Watsonville car hire

Driver's age: 26-65

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Car Rental Deals
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Car Rental Deals

Cheap car hire in Watsonville

Discover the best prices for you by selecting your travel dates on KAYAK.
Economy car
Economy
Compact car
Compact
Intermediate car
Intermediate
Standard car
Standard
Full-size car
Full-size
Luxury car
Luxury
People carrier car
People carrier
Passenger van car
Passenger van
Commercial car
Commercial
Pick-up truck car
Pick-up truck
Useful Info

Good to know

Most popular car type

Standard

KAYAK’s insights & trends for Watsonville car hire

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

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

You should book your car hire in Watsonville around 90 days before your trip in order to get a below-average price.

What is the best car hire company in Watsonville?

Based on ratings and reviews from real users on KAYAK, the best car hire companies in Watsonville are Enterprise Rent-A-Car (5.5, 6 reviews), Hertz (2.0, 3 reviews), and Thrifty (5.6).
Hertz
Hertz
Rated 2.0/10
Thrifty
Thrifty
Rated 5.6/10
Dollar
Dollar
Rated 0.0/10

What is the most popular car to hire in Watsonville?

SUV cars (Chevrolet Tahoe or similar) are the most popular type of vehicle to hire in Watsonville. SUV cars in Watsonville cost R1 878/day on average, though some users have found deals as low as R1 234/day.

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

The cheapest month to hire a car in Watsonville is February at an average cost of R859/day. May is the most expensive month to hire a car in Watsonville when prices are R1 397/day on average, which tends to be 2 015% above the yearly average hire price for Watsonville.

Which car hire company in Watsonville has the most locations?

Enterprise Rent-A-Car and Hertz operate 3 locations each in Watsonville, more than any other car hire company.

KAYAK’s top tips for hiring a car in Watsonville

  • Watsonville, California, is a small city brimming with iconic landmarks and beautiful neighbourhoods, and you are better off adventuring the city and its stunning surrounding areas via Watsonville car rentals. While the city boasts good public transportation, car rentals in Watsonville still win out when it comes to convenience and affordability. You will spend less on driving around the city and nearby towns and cities than the cumulative fares on buses or trains. You can learn more about the city and its people at Agricultural History Project Center & Museum, and explore the Natural Bridges State Beach, Pinto Lake County Park, Sunset State Park, Castro Adobe State Historical Park, and Mt Madona Stables.
  • Monterey Regional Airport (MRY) is the nearest airport serving Watsonville, about 26 miles from the city center. If you are flying into Watsonville, you will likely land here. Multiple car rental agencies operate on-site desks, including Budget, Hertz, National, Avis, Alamo, and Enterprise. The rental desks are on the first floor of the terminal building near the baggage claim area. Picking your Watsonville car rentals at the airport lets you explore the city immediately after landing.
  • Generally, driving in Watsonville is a safe and manageable experience, thanks to the less impatient drivers and well-established and maintained roads. However, driving in the city has its fair share of challenges, needing you to pay attention to details. Although jaywalking is outlawed in the city, it is common still common in the city. Be sure to keep a keen on them, because even if they are on the wrong side of the traffic regulations, you don't want to hit them. Some roads are narrow, especially rural roads. Drive carefully on search roads and overtake only when it is safe and necessary.
  • Significant cities in California experience dense traffic, drawing rush hour, and Watsonville is no exception. Despite well-developed roads, Watsonville streets are typically brimming with vehicles during peak travel times, as many locals access their respective working places with private cars. Usually, the city experiences rush hours from 6 am to 10 am and from 5 pm to 7 pm. Only drive your car rentals in Watsonville during these hours if necessary.
  • Compact hire cars in Watsonville are around 59% cheaper than other car types, on average

FAQs about hiring a car in Watsonville

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

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

  • How much does a Standard car hire cost in Watsonville?

    A Standard car hire in Watsonville costs R1 405 per day, on average.

  • How much does a Full Size car hire cost in Watsonville?

    A Full Size car hire in Watsonville costs R2 656 per day, on average.

  • How much does an Intermediate car hire cost in Watsonville?

    An Intermediate car hire in Watsonville costs R1 234 per day, on average.

  • What car type is recommended for driving in Watsonville?

    Watsonville car rentals have a wide range of vehicles, and the roads are well-established, making them versatile for any car type. To this end, your car type depends on your specific needs and destinations. While the vehicle’s safety features and fuel efficiency are not the only factors you want to consider, they play critical roles when choosing your car rentals in Watsonville. For example, if you are driving to off-road locations, look for a well-raised vehicle like an SUV for navigation. Yet, you want to consider the vehicle’s capacity to ensure that it accommodates you and your luggage.

  • What is the speed limit in Watsonville?

    Watsonville has many speed limits, depending on the road you drive. Observing these speed limits is crucial in saving you from getting into trouble with authority. Unless posted otherwise, the speed limit in Watsonville is 25 mph in residential areas, 35 mph on the city roads, 55 mph on two-lane highways, 65 mph on multilane, and 70 mph on freeways out of the city. Also, look out for posted speed limits, as speeding is harshly punished in the city.

  • Where are the best places to park in Watsonville?

