Santa Cruz car hire

Driver's age: 26-65
Car Rental Deals
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Car Rental Deals

Cheap car hire in Santa Cruz

Discover the best prices for you by selecting your travel dates on KAYAK.
Mini car
Mini
M
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Economy car
Economy
M
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Compact car
Compact
M
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Intermediate car
Intermediate
M
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Standard car
Standard
M
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Full-size car
Full-size
M
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Luxury car
Luxury
M
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People carrier car
People carrier
M
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Passenger van car
Passenger van
M
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SUV car
SUV
M
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Commercial car
Commercial
M
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Pick-up truck car
Pick-up truck
M
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Booking Insights

Good to know

Most popular car type

Standard

KAYAK’s insights & trends for Santa Cruz car hire

Check out the latest trends and booking tips to hire a car in Santa Cruz with confidence.

How far in advance should you book car hire in Santa Cruz?

You should book your car hire in Santa Cruz around 52 days before your trip in order to get a below-average price.

What is the best car hire company in Santa Cruz?

Based on ratings and reviews from real users on KAYAK, the best car hire companies in Santa Cruz are Budget (10.0, 2 reviews), Avis (8.0, 3 reviews), and Hertz (7.1, 11 reviews).
Budget
Budget
Rated 10.0/10
Avis
Avis
Rated 8.0/10
Hertz
Hertz
Rated 7.1/10
Enterprise Rent-A-Car
Enterprise Rent-A-Car
Rated 6.3/10

What is the most popular car to hire in Santa Cruz?

Economy cars (Honda Fit or similar) are the most popular type of vehicle to hire in Santa Cruz. Economy cars in Santa Cruz cost £29/day on average, though some users have found deals as low as £22/day.

What is the cheapest month to hire a car in Santa Cruz?

The cheapest month to hire a car in Santa Cruz is January at an average cost of £34/day. June is the most expensive month to hire a car in Santa Cruz when prices are £50/day on average, which tends to be 10% above the yearly average hire price for Santa Cruz.

What car hire company in Santa Cruz has the most locations?

Hertz operates 4 locations in Santa Cruz, more than any other car hire company.
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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.
  • Compact hire cars in Santa Cruz are around 47% 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.

  • Which car hire agencies are at San Francisco airport (SFO)?

    Car hire companies onsite at San Francisco airport include Dollar, Sixt, Thrifty, Fox, Europcar, Alamo and National.

  • Which car hire companies will pick you up at San Francisco airport (SFO)?

    Car hire companies that offer shuttle or pick-up services from San Francisco airport to off-airport locations include Dollar, Sixt, Thrifty, Fox, Europcar, Alamo and National.

  • 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 a Standard car hire cost in Santa Cruz?

    A Standard car hire in Santa Cruz costs £56 per day, on average.

  • How much does a Special car hire cost in Santa Cruz?

    A Special car hire in Santa Cruz costs £47 per day, on average.

  • How much does an Intermediate car hire cost in Santa Cruz?

    An Intermediate car hire in Santa Cruz costs £57 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

 
All ratings and reviews are collected from KAYAK users with a verified car hire booking. Learn how KAYAK collects reviews.

Budget

10.0

Wonderful

Read 2 reviews

Cleanliness

7.0

Comfort

8.0

Pick-up/Drop-off

10.0

Value for money

10.0

One location in Santa Cruz

Show locations

Locations in Santa Cruz

630 Ocean Street

+1 831 291 5483

Monday08:00 - 17:00
Tuesday08:00 - 17:00
Wednesday08:00 - 17:00
Thursday08:00 - 17:00
Friday08:00 - 17:00
Saturday08:00 - 17:00
Sunday08:00 - 17:00

Filters

No reviews available

Avis

8.0

Very Good

Read 3 reviews

Cleanliness

7.5

Comfort

7.0

Pick-up/Drop-off

8.0

Value for money

7.0

One location in Santa Cruz

Show locations

Locations in Santa Cruz

630 Ocean Street

+1 831 423 1244

Monday08:00 - 17:00
Tuesday08:00 - 17:00
Wednesday08:00 - 17:00
Thursday08:00 - 17:00
Friday08:00 - 17:00
Saturday08:00 - 17:00
Sunday08:00 - 17:00

