Encinitas car hire

Driver's age: 25-65

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Cheap car hire in Encinitas

Medium car
Medium
Luxury car
Luxury
Commercial car
Commercial
Pickup truck car
Pickup truck
Booking Insights

KAYAK’s insights & trends for Encinitas car hire

Check out the latest trends and booking tips to hire a car in Encinitas with confidence.

How far in advance should you book car hire in Encinitas?

You should book your car hire in Encinitas around 50 days before your trip in order to get a below-average price.

What is the most popular car to hire in Encinitas?

Hires in the SUV category (Toyota RAV4 or similar) are the most popular option in Encinitas, costing R1 986/day on average. Some users have found deals as low as R917/day.

What is the cheapest month to hire a car in Encinitas?

The cheapest month to hire a car in Encinitas is May at an average cost of R714/day. February is the most expensive month to hire a car in Encinitas when prices are R1 006/day on average, which tends to be 20% above the yearly average hire price for Encinitas.

Which car hire company in Encinitas has the most locations?

Enterprise Rent-A-Car operates 3 locations in Encinitas, more than any other car hire company.

Encinitas car hire price comparison by vehicle type

Find the right car hire in Encinitas by comparing prices across vehicle types.

Small cars

R381 - R851

All Car Types

R883 - R1 213

How much does it cost to hire a small car in Encinitas?

How much does it cost to hire a medium car in Encinitas?

How much does it cost to hire a large car in Encinitas?

How much does it cost to hire an SUV in Encinitas?

How much does it cost to hire a van in Encinitas?

How much does it cost to hire a pickup truck in Encinitas?

How much does it cost to hire a luxury car in Encinitas?

Small car hire in Encinitas typically costs around R625 per day. The best time to book is December, when prices average R381 per day, which is about 40% less than the yearly average. Small cars are usually 41% cheaper than the average car hire in Encinitas, making them ideal for budget-conscious travellers.

Medium car hire in Encinitas typically costs around R763 per day. The best time to book is November, when prices average R511 per day, which is about 34% less than the yearly average. Medium cars are usually 28% cheaper than the average car hire in Encinitas, offering a good balance of space and value.

Large car hire in Encinitas typically cost around R971 per day. The best time to book is November, when prices average R584 per day, which is about 40% less than the yearly average. Large cars can be 8% cheaper than the average car hire in Encinitas, offering more comfort for longer trips at a reasonable price.

SUV hire in Encinitas typically costs around R1 073 per day. The best time to book is January, when prices average R726 per day, which is about 33% less than the yearly average. SUVs are typically 2% more expensive than the average car hire in Encinitas but provide extra space and capability for groups or road trips.

Van hire in Encinitas typically costs around R1 762 per day. The best time to book is July, when prices average R1 046 per day, which is about 41% less than the yearly average. Vans are typically 41% more expensive than the average car hire in Encinitas but are the best choice for families or groups needing maximum passenger capacity.

Pickup truck hire in Encinitas typically costs around R961 per day. The best time to book is August, when prices average R389 per day, which is about 60% less than the yearly average. Pickup trucks are 9% cheaper than the average car hire in Encinitas, making them a practical choice for hauling gear or outdoor adventures.

Luxury car hire in Encinitas typically costs around R971 per day. The best time to book is November, when prices average R584 per day, which is about 40% less than the yearly average. Luxury cars are currently 8% cheaper than the average car hire in Encinitas, which defies expectations.

