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Santa Barbara

Cheap Car Hire in Santa Barbara from $69

Driver's age: 25-65
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Santa Barbara car hires in 2026

Most popular company

BUDGET

Price of petrol per litre

$1.74

Average price per day

$94

Cheapest price per day

$69
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Popular car types in Santa Barbara

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At $69/day, SUV is the cheapest car type available for hire in Santa Barbara in the past week. Out of 8 car hire agencies operating in Santa Barbara, there are, in total, 12 hire locations. View below for 6 offered car types:

Economy

Economy

$119+

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Compact

Compact

$110+

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Intermediate

Intermediate

$111+

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Full-size

Full-size

$122+

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People mover

People mover

$152+

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Full-size SUV

Full-size SUV

$142+

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Passenger van

Passenger van

$152+

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Luxury

Luxury

$97+

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Best car hire deals found in Santa Barbara

Mitsubishi Outlander$69/day
Mitsubishi Outlander
Found 11/12/26
Toyota RAV4$93/day
Toyota RAV4
Found 11/12/26
Toyota Highlander$97/day
Toyota Highlander
Found 11/12/26

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 88 days before your pickup date to maximise your savings. Car hire prices are around $74/day on average when booked 88 days ahead, which saves you 11% off the average price.

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What is the cheapest car hire company in Santa Barbara?

In Santa Barbara, the most affordable car hire company right now is Budget, offering prices from just $46.62/day over the past two weeks. Another budget-friendly choice is Alamo, with rates starting at $72.56/day.

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 7.0/10 with 38 reviews). Avis (rated 9.0/10 with 15 reviews) is also highly rated by our users.

Budget
Budget
7.0
Avis
Avis
9.0
Enterprise Rent-A-Car
Enterprise Rent-A-Car
8.7
Alamo
Alamo
8.5

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

Planning to hire a car in Santa Barbara? January is the cheapest month, costing about $84 per day. In contrast, October is the most expensive, with an average daily rate of $106. Monthly average car hire prices are listed below. Remember, prices can change based on when you book, the type of car, and availability.

January

$84

February

$97

March

$105

April

$96

May

$96

June

$99

July

$94

August

$94

September

$94

October

$106

November

$96

December

$102

What car do most people hire in Santa Barbara?

SUV cars (Chevrolet Equinox or similar) are the most popular option for those visiting Santa Barbara. Passenger van cars (Chrysler Pacifica or similar) are also a popular choice, followed by Intermediate cars (Honda Civic 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

Budget

7.0
Good
38 reviews•2 locations
Check prices
Overview

Cleanliness

7.7

Comfort

7.8

Overall

7.0

Pick-up/drop-off

7.4

Value

7.1

Avis

9.0
Wonderful
15 reviews•2 locations
Check prices
Overview

Cleanliness

9.3

Comfort

9.1

Overall

9.0

Pick-up/drop-off

9.1

Value

8.5

Enterprise Rent-A-Car

8.7
Very Good
12 reviews•3 locations
Check prices
Overview

Cleanliness

8.7

Comfort

8.5

Overall

8.7

Pick-up/drop-off

8.3

Value

8.4

Alamo

8.5
Very Good
4 reviews•1 location
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Overview

Cleanliness

8.3

Comfort

8.3

Overall

8.5

Pick-up/drop-off

8.3

Value

8.1

Hertz

1 location
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Overview

Cleanliness

8.1

Comfort

7.7

Overall

7.2

Pick-up/drop-off

7.2

Value

7.4

National

6.0
Okay
2 reviews•1 location
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Overview

Cleanliness

10.0

Comfort

10.0

Overall

6.0

Pick-up/drop-off

5.0

Value

6.0

Thrifty

1 location
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Dollar

5.0
Fair
3 reviews•1 location
Check prices
Overview

Cleanliness

5.0

Comfort

5.0

Overall

5.0

Pick-up/drop-off

4.0

Value

5.0

Car hire FAQs

  • What is the cheapest hire car found in Santa Barbara?

    In the past two weeks, Cheapflights users have found many deals under $94/day when booking a car hire in Santa Barbara. The absolute best deal a user found was for $66/day from Budget, booked on Nov. 7.

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

    Budget 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 $658 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.

  • How much does it cost to rent a car in Santa Barbara for a month?

    The average cost of a car hire in Santa Barbara for a month is $2,819. Check Cheapflights to compare pricing and options for your rental car.

Travelling to a place near Santa Barbara?

Hire a car at Santa Barbara if you plan to visit one of these locations
West Hollywood
Newport Beach
Costa Mesa
El Segundo
Carlsbad
Malibu
Beverly Hills
Culver City
Van Nuys
San Juan Capistrano
Irvine
Inglewood
Laguna Beach
Moreno Valley
Santa Clarita
San Pedro
Woodland Hills
Universal City
Oceanside
Dana Point

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