Cheap car rentals in Monterey
| Mini |
| Economy |
| Compact |
| Intermediate |
| Standard |
| Full-size |
| Luxury |
| Minivan |
| Passenger Van |
| SUV |
| Commercial |
| Pick-up truck |
Top tips for renting a car in Monterey
- We recommend renting cheap car rentals in Monterey when in town. You can freely explore the city at your pace and take day trips outside the city. Day trips to Big Sur in normal traffic take about 45min and cover about 28 miles. Explore Big Sur’s rugged coastline, gorgeous peaks, and magnificent scenery. About 55 miles from Monterey is Pinnacles National Park, a 1h 10min drive via US 101 S. Just under 1h drive north from Monterey is Mystery Spot, about 45 miles away. Also 49 miles north of the city is the Roaring Camp Railroads, about 1h drive in normal traffic.
- Some roads in Monterey require patient and conservative driving as they can be twisty. State Route 1 is extraordinarily scenic but one with several stretches and tight turns. Through Big Sur, you will encounter tight runs and stretches. Make sure to slow down when entering Big Sur, be alert, and have both your hands on the steering wheel. If there is fog or it's getting dark, avoid going through Big Sur with Monterey car rentals as the road gets more dangerous due to the lower visibility. Before using the Big Sur Route during winter, check if it is open, as rockslides can close the route periodically.
- Several main roads linking Monterey to other cities can help you access them. State Highway 1 connects Monterey to Santa Cruz in the north and Big Sur in the south. Also, it links the city to Morro Bay and San Luis Obispo. The US 101 is another road linking the city to the San Francisco Bay Area. It passes through Gilroy and San Jose. It connects to State Highway 156 and allows access to Prunedale and Castroville in the west. Be warned that State Highway 156 often gets congested on the weekends with tourists.
- One of the wonderful aspects of visiting Monterey, California, is the beautiful scenery you get to enjoy while driving up and down the coast. If you are trying to decide whether to rent a car in Monterey, consider what you could miss if you don’t. Many of the popular sites and areas surrounding the city are much more available when you rent a car. Coastal drives, beaches, and tourist attractions can all be reached on your own schedule without having to rely on the fixed schedules of public transportation. Car rentals in Monterey can help you visit sites like the Monterey Bay Aquarium, Fisherman’s Wharf, Cannery Row, and the San Carlos Beach.
- As you descend to the first floor of the Monterey Regional Airport, you will find the counters for car rental companies next to the baggage claim. These are conveniently located so visitors can pick up their bags and go straight to the counter of the rental company to check in. The Monterey Regional Airport houses major rental car companies like Avis, Enterprise, Alamo, and Hertz. The rental car lots are situated close to the terminal for easy loading and departure.
- Visitors interested in Monterey car rentals should be aware that the city follows regular rush hour times. This means that during the hours of 6:30am to 9:30am and 4:30pm to 7:30pm, the roadways are typically quite congested. You will find busy roads around the beaches and along the coast. Del Monte Avenue, in particular, can get congested during rush hour times. Also, travelers should be aware of Highway 1. This famous coastal drive can be dangerous due to narrow roads and frequent stops by travelers to take pictures.
- Monterey has pleasant weather all year round. If you experience a rain shower by chance, you should be careful to drive safely and slowly. Visitors should also watch out for added congestion on roads during the summer months due to the tourist season. While Monterey has an abundance of beautiful vistas and picture-worthy scenes, drivers should be careful not to disrupt traffic by stopping unexpectedly or pulling off to the side of the road without warning.
- Book your rental car in Monterey at least 1 day before your trip in order to get a below-average price
- Compact rental cars in Monterey are around 63% cheaper than other car types, on average
FAQs about renting a car in Monterey
Monterey car rental reviews and directory
Budget
8.2
Very good
91 reviewsBest rated
Cleanliness
8.5
Comfort
8.4
Pick-up/Drop-off
8.0
Value for money
8.0
One location in Monterey
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Reviews
8.0 Very good
Oct. 2022
10.0 Wonderful
May 2021
Pros:
The person at the counter was super friendly, getting the car was easy.Cons:
The car smelled like cigarettes.10.0 Wonderful
May 2021
Pros:
I went through Kayak and ended with Priceline I wanted to change my itinerary and called Priceline who asked me to call Kayak that has no phone connection.Cons:
Book directly through Budget10.0 Wonderful
May 2021
Pros:
Easy process and great staff6.0 Okay
Apr. 2021
Pros:
No, I tried to call their office various times the day before, and they put me on hold for a long time twice, then just hung up the 3rd try. After that it just went to corporate.Cons:
The young man I encountered upon arrival was very brusque. Whipped thru the paperwork, and when I asked to confirm the quoted price, he said a price of $40 more. I asked why and he said it was because I was picking it up early (less than an hour difference, the flight was a bit early). He re-did it all to reflect the price I was quoted. Never had anything like that happen before.2.0 Poor
Mar. 2021
Pros:
Nothing! Didn’t even rent the vehicle!Cons:
