Car Hire
at San Diego Airport

EASTER  45% OFF   

Hola Car Rentals is the only premium partner of the top car hire brands operating at San Diego Airport, giving you exclusive access to our All Inclusive+ rate. This rate includes benefits that no other company can match:

• Free liability coverage starting at US$ 300,000 in case of an accident (applies only to certain rates and itineraries)
• Toll cashback: recover up to 5% of the reservation's total value for toll charges incurred during your hire period
• Premium travel medical assistance providing up to US$ 150,000 in coverage for a maximum of 5 passengers in case of a medical emergency, excluding pre-existing conditions
• No Extra Charges© guarantee: if the counter charges you for something not listed on your confirmation and not an optional add-on you accepted, Hola Car Rentals will work to remove or reimburse the charge after verification

All of this comes at no extra cost, ensuring a fully protected car hire experience and peace of mind throughout your trip at San Diego Airport.

No. With Hola Car Rentals, all costs and charges for your booking at San Diego Airport are clearly shown at the time of reservation and in your confirmation email, so you know exactly what you are paying before you arrive at the counter.

On top of that, every Hola Car Rentals booking includes the No Extra Charges© guarantee. This is a pricing guarantee (not insurance) that protects you if the counter at San Diego Airport charges you for something that was not listed on your confirmation and was not an optional add-on you accepted. If that happens, Hola Car Rentals will work with the hire partner to remove or reimburse the charge after verification.

The only costs outside this guarantee are:

• Optional add-ons you choose at the counter (GPS, child seats, prepaid fuel)
• Usage-based charges (tolls, fuel shortfall, traffic fines)

All hire car companies at San Diego Airport operate from a single off-terminal facility called the Consolidated Rental Car Centre, located at 3355 Admiral Boland Way, San Diego, CA 92101.

After landing and collecting your luggage, exit to the arrivals level and follow the overhead signs reading "Hire Car Shuttles" or "Hire Car Courtesy Shuttles." Terminal 1 uses the east kerb pickup island, while Terminal 2 uses the outer island. Free dedicated shuttle buses run 24 hours a day, 7 days a week between the terminals and the Hire Car Centre, with buses typically arriving every 5 to 15 minutes.

Brands available at the San Diego Airport Hire Car Centre include Alamo, Avis, Budget, Enterprise, Hertz, and National, all under one roof. The Customer Service Plaza is on the top floor of the facility. Most counters operate 24 hours a day, though some brands such as Enterprise have specific hours, so confirm your brand's schedule in advance.

Allow approximately 10 to 20 minutes for the shuttle wait and transit, plus additional time at the counter for paperwork and vehicle inspection.

To collect your hire car at San Diego Airport, you must present the following physical documents at the counter:

• A valid, original driver’s licence in the main driver’s name
• A major credit card with the driver’s name printed on the card, used for the authorisation hold
• Your passport or valid government-issued photo ID
• Your booking confirmation or printed voucher
• Round-trip flight or cruise tickets (required for visitors from outside the United States)

If your driver’s licence is not in English and does not use a Latin (Roman) alphabet, such as Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, or Cyrillic script, an International Driving Permit (IDP) is mandatory alongside your original licence. For licences in English or a Latin alphabet, an IDP is recommended but not strictly required at San Diego Airport.

All documents must be physical originals. Digital copies shown on a phone or tablet are not accepted at the hire counter. Debit and prepaid cards are not accepted for the authorisation hold.

Yes, toll roads exist in the broader Southern California region accessible from San Diego Airport, though the San Diego area itself has very limited toll exposure compared to Los Angeles or Orange County.

California uses the FasTrak electronic toll system statewide. All toll roads are fully cashless, meaning there are no cash payment options at toll plazas. If you drive towards Orange County from San Diego Airport, you may encounter toll roads such as SR-73, SR-133, SR-241, and SR-261, where tolls typically range from US$5 to US$15 per day depending on usage.

Your hire vehicle picked up at San Diego Airport will already include an electronic toll device or plate-based billing system. At the counter you have two options:

• Purchase an unlimited toll package at approximately US$11 to US$25 per hire day
• Decline the package and pay per use, in which case the hire company charges the actual toll amount plus administrative processing fees, billed to your card after the hire ends

If you plan to use your own FasTrak pass, notify the counter agent so they can deactivate the vehicle's default device and prevent duplicate charges.

Yes, every booking made through Hola Car Rentals includes Tolls Cashback, which reimburses up to 5% of your total booking value for tolls paid during your hire from San Diego Airport.

While the San Diego Airport area has limited toll exposure, if your trip takes you toward Orange County toll roads (SR-73, SR-241, SR-261) or Los Angeles express lanes, those toll costs are eligible for cashback.

