Looking for cheap car hire deals in Santa Barbara? Search right here on momondo!
Same drop-off
Driver's age: 25-65
Discover deals from car hire companies in 70,000+ locations with momondo.
Voted the Winner of Europe's Best Travel App 2023
Car hire insight and trends in Santa Barbara
Useful insights to help you book the perfect car hire in Santa Barbara
Companies
Other Information
What is the cheapest car hire agency in Santa Barbara?
The cheapest car hire in Santa Barbara are generally found through Budget. When booking with Budget, you may be able to find car hire prices for as low as €24/day. The average price to hire a car in Santa Barbara is €24/day.
What car do most people hire in Santa Barbara?
When hiring a car in Santa Barbara, most of our users will opt for the Toyota RAV4 at €60/day on average. The second most popular is the Nissan Rogue car hire for an average of €69/day. Our users have found Toyota RAV4 hires in Santa Barbara for as low as €24/day and Nissan Rogue hires for as low as €29/day.
Santa Barbara, California car hire deals found on momondo
Find the car hire in Santa Barbara that's right for you
Small
Medium
Large
4x4
Van
Pickup truck
Luxury
Convertible
Small cars
€41 - €55
All Car Types
€64 - €89
The average price of a small car hire in Santa Barbara, the United States is €48. The cheapest time to hire a small car in Santa Barbara, the United States is in January. The price is 15% lower than the rest of the year at just €41 per day. A small car rental is typically 40% less expensive than the average rental car in Santa Barbara. The average price of a car hire in Santa Barbara can vary based on a number of factors including supply, popularity of the vehicle, and how far out you book your car hire.
The average price of a medium car hire in Santa Barbara, the United States is €60. The cheapest time to hire a medium car in Santa Barbara, the United States is in January. The price is 15% lower than the rest of the year at just €51 per day. A medium car rental is typically 25% less expensive than the average rental car in Santa Barbara. The average price of a car hire in Santa Barbara can vary based on a number of factors including supply, popularity of the vehicle, and how far out you book your car hire.
The average price of a large car hire in Santa Barbara, the United States is €62. The cheapest time to hire a large car in Santa Barbara, the United States is in January. The price is 16% lower than the rest of the year at just €53 per day. A large car rental is typically 21% less expensive than the average rental car in Santa Barbara. The average price of a car hire in Santa Barbara can vary based on a number of factors including supply, popularity of the vehicle, and how far out you book your car hire.
The average price of a SUV hire in Santa Barbara, the United States is €88. The cheapest time to hire a SUV in Santa Barbara, the United States is in January. The price is 25% lower than the rest of the year at just €67 per day. A SUV rental is typically 12% more expensive than the average rental car in Santa Barbara. The average price of a car hire in Santa Barbara can vary based on a number of factors including supply, popularity of the vehicle, and how far out you book your car hire.
The average price of a van hire in Santa Barbara, the United States is €135. The cheapest time to hire a van in Santa Barbara, the United States is in March. The price is 20% lower than the rest of the year at just €109 per day. A van rental is typically 42% more expensive than the average rental car in Santa Barbara. The average price of a car hire in Santa Barbara can vary based on a number of factors including supply, popularity of the vehicle, and how far out you book your car hire.
The average price of a pickup truck hire in Santa Barbara, the United States is €61. The cheapest time to hire a pickup truck in Santa Barbara, the United States is in July. The price is 47% lower than the rest of the year at just €33 per day. A pickup truck rental is typically 22% less expensive than the average rental car in Santa Barbara. The average price of a car hire in Santa Barbara can vary based on a number of factors including supply, popularity of the vehicle, and how far out you book your car hire.
The average price of a luxury car hire in Santa Barbara, the United States is €88. The cheapest time to hire a luxury car in Santa Barbara, the United States is in January. The price is 19% lower than the rest of the year at just €72 per day. A luxury car rental is typically 11% more expensive than the average rental car in Santa Barbara. The average price of a car hire in Santa Barbara can vary based on a number of factors including supply, popularity of the vehicle, and how far out you book your car hire.
The average price of a convertible hire in Santa Barbara, the United States is €97. The cheapest time to hire a convertible in Santa Barbara, the United States is in January. The price is 15% lower than the rest of the year at just €83 per day. A convertible rental is typically 19% more expensive than the average rental car in Santa Barbara. The average price of a car hire in Santa Barbara can vary based on a number of factors including supply, popularity of the vehicle, and how far out you book your car hire.
Santa Barbara car hire directory
All major car hire suppliers in Santa Barbara, California
Excellent customer service at the Santa Barbara airport location.
2.0
Poor|May 2023
Didn’t have the car I ordered. Car they gave me hadn’t been cleaned and it was blocked in by 5 other cars, so took 30 minutes to get out.
