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Rent a Car at Santa Maria Public Airport (SMX)

Santa Maria Public Airport (SMX)
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Address
3249 Skyway Dr, Santa Maria, CA, 93455, US
Phone
(1) 805-922-4533
Hours of operation
Sun
08:00 AM - 04:00 PM
10:00 PM - 11:00 PM
Mon-Fri
07:00 AM - 05:00 PM
10:00 PM - 11:00 PM
Sat
08:00 AM - 12:00 PM
10:00 PM - 11:00 PM
24 hour drop off

Where is Avis at the Santa Maria, CA Airport?

AFTER-HOURS RETURNS

How it Works:
Lock the vehicle and place the keys in the key drop box for After Hours Returns located in the return area. Don't forget to remove all your belongings from the vehicle prior to returning the keys.

A vehicle that is returned after hours will be checked in when the location opens the next business day. If returning after hours when a location is closed, the customer is responsible for the vehicle until the satisfactory check in of the rental vehicle the next business day.

GENERAL DIRECTIONS

AIRLINE PASSENGERS: Proceed to the Avis counter in the baggage claim area. Rental cars are parked outside the baggage claim area.
WALK-UP RENTERS: FROM HWY 101 NORTHBOUND, exit at Betteravia. Turn left, then right onto Skyway. Turn right onto Terminal Dr. Follow airport signs for "Arrivals" or "Baggage Claim". They will lead to the baggage claim area entrance.
FROM HWY 101 SOUTHBOUND, exit onto Betteravia and turn right. Turn left onto Skyway, then right onto Terminal Drive. Follow airport signs for "Arrivals" or "Baggage Claim". They will lead to the baggage claim area entrance.
WALKING DISTANCE from rental counter to car lot: 150 feet

LOCATION COMMENT

RENT-A-CAR AND FUN/LUXURY CAR AND 4X4 LOCATION

PREFERRED SERVICE

Proceed to the Avis counter in the baggage claim area. Show your driver's license to receive your preprinted rental document and keys. Rental cars are parked outside the baggage claim area.

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SMX Airport Rental Car Return

Once it’s time to board your plane back home, you can easily return your Avis car rental to Santa Maria Airport at 3249 Skyway Drive, Santa Maria, CA, 93455. Just follow the signs for “Rental Car Return”, which will lead you to our convenient Santa Maria Airport car rental lot.

Grab your belongings, return your key, and you’re good to go!

Santa Maria Airport Car Rental Information

When you rent a car from Avis at the Santa Maria Airport you will get a quality vehicle at an affordable price. Whether you’re traveling to our lovely city for business or pleasure, you’re sure to find just the right type of car rental to best suit your unique situation. Choose from our gleaming selection of luxury vehicles, economy cars, SUVs, and more, and don’t forget to customize your SMX car rental with additional features such as GPS navigation or car seat rental to make your trip even more enjoyable.

Download the Avis app today for a quick and easy car renting experience. Once your plane lands, simply come to our SMX Airport car rental counter near the baggage claim area to pick up your rental car and be on your way in no time.

Enjoy the benefits of renting a Santa Maria Airport car rental from Avis

Car Rental Options

Santa Maria is a beautiful city in the central coast region of California. The best way to experience the rolling green hills and blue skies is from the seat of a convertible, but that’s just our professional opinion. Use the guide below to choose the rental car that’s best for you.

Vans

For large groups of people with lots of luggage or equipment consider a 7- seat minivan, or a van rental that sits 12 to 15 passengers.

SUVs

If you’re planning on doing a lot of sightseeing and guided tours, opt for a roomy, comfortable ride and rent an SUV.

Cars/Sedans

California is full of beautiful scenery and tons of attractions. Take a road trip in a sedan and travel around with great gas mileage.

Long-Term Car Rentals

Are you going to be in Santa Maria for a while? Save on transportation costs by choosing a monthly car rental.

Luxury Cars

Upgrade your vacation with a luxury car rental from Avis. Pick from our quality selection of sports coupes, muscle cars, and more.

Convertibles

Rent a soft-top convertible and cruise through the green, sloping valley with the top down.

Rent a Car and Explore Santa Maria

When you choose to rent a car from Avis, you can count on a quick and easy checkout so you can spend less time at the car rental counter and more time exploring Santa Maria. Load up your luggage, buckle up, and head to nearby hotspots for entertainment, delicious food, and hotels. Enjoy your trip!

RECOMMENDED CAR RENTALS IN Santa Maria

Scenic coasts or city streets, choose from a variety of vehicle types optimized for all kinds of roads.