To claim your Tolls Cashback after returning your vehicle:

• Email [email protected] within 30 days of vehicle return
• Use the subject line: Tolls Cashback, followed by your reservation confirmation number
• Attach your Hola Car Rentals reservation confirmation, the signed hire agreement, and a toll receipt or statement showing charges paid during the hire period

The refund is issued to the same payment method used for your booking and typically processes within 7 to 10 business days after approval. Claims submitted after 30 days are not accepted. This benefit does not mean tolls are included in your rate; you still pay tolls normally and receive reimbursement afterwards.

Hiring at San Diego Airport involves several location-specific fees beyond the base hire rate. Understanding these charges helps you avoid surprises at the counter.

• Customer Facility Charge (CFC): A per-contract fee approved under California law to fund the Hire Car Centre shuttle buses, maintenance, and land rent. This includes a daily component that has been subject to rate increases.
• Airport concession recovery fee: Charged separately alongside the CFC, this fee is standard at California airports and is unavoidable for on-airport hires.
• Port of San Diego fee: Approximately US$3.50 per hire contract, collected since 2018.
• Sales and local hire taxes: A combined rate of at least 7.75% in San Diego, applied to the base rate and certain fees.

California law effective 1 January 2026 requires hire companies to quote the full total upfront, including all taxes and fees, so the price you see during booking at San Diego Airport should reflect the complete amount due.

Your booking confirmation will indicate which fees are included in your prepaid rate and which are due at the counter. If a fee appears at the counter that was not disclosed on your confirmation, the No Extra Charges© guarantee may apply.

It depends on your driver’s licence. At San Diego Airport, visitors can generally drive with a valid foreign licence, but an International Driving Permit (IDP) is mandatory if your licence uses a non-Latin alphabet such as Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, or Cyrillic script. In that case, you must carry both your original licence and the IDP together.

If your licence is in English or uses a Latin (Roman) alphabet, an IDP is recommended but not strictly required by most hire partners at San Diego Airport. However, individual hire companies may request one, so carrying an IDP reduces the risk of complications at the counter.

Important points to keep in mind:

• The IDP is a translation document only and is not valid without your original licence
• You must obtain the IDP in your home country before travelling; it cannot be issued abroad
• All documents presented at the San Diego Airport hire counter must be physical originals, not digital copies

If you are unsure whether your licence requires an IDP for your hire at San Diego Airport, obtain one before departure to avoid any issues on arrival.

Returning your hire vehicle at San Diego Airport is straightforward. The return facility is located on the second floor of the same Consolidated Rental Car Centre at 3355 Admiral Boland Way where you collected the vehicle.

Follow the overhead signs for "Hire Car Return" as you approach the facility. The roadway splits into dedicated return lanes for each hire company. Customers returning vehicles with Enterprise, National, or Alamo share one lane.

The Hire Car Centre operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and most companies offer 24-hour drop-off capability. After returning your car, board the complimentary shuttle back to your departure terminal at San Diego Airport.

Before returning, refuel within approximately 10 miles of the Hire Car Centre to comply with the Full-to-Full fuel policy. If you return the vehicle with less fuel than recorded at pickup, the hire company may charge a fuel shortfall at their refuelling rate plus a service fee, which is typically higher than retail pump prices.

Take a photo of the fuel gauge and odometer at return, and keep your final fuel receipt in case of any dispute. For after-hours returns, leave the receipt in the return envelope and retain a photo of the full gauge.

Most Hola Car Rentals bookings include travel assistance provided by Terrawind Global Protection, which can be useful if you experience a medical emergency or other covered incident while driving near San Diego Airport or anywhere during your trip.

Core benefits typically included are:

• Travel insurance with medical coverage for up to 5 passengers
• Legal assistance in case of an accident
• Compensation for luggage lost by the airline
• Flight cancellation insurance

To reach assistance 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, call +1 888 980 9992 (toll-free) or contact via WhatsApp at +1 208 910 1001. Have your full name, Hola Car Rentals confirmation number, current location, and a brief description of the situation ready.

Important: this benefit does not cover damage to the hire vehicle itself (that is handled by CDW/LDW) or third-party liability (covered by LIS/ALI/SLI). Pre-existing medical conditions are also excluded. Additionally, this coverage applies only to travellers who are not residents of the United States or Canada; US and Canadian residents do not qualify for this benefit.

Always check your booking confirmation for the exact terms and coverage limits that apply to your San Diego Airport hire.

Yes, a major credit card in the main driver’s name with the driver’s name printed on the card is required at every hire counter at San Diego Airport. The card is used to place a temporary authorisation hold, not a charge, on your available credit.

For standard vehicles at US locations, the hold is typically around US$300 to US$400, though the exact amount varies by hire brand, vehicle class, and season. The hold reduces your available credit until your bank releases it after the hire ends, which can take up to 15 business days.