Filters

No reviews available

Hertz

7.1

Good

Read 11 reviews

Cleanliness

7.6

Comfort

7.6

Pick-up/Drop-off

6.8

Value for money

7.1

4 locations in Santa Cruz

Show locations

Locations in Santa Cruz

2724 Soquel Ave

+1 831 423 0315

Monday13:30 - 17:0008:00 - 17:00
Tuesday13:30 - 17:0008:00 - 17:00
Wednesday08:00 - 17:0013:30 - 17:00
Thursday13:30 - 17:0008:00 - 17:00
Friday08:00 - 17:0013:30 - 17:00

50 Aviation Way

+1 831 722 2760

Monday13:30 - 17:0008:00 - 17:00
Tuesday08:00 - 17:0013:30 - 17:00
Wednesday08:00 - 17:0013:30 - 17:00
Thursday08:00 - 17:0013:30 - 17:00
Friday08:00 - 17:0013:30 - 17:00

5500 Scotts Valley Drive

+1 831 217 4162

Monday13:00 - 17:0008:00 - 17:00
Tuesday08:00 - 17:0013:00 - 17:00
Wednesday13:00 - 17:0008:00 - 17:00
Thursday13:00 - 17:0008:00 - 17:00
Friday13:00 - 17:0008:00 - 17:00

7000 Soquel Avenue

+1 831 462 0469

Monday08:00 - 17:00
Tuesday08:00 - 17:00
Wednesday08:00 - 17:00
Thursday08:00 - 17:00
Friday08:00 - 17:00
Saturday09:00 - 12:00

Filters

Show reviews that mention

Reviews

8.0 Very Good

Anonymous, Aug 2025

Supplier choice

KAYAK
Had car reserved but no cars there when I arrived Had to wait an hour

2.0 Poor

Curt, Apr 2024

People carrier

KAYAK
Car rental.com is a scam. Don’t ever use them.

8.0 Very Good

Paul, Apr 2021

KAYAK

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

Anonymous, Mar 2021

KAYAK

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

Anonymous, Sept 2020

KAYAK

Pros:

The location didn’t exist.

1 out of 4

Enterprise Rent-A-Car

6.3

Okay

Read 4 reviews

Cleanliness

6.9

Comfort

6.9

Pick-up/Drop-off

5.6

Value for money

5.6

2 locations in Santa Cruz

Show locations

Locations in Santa Cruz

2724 Soquel Ave Ste A

+1 831 464 1900

Monday00:00 - 00:00
Tuesday00:00 - 00:00
Wednesday00:00 - 00:00
Thursday00:00 - 00:00
Friday00:00 - 00:00
Saturday00:00 - 00:00
Sunday00:00 - 00:00

919b Ocean St

+1 831 426 7799

Monday08:00 - 17:00
Tuesday08:00 - 17:00
Wednesday08:00 - 17:00
Thursday08:00 - 17:00
Friday08:00 - 17:00
Saturday09:00 - 12:00
Sunday00:00 - 00:00

Filters

Reviews

10.0 Wonderful

Stephen, Nov 2024

Compact

KAYAK
Micah was great!

1 out of 2

Dollar

5.5

Fair

One location in Santa Cruz

Show locations

Locations in Santa Cruz

2724 Soquel Ave

+1 831 423 0315

Monday13:30 - 17:0008:00 - 17:00
Tuesday08:00 - 17:0013:30 - 17:00
Wednesday13:30 - 17:0008:00 - 17:00
Thursday13:30 - 17:0008:00 - 17:00
Friday08:30 - 12:3013:30 - 17:00

Filters

No reviews available

Thrifty

5.5

Fair

One location in Santa Cruz

Show locations

Locations in Santa Cruz

2724 Soquel Ave

+1 831 423 0315

Monday08:00 - 17:0013:30 - 17:00
Tuesday08:00 - 17:0013:30 - 17:00
Wednesday08:00 - 17:0013:30 - 17:00
Thursday08:00 - 17:0013:30 - 17:00
Friday08:00 - 17:0013:30 - 17:00

Filters

No reviews available

24 travellers who hired a car in Santa Cruz gave the car agency they used an average rating of 5.5

Car hire locations in or near Santa Cruz

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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.

See Collision Damage Waiver offersSee Theft Protection Waiver offers

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.

See deductible offers

Everything you need to know for your car hire in Santa Cruz

Santa Cruz car hire information

Pick-up locationSanta Cruz
Car types
Hire locations8
Airport locations0

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