Santa Cruz car hire
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Santa Cruz car hire information
| Pick-up location | Santa Cruz |
|---|---|
| Car types | |
| Hire locations | 6 |
| Airport locations | 0 |
Cheap car hire in Santa Cruz
| Mini |
| Economy |
| Compact |
| Intermediate |
| Standard |
| Full-size |
| Luxury |
| People carrier |
| Passenger van |
| SUV |
| Commercial |
| Pick-up truck |
KAYAK’s top tips for hiring a car in Santa Cruz
- If you're planning to visit the famous Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk and the Santa Cruz Wharf, having a rental will ease your trip and make everything seamless. Sometimes when traveling, using public transportation means wasting time and possibly confusing routes when trying to get to various attractions. Getting a vehicle from car rentals in Santa Cruz is a smart decision because you can incorporate nearly everything in your itinerary and meet your travel goals on time and at your convenience. If you're here on a business trip, then you won't have to worry about missing the bus and being late for that meeting you've been looking forward to. Even better, you can skip town and check out the Winchester Mystery House, just 29 miles away, or even the Golden Gate Bridge about 75 miles away, at your own convenience and get back in the city before evening.
- When you get to the Rental Car Center in San Jose International Airport, go directly across Terminal B. If you come from Terminal B, walk across the airport drive from baggage claim, where you'll find the facility. If you come from Terminal A, you'll find an airport blue shuttle bus that will take you to the rental car center. Some of the Santa Cruz car rentals you'll find at the facility include Enterprise, Avis, and Hertz.
- Pedestrians in Santa Cruz are so used to jaywalking that the city had to write reminders on the curb not to do it, so be watchful, especially on crosswalks and intersections. You should be careful when driving on Highway 17 as it can get congested with commuters to and from San Jose and sees frequent coastal fog.
- Traffic in Downtown Santa Cruz can be fairly normal, but the rush hours can be packed with cars, especially on Highways 1, 9, and 17. Highway 17 can be quite busy northbound in the morning and southbound in the evening as more people commute to and from San Jose, more so on Fridays. Rush hours start from 7am to 9am and from 3pm to 8pm in the evening. Having a traffic app for real-time information will go a long way. You can also listen to the local radio.
- Book your car hire in Santa Cruz at least 1 day before your trip in order to get a below-average price
- Intermediate car hire in Santa Cruz are around 2% cheaper than other car types, on average
FAQs about car hire in Santa Cruz
What type of car is recommended for driving in Santa Cruz?
Nearly any on-road vehicle will do well in Santa Cruz. Our recommendation would be to choose a vehicle that suits your needs, so you can go with anything from a standard car like a sedan to a minivan. If your budget allows it, you can even get a luxury vehicle to cruise around the coast from car rentals in Santa Cruz.
What’s the speed limit in Santa Cruz?
The maximum speed limit on California highways stands at 65mph, and you can drive at 70mph where posted. On two-lane undivided highways, the maximum speed limit is 55mph, unless posted otherwise, and 25mph in school zones. Watch out for blind intersections where the speed limit falls at 15mph, which also applies to alleys. Business and residential areas have a limit of 25mph.
Where are the best places to park in Santa Cruz?
The city of Santa Cruz has several downtown public parking lots that offer a free 3h time limit parking from Monday to Saturday from 8am to 6pm. Downtown parking meters charge anywhere between $1 an hour to $8 per day, depending on where you park. Parking meters operate every day between 8am and 8pm.
How much is the price of fuel in Santa Cruz?
The average price of fuel in Santa Cruz is £3.13 per litre over the past 30 days. Filling up a tank of fuel costs between £38 and £50, depending on the car size.
What is the most popular car hire in Santa Cruz?
Intermediate (Class Intermediate Car or similar) is the most frequently booked car hire type in Santa Cruz.
How can I find car hires near me in Santa Cruz?
Take a look at our extensive car hire location map to find the best car hire deals near you.
How much does an Intermediate car hire cost in Santa Cruz?
An Intermediate car hire in Santa Cruz costs £37 per day, on average.
How much does a Full Size car hire cost in Santa Cruz?
A Full Size car hire in Santa Cruz costs £38 per day, on average.
Should I get insurance when hiring a car in Santa Cruz?
Most car hire providers in Santa Cruz offer insurance but the level of protection can differ substantially. If you're unsure whether to get extra protection for your car hire in Santa Cruz, check out KAYAK's car hire insurance guide.