Key points to keep in mind at San Diego Airport:

• Debit cards, prepaid cards, and virtual or single-use card numbers are not accepted for the deposit hold
• The card must be physically present at the counter; digital wallets alone are not sufficient
• Even if you prepaid your booking online, you must still present a physical credit card at pickup
• Third-party cards (someone else’s card) are not accepted; the card must belong to the main driver

Bring a backup credit card in your name in case your primary card is declined, and notify your bank of your travel dates to prevent fraud blocks on the authorisation.

Yes, you can add an additional driver to your hire at San Diego Airport, but the additional driver must be physically present at the counter at the time of pickup.

The additional driver must bring a valid driver’s licence and, if required, an International Driving Permit. They must sign the hire agreement before driving the vehicle. Only drivers listed on the agreement are covered by protections such as CDW/LDW and liability insurance.

Whether the additional driver fee is included depends on your rate:

• Some Hola Car Rentals rates include one additional driver at no extra cost; check your booking confirmation for the line "Additional driver free of charge"
• If not included, fees at San Diego Airport vary by brand: Avis, Budget, and Payless charge approximately US$13 per hire day (capped at US$65); Hertz, Thrifty, and Dollar charge approximately US$13.50 per day (capped at US$189); Alamo, National, and Enterprise charge approximately US$15 per day

Age rules also apply. For Avis, Budget, and Payless at San Diego Airport, additional drivers must generally be at least 25 years old. If the additional driver is under 25, a young-driver surcharge may apply or the driver may not be accepted depending on the brand’s policy.

Yes, drivers aged 21 to 24 are subject to a young-driver surcharge at San Diego Airport hire counters. The minimum age to hire without an additional fee is 25.

Surcharge amounts vary by brand at San Diego Airport:

• Avis, Budget, and Payless: approximately US$13 per hire day, capped at US$65 per hire period
• Hertz, Thrifty, and Dollar: approximately US$13.50 per hire day, capped at US$189 per hire period
• Alamo, National, and Enterprise: approximately US$15 per hire day

In addition to the surcharge, drivers under 25 are restricted from hiring certain vehicle classes at San Diego Airport. Categories such as full-size SUVs, premium, luxury, convertible, minivan, and van are typically reserved for renters aged 25 and older. Economy, compact, and intermediate vehicles are generally available to younger renters.

One exception applies at San Diego Airport for Avis and Budget: renters aged 21 to 24 who are citizens or residents of Latin America or the Caribbean may have the underage fee waived on eligible vehicle categories, provided the waiver is explicitly shown on their Hola Car Rentals confirmation.

Drivers under 21 cannot hire at San Diego Airport under standard policies.

The insurance coverage included in your hire at San Diego Airport depends on the rate plan you selected. Check your booking confirmation for the specific protections listed.

The main coverage types relevant to hires at San Diego Airport are:

• Collision Damage Waiver (CDW) or Loss Damage Waiver (LDW): reduces your financial liability for damage to the hire vehicle from a collision, theft, or vandalism. A deductible may apply unless your confirmation states zero deductible. CDW/LDW does not cover damage you cause to other vehicles or people.
• Third-Party Liability (LIS/ALI/SLI): covers bodily injury and property damage you may cause to others while driving. In California, state-minimum liability may be included by the hire company, but limits vary. Hola Car Rentals strongly recommends adding supplementary liability coverage up to US$300,000 for hires at San Diego Airport.

At the San Diego Airport counter, review the hire agreement carefully to confirm which coverages are active, what deductibles apply, and whether any exclusions affect your situation. Only drivers named on the agreement are covered.

CDW/LDW does not cover tyres, undercarriage, roof damage, or personal belongings. For personal items, separate Personal Effects Cover (PEC) would be needed.

The standard fuel policy for hires at San Diego Airport is Full-to-Full. You receive the vehicle with a full tank and must return it full to avoid additional charges.

At pickup at San Diego Airport, check the fuel gauge with the agent and confirm the starting level is recorded on the hire agreement. Take a photo of the dashboard showing the gauge and odometer before leaving the Hire Car Centre.

Before returning your vehicle to the San Diego Airport Hire Car Centre at 3355 Admiral Boland Way, refuel within approximately 10 miles of the facility. Keep your final fuel receipt showing the date, time, and station address.

If you return the vehicle with less fuel than recorded at pickup, the hire company may charge:

• A fuel shortfall at the partner's refuelling rate, which is typically higher than retail pump prices in San Diego
• A refuelling service or administrative fee on top of the fuel cost

Note that Californian fuel prices tend to be higher than the national average, so budgeting for refuelling near San Diego Airport is worthwhile. For after-hours returns at the San Diego Airport Hire Car Centre, leave your fuel receipt in the return envelope and keep a photo of the full gauge as evidence.