Car hire at Santa Barbara Airport
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Cheap car rentals at Santa Barbara airport
| Economy | C$ 50/day |
| Compact | C$ 53/day |
| Intermediate | C$ 57/day |
| Standard | C$ 60/day |
| Full-size | C$ 67/day |
| Minivan | C$ 94/day |
| Full-size SUV | C$ 109/day |
| Premium | C$ 79/day |
| Luxury | C$ 101/day |
| Intermediate SUV | C$ 66/day |
| Standard SUV | C$ 69/day |
Top tips for renting a car at Santa Barbara airport
- Car rental at Santa Barbara Airport is a preferred option for many people, especially for business or pleasure trips. The car rental companies offer you the opportunity to rent a car and enjoy your trip with absolute freedom and flexibility. You get to drive at your own pace, take a break when you feel like and visit all the places that are on the itinerary. With a rental car at this airport, you get to pick the kind of vehicle that you feel comfortable driving. This gives you the freedom to explore all the nooks and corners of the city at your own comfort.
- The common car types available for rental are compact, intermediate, and standard cars. Since the Santa Barbara Airport is small, you will find it easy to navigate around with any of these models. However, if you prefer something that offers more space, then you can go for a mid-size or luxury car. These cars require a higher fee but are worth it for those who like to have a lavish journey or have a large group. You can even take your pick from the four-wheel-drive vehicles that give you an added advantage if you wish to explore some of the rough terrains in this part of Southern California.
- Santa Barbara Airport is usually busy between November and January. But this also means that you get to experience some spectacular deals for a rental vehicle at this time. The Santa Barbara Airport has one runway, and it is usually open between the hours of 6 am and 10 pm. Do not forget that booking your rental car through KAYAK will give you the best possible deals. The entire car rental at the Santa Barbara Airport can be done right from your home with a click of a few buttons.
- When you need to return your rental car, the process is as simple as you picking it up, if not easier. You will be asked to hand over the car at the same office where you picked it up from. When returning the car to the airport, remember to keep your keys and make sure that you have cleaned of all trash. Also, before signing anything, make sure that there are no excess charges or extra penalties mentioned in your contract. Different car rental companies at this airport may have their own requirements for returning vehicles, but most of them are similar.
- Book your rental car at Santa Barbara airport at least 1 day before your trip in order to get a below-average price
FAQs about renting a car at Santa Barbara airport
Which of the rental car companies at the airport are the easiest to use?
For a rental car, Budget and Hertz are some of the easiest and least time-consuming to use. You get good deals when you book online through KAYAK, without any hassles of going to their offices and waiting for hours on end to get a car. These are some of the most preferred options because of their flexibility. You can choose from its large fleet and make your choice depending on your requirement.
What kind of documentation is required for a car rental at Santa Barbara Airport?
You will need to carry a valid driving license and a credit card. It is also important that you have a telephone number with the area code of Santa Barbara. If your home country does not have an international dialing code, then make sure that you request one before going to this airport because without it, you may not be able to rent a car. Another important requirement is to have a standard photo ID card that has your picture and name clearly printed on it.
Where is the Santa Barbara Airport car rental center located?
The rental car center at the airport is located on the first floor of the terminal building. The location may be different for each car rental company, but they are usually close to each other and within easy walking distance from your landing point. From the arrivals door where you would be coming out from, walk straight towards Highway 101 on the left.
What is the best rental car company at Santa Barbara airport?
Based on ratings and reviews from real users on KAYAK, the best car rental companies at Santa Barbara airport are Alamo (8.0, 51 reviews), and Budget (7.0, 72 reviews).
Which car rental companies will pick you up at Santa Barbara airport?
Car rental companies that offer shuttle or pick-up services from Santa Barbara airport to off-airport locations include Alamo, Avis, Budget, Dollar, Enterprise Rent-A-Car, Hertz, National, and Thrifty.
