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Pick-up location | San Diego |
---|---|
Car types | Compact, Compact SUV, Economy, Full-size, Full-size SUV, Intermediate, Intermediate SUV, Luxury, Minivan, Standard, Standard SUV, Supplier choice |
Rental locations | 133 |
Airport locations | 58 |
Popular agencies | NU Car, Turo, Getaround, U-Save, Economy Rent a Car |
An automatic lower car, such as a Ford Mustang, is the best option when navigating both the city and the coastal roads. A convertible is a great option to enjoy the scenic rides along the coast when the weather allows it.
The speed limit in the city is 25 miles per hour, but on urban highways it is set at 55 mph, and on rural highways it is between 65 and 70 mph. Generally, the speed limit on multi-lane freeways is 65 mph.
Street parking in downtown San Diego is usually available, but it tends to be quite pricey, costing around $3 for one hour, and between $10 and $30 for 24 hours. Parking laws are strictly enforced throughout the whole city, so make sure you always pay for parking. Parking in beach areas is tougher to find, but pay lots are an option.
On average a rental car in San Diego costs $52 per day. But prices differ between operators and you can save money through a price comparison of car rental deals from different agencies. The cheapest price for a car rental in San Diego found in the last 2 weeks is $21.
In the past 72 hours, the cheapest rental cars were found at NU Car ($13/day), Economy Rent a Car ($13/day) and U-Save ($19/day). In the last 72 hours the cheapest rental car price was found at NU Car 2263 Pacific Hwy null (1 miles from city center).
Based on ratings and reviews from real users on KAYAK, the best car rental companies in San Diego are Alamo (8.8, 131 reviews), Enterprise Rent-A-Car (7.7, 209 reviews), and Sixt (7.0, 164 reviews).
The average gas price in San Diego is $3.89 per gallon over the past 30 days. Filling up a gas tank costs between $47 and $62, depending on the car size.
Compact (Nissan Versa or similar) is the most frequently booked rental car type in San Diego.
Car rental companies onsite at San Diego airport include Sixt, Fox, Budget, Payless, Economy Rent a Car, Enterprise Rent-A-Car, Avis, Alamo, U-Save and Ace.
Car rental companies that offer shuttle or pick-up services from San Diego airport to off-airport locations include Hertz, Sixt, Fox, Budget, Payless, Economy Rent a Car, Enterprise Rent-A-Car, Avis, Dollar, and Thrifty.
Take a look at our extensive car rental location map to find the best rental cars near you.
A Compact car rental in San Diego costs $20 per day, on average.
A Mini car rental in San Diego costs $23 per day, on average.
An Economy car rental in San Diego costs $24 per day, on average.
In San Diego, cars are most frequently rented at Economy Rent a Car 2367 India Street (1 miles from city center).
On average a rental car in San Diego costs $361 per week ($52 per day).
On average a rental car in San Diego costs $1,549 per month ($52 per day).
Most car rental providers in San Diego offer insurance but the level of protection can differ substantially. If you're unsure whether to get extra protection for your car rental in San Diego, check out KAYAK's car rental insurance guide.
KAYAK has deals for you to compare from 61 car rental agencies in San Diego.
Finding the right price, understanding the add-ons and staying up to date with policy changes can be a challenge. That’s why KAYAK has produced the ultimate guide to renting a car to help you cut though the jargon and make the right choice for your rental car. Find tips and insights for how to book your rental, what car rental insurance you’ll need, how to deal with a car rental agency and what extra fees to expect (and avoid!).
KAYAK searches thousands of car rental agencies to provide you with offers from all car rental agencies operating in San Diego so that you can compare car rental rates, reviews and pick-up and drop-off locations to find the best deal for you.
Take advantage and visit more of the San Diego area. Check out the beautiful and classy area of La Jolla. It’s just under a half an hour's drive from downtown San Diego. The La Jolla Cove is worth the miles. If you’re interested in a more historic and scenic visit, Julian is about an hour east of San Diego.
Yes, there are various car rental companies with non-airport offices in the central downtown area of San Diego. Enterprise and AVIS, for instance, have a pick-up location in the East Village, and Budget is in Little Italy. If you find yourself closer to Harborview, there are NU Rental and Hertz offices.