Good to know

Most popular car type

Medium

KAYAK’s top tips for hiring a car in Encinitas

  • Rent a car for your Encinitas and experience the ultimate flexibility that allows you to explore this southern California’s beach city and its surroundings. Nestled approximately 25 miles north of San Diego, Encinitas is home to beautiful attractions like Moonlight State Beach and San Elijo Lagoon Ecological Reserve. By opting for car rentals in Encinitas, you can travel with ease to attractions like Lazy Acres Encinitas which is approximately 7 miles from the city center. With your rented car, you can conveniently reach this destination in under 4 minutes.
  • Encinitas is approximately 25 miles from San Diego International Airport. Pretty much all the major car rentals in Encinitas are located at the Consolidated Rental Car Center just outside the airport. You can access the Rental Car Center using the free shuttle that picks up travelers from all the terminals. These shuttles depart from the terminals every 10 minutes. Once you arrive at SAN, you can head to the lower level of the terminal and hop onto the waiting shuttle. Some of the car rentals in Encinitas include Payless, Alamo, Avis, Enterprise and Hertz among others.
  • Encinitas may not be as busy as most of California’s major cities. However, navigating yourself through the city’s multiple intersections can be a challenge, especially if you are a visitor. Encinitas pedestrians have a strange habit of jaywalking and cyclists barely take traffic rules seriously. In light of this, it helps to pay maximum attention to the road and look out for pedestrians walking their dogs or cyclists while driving your rented car. This is especially important when driving during early morning or late evening when most residents take their dogs out for a walk.
  • Encinitas, like any major city, tends to have its share of traffic snarls during rush hours. Traffic tends to be particularly heavy on I-5 between 6 am and 9 am and later afternoon between 5 pm and 7 pm. While California does not experience heavy snow during winter months, it helps to pay extreme attention during wet months when the roads tend to be considerably slippery.
  • Small hire cars in Encinitas are around 72% cheaper than other car types, on average

FAQs about hiring a car in Encinitas

  • Which car hire agencies are at Los Angeles airport (LAX)?

    Car hire companies onsite at Los Angeles airport include Yesaway, Europcar, Hertz, Enterprise Rent-A-Car, Thrifty, Ace, Dollar, Fox and U-Save.

  • Which car hire companies will pick you up at Los Angeles airport (LAX)?

    Car hire companies that offer shuttle or pick-up services from Los Angeles airport to off-airport locations include Europcar, Hertz, Enterprise Rent-A-Car, Thrifty, Dollar and U-Save.

  • How can I find car hires near me in Encinitas?

    Take a look at our extensive car hire location map to find the best car hire deals near you.

  • How much does a Medium car hire cost in Encinitas?

    A Medium car hire in Encinitas costs R1 986 per day, on average.

  • How much does a Special car hire cost in Encinitas?

    A Special car hire in Encinitas costs R943 per day, on average.

  • How much does a Small car hire cost in Encinitas?

    A Small car hire in Encinitas costs R718 per day, on average.

  • Which type of car is recommended for driving in Encinitas?

    Encinitas is a laid-back city with plenty of cars but limited parking lots. As such, renting a compact car during your Encinitas visit makes absolutely perfect sense. Encinitas streets are also noticeably narrow in several spots. As such, opting for smaller, compact cars over bulky fuel guzzlers is bound to make your navigation around the city a lot easier. That said, if you are coming to Encinitas with a large family or on a group tour, then consider renting going for SUV or high-capacity Encinitas car rentals. With these you can be certain to move around in comfort.

  • What is the speed limit in Encinitas?

    If you are driving through the commercial, residential and school areas, then you will be required to observe the 20 mph speed limit. However, once you get out of the city into more free space, you can hit more gas and drive at up to 40mph. The speed limit is even higher when you are on highways where you can drive at 50mph. All roads have speed limit labels, so be sure to look out for this.

  • Where are the best places to park in Encinitas?

    Finding a parking lot in Encinitas can be pretty tricky, especially if you are a visitor to the city. That said, Encinitas has several paid parking garages like Lot 15 where you can park your rented car for as less as $10 per day. 2nd Street, Encinitas offers outdoor parking at around $240 per month. You can also find several parking lots outside the city center such as Parking Lot West of Train Station and Beach Parking.