    Finding a parking lot when driving your car rentals in Watsonville is manageable, with many car parking options, more so in downtown Watsonville. 1620 W Beach Street Parking, Watsonville Parking Lot 14, Civic Plaza Parking Garage, City Parking Lot, and Watsonville Parking Lot 15 are some places worth considering. It costs around $1.50 per hour, but charges vary from location to location. Park your car rentals in Watsonville downtown to stay within the city’s hub.

Watsonville car rental reviews and directory

 
All ratings and reviews are collected from KAYAK users with a verified car hire booking. Learn how KAYAK collects reviews.

Enterprise Rent-A-Car

Cleanliness

7.0

Comfort

6.5

Pick-up/Drop-off

6.0

Value for money

5.5

3 locations in Watsonville

Show locations

Locations in Watsonville

1150 N. Main Street, Suite 1a

+1 831 761 2800

Monday08:00 - 17:00
Tuesday08:00 - 17:00
Wednesday08:00 - 17:00
Thursday08:00 - 17:00
Friday08:00 - 17:00
Saturday09:00 - 12:00
Sunday00:00 - 00:00

2724 Soquel Ave Ste A

+1 831 464 1900

Monday00:00 - 00:00
Tuesday00:00 - 00:00
Wednesday00:00 - 00:00
Thursday00:00 - 00:00
Friday00:00 - 00:00
Saturday00:00 - 00:00
Sunday00:00 - 00:00

6900 Automall Pkwy

+1 408 847 4001

Monday08:00 - 17:00
Tuesday08:00 - 17:00
Wednesday08:00 - 17:00
Thursday08:00 - 17:00
Friday08:00 - 17:00
Saturday09:00 - 12:00
Sunday00:00 - 00:00

Filters

Reviews

10,0 Wonderful

Don, Sept 2024

Intermediate

KAYAK
Used to a bigger car with better ride comfort. Nothing wrong with the car they provided. It was clean, gassed up and performed as one would expect

2,0 Poor

Anonymous, Sept 2024

Full-size

KAYAK
When we reserved the car at noon it didn’t showed the closing time is noon so when we showed up at 12:30 the employee won’t be able to help us! Not even get us a car at their other rental office. Not helpful at all!

2,0 Poor

Anonymous, Apr 2021

KAYAK

Pros:

The Watsonville enterprise office cancelled our rental 2 hours before we were supposed to have picked it up. Their office gave no alternatives, despite the fact that we had the vehicle reserved for 3 weeks ahead of time.

Cons:

I had to do the work of tracking down a replacement vehicle at the last minute. Al, who works at the enterprise on Ocean St. in Watsonville, did an amazing job to help us. He stayed past closing time to get us a vehicle in time.

1 out of 2

Hertz

Cleanliness

2.0

Comfort

2.0

Pick-up/Drop-off

2.0

Value for money

2.0

3 locations in Watsonville

Show locations

Locations in Watsonville

50 Aviation Way

+1 831 722 2760

Monday08:00 - 17:0013:30 - 17:00
Tuesday13:30 - 17:0008:00 - 17:00
Wednesday08:00 - 17:0013:30 - 17:00
Thursday08:00 - 17:0013:30 - 17:00
Friday08:00 - 17:0013:30 - 17:00

6981 Cameron Blvd Suite B

+1 408 847 9179

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

7000 Soquel Avenue

+1 831 462 0469

Monday08:00 - 17:00
Tuesday08:00 - 17:00
Wednesday08:00 - 17:00
Thursday08:00 - 17:00
Friday08:00 - 17:00
Saturday09:00 - 12:00

Filters

Show reviews that mention

Reviews

2,0 Poor

Curt, Apr 2024

People carrier

KAYAK
Car rental.com is a scam. Don’t ever use them.

2,0 Poor

Anonymous, Sept 2020

KAYAK

Pros:

The location didn’t exist.

1 out of 1

Thrifty

5,6

Fair

2 locations in Watsonville

Show locations

Locations in Watsonville

2724 Soquel Ave

+1 831 423 0315

Monday08:00 - 17:0013:30 - 17:00
Tuesday08:00 - 17:0013:30 - 17:00
Wednesday13:30 - 17:0008:00 - 17:00
Thursday13:30 - 17:0008:00 - 17:00
Friday08:00 - 17:0013:30 - 17:00

6981 Cameron Blvd Suite B

+1 408 847 9179

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

Filters

No reviews available

Dollar

No score available yet

2 locations in Watsonville

Locations in Watsonville

2724 Soquel Ave

+1 831 423 0315

Monday08:00 - 17:0013:30 - 17:00
Tuesday13:30 - 17:0008:00 - 17:00
Wednesday13:30 - 17:0008:00 - 17:00
Thursday08:00 - 17:0013:30 - 17:00
Friday13:30 - 17:0008:30 - 12:30

6981 Cameron Blvd Suite B

+1 408 847 9179

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

Filters

Reviews

10,0 Wonderful

Anonymous, May 2025

Pick-up truck

KAYAK
Very good experience. It was straightforward and I did not have any issues.
5 travellers who hired a car in Watsonville gave the car agency they used an average rating of 5.6

Car hire locations in or near Watsonville

Watsonville car hire information

Pick-up locationWatsonville
Car types
Hire locations2
Airport locations1

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