San Luis Obispo car rentals from $36/day

There are several options to choose from at San Luis Obispo car rentals, depending on whether you’re considering a solo trip or planning to explore the Central Coast area as a group. Compact vehicles are recommended for when your visit to San Luis Obispo is concentrated in the town, while large SUVs are more ideal for large numbers of people and are a more comfortable option for those who visit the landscape in the outskirts of town.

The statutory speed limit in San Luis Obispo is set at 50mph. School zones have a set speed limit of between 15mph and 40mph at specific times of the day, while the speed limit in the business district is 25mph. There are also a couple of speed traps set up on Foothill Ave between Casa St and California Blvd, as well as Northbound Hwy 1, thus motorists are advised to drive with caution.

There are several parking options available while on your stay in San Luis Obispo. There are parking garages such as the City of San Luis Obispo Parking as well as the Marsh Street Parking Structure, which closes at around 6pm and provide 1h free parking on weekdays, 2h free parking on Saturdays, and all-day free parking on Sundays. The municipal lot on Marsh St provides free parking for up to 2h. Parking is free in Downtown San Luis Obispo.

On average a rental car in San Luis Obispo costs $63 per day. But prices differ between operators and you can save money through a price comparison of car rental deals from different agencies. The cheapest price for a car rental in San Luis Obispo found in the last 2 weeks is $42.

In the past 72 hours, the cheapest rental cars were found at Budget ($36/day), Avis ($37/day) and Hertz ($38/day). In the last 72 hours the cheapest rental car price was found at Budget 4554 Broad Street 93401 (3 miles from city center).

Based on ratings and reviews from real users on KAYAK, the best car rental companies in San Luis Obispo are Avis (8.1, 51 reviews), and Budget (7.1, 71 reviews).

The average gas price in San Luis Obispo is $3.89 per gallon over the past 30 days. Filling up a gas tank costs between $47 and $62, depending on the car size.

Standard (Toyota Corolla or similar) is the most frequently booked rental car type in San Luis Obispo.

Car rental companies onsite at County airport include Budget, Avis, Enterprise Rent-A-Car and Hertz.

Car rental companies that offer shuttle or pick-up services from County airport to off-airport locations include Budget, Avis, Enterprise Rent-A-Car, and Hertz.

Take a look at our extensive car rental location map to find the best rental cars near you.

A Standard car rental in San Luis Obispo costs $70 per day, on average.

An Economy car rental in San Luis Obispo costs $51 per day, on average.

A Full Size car rental in San Luis Obispo costs $64 per day, on average.

On average a rental car in San Luis Obispo costs $443 per week ($63 per day).

On average a rental car in San Luis Obispo costs $1,898 per month ($63 per day).

Most car rental providers in San Luis Obispo offer insurance but the level of protection can differ substantially. If you're unsure whether to get extra protection for your car rental in San Luis Obispo, check out KAYAK's car rental insurance guide.

KAYAK has deals for you to compare from 5 car rental agencies in San Luis Obispo.

Finding the right price, understanding the add-ons and staying up to date with policy changes can be a challenge. That’s why KAYAK has produced the ultimate guide to renting a car to help you cut though the jargon and make the right choice for your rental car. Find tips and insights for how to book your rental, what car rental insurance you’ll need, how to deal with a car rental agency and what extra fees to expect (and avoid!).

KAYAK searches thousands of car rental agencies to provide you with offers from all car rental agencies operating in San Luis Obispo so that you can compare car rental rates, reviews and pick-up and drop-off locations to find the best deal for you.

While there are numerous high occupancy vehicle lanes in California, you will not find any while cruising in your vehicle from cheap car rentals in San Luis Obispo through the city. However, you are free to carpool in the city. Notably, a project aimed at adding HOV lanes on South Coast Highway 101, which passes through San Luis Obispo, is underway.

While California has numerous express lanes that charge a toll, San Luis Obispo doesn’t charge any fees for road usage. However, this doesn’t mean that you will find heavy traffic on the city’s roads. The highways are usually clear unless an event featuring road closure occurs. At all times, be sure to check on the road sign. Cameras monitor your driving, and the CHP may call for a fine.