Cheap Santa Barbara electric car rentals from $29/day

Save up to 40% on car rentals. Compare deals from all over the web.

Never overpay with our price tracking tools.

Filter searches by price, agency and more to find your best car rental.

Electric Car Rental Deals
Booking Insights

Cheap electric car rentals in Santa Barbara

Chevrolet Bolt car
Chevrolet Bolt
or similar Small
4
2
4-5
$29/day
View Deal
Class Intermediate Car car
Class Intermediate Car
or similar Medium
5
3
4-5
$40/day
View Deal
Ford Mustang Mach-E car
Ford Mustang Mach-E
or similar Medium
5
3
4-5
$41/day
View Deal
Tesla Model Y car
Tesla Model Y
or similar Luxury
5
5
2/4
$51/day
View Deal
Class Full-size Truck car
Class Full-size Truck
or similar Pickup truck
5
2
2/4
$43/day
View Deal
Rivian R1S car
Rivian R1S
or similar SUV
5
5
4-5
$69/day
View Deal
Class Special Car car
Class Special Car
or similar Category
5
5
2/4
$38/day
View Deal
Tesla Model X car
Tesla Model X
or similar SUV
5
5
4-5
$55/day
View Deal
Audi E-tron car
Audi E-tron
or similar SUV
5
3
4-5
$73/day
View Deal

Electric car rental locations in or near Santa Barbara

Go to map view

KAYAK’s insights & trends for Santa Barbara electric car rentals

Check out the latest trends and booking tips to rent an electric car in Santa Barbara with confidence.

How far in advance should you book an electric car in Santa Barbara?

You should book your electric rental in Santa Barbara around 48 days in advance to secure a below-average price. EV availability is more limited than gas cars, so booking early helps you access the best models, especially Teslas and other high-range options.

What is the cheapest electric car rental company in Santa Barbara?

In the past year, some of the lowest prices for electric car rentals in Santa Barbara were found with Turo ($29/day), Budget ($38/day), and Avis ($40/day). Rates can vary by pick-up location, but airport-adjacent branches often offer competitive pricing.

Which electric car rental companies in Santa Barbara have electric vehicle locations?

Based on ratings and reviews from real users on KAYAK, Avis (9.0, 26 reviews), Budget (6.9, 61 reviews) and Enterprise Rent-A-Car (8.7, 20 reviews) operates the most EV-ready rental locations in Santa Barbara. This makes it easier to find an EV near Santa Barbara airports, like Los Angeles Airport and Burbank Bob Hope Airport.

Avis
Avis
Rated 9.0/10
Budget
Budget
Rated 6.9/10
Enterprise Rent-A-Car
Enterprise Rent-A-Car
Rated 8.7/10

What is the cheapest month to rent an electric car in Santa Barbara?

The cheapest month to rent an electric car in Santa Barbara is typically January, when demand is lower and daily rates drop. The most expensive month is February, when travel peaks and EV rentals become harder to secure.

Find deals

Santa Barbara electric car rental reviews and directory

 

Budget

6.9

Okay
Best rated
Most popular

Cleanliness

7.6

Comfort

7.7

Pick-up/Drop-off

7.3

Value for money

7.0

2 locations in Santa Barbara

from$57/day

Locations in Santa Barbara

305 East Haley Street

+1 805 965 1070

Monday08:00 - 17:00
Tuesday08:00 - 17:00
Wednesday08:00 - 17:00
Thursday08:00 - 17:00
Friday08:00 - 17:00
Saturday08:00 - 14:00
Sunday10:00 - 16:00
View deals

500 Fowler Road

+1 805 964 6792

Monday08:00 - 21:00
Tuesday08:00 - 21:00
Wednesday08:00 - 21:00
Thursday08:00 - 21:00
Friday08:00 - 21:00
Saturday08:00 - 18:00
Sunday08:00 - 21:00
View deals

Filters

Reviews

2.0 Poor

Dongxu, Jun 2026

Luxury

KAYAK
Promised a Tesla model 3, had no evidence available, or needed to wait for 20-30 mins. Gas car is more expensive! And charged me more to get a gas car. WTF, forgive my French.

8.0 Very good

Jason, Jun 2026

Intermediate SUV

KAYAK
It.was quick and easy to rent. Employees were informed and helpful. Attaching to the car with my phone was simple.

2.0 Poor

Leslie, Apr 2026

Intermediate SUV

KAYAK
The third-party that we used through Kayak (QEEC) gave us one price and then we got a bill for $100 more than we signed up for.

10.0 Wonderful

Anonymous, Apr 2026

Standard SUV

KAYAK
Nothing

10.0 Wonderful

Margaret, Oct 2025

Luxury

KAYAK
Fun driving the Telsa. A slight learning curve but I picked using all the bells and gadgets quickly. The Budget person dropping it of was excellent.