One location in San Diego
Locations in San Diego
3355 Admiral Boland Way
+1 619 296 4966
Filters
Reviews
2.0 Poor
Mar 2024
2.0 Poor
Mar 2024
2.0 Poor
Mar 2024
2.0 Poor
Feb 2024
4.0 Mediocre
Jan 2024
2.0 Poor
Jan 2024
One location in San Diego
Locations in San Diego
3355 Admiral Boland Way
+1 833 763 1741
Filters
Reviews
10.0 Wonderful
Mar 2021
Pros:
I was able to pick up the car the night before and saved money10.0 Wonderful
Nov 2020
Pros:
Great service, fast easy courteous. employees seemed happy. rental car employees not usually that way.10.0 Wonderful
Oct 2020
Pros:
The staff were great. They showed us how to work some of the new features on the car. The car was in excellent condition; it was brand new!Cons:
Nothing9.6 Wonderful
Oct 2020
Pros:
Alamo was great. But it was my second choice, after my first choice -- some no name rental agency called Mex, selected initially via Kayak, which routed me through Rentcars.com -- was a friggin disaster. I landed at 6 pm, the time of my reservation, only to discover that the rental office was already closed. There was no one to help me, no number to call, no customer service from anyone in that chain, including Kayak. It was a friday evening at 6. I tried 4 other rental agencies; they were either out of cars or were asking insane amounts of $$ for them. I had to get a ride from the airport, and come back the next morning to rent from Alamo. (Which was great.)Cons:
Alamo was great. Avoid Mex Rent a Car and Rentcars.com at all costs. No one picks up the phone at Mex and you can't leave a voicemail. The number for Rentcars doesn't work, and the email responses are all in Portuguese. I'm not kidding. Why Kayak continues to use these vendors is a mystery to me. Makes me reconsider my choice in travel apps.7.6 Good
Oct 2020
Pros:
Staff was helpful in securing a gas discount for me when the car I reserved wasn’t available.Cons:
Don’t oversell cars! If I book a pickup, giving me a dodge caravan minivan because you oversold pickup trucks isn’t providing excellent service.5.6 Fair
Sep 2020
Pros:
Drop off was greatCons:
Have the selected class or better available. I don’t consider an infinity to be the same class as an Escalade14 locations in San Diego
Locations in San Diego
1 Park Blvd
+1 619 696 5000
1333 Camino Del Rio South
+1 619 260 1505
2305 Pacific Hwy
+1 619 294 7774
2740 Lytton Street
+1 619 225 0848
2780 Garnet Ave
+1 858 490 1510
3299 Holiday Court
+1 858 404 0700
3355 Admiral Boland Way
+1 833 763 1739
3851 El Cajon Blvd
+1 619 229 2300
6330 Marindustry Dr
+1 858 455 0075
6620 Mira Mesa Boulevard
+1 858 404 0700
7993 Balboa Avenue
+1 858 560 9050
900 F St Ste 167
+1 619 696 5000
9292 Miramar Rd # 28
+1 858 689 8523
950 Hotel Circle North
+1 619 296 7493
Filters
Reviews
2.0 Poor
May 2024
8.0 Very good
Feb 2024
2.0 Poor
Dec 2023
2.0 Poor
Nov 2023
2.0 Poor
Oct 2023
10.0 Wonderful
May 2021
Cons:
Everything was super easy, picking up and dropping off.2 locations in San Diego
Locations in San Diego
3355 Admiral Boland Way
+1 888 749 8227
Delivery/Collection Service
+1 858 764 9338
Filters
Reviews
10.0 Wonderful
Dec 2023
10.0 Wonderful
Mar 2023
10.0 Wonderful
Oct 2022
10.0 Wonderful
Oct 2022
10.0 Wonderful
Oct 2022
2.0 Poor
Sep 2022
11 locations in San Diego
Locations in San Diego
1110 Torrey Pines Road Suite H
+1 858 456 2124
1350 6th Ave Suite #170
+1 619 544 0510
1670 Kettner Boulevard Suite 1
+1 619 231 7162
2790 Kurtz Street Suite 1
+1 619 574 6975
3355 Admiral Boland Way
+1 619 680 4949
3890 Valley Centre Dr Ste 103
+1 858 755 7457
4550 La Jolla Village Drive
+1 858 320 9017
500 Hotel Circle North
+1 619 220 0294
7815 Balboa Avenue
+1 858 974 8632
8720 Miramar Road
+1 858 271 0035
Cross Border Xpress - 2745 Otay Pacific Dr
+1 619 644 1362
Filters
Reviews
4.0 Mediocre
May 2024
6.0 Okay
May 2024
8.0 Very good
Apr 2024
6.0 Okay
Mar 2024
6.0 Okay
Mar 2024
8.0 Very good
Mar 2024
11 locations in San Diego
Locations in San Diego
1110 Torrey Pines Road Suite H
+1 858 454 4621
1350 6th Ave Suite #170
+1 619 544 0438
1670 Kettner Boulevard Suite 1
+1 619 231 7137
2790 Kurtz Street Suite 1
+1 619 220 4920
3355 Admiral Boland Way
+1 619 688 5000
3890 Valley Centre Dr Ste 103
+1 858 755 0400
4550 La Jolla Village Drive
+1 858 450 6553
500 Hotel Circle North
+1 619 574 5377
7815 Balboa Avenue
+1 858 974 8630
8720 Miramar Road
+1 858 271 0018
Cross Border Xpress - 2745 Otay Pacific Dr
+1 619 588 1309
Filters
Reviews
8.0 Very good
Apr 2024
10.0 Wonderful
Feb 2024
6.0 Okay
Jan 2024
2.0 Poor
Jan 2024
2.0 Poor
Jan 2024
4.0 Mediocre
Jan 2024
One location in San Diego
Locations in San Diego
3355 Admiral Boland Way
+1 619 432 0620
Filters
Reviews
2.0 Poor
Apr 2024