Santa Cruz car rental information
| Pick-up location | Santa Cruz |
|---|---|
| Car types | Compact, Economy, Full-size, Intermediate, Intermediate SUV, Pickup truck, Premium, Standard, Standard SUV |
| Rental locations | 6 |
| Airport locations | 0 |
| Popular agencies | Enterprise, Budget, Avis |
Cheap car rentals in Santa Cruz
| Economy | $48/day |
| Compact | $52/day |
| Intermediate | $41/day |
| Standard | $51/day |
| Full-size | $52/day |
| Premium | $67/day |
| Pickup truck | $53/day |
| Standard SUV | $67/day |
| Intermediate SUV | $69/day |
Santa Cruz car rental reviews and directory
Enterprise
7.5
Good
39 reviewsCleanliness
8.2
Comfort
8.0
Pick-up/Drop-off
7.2
Value for money
7.1
3 locations in Santa Cruz
from $82/day
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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
7.0
Good
73 reviewsBest rated
Cleanliness
7.5
Comfort
7.5
Pick-up/Drop-off
6.8
Value for money
7.0
4 locations in Santa Cruz
from $117/day
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Reviews
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
Sep 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 staff4.4 Mediocre
May 2019
Pros:
Pick up was quick.Cons:
The drop off was terrible. Was told my drop off location had after hours drop off but it did not. Because of this, I was late for the next plan on my tight schedule.Budget
10.0
Wonderful
1 reviewCleanliness
4.0
Comfort
6.0
Pick-up/Drop-off
10.0
Value for money
10.0
One location in Santa Cruz
from $70/day
Avis
6.8
Okay
18 reviewsMost popular
Cleanliness
6.8
Comfort
6.8
Pick-up/Drop-off
6.8
Value for money
6.8
One location in Santa Cruz
from $42/day
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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
No score is available
Cheapest deal
Cleanliness
-
Comfort
-
Pick-up/Drop-off
-
Value for money
-
One location in Santa Cruz
from $39/day
131 travelers who rented a car in Santa Cruz gave the car agency they used an average rating of 7.2
Car rental locations in or near Santa Cruz
When to book a rental car in Santa Cruz
Average daily price per month
Rental car prices as pick-up date approaches
Top tips for renting 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.
- 25% of our users found rental cars in Santa Cruz for $57 or less
- Book your rental car in Santa Cruz at least 1 day before your trip in order to get a below-average price
- Premium rental cars in Santa Cruz are around 65% cheaper than other car types, on average