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Santa Barbara

Cheap Car Hire in Santa Barbara

Driver's age: 25-65
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Cheapflights insights for Santa Barbara car hires

Get relevant, data-driven information to help you hire a car in Santa Barbara, including pricing trends, ideal booking times, and more.

How far in advance should I hire a car in Santa Barbara?

Book your car hire in Santa Barbara 74 days before your pickup date to maximise your savings. Car hire prices are around $82/day on average when booked 74 days ahead, which saves you 24% off the average price.

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What is the best car rental company in Santa Barbara?

Based on Cheapflights user feedback, the highest-rated car hire company in Santa Barbara is Budget (rated 6.9/10 with 48 reviews). Avis (rated 8.6/10 with 16 reviews) is also highly rated by our users.

Budget
Budget
6.9
Avis
Avis
8.6
Enterprise Rent-A-Car
Enterprise Rent-A-Car
8.5
Alamo
Alamo
7.1

What is the cheapest month to hire a car in Santa Barbara?

Planning to hire a car in Santa Barbara? February is the cheapest month, costing about $90 per day. In contrast, July is the most expensive, with an average daily rate of $110. Monthly average car hire prices are listed below. Remember, prices can change based on when you book, the type of car, and availability.

January

$91

February

$90

March

$96

April

$97

May

$93

June

$107

July

$110

August

$102

September

$108

October

$107

November

$102

December

$102

What car do most people hire in Santa Barbara?

SUV cars (Jeep Compass or similar) are the most popular option for those visiting Santa Barbara. Economy cars (Jeep Compass or similar) are also a popular choice, followed by Intermediate cars (Jeep Compass or similar).

Which car hire company has the most locations in Santa Barbara?

Enterprise Rent-A-Car has 3 locations throughout the area, more than any other company. Avis has the second-highest number of locations in Santa Barbara at 2.

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Top hire agencies in Santa Barbara

Explore the leading car hire agencies in Santa Barbara known for their outstanding service and extensive range of vehicles to choose from. There are currently 7 car hire companies in Santa Barbara. Reviews were last updated on 31 October 2025.

Budget

6.9
Okay
48 reviews•2 locations
Check prices
Overview

Cleanliness

7.3

Comfort

7.4

Overall

6.9

Pick-up/drop-off

7.1

Value

7.0

Avis

8.6
Very Good
16 reviews•2 locations
Check prices
Overview

Cleanliness

9.3

Comfort

9.0

Overall

8.6

Pick-up/drop-off

8.6

Value

8.3

Enterprise Rent-A-Car

8.5
Very Good
17 reviews•3 locations
Check prices
Overview

Cleanliness

8.4

Comfort

8.4

Overall

8.5

Pick-up/drop-off

8.2

Value

7.9

Alamo

7.1
Good
10 reviews•1 location
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Overview

Cleanliness

7.0

Comfort

7.4

Overall

7.1

Pick-up/drop-off

7.2

Value

7.2

Hertz

1 location
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Overview

Cleanliness

7.0

Comfort

6.7

Overall

6.1

Pick-up/drop-off

6.1

Value

6.1

National

6.0
Okay
2 reviews•1 location
Check prices
Overview

Cleanliness

10.0

Comfort

10.0

Overall

6.0

Pick-up/drop-off

5.0

Value

6.0

Dollar

2 locations
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Car hire FAQs

Find answers to frequently asked questions about car hires in Santa Barbara, including policies, requirements, and more. FAQs were last updated on 31 October 2025.

  • How much does it cost to hire a car in Santa Barbara for a week from Dollar?

    Dollar is a popular option for travellers looking for car hire in Santa Barbara. You can expect the average cost of car hire to be about $409 per week.

  • Can I rent a car for a month in Santa Barbara?

    Yes, hiring a vehicle in Santa Barbara for a month is certainly possible.

Travelling to a place near Santa Barbara?

Hire a car at Santa Barbara if you plan to visit one of these locations
Newport Beach
Irvine
Malibu
El Segundo
Universal City
Culver City
Hermosa Beach
Simi Valley
West Hollywood
San Juan Capistrano
Monrovia
Laguna Beach
Moreno Valley
Monterey Park
Beverly Hills
Santa Clarita
San Pedro
Oceanside
Arcadia
Dana Point

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