What is the cheapest way to rent a car in LA for 3 months?

If you don’t need the car every day, all day, you might try a car share like www.zipcar.com.

You might consider just buying a used car that you can sell after you are done with it. I have done that a few times.

Ditto both above—I’ve used Zipcar in SF & Pgh to great success. Haven’t tried it in LA.

I know folks who have bought total beaters and driven them until they die. Much cheaper than $750 a month, even if each car only lasts 6 weeks. Not at all reliable, but it’s a good option if you don’t mind being stranded every month or so.

But yeah: the resale value of a used car is pretty close to its original purchase price after 3 months if you take fine care of it.

http://www.budget.com/budgetWeb/html/en/deals/monthly.html

Or, maybe hotwire.com?

Are you looking at airport prices? If so try something a location away from the airport where you won’t incur all of the taxes that are added on there.

If you work for a company maybe they get discounts with certain car rentals.

The Entertainment book usually has good coupons.

Your car insurance might get deals with car rental companies.

I just got through Delta miles a discount and 5,000 frequent flyer points for renting a car for a week at Budget. Or maybe it was Dollar? I would have to check, but I think it was Budget. Maybe there is a deal with the airline you fly with.

If you only drive occasionally then Zipcar.

Otherwise, buy a used car. As @grumpyfish wrote, the selling price after a few months will be about the same.

How much is the premium for being 25 years old? All of these people saying to buy a car, it is only going to be $600—$900 a month probably and it will be reliable. A cheap used car has a good chance of breaking down.

Don’t want to be a wet blank- – - – - BUT

Don’t you have to have a valid driver’s license for California to buy a car in California?

And get it registered.

@Tropical_Willie I didn’t need to, but I can get cars anywhere and have them registered in my own state by mail. You can usually get a temp tag to cover the time it takes to get the plates mailed to you.

I am covered by my normal insurance, no extra expense there. And if it is an old beater, I only need the bare minimum anyway.

Ok use to having used cars inspected and cleared for emissions at a garage in my state.

@WestRiverrat You can only do that if you choose to disobey the law. California requires that a car be registered and driver’s license changed with in 20 days of moving here, and you must submit proof of insurance and a smog certificate.

When I was in Colorado to help my elderly parents for a few weeks, I rented from a local place called “Rent A Wreck” which rented used cars at a very low rate. Maybe there is one like that in L.A.

@YARNLADY It was my understanding that @rskaletz was going for only three months. And then was going to return to her own home state, in which case it would not be a violation of the law.

@WestRiverrat What you say would be true if the driver brought a car he already owned in the state for three months, but to buy one here, all the California state regulations must be followed.