Budget Car Hire
Los Angeles

After collecting your luggage, exit your terminal on the Lower/Arrivals Level and look for the purple signs that read "Rental Car Shuttles". These signs will direct you to the designated pick-up islands in the outer median. Once there, watch for the shuttle bus specifically marked for Budget, as it will take you directly to the off-site rental car centre. The signage is consistent across all terminals, making it a straightforward process to follow.

With only carry-on luggage, you can bypass the baggage reclaim carousels entirely for a faster exit. Head straight from your gate to the Lower/Arrivals Level and find the nearest exit. Look for the purple "Rental Car Shuttles" signs on the outer kerb island. Board the dedicated Budget shuttle, which will take you directly to the rental facility, saving you significant time compared with waiting for checked bags.

A practical meeting point is directly at the baggage reclaim carousel assigned to your flight, as it’s a large, clearly marked area where everyone will naturally end up. Alternatively, you can choose one of the large terminal maps or information desks on the Arrivals Level as your rendezvous point. Once your group is together, you can all head outside to the rental car shuttle stop for the ride to the Budget location.

The best way to avoid terminal-road congestion is to use the dedicated rental car shuttle system. Instead of arranging a private pick-up, go straight to the purple-signed shuttle island on the Arrivals Level. These shuttles often use dedicated or prioritised lanes to get around the airport loop more efficiently than general traffic. This ensures you reach the Budget rental centre without having to drive through the most congested parts of LAX yourself.

When you reach the Budget shuttle stop, tell the driver about your oversized items so they can help you store them properly in the bus’s luggage area. It helps to have one person in your party manage the items while another handles boarding. Once you arrive at the Budget facility, you can use a luggage trolley to move your items from the shuttle drop-off point to your rental vehicle, making the transfer much more manageable.

For the least complicated drive to El Segundo or Manhattan Beach, avoid the motorways immediately after leaving the rental centre. Instead, take Sepulveda Boulevard south. This major surface road runs parallel to the coast and provides direct access to both cities without the stress of merging onto the busy 405 or 105 motorways. It’s a more relaxed introduction to driving in the area and is often just as quick for these short trips.

The simplest way to start on local roads is to exit the rental facility and follow signs for Century Boulevard or Sepulveda Boulevard. Heading east on Century takes you towards major north-south roads like La Cienega Boulevard, while Sepulveda runs north and south directly from the airport area. Using these surface roads lets you get your bearings and acclimatise to LA traffic before attempting to merge onto a major motorway like the 405.

A straightforward route is to take the I-105 East from the airport area to the I-110 North ExpressLanes. Exit at 9th Street/Convention Centre and follow the signs, which will lead you directly into the L.A. Live area with minimal confusion. This route is well signed for event traffic and helps you avoid the more complex four-level interchange and the densest parts of the downtown motorway loop, making for a much smoother arrival.

In Santa Monica, especially near the beach, on-street parking is often restricted by permits, particularly overnight. Your best option is to confirm with your hotel whether they offer guest parking, as this is the most secure and hassle-free choice. If hotel parking isn’t available, look for the public car parks downtown, which offer overnight rates. Be sure to read all posted signs carefully to avoid a ticket or towing.

The most direct and easiest route to Pasadena uses two primary motorways. From the LAX area, take the I-105 East until it merges into the I-605 North. Continue on the I-605 North to the I-210 West, which will take you directly into Pasadena. This route avoids the more complex and often congested downtown interchanges, offering a relatively linear journey with fewer lane changes.

To visit the Getty Villa, it’s essential to make a timed-entry reservation online in advance, which also reserves your parking space. Plan your visit for a weekday morning to avoid the heaviest Pacific Coast Highway (PCH) traffic, which builds in the afternoon and at weekends. From LAX, take Lincoln Boulevard north, which becomes Highway 1 (PCH), for a scenic and direct route, and allow extra time for potential slow-downs near Santa Monica.

For a weekday afternoon visit to the Getty Centre, aim to arrive around 1 p.m. to miss the lunch rush and before the evening commute begins. From LAX, take the I-405 North and use the Getty Centre Drive exit, which is dedicated specifically to the museum. The signage is excellent and leads you straight into the parking structure, making the approach simple and avoiding any need to look for parking in the surrounding neighbourhoods.

The key is to use a central car park. Park once at the Hollywood & Highland centre, which gives direct access to the Walk of Fame and TCL Chinese Theatre. From there you can explore the main Hollywood sights on foot. For your second stop, choose a destination with dedicated parking, such as The Grove or the Griffith Observatory, and drive there directly instead of trying to find on-street parking in multiple places.

