Car rentals in Palo Alto

Most visitors to Palo Alto rent a car at the airport, if they rent one at all. That is often the right call. Still, the city has a few neighborhood rental offices that work well for a one-day trip to the coast, a car while yours is in the shop or a short business stay. Their hours are short and weekend hours shorter, which is the first thing to plan around.

This page lists the offices in and next to Palo Alto, then the airport rental centers, then the practical points: tolls, electric cars and whether you need a car at all. For moving around without one, start with getting around Palo Alto.

Rental offices in and near Palo Alto

Hours come from each company's location page in late October 2026. Holiday hours differ, so confirm before you book.

Avis and Budget, El Camino Real

Avis and Budget share a corporate office at 4230 El Camino Real in south Palo Alto, with West Charleston Road as the cross street. Avis gives it the location code PA1 and the phone number 650-493-8888. Budget lists 650-424-0684 for the same counter. Weekend pickups need to happen before noon. Avis says cars must be returned during office hours here, so plan a late return at an airport instead. Budget's page also posted holiday hours for late 2026, including a closure on Thanksgiving, November 26. Our Avis and Budget listing has the full details.

Hertz on San Antonio Road

Hertz's Palo Alto office is at 816 San Antonio Road, near the Highway 101 interchange in the southeast corner of the city. Hertz calls it Palo Alto - San Antonio Road, location code PAOC03, phone 650-739-0370. It is a weekday office: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Friday and closed on Saturday and Sunday. A Friday pickup for a weekend trip works, but you cannot return the car in person until Monday. See our Hertz San Antonio Road listing.

Other Hertz sites

Hertz also lists a hotel location at the Sheraton Palo Alto, 625 El Camino Real, near Stanford Shopping Center and the Caltrain station. A neighborhood location sits at 360 Oak Road on the Stanford campus, in the Stock Farm Garage. Hours at these smaller sites vary, so check the Hertz website before you count on them. Hertz lists further offices in Mountain View and at Moffett Field.

Enterprise

Enterprise names one of its branches Palo Alto, but its listed address is 2243 Old Middlefield Way in Mountain View, near San Antonio Road south of Charleston Road. The phone number is 650-843-4990. Its location page listed these points in October 2026:

• Hours of 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekdays and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, with no Sunday hours shown.
• An after-hours key drop at the back of the office and a pickup service for customers.
• Delivery options for guests of The Clement and Four Seasons Silicon Valley, arranged through the hotel concierge.
• A minimum age of 21, with a daily surcharge for renters aged 21 to 24.
• Card payment only, with no cash accepted.

Enterprise's Palo Alto area list also shows a separate Palo Alto Exotics branch for luxury and performance cars. Check its own page for the address.

Renting at the airports

Airport rental centers have the most cars, the most brands and the longest hours. All three Bay Area airports gather their rental companies in one building.

At SFO the brands include Alamo, Avis, Budget, Dollar, Enterprise, Hertz, National, Sixt and Thrifty. Avis, Budget and Hertz list 24 hour counters there. At SJC, most counters open around 6 a.m. and close between 11 p.m. and midnight. SJC is the closest airport to Palo Alto and the drive is usually 20 to 40 minutes. Our airport guides for SFO, SJC and Oakland give the details for each center.

To shop prices across brands at once, compare rental cars at SFO and SJC before you fly.

Town or airport?

• Flying in and out the same week: rent at the airport. You avoid two extra transfers and get later hours.
• Only one day of driving: ride Caltrain in and rent for that day in town. Book a weekday if you can, since in-town weekend hours are short.
• A late return: drop at an airport counter, since the Palo Alto offices close in the late afternoon.
• Business travelers: some hotels can arrange delivery. Ask the concierge, as Enterprise suggests for its partner hotels.

Car sharing

Zipcar has cars on the Stanford campus, which can suit a short errand. Membership and booking go through the Zipcar app. If you only need a car for an hour or two, a rideshare or Waymo may cost less once you count the time. Our page on robotaxis and rideshare explains the options.

Tolls, express lanes and FasTrak

Bay Area bridges have no cash booths. The Dumbarton and San Mateo bridges toll westbound, toward Palo Alto. The toll for a car was $8.50 in 2026. The US 101 express lanes need a FasTrak tag during toll hours. Rental companies pass these charges to you, often with a service fee on top. Ask at the counter how yours handles tolls before you drive. Our driving guide covers the routes and exits.

Renting an electric car

Electric rentals suit Palo Alto well. Distances are short and the city runs 121 public charging ports at 10 sites, mostly in its garages. Ask how the company expects the battery level on return, since some charge a fee below a set level. Our EV charging guide lists where to plug in.

Before you pick up

1. Match the hours to your plans. The in-town offices close in the late afternoon on weekdays and early or all day on weekends.
2. Check the holiday calendar. Thanksgiving, Christmas and some other holidays close neighborhood counters or shorten their hours.
3. Ask about tolls and fuel. Find out how the company bills bridge tolls and express lanes and how full it expects the tank or battery.
4. Know where you will park. Some Palo Alto hotels charge for parking or offer valet only. Downtown street parking has time limits.
5. Photograph the car. A few photos at pickup and return settle most disputes about scratches.

Frequently asked questions