10.0 Wonderful

Anonymous, May 2025

Intermediate

KAYAK
quick efficient rental and fair price

1 out of 14

Avis

9.0

Wonderful
Cheapest deal

Cleanliness

9.3

Comfort

9.1

Pick-up/Drop-off

9.1

Value for money

8.5

2 locations in Santa Barbara

from$45/day

Locations in Santa Barbara

305 East Haley Street

+1 805 965 1079

Monday08:00 - 17:00
Tuesday08:00 - 17:00
Wednesday08:00 - 17:00
Thursday08:00 - 17:00
Friday08:00 - 17:00
Saturday08:00 - 14:00
Sunday10:00 - 16:00
View deals

500 Fowler Road

+1 805 964 4848

Monday08:00 - 21:00
Tuesday08:00 - 21:00
Wednesday08:00 - 21:00
Thursday08:00 - 21:00
Friday08:00 - 21:00
Saturday08:00 - 18:00
Sunday08:00 - 21:00
View deals

Filters

Reviews

10.0 Wonderful

Tariq, Dec 2025

Compact SUV

KAYAK
Good

4.0 Mediocre

Ahmed, Oct 2024

Economy

KAYAK
I was given a Ford F250 truck instead of economy car. The agent was rude and insisted that it's my only option or a minivan. The lot was full of cars and despite asking several times I was told this is the only option, or wait for 40 minutes or more to see if anything comes available. Very disappointed with the customer service, However drop off was smooth.

8.0 Very good

Mike, Sep 2024

Intermediate

KAYAK
Car could have been cleaner inside. Otherwise all was good.

10.0 Wonderful

Anonymous, Feb 2024

Intermediate

KAYAK
Great!

1 out of 5

Enterprise Rent-A-Car

8.7

Very good

Cleanliness

8.7

Comfort

8.5

Pick-up/Drop-off

8.3

Value for money

8.4

One location in Santa Barbara

from$185/day

Locations in Santa Barbara

601 Chapala St

+1 805 966 3097

Monday08:00 - 17:30
Tuesday08:00 - 17:30
Wednesday08:00 - 17:30
Thursday08:00 - 17:30
Friday08:00 - 17:30
Saturday09:00 - 13:00
Sunday
View deals

Filters

Reviews

10.0 Wonderful

Robert, Oct 2024

Economy

KAYAK
Enterprise has always been good for me. Being able to drop off at SB airport would be a great service.

8.0 Very good

Tonise, Aug 2024

Economy

KAYAK
Easy to reserve online, location is close by.

10.0 Wonderful

Anonymous, Oct 2023

Standard SUV

KAYAK
The employees went out of their way to make this a super easy, efficient and pleasant experience.

10.0 Wonderful

Rebecca, Sep 2023

Standard

KAYAK
Car needed a vacuum, windows were dirty inside. Outside was kinda dirty.

1 out of 3

Thrifty

5.2

Fair

One location in Santa Barbara

from$51/day

Locations in Santa Barbara

500 Fowler Road

+1 866 434 2226

Monday07:00 - 21:00
Tuesday07:00 - 21:00
Wednesday07:00 - 21:00
Thursday07:00 - 21:00
Friday07:00 - 21:00
Saturday07:00 - 18:00
Sunday07:00 - 18:00
View deals

Filters

No reviews available

107 travelers who rented a car in Santa Barbara gave the car agency they used an average rating of 5.5

Good to know

Most popular agency

Average price

Good deal

Budget
$65/day
$55/day

FAQs about renting an electric car in Santa Barbara

  • Which car rental companies offer electric vehicles in Santa Barbara?

    Several major rental companies in Santa Barbara offer electric vehicles, but availability can vary depending on the pickup location and season.
    Companies that frequently offer EV rentals include:

    1. Budget
    2. Turo
    3. Avis
    4. Hertz
    5. Provider's pick

    For the best selection, it’s recommended to search early and enable the Electric filter when browsing on KAYAK.

  • How much does it cost to rent an electric car in Santa Barbara?

    The daily cost of renting an electric car in Santa Barbara depends on the rental company, the model you choose, the season, and how early you book. Based on recent KAYAK pricing data, the average daily rate for electric car rentals in Santa Barbara is $65, compared to $70 for standard gas cars.

    Here’s what you can expect:

    • Average price: $26 – $257 per day

    Prices may fluctuate, so it’s always best to check your travel dates directly on KAYAK for real-time rates.

  • Which is the most popular car rental agency for electric vehicles in Santa Barbara?

    Based on real user feedback on KAYAK, Budget leads the way in EV-ready rental locations across Santa Barbara, offering travelers convenient access to electric cars near Santa Barbara (SBA). With 4 locations throughout Santa Barbara, Budget is easily accessible for travelers.

  • Which local Santa Barbara hotels have an EV charging station?

    Several hotels in Santa Barbara offer on-site EV charging for guests. Popular choices include Beachside Inn, Ramada by Wyndham Santa Barbara and Hilton Santa Barbara Beachfront Resort, all of which provide charging points. When booking accommodation, check the “EV charger” filter on KAYAK to find hotels that fit your needs.

  • What are the most popular electric cars to rent in Santa Barbara?

    Travelers often choose EVs that are simple to park, have reliable battery performance, and support fast charging throughout the city.
    Some of the most rented electric cars on KAYAK include:
    • Tesla Model 3
    • Tesla Model Y
    • Ford Mustang Mach-E

Everything you need to know for your electric car rental in Santa Barbara