KNBC-TV says the 19-year-old man was hospitalised in critical condition and told paramedics that he intentionally drove of the cliff.
Authorities were called to the scene at about 2 a.M. yesterday, local time. They found the car being slammed by waves.
Firefighters, lifeguards and local police helped in the rescue. The driver was finally pulled free and flown to a hospital.
The crash site is on the Palos Verdes Peninsula, about 32 kilometres south of downtown Los Angeles.