Car Rental in Santa Monica

Renting a car in Santa Monica means you've got the beach, the Pier, and Pacific Coast Highway all within a 5-minute drive. Most Santa Monica rentals are for a few days of beach time, PCH cruising up to Malibu, or a base for exploring the broader Westside (Venice, Marina del Rey, Brentwood, Pacific Palisades).

The right car for Santa Monica depends on what you're doing. For beach access and PCH drives, a Tesla Model 3 or Lexus IS handles both daily errands and the canyon roads. For families staying at Shutters or Casa del Mar, an SUV (Genesis GV80, Range Rover Sport) gives you room for boards, towels, and beach gear. For a couple's weekend in a hotel like the Fairmont Miramar, a convertible or Porsche Macan adds the trip-defining element.

We deliver to any Santa Monica address — hotels, residences, the pier garages — for a flat distance fee from our base near LAX. Most Santa Monica deliveries run $40–60 depending on time. Parking in Santa Monica is regulated tightly: meter zones cost $3–4/hour, the city garages (1A, 1B, etc.) run $14–18/day, and residential street parking requires a permit. Plan accordingly.

For PCH trips: Tesla Supercharger station at Manhattan Beach (15 min south) and Malibu's Trancas station (20 min north) cover most charging needs. Gas stations along PCH charge premium rates — fill up before you leave the city if you're not in an EV.

Same-day pickup is available if you book before 4pm. Mileage limits are typically 200 miles/day, plenty for PCH trips to Malibu, Big Sur day trips, or LA→Ojai weekends. Insurance is included; no protection tier upsell.