SANUpdated September 25, 2026

Car rental at San Diego airport

San Diego · United States

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SAN · Rent a car

Rental companies at the airport

Car rental companies operating at San Diego airport (SAN) and where to find them. The airport is 3 km from San Diego. See also the airport guide for general information.

All car rental companies operate out of a single centralized facility: the Consolidated Rental Car Center (RCC), located on the north side of the airfield. Free dedicated shuttle buses operate 24 hours a day between Terminals 1 and 2 and the RCC, departing continuously from curbside transportation islands.

 

On-Site Rental Companies

  • Alamo
  • Avis (24-hour service)
  • Budget (24-hour service)
  • Dollar
  • Enterprise
  • Fox Rent A Car
  • Hertz
  • National Car Rental (24-hour service)
  • Payless
  • Sixt
  • Thrifty
  • Zipcar
 

Car Rental Requirements

To rent a vehicle, drivers must present a valid physical driver's license, a valid passport (for international visitors), and a major credit card in the primary renter's name for the security deposit. The standard minimum rental age is 21, with underage surcharges applying to drivers under 25. An International Driving Permit (IDP) is recommended if the license is not issued in English or uses a non-Latin alphabet.

In addition to providers based inside the consolidated building, several independent car rental companies operate off-airport locations and arrange customer pickups at the Rental Car Center:

  • Green Motion / U-Save
  • NU Car Rentals
  • York Car Rentals

Travelers using these providers must board the airport shuttle to the Consolidated Rental Car Center and follow directional signage to the designated off-airport collection points.

Companies, opening hours and desk locations can change. Check with the rental company before booking.

Compare rental cars at SAN

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Tips for renting a car in United States

  1. Check that your driver's license is valid in United States. Some countries also ask for an International Driving Permit (IDP), which is only valid together with your national license.
  2. Review what the rental includes: collision damage waiver, third-party liability and the deductible. Most companies also hold a deposit on a credit card in the driver's name.
  3. Learn the local rules before you drive: speed limits, right of way, alcohol limits and tolls.
  4. Check which side of the road traffic drives on and where the steering wheel is.
  5. At pickup, photograph the car (inside and out) and the fuel level, and keep the photos until the deposit is returned.
  6. Know what to do in an accident: who to call, what to document and how to report it to the rental company.

Not driving? See other ways to get to and from SAN. Returning the car or picking someone up: parking at SAN.

German Giudici

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Creator of the Aeropuertos del Mundo website network since 2007.