No where in the rental agreement did it say there would be a rental car deposit?!! Therefore I was not prepared with a credit card that could hold that amount of money!! Very disappointed!!Alamo
8.2
Very good
35 reviewsCleanliness
8.1
Comfort
8.1
Pick-up/Drop-off
8.3
Value for money
8.1
One location in Monterey
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Reviews
10.0 Wonderful
Aug. 2019
Pros:
Everything was excellent, from booking the car online to the locations and staff, the vehicle too.Cons:
Can’t think of anything.10.0 Wonderful
Aug. 2019
Cons:
Nothing. Time spent getting my vehicle, and returning my vehicle, was much less than any other rental car company. I will be choosing Alamo for my rental car needs.10.0 Wonderful
Jan. 2019
Pros:
Estoy muy contento con su atención al alquilar el carro2.0 Poor
Dec. 2019
Cons:
They rented out my car before I arrived. I never got a car.10.0 Wonderful
Feb. 2017
Pros:
Able to reserve the all-wheel drive, large-size SUV the day before I needed it and at a very good rate on kayak.com, far less than I expect to pay (40% less than several direct car rental websites). Vehicle was in excellent condition with only 8,000 miles on it. Ran beautifully from Monterey to Tahoe and back through some pretty rough storm conditions. Easy pick-up and return at the Monterey Regional Airport.Cons:
There was nothing I didn't like about the rental car or the company, or the process of getting it online through kayak.com.10.0 Wonderful
Feb. 2017
Pros:
Great price, great car, great experience.Cons:
Nothing, all good!Hertz
7.6
Good
37 reviewsCleanliness
8.4
Comfort
7.7
Pick-up/Drop-off
7.7
Value for money
7.4
One location in Monterey
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10.0 Wonderful
May 2021
Pros:
Yes2.0 Poor
Dec. 2020
Cons:
Rental was for 08:00 am, but the car was not ready until 09:00. Was told they do not have the staff and he could not tell me when the car would be ready. Once the car was delivered, still had trash in the back from prior rental.8.0 Very good
Oct. 2020
Pros:
The staff was great, the service was excellent - easy pick up and drop-off (and the woman staffing the desk remembered me three days later!). I found the entire experience to be easy and understandable (where to go, what to do, etc.) from beginning to end.Cons:
The car wasn't all that great. It was safe, it was functional, and it was most definitely clean. However, I would have preferred something a little more comfortable and modern, even at my small-car/low-level need.9.2 Wonderful
Sep. 2020
Pros:
easy pick-up and drop-offCons:
cost was a bit high for the duration and distance I drove10.0 Wonderful
Aug. 2020
Pros:
Yes very friendly and helpful.8.8 Very good
Jul. 2019
Pros:
The staff was very friendly and helpful.Cons:
I would truly appreciate if I could drop the car at my address within 5 miles of Monterey Airport.Avis
8.1
Very good
21 reviewsCleanliness
7.8
Comfort
8.0
Pick-up/Drop-off
7.8
Value for money
7.6
One location in Monterey
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Reviews
4.0 Mediocre
Sep. 2019
Pros:
Kayak10.0 Wonderful
Oct. 2017
Cons:
MRY is a great office5.2 Fair
Oct. 2016
Cons:
Rude front desk rep. But to be fair, she was your typical college student with an "whatever" attitude.10.0 Wonderful
Jul. 2022
10.0 Wonderful
Jun. 2021
Pros:
It was the fastest, easiest checkin at the counter I've ever experienced.Enterprise
8.0
Very good
26 reviewsCleanliness
8.5
Comfort
8.0
Pick-up/Drop-off
7.7
Value for money
7.4
2 locations in Monterey
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Reviews
10.0 Wonderful
Jul. 2020
Pros:
Staff was super friendly and helpful. Little to no wait on the pick up. Quick Drop off and immediate shuttle service to terminal.3.6 Poor
Aug. 2019
Pros:
I rented an “Expedition or similar “. They delivered an Explorer and charged extra for the bigger car.2.0 Poor
Aug. 2019
Pros:
No cars in stock but they still let you make reservation on internet and waste so much time. Horrible. Totally unprofessional.10.0 Wonderful
Jan. 2019
Pros:
Learning the art of advanced booking helps. Even with the pressure of the holidays, the staff maintained professionalism and tried to help others when their cars ran out. Glad I reserved earlier. Awesome ride, they suggested an upgrade which really helped because what I initially reserved, would've been a miserable fit for my size. Good team work! BUT it's a small lot and I don't think there are any other rental places nearby other than the airport, so last minute renters might continue to face off with staff there unfortunately.Cons:
Not sure when this started but have rental car places stopped caring about the outside of their cars? The inside was ok but the outside seemed it was wiped with a muddy rag. Other than that, nothing bad about this experience for me.10.0 Wonderful
Dec. 2018
Pros:
No exorbitant airport fees and surcharges. This rental agency is about 3 miles from the Monterey Airport. Take a cab to the office and pick-up there.7.2 Good
Nov. 2018
Cons:
No information on where to drop off the ergoEagle Rent A Car
No score available yet
One location in Monterey
Easirent
No score available yet
One location in Monterey
National
No score available yet
One location in Monterey
Sunnycars
No score available yet
One location in Monterey
VIPCars Recommendation
No score available yet
One location in Monterey
210 travellers who rented a car in Monterey gave the car agency they used an average rating of 8.0
Car rental locations in or near Monterey
Good to know
Most popular car type | Compact |
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When to book a rental car in Monterey
Average daily price per month
Rental car prices as pick-up date approaches