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    • Customer ratings 8.9 / 10
  • Over 1 million successful rentals

Car Hire Santa Barbara

Save time and money. We compare the offers of car rental companies in Santa Barbara on your behalf.

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  • Free cancellation Up to 48 hours prior to the scheduled pick up time
  • Best price guarantee Have you found a better price? Let us know and we will make you a better offer.
  • Already 500,000+ bookings More than half a million people preceded you 24000+ pick-up locations Locations around the world
  • 24000+ pick-up locations Locations around the world
Up to 20% discount on rental cars worldwide This promotion is valid until November 13, 2024 - take advantage of it today!
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Popular rental locations in Santa Barbara

The following rental locations are the most popular for renting a car in Santa Barbara

Car hire Santa Barbara Airport

Car rental companies in Santa Barbara

Below are the car rental companies in Santa Barbara with the best ratings. Compare all ratings and prices of these rental companies in one search.

  • National Car Rental

    9.5 (431)
    No rates available

  • Enterprise

    8.7 (2088)
    No rates available

  • Avis

    8 (6438)
    No rates available

  • Hertz

    7.9 (7425)
    No rates available

  • Dollar Rent a Car

    7.7 (4627)
    No rates available

  • Budget

    7.3 (10165)
    No rates available

  • Alamo

    8.9 (9281)
    No rates available

  • Thrifty

    7.3 (5841)
    No rates available

  • National

    No reviews
    No rates available
Customer experience
Good and reliable company for renting a car abroad
Easy website, easy phone contact when I had questions. Everything well-organized. Friendly staff. Have rented a car through this company several times and have always been very satisfied.

Recent reviews

Our customers rate us a 8.9/10 out of 2259

Your service is good

Your service is good
S
SARAH ROBBIE
Dollar Rent a Car San Francisco Airport

No issues with the reservation

No issues with the reservation, thank you
H
Hussam Dean Zamzam
Car Rental Cafe San Diego Airport

Fine.

Fine.
A
Antony
Dollar Rent a Car Los Angeles International Airport

Excellent website and I will

Excellent website and I will continue to use you for all my overseas travel. I particularly like your Worry Free option.
D
DAVID
Sixt Los Angeles International Airport

Very friendly platform

Very friendly platform
E
ENRIQUE
Avis San Diego Airport

Everything was good. Thank you))

Everything was good. Thank you))
V
VLADIMIR
Sixt Los Angeles International Airport

Easy

Easy
I
IAIN
Avis San Francisco Airport

None

None
A
ANDREW
Budget Los Angeles International Airport

Always use site. Best price

Always use site. Best price usually
M
MATTHEW
Alamo Los Angeles International Airport

No problems. Just the usual

No problems. Just the usual excellent service.
G
GEORGE
Budget Palm Springs Airport

Great website, easy to use

Great website, easy to use, will definitely use again
E
ELAINE
Alamo Los Angeles International Airport

Booking process was fine -

Booking process was fine - but misleading information about Hertz being 'in-terminal' - this led to booking an off-terminal company, which is what I deliberately tried to avoid.
I
IAN
Hertz Los Angeles International Airport

Really good company I have

Really good company I have used them a number of times and always had good quality service and great prices, I would certainly recommend them.
R
RICHARD
Alamo Los Angeles International Airport

Everything was fine thanks

Everything was fine thanks
M
MALCOLM
Dollar Rent a Car San Francisco Airport

Great rental deal including all

Great rental deal including all relevant insurance.
C
CHRISTINE
Alamo 750 Bush St

Car rental companies in and around Santa Barbara

Looking for a hire car in United States? Take a look at our Car rental United States directory.

Santa Barbara

Available locations in Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara Airport
Fess Parkers Double Tree

Santa Barbara Guide

Santa Barbara is a charming city with strong Mediterranean Spanish influences. Located on California’s Pacific central coast, it is graced with wonderful white sand beaches, and its history is preserved in beautiful old buildings.

The city’s most outstanding feature is its beaches. East Beach and West Beach are both extremely popular, with designated picnic areas and volleyball courts adding to their natural attractions.

