Car rental Palo Alto, CA
Discover the Turo car rental marketplace
- Car rental
- United States
- Palo Alto, CA
Extraordinary selection
From standard cars to supercars, find the perfect car for any occasion or budget
Liability insurance included
Third-party liability insurance comes standard, and choose from a range of vehicle protection plans
Easy airport pickup
You can skip the rental counter at 100+ airports across the US and Canada
Rental cars in Palo Alto, CA
Average daily prices for a 3-day trip
Toyota Corolla
2025
•5.0
(29)
BMW M8
2025
•5.0
(9)
Lucid Air
2023
•4.98
(48)
BMW M3
2023
•5.0
(27)
Porsche 911
2020
•5.0
(29)
Mercedes-Benz S-Class
2026
•5.0
(1)
Mazda Mazda3
2026
•5.0
(2)
Toyota Corolla
2026
•5.0
(6)
FIAT 500
2013
•4.88
(83)
Rent a car in Palo Alto on Turo
Palo Alto sits right between US-101 and I-280, booking a car rental Palo Alto makes it an ideal place to check out the rest of the peninsula. You can land at San Jose, pick up your rental vehicle, and be in downtown Palo Alto in one smooth drive.
Renting on Turo lets you match the car to your trip: something nimble for tight neighborhood streets, a cushy ride for the long commutes between campuses, or an electric vehicle to plug into the local charging culture.
Palo Alto, CA car rental: How it works
On Turo, renting a car in Palo Alto is easy. Browse cars online, choose your preferred pickup location, book your car, and get on the road sooner. With pickup locations all across Palo Alto, California and beyond, you'll be able to find the perfect car for whatever you have planned.
1. Find the perfect car
Enter a date and location in Palo Alto, CA (or beyond), filter to find the best car for you, and read reviews from previous renters.
2. Select a pickup location
Rent a car nearby or get one delivered to various destinations, including many airports, train stations, hotels, or maybe even your home.
3. Hit the road
Your host sends you pickup details, and you’re all set to hit the roads of Palo Alto, CA! If you have questions, you can easily chat with your host or contact support.
Recent Palo Alto, CA car rental reviews
Fantastic gentleman. Car ran great it was clean and a good price Thank you again. Will rent again for sure.
The host was very friendly, responsive, and helpful throughout the rental. The car ended up needing a battery replacement, and the host handled the situation quickly and professionally. They helped jump-start the car and took care of the battery issue, which I really appreciated. Great communication and support when it was needed most. Overall, a positive experience, and I would rent from them again.
The car was great for what we needed it for. Pick up and drop off were very convenient and clear. Car was clean, easy to drive and was stress free. Host had a lot of helpful info about the car and was communicative when there was a trip extension. Would highly recommend and will rent from again in the future.
Car was very clean; pickup and location were easy and as described; would definitely rent again
Car ran smoothly was great on gas and appreciative to Chris for accommodating me on the last minute request
Kevin is one of the COOLEST hosts and this C8 will pump you with adrenaline and dopamine. He is also super friendly and knowledgeable about this machine and you must book with him. Thank you for such a beautiful and clean car and experience!
We had Han’s Camry for 4 months while living in Palo Alto. The car was nice and worked well. Extra points for the large screen that worked well with iPhone/Google Maps. Pick up and return was smooth. Han was responsive and helpful. Perfect experience overall and my highest recommendation!
Great car! Host was extremely helpful with last minute changes and quick to respond. Will be using again!
An excellent throwback to a solid car. This is a driving enthusiasts must try. Doesn't have much for creature comforts, I hope you like sun burn, but it has soul. Easy to work with Peter, and a great car
Great experience! The car was in excellent condition and drove perfectly. The host Zaid was super responsive and on top of everything, which made the whole process smooth and easy. Would definitely book again. Thank you!
Car was in good condition, as described, and delivered to my address. Great communication.
The car pick up and drop off were very easy, a short 15 minute Uber from SFO. The car was great fun. Had much more engine power than I expected--easily kept up on the highways and also managed the hills of Napa and Sonoma. The owner was very responsive and even included an iPhone station for charging and navigation. I look forward to renting the Mini again!
Rent a car and explore Palo Alto, CA
Things to do and places to see in Palo Alto, CA
Palo Alto is more than office parks and conference rooms. Here, you can find red-tile roofs and sandstone arcades at Stanford with marshland boardwalks and leafy residential streets. With a car, it's easy to jump from the core of campus to the Baylands, then loop back through a restaurant-lined street, all on your own schedule.
