Santa Monica car rentals
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Cheap car rentals in Santa Monica
KAYAK’s top tips for renting a car in Santa Monica
- Car rentals in Santa Monica can provide you with the ease and flexibility you need to explore all of the popular attractions within the city and the surrounding areas. Head to the famous city of Beverly Hills that is about 10 miles away and best reached by car. If you like being active and are interested in going on a hike, you can visit the scenic Topanga State Park that spans across 14,000 acres and is around a half-hour drive from the city.
- Visitors can pick up their Santa Monica car rentals directly from Los Angeles International Airport. While there are no rental car offices located on airport property, many of them provide complimentary shuttle services that depart from just outside the Arrivals terminal under the purple sign marked as "Rental Car Shuttles." There are over 40 different companies for you to choose from, including Thrifty, Budget, and Hertz.
- The city center is known for having many pedestrians and cyclists, so always be on the lookout for them when you are driving car rentals in Santa Monica. Motorcycles are also legally allowed to drive in between traffic lanes in California, so make sure to drive cautiously in case one of them is in your blind spot. As Santa Monica is such a large city, it can be easy to get lost, so consider adding a GPS system to your rental in order to help with navigation.
- All of Los Angeles County, including Santa Monica, is known for having heavy traffic, particularly during rush hour. If you don’t want to find yourself stuck in a traffic jam, avoiding driving on the Pacific Coast Highway and freeways 10 and 405 between the hours of 8am to 9:30am and 5pm to 6:30pm. The roads also tend to be particularly slippery when it rains, so drive extra cautiously during this type of weather.
- Book your rental car in Santa Monica at least 1 day before your trip in order to get a below-average price
FAQs about renting a car in Santa Monica
What type of car is recommended for driving in Santa Monica?
As Santa Monica is a busy city with limited parking, a compact vehicle can be a convenient choice for a rental car. Not only will it be easier for you to weave in and out of traffic, you will also be able to better navigate the narrow streets in the city’s downtown area.
What’s the speed limit in Santa Monica?
Speed limits for streets within the city often range from 25 to 45mph depending on where they are located and how busy they are. If you are driving near a school, you can expect the speed limit to drop to 20mph. Freeways usually have a maximum of 65mph, while the maximum for the Pacific Coast Highway is closer to 55mph, depending on how windy the section of road is. Many of the city’s intersections have their own traffic cameras, and police officers are frequently stationed both within the city and along the main freeways. Always make sure to follow traffic laws in order to drive safely and avoid receiving a fine.
Where are the best places to park in Santa Monica?
While you might be able to find some free street parking in Santa Monica, it is usually easiest to opt for a paid parking lot or garage. The Santa Monica Pier deck parking lot is open 24h a day, with fees ranging from around $2.50 to $3.75 per hour. There are also several beach parking lots, such as the Annenberg Community Beach House, which is open from 6am to midnight and charges approximately $3 per hour. Parking is available 24h a day at the Civic Center and Main Library, and the first 30min are free.
How much is gas price in Santa Monica?
The average gas price in Santa Monica is 13.06 ﷼ per gallon over the past 30 days. Filling up a gas tank costs between 157 ﷼ and 209 ﷼, depending on the car size.
What is the most popular rental car in Santa Monica?
Standard (Jeep Wrangler or similar) is the most frequently booked rental car type in Santa Monica.
How can I find car rentals near me in Santa Monica?
Take a look at our extensive car rental location map to find the best rental cars near you.
How much does a Standard car rental cost in Santa Monica?
A Standard car rental in Santa Monica costs 326 ﷼ per day, on average.
Santa Monica car rental reviews and directory All ratings and reviews are collected from KAYAK users with a verified car rental booking. Learn how KAYAK collects reviews.