10.0
Wonderful|Apr 2023
Friendly helpful staff
2.0
Poor|Mar 2023
We asked for no insurance as we carry our own. It was added and at $25 a day it added 25% to our total bill. As a courtesy the return assistant deducted $40.
Able to pick up downtown Santa Barbara on a Saturday. Friendly staff, easy pick up and drop off, brand new car (1700 mi). No hassle rental.
10.0
Wonderful|Sept 2022
Easy pick and up and drop off. New and clean car, gas tank full, great experience as always!
8.0
Very Good|Jul 2022
The pick up line was pretty Long at SBC. Attendant worked as best as able with number of people.
10.0
Wonderful|Jul 2022
Seth was excellent
6.0
Okay|Jul 2022
Loved the Mustang. Perfect car for a California road trip. I had reserved a convertible, however, and because I arrived 6 hours after my reserved pick-up time, I had to settle for a hardtop. My fault (though I really had no idea about timing when I booked the trip months ago), but I felt a bit overcharged paying the same price as a convertible. Sure, Avis puts them in the same class, but obviously, convertibles are far rarer as leased vehicles and should cost more. That's life, I guess. My other comment is I dearly wish Avis rented vehicles with manual transmissions. I realize it's a dying breed because fat, lazy Americans only know how to drive automatics, but why encourage such sloth? Distinguish yourselves in the marketplace by offering a few sticks. At purchase, such cars are a bit cheaper anyway, and you can rent them for the same or more than an automatic, so it's win-win for everyone. Giving in to American tastes is just lowering the bar. These people still buy minivans and eat at McDonald's, and no one ever went broke underestimating consumers in this nation. All of which is to say, offer more manuals, please.
They were short cars but still made sure I got a nice car and on my way. Very nice at the Santa Barbara location and Santa Maria as well. Thank you. Both agents super helpful.
10.0
Wonderful|Apr 2023
Great team. Thanks!
2.0
Poor|Nov 2022
They did not have a car available and we could not reach our destination as scheduled. Our vacation was ruined.
4.0
Mediocre|Oct 2022
The car we had reserved was not available and the only other car was a mini-van. We went to another car rental agency.
6.0
Okay|Jun 2022
Was ok.. was told didnt have a van at first then i got a bit bothered and a van showed up.. lady that helped me at last was nice
10.0
Wonderful|Apr 2022
The staff was fantastic! Did not get his name but he was superior! He had been there a year& he us currently assistant manager! Tall very sociable knowledgeable person! Will try to get his name & send in to you!
Terrible booking , no explanation why I could not book , left counter walked next counter to hertz to get a car … Fk Alamo
10.0
Wonderful|Aug 2022
easy processing. great staff.
1.9
Poor|Sept 2021
Despite having a confirmed reservation, there was no cars available to me when I arrived at the counter. I was referred to a competitor at the next door counter where I ended up paying more, but at least I got a car!
5.9
Fair|Aug 2021
My rental car was not clean on the inside or outside. I’m not as concerned with the outside because I understand that’s harder to control, but I expected the inside to be spotless given the current state of the world. Instead, it was dusty, had sticky spots from a spilled beverage (I’m assuming), & dirt footprints throughout the car, such as on the passenger side (where I have not been sitting, or had a passenger). Additionally, there were no disinfecting wipes in the car for me to use to clean, which I’ve received in other rentals during the pandemic, so I had to use the ones I’d packed myself to clean the inside of the car to my comfort. It felt as if the car had just been dropped off by the previous renter, then handed off to me. I know there is a rental car shortage, & cars are in much higher demand right now as travel resumes, but as a renter I would hope that my safety is the highest priority! Adding this on top of what I paid for this rental car, I will not rent from Alamo again.
2.0
Poor|Jun 2021
I only had a debit card, no notes were given on needing a actual credit card online ( unless you are flying into SB airport lol) but was told that the down town location would take debit. ( which makes no sense.) Desk person would not help call downtown location to see if they had any vehicles like I had reserved at the airport location. Not willing to help. Poor customer service.
Car was clean, comfortable and economical. Transfers were effortless
10.0
Wonderful|Jun 2022
Fortunately not a long wait and we enjoyed the car!
2.0
Poor|Nov 2021
ended up somehow being a non changeable/transferrable reservation and I had covid related travel issues. I will never book with Kayak or Dollar again after this, and have been enjoying working directly with Enterprise
3.9
Poor|Sept 2021
Dollar in Santa Barbara, California did not have a car ready for me, where I was told there would be a 45 minute wait. It turned out to be 30, but in the meantime the staff seemed to indicate I had all this trouble since I went through PriceLine. I wanted to reduce the number of days I would keep the car, and they proceeded to name 3 different prices as a result of the change, each was more than I had paid through PriceLine. The additional cost were a host of taxes that were not included in the PriceLine amount I paid that amounted to an additional 20%.