The least stressful approach is to use one of the official Park & Ride sites around the city and take a dedicated shuttle directly to the Bowl’s entrance. This avoids the challenge of navigating steep, narrow roads and congested car parks near the venue. If you must drive to the site, pre-purchasing a parking pass for one of the stacked lots is essential, but be prepared for significant delays when entering and leaving.

Expect heavy traffic on 3rd Street and Fairfax Avenue, the main roads bordering the complex, especially at weekends. The Grove has a large, multi-storey car park with a clearly marked entrance on Fairfax. While the car park is spacious, the entry and exit points can become very congested at peak times. Plan to arrive early in the day for the smoothest experience getting in and out.

Driving in Beverly Hills requires extra attention due to heavy pedestrian traffic, frequent tour buses and luxury cars making sudden stops. Many smaller streets have unusual turn restrictions, so follow your sat nav closely but be ready to go round the block. The best strategy is to park your rental in one of the many public garages, such as the one on Brighton Way, and explore the Rodeo Drive area on foot for a more relaxed experience.

Parking in these neighbourhoods can be difficult, as streets are often narrow, hilly and lined with parked cars. Main roads like Sunset Boulevard may have some metered bays, but they fill quickly. Be prepared to look for parking on residential side streets, paying close attention to permit restrictions and street-cleaning signs. It’s wise to arrive early and be comfortable with parallel parking on a slope.

The most efficient plan is to park once in the main car park near the Griffith Observatory and use the park’s internal DASH shuttle bus to move between locations. The shuttle links the Observatory, the Greek Theatre and the Fern Dell/Los Feliz entrance, saving you the frustration of finding parking at each popular stop. Arriving on a weekday or very early on a weekend morning gives you the best chance of getting a space in the main lot.

For the easiest parking, head to the large, open-air beach car parks managed by the county or state, such as those at Zuma Beach in Malibu or Will Rogers State Beach in Pacific Palisades. These lots offer plenty of space with clearly marked bays, so you don’t need to parallel park or navigate tight multi-storey ramps. You simply drive in, pay at a machine or attendant, and walk straight to the sand.

When driving on PCH, always watch for cyclists, as they frequently use the shoulder. The road has many scenic turnouts for photos, so take care when pulling in and out. Traffic can slow unexpectedly, especially on sunny weekends, so keep a safe following distance. Also note that access to many beaches involves crossing the oncoming lane, so be patient and wait for a clear gap.

To avoid the worst of LA’s outbound traffic, plan to leave the LAX area no later than 6:00 am on a weekday. This helps you get through the San Fernando Valley before the peak rush hour fully builds. At weekends, leaving by 8:00 am is generally safe. For the return, aim to leave Santa Barbara either before 2:00 pm or after 7:00 pm to miss heavy commuter traffic back into the Los Angeles basin.

A great route is to start by driving north from LAX to the Getty Centre for a hilltop viewpoint with sweeping city and ocean views. After your visit, continue west along Sunset Boulevard all the way to the Pacific Coast Highway. You can then make a coastal stop at Will Rogers State Beach or head slightly north to Malibu. This creates a logical loop that minimises backtracking and keeps you on a scenic route.

Night driving can be challenging on poorly lit, winding roads such as those in the Hollywood Hills or parts of Mulholland Drive. Also, the complex downtown motorway interchanges, like the junction of the 110 and 101, can be confusing in the dark. For a less stressful return, stick to well-lit major boulevards such as Wilshire, Santa Monica or Sunset whenever possible.

When driving near schools on weekdays, be extremely cautious during drop-off (around 7:30–9:00 am) and pick-up (around 2:30–4:00 pm). Speed limits in school zones are strictly enforced and often drop to 25 mph or lower when children are present. Expect sudden stops, double-parked cars and children crossing unexpectedly. If you’re on a tight schedule, it’s best to avoid streets immediately next to schools at these times.

A good starter route is to take the I-105 East from the airport area for a few miles, then exit onto a major north-south road such as Crenshaw or Western Avenue. The I-105 is typically less congested than the I-405 and has wide, modern lanes. This short trip lets you practise merging and holding motorway speed in a more controlled environment before tackling more complex interchanges or heavier traffic.

To avoid long queues, try using facilities a few miles away from the immediate airport area, as those closest to LAX are usually the busiest. For food, consider ordering ahead via a mobile app for quick collection instead of waiting in a drive-through. For fuel, plan your stop well before you reach the airport return area, perhaps in a nearby community such as El Segundo or Westchester, where demand is lower.