Rent the perfect car
Stanford University / The Main Quad
Stanford's Main Quad and its surrounding campus are much like a small city inside a city, with plenty of open courtyards, palm trees, and museums to see. Driving in makes it easy to park off Campus Drive, wander through the Quad, climb Hoover Tower, and still have enough time to stop by the Cantor Arts Center or the Rodin sculpture garden.
The Stanford Dish
The Stanford Dish loop climbs into the low hills above campus and showcases stunning views of the Bay, the foothills, and even a hint of San Francisco in the distance on a clear day. You can throw walking shoes, layers, and water bottles into the trunk of your car rental, park near the gate, and then choose whether you want a quick power walk or an unhurried climb without feeling stranded without a car.
Palo Alto Baylands Nature Preserve
On the Bay side of town, the nature preserve gives you tidal sloughs, bird-watching blinds, and long trails that take you far away from office life. A car lets you roll down Embarcadero Road, park near the duck pond, and bring everything you need to spend a few hours under the sun. Once you're done, follow the US-101 north or south to get to your next destination.
Why Rent a car on Turo?
Cheap Palo Alto, CA car rental
Find deals on all kinds of drives in Palo Alto, CA and throughout the US - from the everyday to the extraordinary. Rent the perfect vehicle for your budget.
Convenient Palo Alto, CA car rental pick up options
Get your car delivered right to you or wherever you’re going. Many hosts offer delivery to custom locations or popular points of interest in Palo Alto, CA, like airports, train stations, and hotels.
Relax with support & damage protection
24/7 support and roadside assistance mean help is just a call away, plus you can choose from a range of protection plans.
Palo Alto car rentals for any occasion
Business trip car rental
Many visitors come to Palo Alto with a calendar full of meetings and conferences. A business car rental lets you move between Sand Hill Road, Stanford, downtown offices, and neighboring cities without padding every appointment for public transit. You can even keep presentations and extra outfits neatly stowed in the trunk, turning the car into a quiet place to reset between high-stakes conversations.
Campus visit car rental
Families visiting Stanford or checking out other nearby schools often find that a car rental makes the experience much more accessible. You can arrive at an information session on time, explore different corners of campus without thinking about bus routes, and then drive through surrounding neighborhoods to see where students eat, live, and shop.
Bay Area explorer car rental
Palo Alto works nicely as a calm, quiet base for a bigger Bay Area weekend. Renting a car on Turo lets you run up I-280 toward Skyline Boulevard for hiking trails and scenic viewpoints, drop down 101 to San Jose for a Sharks game or swing north toward San Francisco, and then return at night to tree-lined streets. You can spend a day in nature, another in museums and stadiums, and still have a morning free for coffee and a walk downtown.
Turo vs. traditional car rental
Turo
App-based experience
No waiting in line
1,600+ unique makes & models
Get the exact car you choose
Delivery options & thousands of pickup locations
Cars rented out by local small businesses
Vehicles and hosts rated by guests
Traditional car rental
Standard rental counter experience
Waiting in line
Limited car selection
Get one type of car “or similar”
Pickup at retail locations
Cars owned by large corporations
No vehicle ratings
Rental car pickup locations throughout Palo Alto
Get your vehicle delivered right to you or wherever you’re going in Palo Alto, CA, including Palo Alto, CA airport. Many hosts offer delivery to custom locations or popular points of interest, like airports, train stations, and hotels. Popular Palo Alto, CA pickup locations include:
San Jose Mineta International Airport (SJC)
If you're flying into the South Bay, you can walk past the airport car rental counter and go directly to your vehicle. Once you're behind the wheel, you can pull out onto the 101 or 880, and then it's a straight drive toward Palo Alto. Reserving a car on Turo to pick up at SJC means you can choose whether you go directly to the hotel, stop for groceries, or take a quick drive-by detour somewhere that catches your eye.
Palo Alto Caltrain Station
If you're arriving by Caltrain, you can arrange to pick up your rental car near the transit center. This station sits beside El Camino Real at the edge of Stanford, and downtown lies just across the tracks. You can step off the train, check in at nearby lodging, and then walk a few minutes to get your car rental. From here, El Camino, Alma Street, and Embarcadero Road fan out in every direction.