Santa Cruz car hire reviews and directory
Enterprise Rent-A-Car
7.1
Good
40 reviewsCleanliness
7.9
Comfort
7.8
Pick-up/Drop-off
6.7
Value for money
6.3
3 locations in Santa Cruz
Locations in Santa Cruz
1150 N. Main Street, Suite 1a
+1 831 761 2800
2724 Soquel Ave Ste A
+1 831 464 1900
919b Ocean St
+1 831 426 7799
Filters
Reviews
2.0 Poor
Apr 2021
Pros:
The Watsonville enterprise office cancelled our rental 2 hours before we were supposed to have picked it up. Their office gave no alternatives, despite the fact that we had the vehicle reserved for 3 weeks ahead of time.Cons:
I had to do the work of tracking down a replacement vehicle at the last minute. Al, who works at the enterprise on Ocean St. in Watsonville, did an amazing job to help us. He stayed past closing time to get us a vehicle in time.10.0 Wonderful
Aug 2020
Pros:
Staff was ready and quick. Very easy pick up and drop off7.6 Good
Jul 2020
Pros:
Staff was helpful, drop-off was easy.Cons:
Removing additional fees where possible for student drivers given the pandemic. Inform that drop-off after hours only requires keys to be placed in drop-off box and incurs no additional fees.9.6 Wonderful
Feb 2020
Pros:
Very happy and kind staffCons:
Cleaner carpet in office, but great service4.0 Mediocre
Jun 2019
Pros:
Car was fine. The guy at the counter was niceCons:
The computers were down and I was charged an extra day of rental even though I returned the car on time. Customer service was extremely rude over email and refused to do anything to help. Overall very terrible experience.10.0 Wonderful
Jun 2019
Pros:
Great customer service from agent at counter. Very nice rental vehicle. Easy check in and easy return.Cons:
Everything was perfectHertz
6.8
Okay
74 reviewsCleanliness
7.4
Comfort
7.8
Pick-up/Drop-off
6.8
Value for money
6.5
4 locations in Santa Cruz
Locations in Santa Cruz
132 Center Street
+1 831 423 0315
50 Aviation Way
+1 831 722 2760
5500 Scotts Valley Drive
+1 831 217 4162
7000 Soquel Avenue
+1 831 462 0469
Filters
Reviews
2.0 Poor
Apr 2024
8.0 Very Good
Apr 2021
Pros:
Simple, limited-contact pick up and drop off.Cons:
When I returned the car two days early, the staff at Hertz were unable to do a refund for those extra days. This isn't a criticism of Hertz -- just know that when you book through Kayak, they don't have as much flexibility for extending or shortening a rental. Note that this Hertz location does not do after-hours drop-off. You must return the car before closing time.4.0 Mediocre
Mar 2021
Pros:
The two ladies who checked me in were a delight to deal with. Very professional and personable as they went through all the paperwork and what not.Cons:
My pre-paid 1pm reservation was for a Mid-size Car, and when I got there at 1:30pm they had rented my car and had no Midsize cars left, so I was stuck with an economy car that felt like I was driving a go-kart on steroids or tin can on wheels. That was total BS!! Also, they closed the location close to my house, but it is still listed on their website, Yahoo, Waze, Google, etcetera, so when I drove over there to swap cars, there was a sign on the keys drop box saying to drop off cars across town, at the location where I picked up the car. Again, total BS!! Then when I returned the car they ran my credit card before talking to me at all, and I wanted to use my debit car. When I asked to cancel the charge and put it on my debit card, she said it was too late, she couldn't do that. Third strike of total BS. Even if it costs more and is farther away, I will never again rent a car for Hertz!!2.0 Poor
Sept 2020
Pros:
The location didn’t exist.10.0 Wonderful
Feb 2020
Pros:
yes and yesCons:
nothing8.0 Very Good
Feb 2020
Pros:
Great, happy staffBudget
10.0
Wonderful
2 reviewsCleanliness
7.0
Comfort
8.0
Pick-up/Drop-off
10.0
Value for money
10.0
One location in Santa Cruz
Locations in Santa Cruz
630 Ocean Street
+1 831 291 5483
Filters
Reviews
10.0 Wonderful
May 2023
10.0 Wonderful
Jun 2022
Avis
7.3
Good
19 reviewsCleanliness
7.0
Comfort
6.6
Pick-up/Drop-off
7.3
Value for money
6.6
One location in Santa Cruz
Locations in Santa Cruz
630 Ocean Street
+1 831 423 1244
Filters
Reviews
10.0 Wonderful
Aug 2020
Pros:
Staff were friendly and there was no wait!Cons:
No one walked me to the car or asked if I had questions about it.2.0 Poor
Jun 2020
Pros:
NothingCons:
Shop was closed8.0 Very Good
Apr 2017
Pros:
Friendly staff - Easy process10.0 Wonderful
Oct 2016
Pros:
Easy to use and hassle free8.0 Very Good
Aug 2016
Pros:
Convenient location. Location was closed so just quickly dropped off the car, didn't interact with anyone so I don't have much to say or judge.7.2 Good
Apr 2016
Pros:
Small but workable.Cons:
The facility was cramped both inside and outside, and from the direction I approached, difficult to see as it was behind a much larger building and sign. I had to back up and maneuver to enter the very small driveway entrance. There was room to park the car once I entered, however. Not sure where to add that I felt the dropoff fee was excessive -- thus the lower rating on value for money.Thrifty
6.0
Okay
No reviews available
One location in Santa Cruz
Locations in Santa Cruz
15525 Los Gatos Blvd
(408) 402-0604
Filters
No reviews available
Car hire locations in or near Santa Cruz
Good to know
Most popular car type | Intermediate |
|---|
When to book a car hire in Santa Cruz
Car hire insurance in Santa Cruz
Collision Damage Waiver (CDW) & Theft Protection Waiver
Some Santa Cruz car providers already include Collision Damage Waiver (CDW) and Theft Protection Waiver into the hire price but not all of them. We recommend being aware of your coverage when hiring a car in Santa Cruz.
Deductible
Keep in mind that car hire insurances often have a deductible clause, which is the amount you’ll have to pay if something happens during the time of your hire. If you want to avoid unwanted surprises, you should consider adding a non-deductible option to your Santa Cruz car hire.