Santa Barbara Airport car rental reviews and directory
Dollar
7.1
Good
101 reviewsCleanliness
7.8
Comfort
7.9
Pick-up/Drop-off
6.7
Value for money
6.7
One location in Santa Barbara Airport
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Reviews
2.0 Poor
May 2021
Pros:
My flight got in at6pm, the desk had closed at 5pm. No car for me!Cons:
Knowing that I cannot get a car from Dollar after 5pm, I would have rented from Budget.10.0 Wonderful
May 2021
Pros:
The check in and check out was very quick and easy, and they were very helpful when I had questions on the vehicle.10.0 Wonderful
Mar. 2021
Pros:
Yes, staff was terrific. Very helpful.Cons:
Nothing it was perfect2.0 Poor
Dec. 2020
Cons:
i made a reservation only to arrive and be told there are no vehicles. once i made the reservation, the desk could have at least called to let me know. people make plans and rely on companies to have the product they reserve3.6 Poor
Jul. 2020
Pros:
Drop off was easy.Cons:
I paid for a full size vehicle at least a week in advance. When I arrived to pick it up they didn't have one. We got stuck in a smaller car and couldn't get ahold of any customer service at priceline or kayak.4.0 Mediocre
Jun. 2020
Pros:
Sue gave me a car that needed an oil change. It started acting up on downhills and made an odd burning smell. I had to swap the car out and didn’t realize we were driving without insurance after we had finally looked at the paper. She also made a derogatory comment about Asians smoking in vehicles and my fiancé is Asian. She even asked her if she smoked. When I told her the car needed an oil change as it displayed on the screen she said you are fine to drive it even though I asked if we could change the car. When we got to San Francisco the smell of burning oil was strong so we took the car into an avis and it was troublesome getting a new car since we had to beg them to honor the rate and since they were low on cars we had to downsize and had to fit all our luggage uncomfortably. I would like to keep in note I have my fiancé and my child with me and this made my experience feel unsafe since the needs change oil was turned on since we picked up the car. If we could get some of our money back that would be nice since this caused a major inconvenience as well the derogatory words that Sue said will forever leave a negative impression.Cons:
If we could get some of our money back that would be nice since this caused a major inconvenience as well the derogatory words that Sue said will forever leave a negative impression.Budget
7.0
Good
139 reviewsCleanliness
7.1
Comfort
7.4
Pick-up/Drop-off
7.0
Value for money
6.8
One location in Santa Barbara Airport
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Reviews
2.0 Poor
Nov. 2023
6.0 Okay
Oct. 2023
4.0 Mediocre
Oct. 2023
6.0 Okay
Oct. 2023
2.0 Poor
Sep. 2022
10.0 Wonderful
Sep. 2022
Alamo
8.0
Very good
55 reviewsCleanliness
7.7
Comfort
8.2
Pick-up/Drop-off
8.1
Value for money
8.1
One location in Santa Barbara Airport
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Reviews
8.0 Very good
May 2021
Pros:
The woman who helped me with drop off was incredibly helpful2.0 Poor
May 2021
Cons:
They did not have my car available and said they tried to call me, but I never got a call. I needed a 12 person van, so it was not easy to find another one. Thankfully AVIS helped me out at the last minute!2.0 Poor
Dec. 2020
Cons:
Vehicle that I reserved was not available when I went go pick up.10.0 Wonderful
Nov. 2020
Cons:
I liked the small airport with car pick up right outside the terminal. Very convenient, quick, and simple. Would probably choose a slightly larger car than a Toyota Corolla for four adults.9.6 Wonderful
Aug. 2020
Pros:
Staff was friendly and efficientCons:
Car was a little dirty inside.9.6 Wonderful
Jun. 2020
Pros:
Easy, fast, and safe.Enterprise Rent-A-Car
7.6
Good
38 reviewsCleanliness
7.4
Comfort
7.6
Pick-up/Drop-off
7.7
Value for money
7.6
One location in Santa Barbara Airport
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Reviews
4.0 Mediocre
Oct. 2020
Pros:
The staff was able to point me in the right direction after they recognized their mistake.9.6 Wonderful
Aug. 2019
Pros:
Gentleman who helped me was professional, courteous and efficient.Cons:
Only thing that was a VERY MINOR problem was my lack of knowledge that the button to open gas tank cover was located on the car door (had not encountered this in other vehicles).2.0 Poor
Jul. 2019
Cons:
Staff was not friendly and they did not have a car for us when we arrived.2.0 Poor
Apr. 2019
Pros:
Enterprise did not honor my reservation. They make me another reservation under enterprise website and charged me a lot moreCons:
Enterprise should not be part of the website or part of the business provided. Terrible company and customer service. Mean managers st chapala st office in Santa Barbara. The agent helping me was great and very kind and helpful. Manager didn’t give a dam abt customers.10.0 Wonderful
Mar. 2019
Pros:
Friendly, quick2.0 Poor
Jan. 2019
Pros:
Counter accessibilityCons:
Lack of helpfulness. Didn't honor our pre-booked rental.Hertz
6.0
Okay
79 reviewsCleanliness
7.2
Comfort
6.6
Pick-up/Drop-off
6.0
Value for money
6.1
One location in Santa Barbara Airport
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Reviews
8.0 Very good
Oct. 2023
2.0 Poor
Dec. 2021
4.0 Mediocre
Dec. 2021
2.0 Poor
Oct. 2021
10.0 Wonderful
Mar. 2021
Pros:
Very friendly on both ends!6.0 Okay
Jan. 2021
Pros:
Staff was very friendly. At drop off there was no sign to say where to leave the key after hours.Cons:
I think there was something wrong with the tires and/or alignment. In heavy rain the car hydroplaned horribly so that I was very frightened that I would be tossed off the road.Avis
8.0
Very good
24 reviewsCleanliness
9.3
Comfort
8.2
Pick-up/Drop-off
8.4
Value for money
8.4
One location in Santa Barbara Airport
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Reviews
4.0 Mediocre
May 2021
Cons:
The staff at pickup in Santa Barbara used deceitful tactics to pressure us into paying for an upgrade.8.4 Very good
Jun. 2019
Pros:
Friendly and professional staff.Cons:
The rental car was not in the space on my card. No car was parked in that space. Luckily there was an attendant in the lot who approached me and found my car, and I did not have to return to the terminal.2.4 Poor
Nov. 2018
Cons:
I have lieved in SB for 40 years and have driven to the airport many times. I drove past the Avis return 2x before finding it. The parking area is very poorly lit at night and the sinage is terrible. There are no arrows, signs,etc as to where to return the keys, the car, etc. The staff at the Avis desk was most unhelpful. The attendant appeared lazy and like I was bothering her to return the keys. I had the impression I had really interrupted her evening and she had more important things to do than check me out ad take the keys back. Very poor expereince.10.0 Wonderful
Nov. 2017
Pros:
the car was easy to drive - good gas milage - very comfortable - service was quick.8.4 Very good
Mar. 2017
Pros:
She was nice and sympathetic to my horrible experience with the car, but didn't do much other than to say call LAX and complain.Cons:
Hard to figure out where to turn the keys in. I could find the lot, but no signs that you need to go into the terminal. It was dark... so if there are signs I didn't see them.7.2 Good
Feb. 2016
Pros:
Van was great, pickup was convenient, price seemed good, Drop-off easyCons:
So day rate meant additional charges, including mileage and hours. That wasn't mentioned in the booking online. I bought the insurance through Kayak's site, but the guy said it was useless, should have bought avis insurance and tried to tack it on.Thrifty
5.5
Fair
6 reviewsCleanliness
7.5
Comfort
7.5
Pick-up/Drop-off
5.5
Value for money
7.0
One location in Santa Barbara Airport
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Reviews
2.0 Poor
Mar. 2023
10.0 Wonderful
Sep. 2020
Pros:
Yes, staff was helpful, service fast, individual ride back to airport, free upgrade.Cons:
the weather7.2 Good
Jan. 2017
Pros:
The van was nice. Reserving the car was easy.Cons:
An employee gave us the wrong van. It was not completely clean, the tank was not full and all 4 tires were low. I was somewhat frustrated when I had to top off the tank and put the proper air pressure in the tires. When we returned the van the manager felt very bad and was very apologetic. He handled the situation in a professional manner and ultimately gave us 50% off of the rental cost. Even though the experience started off poorly it was handled very well in the end and I would rent from them again.10.0 Wonderful
Sep. 2016
Pros:
They were very accommodating and friendly2.0 Poor
Apr. 2022
National
2.0
Poor
3 reviewsCleanliness
10.0
Comfort
10.0
Pick-up/Drop-off
2.0
Value for money
2.0
One location in Santa Barbara Airport
Easirent
4.7
Mediocre
No reviews available
One location in Santa Barbara Airport
AutoEurope
No score available yet
One location in Santa Barbara Airport
Sunnycars
No score available yet
One location in Santa Barbara Airport
VIPCars Recommendation
No score available yet
One location in Santa Barbara Airport
Car rental locations at Santa Barbara Airport
Good to know
Most popular car type | Economy |
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