First, identify the venue—whether it’s SoFi Stadium, Crypto.com Arena or the Hollywood Bowl—and plan routes that avoid that area entirely, especially three hours before and two hours after the event. Use a real-time traffic app such as Waze or Google Maps, which will reroute you around event-related closures and congestion. If your hotel is near a venue, aim to arrive well before the event starts or travel during off-peak times.

The easiest approach is to pull in temporarily to the designated passenger loading area, usually right in front of the hotel entrance. This lets you check in and unload luggage without immediately navigating a tight car park or committing to valet parking. Once you have your room key and directions from reception, you can decide whether to use the valet service or find the self-parking entrance.

When choosing a garage, look for newer structures attached to major hotels, office buildings or shopping centres such as The Bloc or FIGat7th. These modern facilities usually have wider ramps, higher ceilings and larger bays than older, standalone car parks. You can often preview the entrance and layout on Google Maps Street View to gauge accessibility before committing to park there.

At a four-way stop, the first vehicle to arrive has right of way; if two arrive at the same time, the vehicle on the right goes first. Unlike in many countries, you can generally turn right on a red light after coming to a complete stop, unless a sign prohibits it. Expect frequent lane changes on motorways, so keep a safe distance and always check your blind spots.

A minivan or large SUV with a rear liftgate is the most convenient layout for groups with luggage. The wide rear opening allows quick, easy loading and unloading, which matters in a busy hotel loading zone. These vehicles also offer flexible seating and cargo configurations, so you can fit both passengers and bags comfortably without blocking windows or creating safety issues.

For bulky gear, consider renting an SUV or an estate car, as their open load areas are more accommodating than a standard saloon boot. Make sure your equipment doesn’t obstruct your rear view through the back window. A retractable luggage cover is a great feature because it helps keep valuables out of sight when the car is parked, which is important in any major city.

To avoid the most congested motorway interchanges, take a major surface road south from the Westside, such as Lincoln Boulevard or Sepulveda Boulevard. Lincoln Blvd (which becomes Sepulveda Blvd) runs directly to the airport and can be more straightforward, albeit sometimes slower, than the often gridlocked 405. As you get close, follow the airport signs for "Rental Car Return", which will guide you to the Budget facility entrance.

It’s simple because the airport shuttles serve all terminals. After returning your vehicle at the Budget location, board the return shuttle bus back to LAX. Tell the driver which airline or terminal you’re departing from, and they will stop at the correct drop-off point on the Upper/Departures Level, regardless of which terminal you arrived at.

The smoothest method is to drive first to the Upper/Departures Level and drop off passengers and luggage at the appropriate terminal. Once they’re safely at the kerb, continue along the airport loop road and look for signs saying "Airport Exit" or "Rental Car Return". These will guide you out of the main terminal area onto surrounding roads like Century Boulevard, from where you can easily navigate to the Budget return location.

During the morning rush, the I-405 (both northbound and southbound) and the I-105 West towards the airport are notoriously congested. Century Boulevard, the main east-west route into LAX, can also become extremely slow. If possible, use Sepulveda Boulevard as an alternative, but whichever route you take, add at least 30–45 minutes of extra time to account for these predictable delays.

Don’t panic or attempt an unsafe manoeuvre. The LAX road system is a loop, so the safest option is to keep going and follow signs to exit the main terminal area. Once you’re back on a major road such as Century or Sepulveda Boulevard, pull over safely, reset your navigation app and try again. One full circuit of the airport usually takes about 10–15 minutes, even in traffic.

Many petrol stations in the neighbourhoods around LAX, such as Westchester and El Segundo, have vacuums and large bins available for customers. Look for a full-service car wash or a larger petrol station a few miles from the airport. Doing this before you enter the immediate high-traffic airport zone is quicker and less stressful than searching at the last minute.

The simplest approach is to use your navigation app to find a petrol station on the right-hand side of your planned return route. For example, if you’re approaching from the north on Sepulveda Boulevard, look for a station on the east side of the road. Planning this stop a mile or two before the rental return entrance lets you refuel and then merge back into traffic flowing towards the airport without any complicated turns.

A great low-risk option is to visit the In-N-Out Burger on Sepulveda Boulevard, famous for views of planes landing on the LAX runway. It’s just north of the airport, so it’s easy to pop in and then return to the rental car facility. Another simple stop is Dockweiler Beach, just west of the airport, which offers a quick last look at the ocean before your flight without straying far from your return route.