CAR RENTAL
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General Information (disclaimer*)
Airport Tax and surcharges:
There is a "tourism tax" throughout California of about 2.5% plus other one-time concession surcharges when renting on-site at airport locations or in hotels. You can avoid this tax and these surcharges by renting at an off-site, branch office and giving your local address. See the alternate, non-airport locations below. Most agencies will pick up you up at the airport; many will pick up elsewhere. 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. Others have avoided the tourist tax for much of their stays by first renting at the airport, returning the car a few days later after getting settled, and renting at a branch office giving their local address.
Rental 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.)
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*.
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. Finally, there are numerous travel insurance companies that sell CDW insurance online, such as total travel insurance, Trip Insurance Store, Travel Insurance Center, ....
For further information about renting a car, there are many online references, including Best Car Rental Tips, Travel Sense, ThereArePlaces, ....
Important note for non-U.S. residents about Liability & Collision insurance:
Insurance requirements can make rentals by non-U.S. residents quite expensive, adding $20-$30/day to the cost. Several visitors have told us that they saved considerably on insurance costs by prearranging car rental via an agency in their home country. Even if you do no not prearrange the rental, you may purchase insurance coverage independently for much less than from the car rental company. One such company online is insurance4carhire.com , operated by Towergate Underwriting Group. (Although their policy provides coverage for a year for one low premium, note that you must renew your car rental agreement monthly.) If you will be renting for more than a week or two, you will certainly save money. Please let us know of other such companies.
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Car Rental Agencies
KITP cannot endorse or recommend any particular company. If you rent outside Santa Barbara (e.g., in Los Angeles,) it is a good idea to use a company with a branch in the Santa Barbara area 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/day & $105/wk. (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 offers multi-month rentals at prices comparable to long-term leasing.
For European visitors, Hertz offers a World-on-Wheels program that includes all insurance and taxes. (If this link doesn't work for your location, look for it under Hertz "Products & Services" .)
Prices vary by location, even around Santa Barbara:
Airport
(805) 967-0411
Amtrak Train Station
209 State Street
(805) 962-5305
Save by renting from a Hertz Local Edition office:
In Goleta at
690 S.Fairview Ave (two minutes from airport)
(805) 967-9489 Fax: (805) 967-2094
In downtown Santa Barbara at
Fess Parkers Double Tree Resort
633 East Cabrillo Blvd.(805) 962-5305 Fax: (805) 962-5342
HLE offices will pick you up and return you (within a certain radius.)
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 this information should not be interpreted as advice on any subject or endorsement of any company. 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 03/26/09. me
Find an error? Please email Deborah.
