The last fill-up before you return a rental at LAX is the most expensive routine purchase of a Los Angeles trip. California has the highest gas prices on the mainland, the stations ringing the new Consolidated Rent-A-Car facility on Century Boulevard serve a captive audience, and a rental agency’s refuel rate on top of a $6 base price is punishing. The upside is that LAX is one of the few big airports with a Costco gas station two miles from the rental return. This guide covers today’s averages, the stations on Century, Aviation and Sepulveda that are on the way to the ConRAC, and the rental and Turo fuel rules.
Updated November 1, 2026
Current averages
| Grade | Los Angeles-Long Beach metro average | California average | US national average | As of | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Regular | $5.98 | $5.91 | $4.17 | Nov 1, 2026 | AAA |
| Premium | $6.39 | $6.33 | $5.08 | Nov 1, 2026 | AAA |
| Diesel | $8.40 | $8.36 | $6.30 | Nov 1, 2026 | AAA |
Los Angeles regular is nearly $2 above the national average. A 15-gallon fill is roughly $93 at the metro average, which is why the choice of station matters more here than anywhere else we cover on the mainland.
Stations near the airport
We do not quote per-station prices because they change hourly; check GasBuddy, Waze or the AAA app before you leave the 405. As of March 2026, LAX has moved all 12 on-airport rental brands into the Consolidated Rent-A-Car facility (ConRAC) at 5251 W. 98th St., on the block bounded by Arbor Vitae Street, Aviation Boulevard, Century Boulevard and La Cienega Boulevard next to the 405. Returning drivers exit the 405 at Century Boulevard and follow the rental-return signs. Off-airport brands still use the remote depot at Century and Airport Boulevards.
- 76, 5552 W. Century Blvd., and Shell, 5551 W. Century Blvd.: facing each other on Century at Aviation Boulevard, directly south of the ConRAC.
- ARCO, 5201 W. Century Blvd., and Chevron, 5156 W. Century Blvd., Inglewood: Century Boulevard at the 405 (Exit 46), the first stations off the freeway.
- ARCO, 9200 Aviation Blvd.: Aviation Boulevard on the west side of the ConRAC block.
- 76, 400 W. Arbor Vitae St., Inglewood: Arbor Vitae on the north edge of the ConRAC.
- Mobil, 7601 S. Sepulveda Blvd. (Westchester): Sepulveda Boulevard, for travelers coming down from Santa Monica or Culver City.
- Costco Inglewood, 3560 W. Century Blvd., Inglewood (warehouse club, membership required): Century Boulevard about 2 miles east of the ConRAC; costco.com confirms a gas station open 5:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. weekdays. Coming west on Century from the 110 or Inglewood, it is on your way.
- Costco Hawthorne, 14501 Hindry Ave., Hawthorne (warehouse club, membership required): off the 405 at Rosecrans, about 5 miles south; gas station confirmed on costco.com, useful if you are coming up from the South Bay.
Rental refuel rules
Every counter in the ConRAC offers the same three options. Return it full and you pay only the pump price. Prepay a tank and you forfeit whatever is left: Avis says “no credit or refund will be given for unused fuel in the tank,” and Enterprise says prepaid fuel is sold only in full tanks and is not refundable. Let the agency refuel and you pay its local per-gallon rate plus a service charge, which in a $6 market is the most expensive gas in the county. Prepaid only wins if you are certain to return on fumes.
California gets its own line in the fine print. Avis’s EZFuel flat fee for customers who drive fewer than 75 miles is $18.99 in California versus $17.99 elsewhere, and it is removed only if you fill up and present a fuel receipt at return, so keep the receipt. On Turo, the host’s listing sets the fuel policy; Turo’s help center tells guests to refill to the check-in level and to photograph the fuel gauge at check-in and checkout, since hosts have 72 hours to invoice for missing fuel plus a $10 inconvenience fee and the photos decide a dispute.
Local quirks
California’s price gap is structural. The state requires its own cleaner-burning gasoline blend produced by a limited set of in-state refineries and layers the highest state fuel taxes and carbon program costs in the country on top, which is why AAA’s California average runs nearly $2 above the national one. The practical quirk at LAX is the Costco on Century Boulevard: it is close enough to the ConRAC that members should treat it as the default last stop, and it is on the natural approach from the east. Non-members should compare the Century-at-Aviation and Century-at-405 clusters on GasBuddy; four brand stations within a quarter mile keeps them honest. Once the car is returned, our guide to LAX lounges by terminal covers the wait.
Pay with the right card
A $6.18-a-gallon tank in Los Angeles should at least earn you points. Gas stations are a bonus category on several Chase Freedom cards, and the points move to Chase Ultimate Rewards. If you are adding a card, you can apply through our Chase referral link for the Chase Freedom cards.
Disclosure: This is our personal Chase referral link. If you’re approved through it, we may earn a referral bonus, at no extra cost to you. You can always apply directly on Chase’s website. See our Advertising & Referral Disclosure.
Our take
Members: Costco Inglewood on Century, then two miles west to the ConRAC. Everyone else: check GasBuddy and pick the cheapest of the four stations where Century meets Aviation and the 405. Never prepay fuel in California, keep the receipt, and photograph the gauge before you hand over the keys.
Related on Points Capital: New Year’s in Los Angeles 2026-27: Rose Parade, Rose Bowl and NYE on Points · How to Find the Cheapest Gas and the Best Credit Cards for Fuel · Turo Deals With Chase and Amex Cards
Sources
- AAA Fuel Prices, California and Los Angeles-Long Beach metro averages
- AAA Fuel Prices, national average
- Los Angeles World Airports, LAX opens Consolidated Rental Car Center, LAWA, ConRAC project page
- AutoSlash, LAX car rental guide (return route and off-airport depot)
- iExit, I-405 Exit 46 Century Blvd. stations, 76 Century Blvd. listing, Mobil Sepulveda Blvd. listing
- Costco Inglewood, Costco Hawthorne
- Avis fuel plans, Avis refueling FAQ, Enterprise fuel options FAQ
- Turo, returning a vehicle and checking out, Turo, refueling invoices for guests
Prices change daily; the averages above are as of the dates shown. Points Capital is not a financial advisor.
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