Stanford University Research Park Area
Another great pickup spot is around Stanford Research Park, near Page Mill Road and Foothill Expressway. Starting your rental here lets you move between campus buildings, neighboring Menlo Park offices, and downtown restaurants without ordering rideshares all day. It's also conveniently located for a quick detour up I-280 toward other Silicon Valley campuses.
Airport pickup made easy
Next time you fly, don’t wait in line and fill out forms — pick your car up at hundreds of popular airports.
Convenient pickup & return
Rather than hustling at the busy terminal curbside, take your time picking up the car at approved parking lots or garages. Check in, load up your luggage, and get comfortable with the car without a big rush.
No lines, no paperwork
Skip the rental car counter at hundreds of popular airports without waiting in line or filling out paperwork. Find and pick up the car with the app and hit the road in no time.
Free cancellation
Cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before your trip starts, unless you opt to receive a non-refundable trip discount when you book. Because life happens and it helps to be flexible when it does.
Pickup near or at Airports
Car rental locations near Palo Alto, CA
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Top tips for renting a car in Palo Alto
Because Palo Alto sits in the middle of the Peninsula, traffic patterns make a difference. The city is crisscrossed by El Camino Real, Alma Street, Middlefield Road, and the quick east-west links of Embarcadero and Oregon Expressway. With a rental car under your control, you can shift your day around congestion and slip out to the Baylands after the lunch rush.
What are the road rules and driving conditions in Palo Alto?
Palo Alto operates under California's standard road rules. Speed limits on major surface streets like El Camino Real, Alma Street, and Middlefield Road usually sit in the 25 to 35 mph range, with lower limits in school zones. Bicycles are common, especially around Stanford, so scanning for cyclists is always essential.
Driving conditions shift with time of day more than the weather. Morning and evening commute times see heavier flows, while midday usually feels calmer. Wet roads can make painted surfaces slick, so a steady pace and patience go a long way.
What is parking like in Palo Alto?
Parking in Palo Alto is a mix of time-limited street spaces, city garages, campus rules, and private lots. Downtown, you'll find a grid of free but time-restricted street spots and several public garages. On and around campus, parking is more regulated. Visitor lots are clearly marked, and many spaces require permits during weekday business hours.
Are there toll roads in Palo Alto?
You won't encounter traditional toll plazas inside Palo Alto, but you might see express lanes and bridges in the Bay Area if you go beyond the Peninsula. The main local freeways, US-101 and I-280, run toll-free through Palo Alto. However, express lanes on 101 and 237 nearby can require a toll tag or a pay-by-plate setup.
Are there gas stations and EV chargers in Palo Alto?
Gas stations in Palo Alto cluster along key routes, and additional options are available near the US-101 interchanges. That makes it easy to top off whether you're staying downtown, in South Palo Alto, or closer to East Palo Alto and the Baylands.
For electric vehicles, Palo Alto is particularly friendly. Public charging stations are in city garages, Stanford Shopping Center, around Stanford's campus, and in nearby communities like Mountain View and Menlo Park. With a bit of planning, you can plug in while you eat, work from a cafe, or attend a lecture.
Do I need to rent a car in Palo Alto?
If you're staying a block away from University Avenue, working out of a single office, and taking the Caltrain within the Peninsula, you might be fine on foot. Stanford itself is surprisingly walkable once you're on campus.
But if your trip includes multiple campuses, neighboring cities, or frequent hops between downtown, the Baylands, and Research Park, a car rental in Palo Alto quickly becomes an essential way to bounce around town. Relying solely on transit and rideshares can turn a 10-minute cross-town hop into a 45-minute puzzle.
Frequently asked questions about Palo Alto car rentals
What documents and paperwork do you need to rent a car on Turo?
To rent a car on Turo, you must create a Turo account, have a valid driver’s license, get approved to drive on Turo, and be 18 years old or older in the US, 21 years old or older in Australia, or 23 years old or older in Canada.
In the UK, you must be 21 years old or older and have held a UK or EU license for at least one year, or another driver’s license for at least two years. In France you must be 18 years old or older and have held a driver’s license for at least 2 years, longer for certain makes and models of vehicles.
When you’re booking your first trip, you’ll go through a quick approval process by entering your driver’s license and some other information. In most cases, you’ll get approved immediately, and you’ll be set for all future road trips, day trips, and business trips!
What kind of license do I need to rent a car on Turo?