Santa Barbara’s historical highlight is the Santa Barbara Mission, built by the Chumash Indians over 200 years ago. It is perched on a hilltop, with wonderful views over the city and the Pacific Ocean. The building itself is a superb blend of Spanish and Indian architectural styles, and is aesthetically pleasing.

Another point of historical interest is El Presidio de Santa Barbara State Historic Park, where the oldest building in Santa Barbara &endash; and the second oldest in California &endash; is located. More contemporary attractions are the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History, featuring the Gladwin Planetarium, and the gorgeous Santa Barbara Orchid Estate.

The Santa Barbara waterfront area is home to Stearns Wharf, the state’s oldest functioning wharf, and to the Waterfront Arts and Crafts Show, held every Sunday. This is an excellent place for shopping, with arts and crafts of all descriptions on display. Alternatively, the wharf is a great place to observe the comings and goings of the fishing boats, or to take a gentle stroll.

Just outside of the city are Leadbetter and Arroyo Burro beaches, both offering great bodysurfing and surfing. Arroyo Burro Beach is an exquisite white crescent beach nestled below rugged cliffs.

Los Angeles is easily accessible from Santa Barbara, and is only an hour away by car. This fabulous city has unlimited offerings to excite and delight visitors, with delectable restaurants, endless entertainment venues, and the enticing suburbs of Hollywood, Malibu, Venice Beach and Beverly Hills all within its limits.

Santa Barbara is located on US 101, the fastest direct route to the city from the north or south. I-5 and I-10 are alternative routes into the city. Santa Barbara is serviced daily by Amtrak trains and Greyhound buses, both of which have extensive networks across the country. Santa Barbara Municipal Airport is located in Goleta, about 10 minutes north of central Santa Barbara. Additionally, Los Angeles’ airport is also located nearby.

Practical information

  • Currency
    United States Dollar
  • Driving direction
    Right
  • City speed limit
    25 - 70 km/h
  • Freeway speed limit
    90 - 130 km/h
  • Language
    English
  • Popular car category
    Intermediate

What most people want to know

The following questions and answers are a selection of the most popular questions. If you do not find the answer to your question, have a look at the Frequently Asked Questions page or contact us.

Is Carrentals.co.uk the cheapest?

Yes, we offer a guarantee of the lowest price - because we compare various retailers, we can always offer you the best price in town.

 What do I need to do when picking up a car?

To pick up your car, you will need your voucher, passport, driver's license and a credit card. It is very important that your driver's license and credit card are in the same name as the main driver. Keep in mind that the local rental company will reserve a certain amount on your credit card as a deposit. This requires the PIN code for your credit card. If your driver's license is foreign (for example, in Chinese), you must bring a translation with you. Only your original passport and driver's license will be accepted - a copy is not sufficient.

 Are there any additional costs?

In general, our rates are all-inclusive. Should there be any additional costs, our booking department will get in touch with you before issuing the invoice. Should you object, you can always cancel your reservation with no obligations attached (at least 48 hours in advance).

What kind of insurance is applicable to my car rental?

In general, Liability Insurance, Fire Insurance, All-Risks Insurance and Theft Insurance are included in the cost of your rental car.

 What is a worry-free label?

Only rental companies with a high level of customer satisfaction are eligible to be included in our Worry-Free selection. This rate includes excess cover and unlimited kilometres. Your vehicle will be provided and must be returned with a full tank of fuel. With a vehicle from our Worry-Free selection, you can travel with peace of mind and no hidden costs.

 How can I change or cancel my reservation?

You can cancel your reservation through "My Account". We recommend contacting us by phone if your changes to your booking or cancellation takes place at short notice (48 hours or less).

 When will I get a confirmation of my booking?

Most reservations will receive confirmation within minutes after payment takes place. We recommend contacting our Booking Department for last minute reservations (pick-up within 48 hours).

 Which car rental companies are compared by Carrentals.co.uk at this location?
  • National Car Rental
  • Enterprise
  • Avis
  • Hertz
  • Dollar Rent a Car
  • Budget
  • Alamo
  • Thrifty
  • National
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