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Santa Barbara

Cheap Car Hire in Santa Barbara

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

Get helpful information to start your search for the perfect car hire in Santa Barbara. The average price data is based on the last 12 months and was last updated on 27 April 2026.

Most popular company

HERTZ

Price of petrol per litre

$1.63

Average price per day

$56

Cheapest price per day

$52
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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 77 days before your pickup date to maximise your savings. Car hire prices are around $78/day on average when booked 77 days ahead, which saves you 17% 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 7.1/10 with 43 reviews). Avis (rated 8.6/10 with 17 reviews) is also highly rated by our users.

Budget
Budget
7.1
Avis
Avis
8.6
Enterprise Rent-A-Car
Enterprise Rent-A-Car
8.4
Dollar
Dollar
8.0

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 $78 per day. In contrast, March is the most expensive, with an average daily rate of $99. Monthly average car hire prices are listed below. Remember, prices can change based on when you book, the type of car, and availability.

January

$78

February

$92

March

$99

April

$90

May

$85

June

$98

July

$99

August

$94

September

$99

October

$99

November

$94

December

$95

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 27 April 2026.

Budget

7.1
Good
43 reviews•2 locations
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Overview

Cleanliness

7.5

Comfort

7.6

Overall

7.1

Pick-up/drop-off

7.3

Value

7.2

Avis

8.6
Very Good
17 reviews•2 locations
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Overview

Cleanliness

9.2

Comfort

8.9

Overall

8.6

Pick-up/drop-off

8.7

Value

8.3

Enterprise Rent-A-Car

8.4
Very Good
15 reviews•3 locations
Check prices
Overview

Cleanliness

8.3

Comfort

8.3

Overall

8.4

Pick-up/drop-off

8.1

Value

7.9

Dollar

8.0
Very Good
8 reviews•2 locations
Check prices
Overview

Cleanliness

8.0

Comfort

8.0

Overall

8.0

Pick-up/drop-off

6.0

Value

8.0

Alamo

7.1
Good
8 reviews•1 location
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Overview

Cleanliness

6.9

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

6.0

Value

6.2

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

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 27 April 2026.

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

    In the past two weeks, Cheapflights users have found many deals under $56/day when booking a car hire in Santa Barbara. The absolute best deal a user found was for $52/day from Thrifty, booked on Apr. 25.

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

    Thrifty 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 $358 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
West Hollywood
Costa Mesa
Newport Beach
Carlsbad
Malibu
Culver City
Hermosa Beach
Simi Valley
Monrovia
Universal City
Irvine
El Segundo
San Juan Capistrano
Laguna Beach
Monterey Park
Beverly Hills
Moreno Valley
Santa Clarita
Arcadia
Inglewood

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