Quick Summary:
- Check the charge-port shape and labels before leaving the rental lot.
- Match DC fast charging to CCS or NACS, not J1772-only.
- Carry a J1772-to-NACS adapter if renting a Tesla in California.
- Use app filters to avoid arriving at incompatible plugs or power levels.
Hiring an EV in California is brilliantly convenient, until you roll up to a charger and realise the plug does not fit your hire car. Connector types have changed quickly, and California has a mix of older AC posts, newer DC fast chargers, and Tesla sites. The good news is you can avoid most problems with a simple check at pick-up, plus a clear idea of which adapters relate to slow AC charging versus rapid DC charging.
This guide focuses on practical steps for car hire drivers, so you can identify what your vehicle accepts and what you should look for on charging networks. It also explains when an adapter helps, and when it simply will not, because the vehicle is missing the correct DC pins or the site is restricted.
If you are collecting near a major hub, you may want to skim your plan while waiting for paperwork, for example at car hire at Los Angeles LAX or car hire at Sacramento SMF, where you may be on the road quickly and want to avoid backtracking for compatible charging.
Step 1: Identify your EV connector at pick-up
Before you set off, open the charge flap and look at the inlet on the car, not the cable at the charger. You are looking for the connector standard your car physically accepts. Take a quick photo, it helps when filtering chargers in apps later.
Most hire EVs in California will be one of these:
J1772 (AC only). This is the most common slow charging plug in North America for Level 2 AC. The inlet is oval with multiple small round pins. If your car has only this inlet, it cannot use DC fast chargers directly, because it has no DC pins.
CCS Combo 1 (CCS1). This looks like a J1772 inlet on top with two large DC pins beneath, forming a larger combined opening. CCS1 supports Level 2 AC with a J1772 plug and DC fast charging with a CCS connector.
NACS (Tesla-style). A smaller, sleek inlet used by Tesla and increasingly by other brands. It can support AC charging and DC fast charging, depending on the vehicle and charger. In California, you will see many NACS chargers at Tesla sites and some non-Tesla networks.
Also check for any labels inside the charge flap, the car’s screen charging menu, or a sticker that says “CCS”, “SAE J1772”, or “Tesla”. If anything is unclear, ask the agent to confirm whether the vehicle supports DC fast charging and what inlet it uses.
Step 2: Understand “slow” versus “fast” charging in plain terms
Charging confusion usually comes from mixing up two things: the physical plug and the power type. In California you will typically use:
Level 1 AC, a normal domestic outlet, extremely slow. This is rarely useful for travellers unless your accommodation includes it and you are parked overnight.
Level 2 AC, the common “destination” posts in car parks, hotels and shopping areas. These usually deliver moderate speed and typically use a J1772 connector on the cable.
DC fast charging (rapid), found at motorway corridors and busy urban hubs. These deliver high power and use either CCS or NACS connectors, depending on the site.
An important reality: an adapter might help you connect physically, but it cannot turn an AC-only car into a DC-fast-capable car. If your inlet is J1772 only, you must plan around Level 2 charging (or swap to a different car category), because you cannot use CCS or NACS DC fast chargers in a meaningful way.
Connector match-up: which chargers will actually work?
Use this as a mental checklist when choosing a charger in an app.
If your car has J1772 only: you can use Level 1 and Level 2 AC charging with J1772. You cannot DC fast charge. If an app shows “CCS” or “DC fast”, skip it.
If your car has CCS1: you can use Level 2 AC with a J1772 plug. You can also use DC fast chargers with CCS connectors. Depending on the vehicle and your available adapter, you may also be able to use some NACS fast chargers, but the details matter, see the adapter section.
If your car has NACS: you can use NACS plugs on compatible AC or DC chargers. With the right adapter, you can also use many J1772 Level 2 posts. Access to non-Tesla DC fast chargers depends on your vehicle and adapter support.
If you are driving between airports and major cities, your route may cross multiple network types. For example, travellers picking up around San Diego SAN and heading north can avoid detours by filtering for the correct connector and checking whether the site is AC or DC before committing to an exit.
Adapters you may need, and what each one does
Adapters are most useful for AC (Level 2) charging. DC fast charging involves higher power and tighter compatibility, so DC adapters are more specific and sometimes vehicle-dependent.
1) J1772 to NACS (for Tesla inlet cars using Level 2 posts)
This is the classic adapter many Tesla drivers carry. It lets a NACS car plug into the widespread J1772 Level 2 posts found at hotels and car parks. If your hire car is a Tesla and your accommodation offers J1772, this is the adapter that prevents a frustrating mismatch.
What to check: ask at pick-up whether the vehicle includes the J1772 adapter in the boot or frunk. Many do, but do not assume. If it is not included, you may need to plan around NACS destination chargers or Supercharger-compatible sites instead.
2) NACS to J1772 (for non-Tesla cars using Tesla destination AC chargers)
Some locations have Tesla destination chargers, which are AC and often installed at hotels. A non-Tesla EV with a J1772 inlet may be able to use them with a NACS-to-J1772 destination adapter, assuming the site is not restricted to Tesla-only by policy or configuration.
What to check: many Tesla destination units can be set to “Tesla only”. Even with an adapter, the charger may refuse to energise. Confirm on the charging app listing or with the property.