Encinitas car rental reviews and directory

 

Enterprise Rent-A-Car

2,0

Poor

Cleanliness

2.0

Comfort

2.0

Pick-up/Drop-off

2.0

Value for money

2.0

3 locations in Encinitas

Locations in Encinitas

165 S. El Camino Real, Suite B

+1 760 942 2626

Monday07:30 - 17:00
Tuesday07:30 - 17:00
Wednesday07:30 - 17:00
Thursday07:30 - 17:00
Friday07:30 - 17:00
Saturday09:00 - 12:00
Sunday

6050 Avenida Encinas

+1 760 918 0883

Opening times not available

617 S Highway 101

+1 858 350 1050

Monday08:00 - 17:00
Tuesday08:00 - 17:00
Wednesday08:00 - 17:00
Thursday08:00 - 17:00
Friday08:00 - 17:00
Saturday
Sunday

Filters

No reviews available

National

8,0

Very Good

One location in Encinitas

Locations in Encinitas

617 S Highway 101

+1 858 259 9500

Opening times not available

Filters

No reviews available

Hertz

5,9

Fair

2 locations in Encinitas

Locations in Encinitas

2100 Palomar Airport Rd

+1 760 930 0123

Monday08:00 - 17:00
Tuesday08:00 - 17:00
Wednesday08:00 - 17:00
Thursday08:00 - 17:00
Friday08:00 - 17:00
Saturday09:00 - 16:00
Sunday09:00 - 13:00

6030 Avenida Encinas, Ste E

+1 760 579 0072

Monday07:30 - 18:00
Tuesday07:30 - 18:00
Wednesday07:30 - 18:00
Thursday07:30 - 18:00
Friday07:30 - 18:00
Saturday09:00 - 12:00

Filters

No reviews available

Easirent

4,5

Mediocre

Cleanliness

5.2

Comfort

5.3

Pick-up/Drop-off

4.5

Value for money

5.1

One location in Encinitas

Locations in Encinitas

McClellan–Palomar Airport

Opening times not available

Filters

No reviews available

Avis

No score available yet

One location in Encinitas

Locations in Encinitas

2198 Palomar Airport Road

+1 760 931 1393

Monday08:00 - 17:00
Tuesday08:00 - 17:00
Wednesday08:00 - 17:00
Thursday08:00 - 17:00
Friday08:00 - 17:00
Saturday09:00 - 14:00
Sunday09:00 - 14:00

Filters

Reviews

2,0 Poor

Anonymous, Jul 2025

Intermediate

KAYAK
Drop off in Butte Montana Avis office was horrible. Staff was rude and unprofessional.

1 out of 2

Budget

No score available yet

One location in Encinitas

Locations in Encinitas

2198 Palomar Airport Road

+1 760 931 2469

Monday08:00 - 17:00
Tuesday08:00 - 17:00
Wednesday08:00 - 17:00
Thursday08:00 - 17:00
Friday08:00 - 17:00
Saturday09:00 - 14:00
Sunday09:00 - 14:00

Filters

Reviews

10,0 Wonderful

Todd, Apr 2026

Intermediate

KAYAK
Streamlined/ efficient service. Couldn’t be happier. I will definitely be using them again!

10,0 Wonderful

Matthew, Mar 2026

Pick-up truck

KAYAK
Excellent service from Cindy! I will be renting here again.

10,0 Wonderful

Anonymous, Mar 2026

Intermediate

KAYAK
Loved that we got an upgrade because what we requested was not available so that’s always a perk. Drop off at the airport was super easy.

2,0 Poor

Anonymous, Oct 2022

KAYAK
We reserved the car with kayak and the company didn’t have cars available. I think kayak could’ve done a better job in this transaction. Kayak allowed us to make a reservation with the car company without cars available. Very poor communication and costumer service. The car company was nice to make a phone call to us to tell us they didn’t have cars at their location and couldn’t understand why kayak would allow this.

1 out of 3

EZ Van

No score available yet

One location in Encinitas

Locations in Encinitas

6511 Avenida Encinas

+1 866 735 8267

Opening times not available

Filters

No reviews available

One traveller who hired a car in Encinitas gave the car agency they used an average rating of 5,3

Car hire locations in or near Encinitas

Encinitas car hire information

Pick-up locationEncinitas
Car types
Hire locations1
Airport locations0