CAR RENTAL

General Information (disclaimer*)

Airport Tax and surcharges:

There is a tax throughout California of about 11% plus other one-time surcharges when renting on-site at airport locations or in hotels.  You can avoid this tourist tax and some surcharges by renting at an off-site, branch office.  Most agencies will pick up you up at the airport; many will pick up elsewhere.  See the alternate locations below.  Some visitors from overseas have said they were able to pickup at the airport and yet avoid the tax by prepaying their rental through a correspondent company overseas.

Rental Rates:

If you will be coming for two months or more, Enterprise offers a further discount from online rates.

Check company web sites for special deals.  Weekend rentals are always cheaper.  The definition of "weekend" varies, e.g., National Car Rental's weekend rates begin Thursdays at 9:00AM and run through pickup time the following Monday (i.e., 4 days.)  Many agencies will not rent to people under 25 years of age, but some (e.g., Avis, Enterprise, National) will do so with a (hefty) surcharge. 

Note:  The UCSB corporate discount is not available to KITP visitors, as their rental contracts do not extend to nonemployees.  You might want to check with your home institution as to whether you are eligible for its corporate discount.

Liability Insurance:

If you do not have liability insurance through your own car insurance plan (that will cover you in a rental), then you will need to get the minimum liability coverage required by California law. Some companies include this coverage if needed (U-Save has recently), but many charge extra. If you need this coverage ask whether it can be included without extra charge and get the answer *in writing*.

Note for non-U.S. residents about insurance:

Insurance requirements can make rental by non-U.S. residents quite expensive.  Several visitors have told us that they saved on insurance costs by prearranging car rental via an agency in their home country.  It may be possible to make such an arrangement via Travelocity in the UK or other sites.  Among the agencies below, U-Save seems to offer better deals in this respect than the major national rental chains.

Collision Insurance:

Purchasing the collision damage waiver (CDW) will increase the cost of rental substantially. However, some major credit cards provide backup collision coverage that is secondary to your personal insurance, if your auto policy covers rentals. However, there are some business credit cards that provide primary coverage and may be obtained, even if you are not a company. Some universities have contracts with rental companies that provide the CDW at no extra cost.   Check into the limits of  your coverage before you come; you may want to speak with your insurance agent or upgrade to a premium credit card.

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Car Rental Agencies

KITP cannot endorse or recommend any particular company.   If you rent outside SB (e.g., in Los Angeles,) it is a good idea to use a company with a branch in Santa Barbara in case the car needs to be serviced or exchanged.

Local agencies:

U-SAVE (510 Anacapa St., downtown Santa Barbara)
(805) 963-3499; fax: (805) 963-6708.
toll-free (877) 987-2831 (in U.S.)
For a long-term rental, ask to speak with the owner, Jim Marshall (jimmarshall@cox.net)

about a KITP discount.

U-SAVE also has an office in Goleta at:
310 South Fairview Ave.
(2 minutes from the S.B. airport)
(805) 964-5436

"BEST PRICE" Rental Cars
340 Pine Ave., Goleta (two minutes from airport)
(805) 964-0429; fax: (805) 681-3378
bestpricecars@hotmail.com
EASY CAR RENTAL is at same location:
(805) 681-9397

Pre-owned compact cars at $15.99 per day (These cars are sometimes not in best condition.) Other cars at $24 and $30 per day. Lot manager is Chris Leon.

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Major Chains (alphabetically)

AVIS (at the Santa Barbara airport)
(805) 964-4848; fax: (805) 683-2039

Provides shuttle to office nearby at

5940 Olney St (one minute from airport)

(805) 683-4715

Avis also has an office in downtown Santa Barbara at

34 E Montecito (at Anacapa St)
(805) 965-1079

BUDGET (at the Santa Barbara airport)
(805) 964-6792 fax: (805) 683-3203

ENTERPRISE (at the Santa Barbara airport)

(805) 683-3012.   

If you will be renting longer than two months, call 800-209-3602, and ask about their Month-or-More program, or send them an e-mail online with your contact information.

Enterprise also has an office in Goleta at
5959 Hollister Ave (two minutes from airport)
(805) 683-0067; FAX (805) 683-3917

There are several offices in Santa Barbara:

• 351 Hitchcock Way Ste #B160, (805) 569-3636;
• 3210 State St., (805) 569-6222;
• 601 Chapala St., (805) 966-3097.

Enterprise will rent without a credit card.

HERTZ (at the Santa Barbara airport)
(805) 967-0411

Hertz also has an office in Goleta at

690 S.Fairview Ave (two minutes from airport)

(805) 967-9489 Fax: (805) 967-2094

Hertz also has an office in downtown Santa Barbara at

Fess Parkers Double Tree Resort
633 East Cabrillo Blvd.

(805) 962-5305 Fax: (805) 962-5342

NATIONAL (at the Santa Barbara airport)

(805) 967-1202; Fax: (805) 683-8790

Toll-free: (888) 826-6890

THRIFTY (at the Santa Barbara airport)

(805) 681-1222; Fax: (805) 681-2568

Toll-free: (800) 847-4389

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* The information on this page is based on past practices and feedback from past visitors. KITP cannot be responsible for the accuracy of this information, and regulations and policies can change at any time.  Verify your arrangements with the rental agent and make sure that whatever an agent tells you verbally is included in the written rental contract.  Please notify us of an errors or updates needed.

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Last update on 05/21/08. me

Find an error?  Please email Deborah.