Standard Elite Sport

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Mercedes-Benz C300 or Similar

5
4 carry-ons

Premium Elite Crossover

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Cadillac XT6 or Similar

5
4 carry-ons

Premium SUV

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Ford Expedition Max or Similar

7
7 carry-ons

Standard Elite Sport

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Mercedes-Benz C300 or Similar

5
4 carry-ons

Premium Elite Crossover

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Cadillac XT6 or Similar

5
4 carry-ons

Premium SUV

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Ford Expedition Max or Similar

7
7 carry-ons

Renter Requirements

  • Prepay Terms
  • Optional Coverages
  • Credit Card Policies
  • Debit Card Policies
  • Drivers License
  • Public Liability and Property Damage
  • Additional Driver Policy
  • Additional Fees
  • Age Requirements
  • DMV Checks
  • Fuel Policy
  • Rate Requirements
  • Rental Options
  • Rental Terms and Conditions
  • SMS Policy
  • Towing
  • Travel Into Other Countries
  • Travel Into Other States
  • e-Tolls

  • Retain your reservation confirmation number as it is necessary for modification, cancellation or no-show refund requests. Changes to your prepay reservation must be made either on Avis.com, Avis.com.au or Avis.co.nz or at the rental counter. At time of change, current rates, taxes and fees apply.
  • Your credit or debit card will be charged upon reservation confirmation. Method of prepayment toward your rental may not be changed after confirmation.
  • Debit cards are not accepted at some Avis locations and are not a recommended form of prepayment.
  • While a debit or prepaid charge card is an acceptable form of rental prepayment online, they may not be accepted for the credit hold required when you pick up your car.
  • Please review the terms and conditions on our confirmation page regarding credit or debit card acceptance at the location. To release the car to you at time of pick-up, all rental terms and conditions must be met, regardless of your original prepayment.
  • Prepaid debit and gift cards are not acceptable methods of credit identification to pick up a vehicle at any location. One of the above mentioned cards must be presented. Prepaid debit and gift cards are accepted at time of return only.
  • In the U.S., debit, cash or check cards may be used at the end for payment of rental charges.
  • The same credit or debit card used to complete an online Pay Now reservation must be presented at the rental pick-up counter as a form of identification.
  • Generally, at the time of rental, we'll require a credit card hold of total estimated charges.  However, many rentals may require an authorization hold of the estimated rental charges plus $200 USD.  If you have prepaid with a debit card, the hold will be $250 USD. A prepaid charge card is not accepted for this required hold and in case of reservation with non US currency, a credit card with same currency of reservation with equivalent USD amount would be required.
  • The card presented at pickup will be the card of record for the rental.
  • If you use a debit card at a location that accepts them, we will perform a credit check to ensure worthiness before releasing the car and you must also present a second form of current identification.
  • Prepaid reservations are only offered at participating locations.
  • Upon paying your rental with a debit card, Avis will generally request an authorization hold against your account for the estimated charges of the rental but reserves the right in its sole, discretion, to request extra value based on certain factors as we deem appropriate. Many rentals may require an authorization hold of the estimated rental charges plus $200 USD.  Rentals of 4 days or more may require an authorization hold of the estimated rental charges plus $300 USD. If you have prepaid with a debit card, the hold will be $250 USD. THESE FUNDS WILL NOT BE AVAILABLE FOR YOUR USE.
  • If you selected Fuel Service Option, fuel price isn't included in your reservation total, but prevailing market rate will be added when you return your car.
  • Avis accepts most major credit cards as credit identification at the time of rental. Accepted credit cards: Avis Charge Card, American Express, AT&T Capital, Diner's Club Intl, Discover, China Union Pay, JCB, MasterCard, and Visa. Some locations may not accept each of the referenced cards.
  • Coupons may be applied to prepay rentals. Vouchers or Avis rental certificates cannot be used in conjunction with a prepay reservation.
  • Gift Cards (Avis or any other) are not allowed on prepay reservations.
  • Most U.S. locations also accept bank debit cards with the Visa or MasterCard logo as credit identification at the time of rental if you are at least 25 years of age. Canada locations do not accept bank debit cards as a form of credit identification. In most cases, U.S. locations will perform a credit check for debit card renters to determine credit worthiness at the time of rental. The renter must meet Avis' minimum criteria in order to rent.
  • When the rental is over, we will process the reversal but the bank may take time to post it back to the account - unless you already paid toward your rental, in which case the hold will be $250 USD. While this hold is in place, the funds will not be available for your use.
  • Avis is not responsible for any returned checks or overdrafts based on this policy.
  • Your quoted rental rate is based on the exact parameters (locations, dates, etc.) of your particular rental - changing your confirmed reservation parameters could result in a different rate.
  • There is no fee to modify a reservation related to: vehicle type, options (GPS, protections, etc.), rental period dates/times, adding other drivers or switching between participating prepay pick-up locations within the same country. However, making such changes may result in changes to the overall rental terms and the original price quoted is subject to change to reflect those changes. To change to a non-participating location or one outside of the original pick-up country, you must cancel your original reservation (with applicable cancellation fee) and re-book at then current rates.
  • Non-permissible changes include: method of prepayment; name on reservation; changing your pick-up to a non-participating prepay location or one outside of the original pick-up country. If you still wish to make these changes, you must cancel your original prepay reservation with applicable cancellation fee and re-book at then current rates.
  • At time of rental pick-up, location rental qualification rules apply. The name on all rental credentials (license and credit or debit card) must match the name on the reservation. If the names do not match, it is deemed a non-permissible change to your prepay reservation and must follow procedures to cancel and re-book at then current rates (with applicable cancellation or no-show fees).
  • At the time of pick up, driver must present a valid driver's license and credit card (or debit card at participating locations) in the driver's name. A prepaid charge card is not an acceptable credential. All drivers must have a safe driving record.
  • At time of pick up, driver must present a valid, drivers license and credit or debit card in the driver's name. If the drivers license is not U.S.-issued, you must present your drivers license and either a passport or a Canadian enhanced license in the driver's name.
  • At the time of rental, the renter or authorized driver may be subject to an electronic DMV check from the issuing state of the driver's license, or may be asked to sign a declaration attesting to specific criteria.
  • Positive identification in addition to your driver's license may be required.
  • Your total rental rate is calculated based on the information provided at time of reservation.
  • Vehicles are rented on a daily (24-hour) basis. There is a 29-minute grace period for returns. After 30 minutes late, a 3/4-day late charge $.01 taxes apply. After 90 minutes late, full-day late charges taxes apply. There is no grace period for rental fees, surcharges and optional equipment or protections charges, so full-day late charges will apply for these items.
  • Extensions or late returns result in additional charges.
  • Rather than requiring customers to be 25 to rent, Avis now rents to customers between the ages of 21-24 with a valid credit card and driver's license. At time of rental, we will automatically apply an additional underage surcharge for these drivers.
  • Additionally, the following restrictions also will apply for renters between the ages of 21-24: Renters of luxury cars, mini-vans, 12-passenger vans, specialty cars, full-size SUVs and premium SUVs will not be permitted.
  • In New York State, the minimum age to rent is 18 with a $84-per-day USD surcharge for renters age 18-20 and a $35-per-day USD underage surcharge for renters age 21-24. In Michigan, the minimum age is 18 with a $41-per-day USD surcharge for customers between the ages of 18-20 and $28-per-day USD surcharge for customers between the ages of 21-24. In Quebec, the minimum age to rent car groups A, B, C, D & E is 21 with an underage fee of $20-per-day CAD for renters age 21-24. For all other car groups, the minimum age is 25. In Saskatchewan, the minimum age is 18. No underage fee applies.
  • In most states, the charge for additional drivers is $13-per-day USD per additional driver, with a maximum charge of $65-per-rental USD per driver. The additional driver fee in Nevada is $11.00-per-day USD per additional driver.  The additional driver fee in New York is $5-per-day USD, $35 per week USD per additional driver.
  • The following are exempt from additional driver charges: renter's employer or regular fellow employee when on company business; renter's spouse or domestic partner; disabled renters who have completed the non-licensed renter form. In California, a child, sibling, or grandparent of the renter is also exempt from the additional driver charge.
  • The collection, use and retention of your information, including your personally identifiable information, provided to us in connection with payment for our services and products, or participation in our programs, whether directly by you or on your behalf through a payment service, is subject to our Privacy Notice.  