3) NACS to CCS (for CCS cars using certain NACS fast chargers)
This is the fast-charging adapter concept people ask about most. In practice, compatibility depends on three things: whether your car supports NACS DC charging via an approved adapter, whether the adapter is the correct type for DC, and whether the charging site is open to your vehicle brand.
What to check at pick-up: if your hire car is CCS, ask whether it is enabled for NACS DC charging and whether any DC adapter is supplied. Many hire fleets will not include DC fast adapters because they are expensive and easily misplaced. If it is not supplied, plan primarily around CCS DC fast chargers.
4) Do not confuse cables with adapters
Some AC posts are “bring your own cable” (more common outside North America, but it exists in some private installations). In California public Level 2 is usually tethered with a J1772 plug. Your issue is more likely connector mismatch than missing cable, but it is worth confirming the station type in the app listing.
A simple pick-up checklist for car hire drivers
Use these steps in the car park before you exit the facility:
Open the charge port and photograph the inlet. It is your reference for the whole trip.
Find the charging screen. Confirm it shows DC fast capability if you need rapid charging on your route.
Look for included equipment. For Tesla vehicles, check for the J1772 adapter. For other EVs, note whether any adapters are provided at all.
Ask about network access. Some vehicles include subscriptions or require you to use a particular app. You are not looking for discounts, just avoiding a dead stop because the charger requires a different activation method.
Set expectations on speed. If your car is J1772-only, accept that you will rely on longer stops or overnight charging.
How to avoid arriving at an incompatible charger
The most reliable method is to filter chargers by connector and power level, then cross-check the listing photos. Here is a process that works well in California, where you may see multiple connector options at one site.
1) Filter by connector first. If you have CCS, filter for CCS. If you have NACS, filter for NACS. If you only have J1772, filter for J1772 and exclude DC.
2) Filter by “DC fast” or “Level 2”. Apps often show plugs but not whether they are AC or DC at first glance. Confirm the power type so you do not waste time pulling into an AC-only car park when you needed rapid charging.
3) Check the station details for restrictions. Some Tesla sites are open to non-Tesla vehicles, some are not. Likewise, workplace or hotel chargers might be restricted to guests. Do not assume public access just because it appears on a map.
4) Use arrival battery planning. In busy areas like Los Angeles and Orange County, chargers can be occupied. Aim to arrive with a buffer so you can move to a second site without stress.
5) Confirm the cable reaches your charge port. This sounds minor, but charge-port position varies. If you cannot pull in correctly, a short cable can make a compatible plug unusable.
If you are starting from a busy airport corridor, it can help to plan a first charge stop before leaving the area, rather than assuming you will “find something later”. That is especially true around car hire at Santa Ana SNA, where traffic patterns can turn a small detour into a long delay.
Common scenarios and the right adapter decision
Scenario A: You rented a Tesla and your hotel has J1772 posts. You need the Tesla J1772 adapter (J1772 to NACS). Confirm it is in the vehicle before you leave. Without it, you will need to use NACS destination chargers or a compatible fast-charging site.
Scenario B: You rented a CCS car and the nearest fast chargers are NACS. Do not rely on “maybe it will work”. Unless your vehicle is explicitly enabled for NACS fast charging and you have the correct DC adapter, plan for CCS fast chargers instead.
Scenario C: Your EV only supports J1772. Treat fast charging as unavailable. Build your day around Level 2 opportunities, longer meal stops, and overnight charging, rather than short top-ups.
Scenario D: The charger listing shows both CCS and J1772. That typically means the site has separate cables, J1772 for Level 2 and CCS for DC fast. Pick the connector that matches your inlet and the speed you need.
What to do if you are already at the wrong charger
If the plug does not fit, avoid forcing it. Check the inlet photo you took at pick-up and compare it to the station’s connector options in the app. Then:
Switch stalls if the site has multiple connector types.
Switch networks if the entire site is incompatible, using your connector filter.
Downgrade the plan from DC fast to Level 2 if your car cannot fast charge, and adjust timing.
Keep receipts and session history if the charger billed you despite not delivering power, then handle it through the charging provider’s support.
For longer journeys, it helps to keep two potential stops in mind. A little redundancy prevents a connector mismatch from becoming a low-battery emergency.
FAQ
How do I tell if my California EV hire car can use DC fast charging?
Look for a CCS inlet with two large lower pins, or a NACS inlet on a fast-charge-capable vehicle. If it is J1772 only, it is AC charging only.
Do I need to bring my own charging adapters for car hire in California?
Often you do not, but you should check at pick-up. Tesla hire cars commonly include a J1772 adapter, while DC fast adapters are less commonly supplied.
Will a J1772 adapter let me use a DC fast charger?
No. J1772 refers to AC charging. An adapter cannot add DC fast capability if the car and inlet do not support it.
Can a non-Tesla CCS car use Tesla chargers with an adapter?
Sometimes, but it depends on the charger type and site access rules. Many NACS DC sites require vehicle compatibility and may not be open to all brands.
What is the safest way to avoid arriving at an incompatible charger?
Photograph the inlet at pick-up, then filter charging apps by connector and by AC versus DC. Double-check station restrictions and recent check-ins.