10.0
Wonderful|Sept 2021
Manager at the Santa Barbara Airport was very helpful. 7 am pickup, car ready by 7:30 which was perfect. Their cars are older, mine was a 2019 with over 50K miles but got us safely from Santa Barbara to LA and then to San Diego.
1 out of 2
Dollar Locations in Santa Barbara
Driving with a car hire in Santa Barbara - FAQs
Learn everything there is to know about hiring a car in Santa Barbara so you can be properly prepared for your next trip
Is there a fee to cancel my Santa Barbara, California car hire?
The majority of the Santa Barbara car hire agencies that we partner with do not have a cancellation fee. This means that if your plans change unexpectedly, many car hire centres in Santa Barbara such as Budget, Hertz, and Avis often offer cancellation free of charge based on when you booked.
What is the speed limit in Santa Barbara, California?
The speed limit in Santa Barbara is 40 km/h, unless otherwise stated on road signs. Santa Barbara also has a suburban speed limit of 120 km/h which is strictly enforced. If you find yourself on a motorway in Santa Barbara, be aware that the speed limit is generally 120 km/h.
What car hire company has the Dodge Durango in Santa Barbara?
Budget has the Dodge Durango (and other similar SUV vehicles) for hire in Santa Barbara. You can expect to hire the Dodge Durango in Santa Barbara from Budget for €62/day on average.
What is the weather like in Santa Barbara, CA in June?
During the month of June the average temperature in Santa Barbara is 16 °C and the expected precipitation is 0 mm. This information is useful for travellers looking for a car hire in Santa Barbara.
Is the weather in Santa Barbara similar to the rest of California?
The climate in California during June is usually 20 °C with an expected 2.9 mm of precipitation throughout the month. Those looking to hire a car and leave from Santa Barbara on a road trip to the surrounding area should take note of this information.
When did momondo last update prices for cars in Santa Barbara?
Prices for cars in Santa Barbara refresh daily.
How many operators does momondo search for cars in Santa Barbara?
As of June 2026, there are 12 operators available to choose from for cars in Santa Barbara.
How old do you have to be to hire a car in Santa Barbara?
Among different countries, including Santa Barbara, the minimum age for drivers varies. In numerous EU countries, drivers must be 18 years old. To hire a car overseas, you'll generally need to be at least 21, and if you're under 25, a young driver surcharge may be imposed. It's recommended that you review the policy of the hire company you're considering before booking.
What documentation or ID do you need to hire a car in Santa Barbara?
All drivers must have a valid full driving license when hiring a car in Santa Barbara. If the license is written in a different language from the country of hire, an International Driving Permit may be required to avoid the risk of potential fines. If you're hiring a car overseas, you may also need to provide proof of return travel and accommodation information during your stay. It is always advisable to check with the individual hire company you're booking with.
Travelling to a place near Santa Barbara?
Hire a car at Santa Barbara if you plan to visit one of these locations
Redlands
Manhattan Beach
Avalon
Carpinteria
Seal Beach
Why use momondo?
Why should I use momondo to book a car hire in Santa Barbara?
You should use momondo to book a car hire in Santa Barbara because it could save you time and money. momondo fetches and allows you to compare car hire prices and policies from thousands of car hire websites.
How does momondo help me find the best car hire deal in Santa Barbara?
Once you have performed a search for a car hire in Santa Barbara, momondo will show the results and enable you to find the best deal by using our filters; here you can narrow your search down by vehicle type, price, agencies and a multitude of policies that can apply.
Does momondo show car hire deals in Santa Barbara with free cancellation?
Of course! momondo has a dedicated filter for users to specifically look at car hire in Santa Barbara which offer free cancellation.
Can I hire a car with a fair fuel policy in Santa Barbara on momondo?
Yes, fair fuel policies are a specific filter offered on momondo for all car hire locations including Santa Barbara.
Can I find a car hire in Santa Barbara which offers enhanced cleaning on momondo?
You certainly can. momondo has a dedicated filter for enhanced cleaning services for all car hire locations including Santa Barbara.
Can I search for car hire in Santa Barbara with unlimited mileage on momondo?
Yes, unlimited mileage options can be found on car hire in Santa Barbara on momondo.
An easier way to manage your Santa Barbara trip
We make it super easy to schedule, organise and travel with friends or family. Trips is free – and available to use no matter where you book.
momondo and its partners wish to use cookies or similar technologies to store and/or access information on and about your device and process personal data such as your IP address, device identifiers etc., in order to improve your experience on the site, to analyse navigation, to offer and measure personalised advertising, and to facilitate sharing on social networks. We also allow the use of third-party cookies (including those from our advertising partners) on our sites.
By clicking 'Accept', you consent to your data being processed by 0 vendors on this web site for the purposes described in this notice. You can review the vendors and their individual processing purposes on the .
To review individual processing purposes and cookie categories, please click ’Select individual purposes’. You can review your choices and withdraw your consent at any time by clicking the ’Privacy Preferences’ link in the page side navigation.