Cancellation Policy

  • Changes to a reservation must be done at Avis.com, Avis.com.au, or Avis.co.nz using the "Modify/Cancel" option.  Any changes to the reservation may impact the rental charges.  If a prepaid reservation is cancelled more than 24 hours before the pickup time, a $50.00 USD or equivalent foreign currency used for the reservation, will be assessed a cancellation fee.
  • If you need to cancel during the 24 hour period prior to the scheduled pick-up time, we will refund the full prepaid amount less a $150 USD or equivalent foreign currency used for the reservation, processing fee. 
  • If you do not cancel the reservation prior to the time of pick-up and the rental vehicle is not picked up on the rental date, no portion of the prepaid amount will be refunded.
  • If you return the vehicle before the original return date (early return), you will not be refunded any portion of the payment.
  • All refund requests must be submitted within six months of the scheduled rental pick up date. No refunds will be granted after this six month window.
  • Underpayments will be handled at the counter at time of rental return. Unfortunately, we can't promise that your prepaid daily car rate will apply if you change car types, lengthen or shorten your rental period or change your pick up location.
  • Upon returning the vehicle, Avis will process a release of the unused portion of the hold subject to your bank's procedure. This hold may take up to two weeks to be released by your bank.
  • If you have already paid toward your rental using a credit card or debit card, we will reverse any hold when the rental is over. The bank, however, may take time to post it back to your account. While this hold is in place, the funds will not be available for your use.