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Santa Barbara

Cheap Car Hire in Santa Barbara from $90

This price is the cheapest per day rate found by a Cheapflights user in the last 48 hours by searching for a car hire in Santa Barbara with a pick-up date of 7/2 and drop-off date of 9/2. Fares are subject to change and may not be available at all agencies or on all dates of hire. Click the price to replicate the search for this deal.
Driver's age: 26-65
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Santa Barbara car hires in 2025

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 8 January 2025.

Most popular company

AVIS

Price of petrol per litre

$1.44

Average price per day

$229

Cheapest price per day

$90

What is the cheapest time to rent a car in Santa Barbara?

Discover the most affordable period to rent a car in Santa Barbara and save money on your trip. The monthly average price data is based on historical data over the last year and was last updated on 8 January 2025.

January

$79

February

$89

March

$92

April

$86

May

$95

June

$103

July

$116

August

$105

September

$107

October

$107

November

$103

December

$105

Currently, the cheapest month to rent a car in Santa Barbara is January. The most expensive time to rent a car is July. The cheapest prices for each month are shown above, but prices will vary based on availability, how far out you book your rental car, and of course, car type.

Popular car types in Santa Barbara

Explore the most popular car models available for hire in Santa Barbara and choose the one that suits your needs. The price data is sourced from various car hire companies and was last updated on 8 January 2025.

At $90/day, small car 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, 13 hire locations. View below for 6 offered car types:

Economy

Economy

Compact

Compact

Intermediate

Intermediate

Full-size

Full-size

People mover

People mover

Full-size SUV

Full-size SUV

Luxury

Luxury

Convertible

Convertible

Compare available car types for hire in Santa Barbara

Compare and contrast the various car types offered for hire in Santa Barbara to find the perfect fit for your trip. Price data is based on averages over the last 12 months and was last updated on 8 January 2025.

Small cars

$40 - $150

All Car Types

$40 - $167

To hire a small car in Santa Barbara, the United States, you would pay an average price of $48/day. October is the cheapest month to hire a small car in Santa Barbara, the United States (~$40/day), while the most expensive month to hire that same car type is August (~$150/day). In fact, October is about 19% cheaper than prices during the rest of the year to book a small car hire for Santa Barbara. When comparing with other car types available for hire in Santa Barbara, hiring a small car saves you 44% in costs. Please note that average prices are based on historical data and can vary depending on how early you book, availability for your travel dates, and vehicle popularity. Here are the best Santa Barbara small car hire prices found by Cheapflights users in the past 7 days:

To hire a medium car in Santa Barbara, the United States, you would pay an average price of $71/day. December is the cheapest month to hire a medium car in Santa Barbara, the United States (~$40/day), while the most expensive month to hire that same car type is May (~$189/day). In fact, December is about 45% cheaper than prices during the rest of the year to book a medium car hire for Santa Barbara. When comparing with other car types available for hire in Santa Barbara, hiring a medium car saves you 18% in costs. Please note that average prices are based on historical data and can vary depending on how early you book, availability for your travel dates, and vehicle popularity. Here are the best Santa Barbara medium car hire prices found by Cheapflights users in the past 7 days:

To hire a SUV in Santa Barbara, the United States, you would pay an average price of $76/day. December is the cheapest month to hire a SUV in Santa Barbara, the United States (~$40/day), while the most expensive month to hire that same car type is May (~$201/day). In fact, December is about 49% cheaper than prices during the rest of the year to book a SUV hire for Santa Barbara. When comparing with other car types available for hire in Santa Barbara, hiring a SUV saves you 12% in costs. Please note that average prices are based on historical data and can vary depending on how early you book, availability for your travel dates, and vehicle popularity. Here are the best Santa Barbara SUV hire prices found by Cheapflights users in the past 7 days:

Kia Rio$90/day
4
4
M
A/C
Kia Rio
Skoda Fabia$90/day
2
M
A/C
Skoda Fabia

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 8 car hire companies in Santa Barbara. Reviews were last updated on 8 January 2025.
Choose from the top car hire agencies available in Santa Barbara, including Budget, Avis and Enterprise Rent-A-Car. Be sure to do your research on pricing, reviews, pickup locations, and other important criteria before choosing.