Midway
9.9
Wonderful
Read 7 reviewsCleanliness
10.0
Comfort
10.0
Pick-up/Drop-off
9.6
Value for money
10.0
2 locations in Santa Monica
Locations in Santa Monica
Filters
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Reviews
10.0 Wonderful
Anonymous, Apr 2021
Pros:
Staff was extremely friendly, pickup and drop-off was very fast and efficient. I see some complaints about customers not getting the type of car they reserved, which I could see happening as the lot was very small, not a large selection. I had rented a economy class, and loved the car I got.10.0 Wonderful
Dean, Mar 2021
Pros:
Clean car easy to pick up / drop offCons:
Busy intersection was hard to return car9.2 Wonderful
Nina, Sep 2020
Pros:
Loved the car - awesome price, amazing gas mileage, great AC. Staff was very friendly and accommodating. I returned the car, and was offered a ride home - a very pleasant surprise.Cons:
The only issue when we arrived at Midway was that there was a shortage of cars. Our options were to go to a further away location OR to have the rental car delivered to our home. We opted to return home ourselves and wait for the rental car to be delivered to us. The delivery was 1.5 hours after our initial pickup time. Not ideal when your schedule is time sensitive. But it worked out for us.10.0 Wonderful
Anonymous, Feb 2023
Economy
10.0 Wonderful
Anonymous, Jul 2022
10.0 Wonderful
Anonymous, Mar 2022
Enterprise Rent-A-Car
9.3
Wonderful
Read 4 reviewsCleanliness
9.3
Comfort
9.3
Pick-up/Drop-off
9.0
Value for money
9.3
5 locations in Santa Monica
Locations in Santa Monica
1702 Santa Monica Blvd
+1 310 395 4941
1719 Wilshire Blvd
+1 310 395 4941
1723 Wilshire Blvd
+1 310 478 5216
2700 Lincoln Blvd
+1 310 452 9100
2703 Santa Monica Blvd
+1 424 416 5073
Filters
Reviews
10.0 Wonderful
Jeffery, Apr 2021
Pros:
Mike made sure I was able to get the vehicle I needed when I needed it. That was amazingCons:
Actually everything was perfect8.0 Very good
Nanette, Feb 2021
Pros:
Attentive employee.Cons:
Rented a car on-line that was not available- what??? No Bueno.10.0 Wonderful
Anonymous, Feb 2022
10.0 Wonderful
Federico, Oct 2021
Avis
9.3
Wonderful
Read 2 reviewsCleanliness
8.9
Comfort
8.9
Pick-up/Drop-off
8.9
Value for money
8.3
3 locations in Santa Monica
Locations in Santa Monica
1027 Broadway
+1 310 453 4421
1700 Ocean Avenue
+1 424 272 7305
2423 Lincoln Blvd
+1 424 428 0216
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Reviews
10.0 Wonderful
John, Oct 2023
Convertible
7.9 Good
Salaheddine, Aug 2021
Budget
6.8
Okay
Read 3 reviewsCleanliness
7.6
Comfort
6.4
Pick-up/Drop-off
6.4
Value for money
6.8
2 locations in Santa Monica
Locations in Santa Monica
1027 Broadway
+1 310 393 9194
2423 Lincoln Blvd
+1 424 428 0219
Filters
Reviews
2.0 Poor
Anonymous, Oct 2023
Full-size
10.0 Wonderful
Anonymous, Oct 2023
Intermediate SUV
2.0 Poor
Anonymous, May 2023
Pickup truck
Hertz
6.5
Okay
Read 6 reviewsCleanliness
6.1
Comfort
6.7
Pick-up/Drop-off
6.7
Value for money
6.7
3 locations in Santa Monica
Locations in Santa Monica
1426 Santa Monica Blvd
+1 310 394 2449
1700 Ocean Ave.
+1 310 451 3539
2519 Lincoln Blvd.
+1 310 578 9700
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Reviews
2.0 Poor
Gia, Feb 2024
Intermediate SUV
6.0 Okay
Thomas, Oct 2022
10.0 Wonderful
Anonymous, Nov 2021
2.0 Poor
Anonymous, Dec 2019
Cons:
The customer service at the Hertz location was horrible and it’s a shabby place.10.0 Wonderful
Anonymous, Aug 2022
2.0 Poor
Anonymous, Mar 2022
Sixt
6.5
Okay
Read 5 reviewsCleanliness
6.9
Comfort
6.7
Pick-up/Drop-off
6.4
Value for money
6.4
One location in Santa Monica
Locations in Santa Monica
1515 Ocean Ave
+1 888 749 8227
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Reviews
4.8 Mediocre
Anonymous, Jul 2020
Cons:
The car2.0 Poor
Kevin, Jun 2023
Luxury
10.0 Wonderful
Brian, Feb 2023
Luxury
10.0 Wonderful
Anonymous, Mar 2022
3.9 Poor
joe, Oct 2021
One location in Santa Monica
Locations in Santa Monica
1426 Santa Monica Boulevard
+1 310 394 2449
Filters
No reviews available
3 locations in Santa Monica
Locations in Santa Monica
Filters
No reviews available
One location in Santa Monica
Locations in Santa Monica
3202 Lincoln Blvd
(310) 395 8010
Filters
No reviews available
One location in Santa Monica
Locations in Santa Monica
1901 Ocean Ave. Santa Monica CA UNITED STATES
+1 914 368 0091
Filters
No reviews available
Car rental locations in or near Santa Monica
Good to know
Most popular car type | Standard |
|---|
When to book a rental car in Santa Monica
Everything you need to know for your car rental in Santa Monica
Santa Monica car rental information
| Pick-up location | Santa Monica |
|---|---|
| Car types | |
| Rental locations | 22 |
| Airport locations | 1 |