Turo accepts valid licenses (not expired, suspended, or revoked) that allow for full driving privileges; this includes driver’s licenses issued outside of the US. Licenses that Turo doesn’t accept in the US include any that have expired, have been altered, are conditional, probational, provisional, or restricted. Learner’s permit/instruction permits are not accepted.
Do I need to be a certain age to rent a car on Turo?
To rent a car on Turo in the US, you must be 18 years old or older.
How does car rental insurance work on Turo?
No, you don’t need personal insurance coverage to rent a car on Turo.
In the US, any personal insurance you may have that covers damage to the host’s vehicle would kick in before your Turo protection plan. When booking a car in the US, you’ll choose between three protection plans — Premier (eligibility requirements apply), Standard, or Minimum — to get the level of protection that’s right for you. On each trip, you’re covered with third-party automobile liability insurance provided under a policy issued to Turo by Travelers Excess and Surplus Lines Company.*
In New York state, you’ll also choose between Premier (if available), Standard, or Minimum. With each plan, you’re covered with liability insurance of $1,250,000.* Protection plans for New York trips also include access to roadside assistance, priority phone support, and 24/7 customer assistance.
Can I get car rental discounts on Turo?
You can get discounts and low cost car rental on Turo.
On your Account page, make sure you’ve checked the box to receive email notifications, and enable push notifications from the Turo app in your phone settings — we’ll send you occasional promo codes, discounts, and deals.
Additionally, frequent travelers on Turo can get rewarded with the loyalty bonus — earn a promo code for one bonus day when you take trips totaling 10 days in a 90-day period.
Learn how the loyalty bonus worksIs there long term car rental on Turo?
Yes there is - whether you want to rent a car for three days, three months, or even longer, you can on Turo. You’ll find discounted prices on bookings lasting 3+, 7+, or 30+ days, so you can get the best deals and lowest rates possible by booking longer trips.
See more about promotions & discountsIs there unlimited mileage car rental on Turo?
Some hosts offer unlimited distance for a trip; others set a daily distance limit — you’ll need to check on each rental car individually to see if this service is provided. On the vehicle pages, you’ll see the total miles or kilometres you’re allowed to drive under the heading “Distance included.” You can find cars offering unlimited mileage with every trip by using the “Unlimited distance” filter.
Can other people drive the car that I rented?
Yes, multiple guests can drive the car you rent on Turo, as long as they are all approved to drive. The primary driver (whoever rented the car) can add additional drivers with no fees or additional charges. Only the primary driver can request to add drivers; Turo hosts cannot do it for you. We encourage you to request to add additional drivers before your trip starts, though guests can request to add a driver while a trip is in progress.
To speed up the process, have your additional driver create a Turo account and get approved to drive before you request to add them. All drivers must have a valid driver’s license and meet the age requirements for the car you’ve booked. You can request to add drivers via the “Trips” tab in the Turo app without additional driver charges or extra costs.
How much does it cost to rent a car in Palo Alto?
The cost of car rental in Palo Alto can vary depending on car type, booking length, extras, and delivery. For cheap car rental in Palo Alto look out for discounts on longer-duration bookings and early bookings.
What rental car types are there in Palo Alto?
In Palo Alto, you can find plenty of choices that match the city's blend of tech-forward habits and everyday practicality. Compact and midsize sedans, like a Toyota Corolla, are a natural fit for visitors hopping between Stanford, downtown, and neighboring cities. Electric and hybrids are also popular in this part of the Peninsula.
You may find car rental models like the Ford Mustang, Volkswagen Jetta, Honda Accord, Toyota Pruis, and Chevy Volt, depending on your travel dates. Whatever you choose, renting a car in Palo Alto is all about picking a car that can glide from one landmark to the next while fitting neatly into the daily flow of a city that expects you to be on the move.
* Any personal insurance you may have that covers damage to the host’s vehicle would kick in before your protection plan, except in limited situations for trips booked in Maryland, but this protects your own wallet. In the US, liability insurance is provided under a policy issued to Turo by Travelers Excess and Surplus Lines Company. Terms, conditions, and exclusions apply. The policy does not provide coverage for damage to a host’s vehicle.
For questions or information about the third party liability insurance that is included in protection plans, consumers in Maryland and the licensed states listed here may contact Turo Insurance Agency at (415) 508-0283 or claims@turo.agency. For questions about how damage to a host’s vehicle is handled, visit the Turo Support site.