Santa Cruz car rentals

Some car rental companies in Santa Cruz which have updated their car rental health and safety policies due to COVID-19 to make sure vehicles are clean and disinfected include Hertz, Enterprise and Avis

On average a rental car in Santa Cruz costs $49 per day.

In the past 72 hours, the cheapest rental cars were found at Budget ($43/day), Avis ($47/day) and Hertz ($54/day). In the last 72 hours the cheapest rental car price was found at Budget 630 Ocean Street 95060 (1 miles from city center).

Based on ratings and reviews from real users on KAYAK, the best car rental company in Santa Cruz is Hertz (7.4, 59 reviews).

The average gas price in Santa Cruz is $3.70 per gallon over the past 30 days. Filling up a gas tank costs between $44 and $59, depending on the car size.

Supplier choice (Class Special Car or similar) is the most frequently booked rental car type in Santa Cruz.

Car rental companies onsite at San Francisco airport include Thrifty, Sixt, Hertz, Dollar, Alamo, Enterprise, Budget, Avis and National.

Car rental companies that offer shuttle or pick-up services from San Francisco airport to off-airport locations include Thrifty, Sixt, Fox, Hertz, Dollar, Alamo, Enterprise, Budget, Advantage, and E-Z Rent-A-Car.

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

A Supplier choice car rental in Santa Cruz costs $34 per day, on average.

A Compact car rental in Santa Cruz costs $38 per day, on average.

A Economy car rental in Santa Cruz costs $40 per day, on average.

In Santa Cruz, cars are most frequently rented at Hertz 7000 Soquel Avenue (3 miles from city center).

On average a rental car in Santa Cruz costs $342 per week ($49 per day).

On average a rental car in Santa Cruz costs $1,466 per month ($49 per day).

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.

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.

Gas prices in Santa Cruz average at about $3.19 per gallon, but if you compare several gas stations, you could get a lower price of about $3.17 per gallon. It runs a little more expensive in other neighboring cities, so it's advisable to fill up in Santa Cruz before you move out and start exploring.

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.

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!).