Guide to Santa Barbara Car Rentals

Maybe you’re a visitor or tourist from out of town, or a local whose normal car is in the shop. Whatever the case may be, you’re going to need a rental to get you around Santa Barbara for the time being. Using this guide and the judicious application of Santa Barbara coupons, you’ll be in your temporary ride and on the road in no time.
If you’re not traveling by bike like so many SB residents like to do, or if you’re flying into town and don’t have any way to get around, you’re better off renting a car than using the bus. Renting a car grants you freedom that you wouldn’t have otherwise if you were trying to use public transportation or relying on friends and family in town to drive you to and from places.

There are a number of great car rental locations in town. You can rent a car right at the Santa Barbara Airport using the services of Budget, Enterprise, Hertz, or National. They offer a variety of sizes and colors of car with many different options to suit you and your traveling companions just perfectly. The best way to learn more about these options is to look up the SBA website and call the reservation numbers listed for each of the rental companies.

There are also some rental companies not associated with the SBA that are located in downtown. Avis Car Rentals is a good example of this; their building can be found in downtown city of Santa Barbara in case you want to walk there or have someone who can drop you off. You might find that prices at car rental businesses outside of the airport are a little more affordable.

If your car has simply broken down and you need a rental to get you by for a day or two, ask the mechanic. Believe it or not, some mechanics either offer rental cars or they are affiliated with a car rental company that will give discounts for referrals.

Alternatively, if you were in a car accident, either your own insurance company or the insurance company of the other party might offer a rental car for your inconvenience as part of the coverage.

It’s important to investigate all of your options before settling on a car rental in Santa Barbara. To make sure you get the best deal, check out my recommendations on Santa Barbara Transportation savings and discounts.