Your LA Trip Style Car Needed?
Exploring Hollywood, Beverly Hills, beaches âś… Yes
Visiting multiple areas each day âś… Yes
Staying in one area for business ❌ No
Using rideshare for 1–2 daily trips only ❌ No (optional)
Driving Pacific Coast Highway âś… Yes
Day trips to Disneyland, Palm Springs âś… Yes

🎯 Final Verdict

  • đźš— Rent a car if you want to actually experience Los Angeles. The city sprawls, and the best spots are far apart.

  • đźš• Go car-free only if you’re staying in one neighbourhood or don’t mind paying for Ubers everywhere.

  • LA rewards mobility — and having your own car is the key to unlocking it.

🌴 In Los Angeles, freedom is four wheels and a full tank.

Should You Hire a Car in Los Angeles — or Not? Advice on this page has been written using Chat GPT, backed up by 20 years experience in the travel industry. This site is planned for full launch on 1st January 2026. Full terms, advice, FAQs, disclaimer etc to follow. UN flag is a placeholder

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