Budget

6.8
Okay
52 reviews2 locations
Overview

Cleanliness

7.3

Comfort

7.3

Overall

6.8

Pick-up/drop-off

7.0

Value

6.9

Avis

8.4
Very Good
17 reviews2 locations
Overview

Cleanliness

9.1

Comfort

9.0

Overall

8.3

Pick-up/drop-off

8.4

Value

8.1

Enterprise Rent-A-Car

8.2
Very Good
20 reviews3 locations
Overview

Cleanliness

8.1

Comfort

8.1

Overall

8.3

Pick-up/drop-off

8.0

Value

7.8

Alamo

8.0
Very Good
12 reviews1 location
Overview

Cleanliness

7.9

Comfort

8.3

Overall

8.0

Pick-up/drop-off

8.1

Value

8.0

Hertz

6.1
Okay
3 reviews1 location
Overview

Cleanliness

6.8

Comfort

6.7

Overall

6.1

Pick-up/drop-off

6.1

Value

6.2

National

6.0
Okay
2 reviews1 location
Overview

Cleanliness

10.0

Comfort

10.0

Overall

6.0

Pick-up/drop-off

5.0

Value

6.0

Dollar

5.7
Fair
14 reviews2 locations

Sunnycars

1 location

Best Santa Barbara car hire deals found

Browse through a selection of recently found affordable car hire deals in Santa Barbara. Plan your trip with ease and find the perfect hire option for your needs. There are currently 8 hire car agencies in Santa Barbara with an average daily rate of $136. Data was last updated on 8 January 2025.
Some of the most attractive options when it comes to hiring a car in Santa Barbara. Double check the details of your car hire reservation before booking to ensure no unwanted surprises.
Kia Rio$90/day
4
4
M
A/C
Kia Rio
Skoda Fabia$90/day
2
M
A/C
Skoda Fabia
Toyota Camry$92/day
5
M
A/C
Toyota Camry

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 8 January 2025.
  • What is the cheapest hire car found in Santa Barbara?

    In the past two weeks, Cheapflights users have found many deals under $229/day when booking a car hire in Santa Barbara. The absolute best deal a user found was for $212/day from Avis, booked on Jan. 5.

  • What car hire company is typically the cheapest in Santa Barbara?

    According to our data, users have found the cheapest deals when booking a rental car in Santa Barbara from the following companies over the past two weeks: Avis ($90/day), Turo ($92/day), and Budget ($153/day).

  • Which car hire company is considered to be the best in Santa Barbara?

    Taking our users’ ratings and reviews into consideration, Avis (8.4 rating), Enterprise Rent-A-Car (8.2 rating) and Alamo (7.9 rating) seem to be the best car hire companies in Santa Barbara.

  • What are petrol prices like in Santa Barbara?

    The average price of petrol in Santa Barbara is $1.44/litre over the past month, costing you anywhere between $65 and $94 to fill up a car’s fuel tank.

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

    Avis 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 $1,606 per week.

  • How far in advance should I hire a car in Santa Barbara for the best price?

    Booking your car hire early can save you up to 39%. Aim to book your car hire at least 87 days in advance to take advantage of a below average price in Santa Barbara.

  • 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 $6,883. Check Cheapflights to compare pricing and options for your rental car.

  • How much is a car hire in Santa Barbara for a weekend?

    Car hire prices in Santa Barbara are typically $0 for the weekend. On Cheapflights, you’ll be able to find great car hire deals on any type of vehicle. However, consider hiring a Compact to save money on your trip to $0. Our users have found prices for Compact car hire in February to be on average $0 per day.

  • What car do most people hire in Santa Barbara?

    The majority of Cheapflights travellers prefer to hire a Economy (Ford Fiesta) in Santa Barbara, making it the most popular option.

Luxury car hires in Santa Barbara

Find luxury car hire deals in Santa Barbara from well-known providers in the area and save on gas mileage with the options provided below. luxury car hires in Santa Barbara cost an average of $171 per day. Price data was last updated on 8 January 2025.
Some of the best deals we've found on upscale car hires in Santa Barbara. Double check the dates, pricing, and other key information of your reservation to make sure they're correct before proceeding.
Mercedes-Benz E-Class$125/day
5
M
A/C
Mercedes-Benz E-Class
Mercedes-Benz E-Class$135/day
5
M
A/C
Mercedes-Benz E-Class
Mercedes-Benz E-Class$137/day
5
M
A/C
Mercedes-Benz E-Class

Car hires by fuel type in Santa Barbara

Browse car hires by fuel type in Santa Barbara. Currently, Electric cars are the cheapest to rent in Santa Barbara. Deals were last updated on 8 January 2025.

Browse through car hire deals by fuel type in Santa Barbara. There are currently 2 fuel types to choose from with Electric being the cheapest ($52+).

Electric

Electric

Hybrid

Hybrid

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