Car Hire
in San Diego

EASTER  45% OFF   

Hola Car Rentals is the only premium partner of the top car hire brands operating in San Diego, 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 in San Diego.

No. With Hola Car Rentals, all costs and charges for your booking in San Diego 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 in San Diego 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)

At San Diego International Airport (SAN), hire cars are not located inside the terminals. All major hire brands including Avis, Alamo, Enterprise, National, Dollar, and others operate from the off-site Rental Car Centre (RCC) at 3355 Admiral Boland Way.

After collecting your luggage, follow the signs to the Rental Car Shuttle staging area:

• Terminal 1: exit to the arrivals level and head to the east kerb shuttle island
• Terminal 2: exit to the outer island on the arrivals level

Shuttles run every 5 to 15 minutes and operate 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The journey to the San Diego RCC is short, but allow 10 to 20 minutes for the wait and journey combined. Once at the RCC, proceed to your brand's counter or self-service kiosk to complete check-in and collect your vehicle.

From the moment you land in San Diego, budget approximately 30 to 60 minutes in total before you are on the road, accounting for deplaning, baggage collection, the shuttle, and counter processing. This window can be longer during peak travel periods or late at night.

Vehicle returns at San Diego International Airport are handled at the same Rental Car Centre (RCC) located at 3355 Admiral Boland Way, not at the terminals themselves.

When driving back to San Diego Airport, follow the signs for Rental Car Return, which will direct you into the RCC. Each brand has a designated return lane inside the facility. During staffed hours, an agent will check you in on the spot. For after-hours returns:

• Park the vehicle in the designated return lane for your brand
• Lock the vehicle and deposit the keys in the company's key drop box at the counter
• Keep a photo of the dashboard showing the fuel gauge and odometer
• Retain any fuel receipt if you refuelled before returning

Before leaving San Diego for your onward journey, refuel within approximately 10 miles of the RCC to comply with the Full-to-Full fuel policy and avoid refuelling charges. Your hire agreement will confirm the exact return instructions for your brand.

San Diego itself has very limited toll exposure compared to other parts of California. Most major motorways in the San Diego area are free. However, if you drive north towards Los Angeles or Orange County, you may encounter toll roads including SR-73, SR-133, SR-241, and SR-261, as well as express lanes on several freeways.

All California toll roads are cashless and use the FasTrak electronic system. There are no cash toll booths. For hire cars in San Diego, billing works in one of two ways:

• Unlimited toll package: purchased at the counter, typically US$11 to US$25 per hire day, covering all toll usage during the hire
• Pay per use: if you decline the package, the hire company charges actual toll amounts plus administrative processing fees, billed to your card after the hire, sometimes weeks later

If you plan to use express lanes on the I-15 corridor in San Diego County, note that solo drivers require a FasTrak transponder for toll entry. Driving those lanes without enrolment can result in a violation.

You may also opt out of the hire company's programme and pay tolls directly through the toll agency's website, or register your hire plate with a personal FasTrak account. If you use your own pass, inform the counter agent so they can deactivate the vehicle's default device and prevent duplicate charges.

Yes, all bookings made through Hola Car Rentals include Tolls Cashback, which applies to tolls paid during your San Diego hire, including any toll roads you use while driving in Southern California or beyond.

The benefit reimburses the lesser of the total tolls you paid or up to 5% of your total booking value. For example, if your booking total is US$500, the cap is US$25. If you paid US$18 in tolls, you receive US$18 back. If you paid US$40, you receive US$25.

To claim your cashback after returning your San Diego hire:

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

Refunds are issued to the original payment method used for your booking and typically process within 7 to 10 working days after approval. Submissions received after 30 days are not accepted.

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

• A valid, original driving licence (not a digital copy)
• A major credit card in the main driver's name, with the driver's name printed on the physical card, for the security deposit hold
• A passport or valid government-issued photo ID
• Your booking confirmation or printed voucher
• Round-trip flight or cruise tickets if you are visiting from abroad

If your driving 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 using a Latin alphabet, an IDP is recommended but not strictly required at most San Diego counters.

The IDP is a translation document only and cannot be used without your original licence. Obtain it in your home country before travelling, as it cannot be issued abroad.

All documents must be physical originals. Digital versions shown on a phone or tablet are not accepted at San Diego hire counters.

Yes, a major credit card is required to hire a car in San Diego. The card must be in the main driver's name, with the driver's name physically printed on the card, and presented in person at the counter.

The credit card is used to place a temporary authorisation hold on your available credit at collection. Typical holds in the United States range from approximately US$300 to US$400 for standard vehicles, though the exact amount varies by hire brand, vehicle class, and location.

Important points to bear in mind for your San Diego collection:

• Debit cards and prepaid cards are not accepted for the security deposit hold
• Virtual or digital-only card numbers are not accepted; you must present the physical card
• The card must belong to the main driver, not a travel companion or family member
• Even if you prepaid your booking online, you still need to present a physical credit card at the San Diego counter

The hold is released after you return the vehicle, but your bank controls how quickly the credit becomes available again, which can take up to 15 working days. Bring a backup credit card in your name in case your primary card is declined.

In San Diego, the standard minimum age to hire a car without additional surcharges is 25. Drivers aged 21 to 24 can hire but will be charged a daily young-driver surcharge, and most vehicle classes are restricted to drivers aged 25 and older.

Vehicle classes typically unavailable to under-25s in San Diego include full-size saloons, SUVs, minivans, convertibles, luxury, and premium categories. Economy, compact, and intermediate vehicles are generally the only classes available to younger drivers.

Key points for under-25s collecting in San Diego:

• The young-driver surcharge is a daily fee charged at the counter and varies by hire brand
• All standard requirements still apply: valid licence, major credit card, and required documents
• Drivers under 21 cannot hire in San Diego under standard policies

One exception applies to drivers from Latin America and the Caribbean aged 21 to 24 booking eligible rates with Avis or Budget: the underage fee may be waived when the waiver is explicitly shown on the booking confirmation. This exception does not apply to drivers from Europe, Asia, or other regions.

Yes, you can add an additional driver to your San Diego hire, either at no cost if your rate includes it, or for a daily fee paid at the counter.

Check your booking confirmation for the line "Additional driver free of charge" to see if your rate covers one extra driver. If it is not included, the daily fees charged at the San Diego counter vary by brand:

• Avis, Budget, and Payless: US$13 per hire day, capped at US$65
• Hertz, Thrifty, and Dollar: US$13.50 per hire day, capped at US$189
• Alamo, National, and Enterprise: US$15 per day with no stated cap

The additional driver must be present at the San Diego collection point with a valid driving licence and any required identification. Both the main driver and the additional driver must sign the hire agreement. Anyone who drives the vehicle without being listed on the agreement is not covered by the hire protections, including CDW/LDW.

For Avis, Budget, and Payless in San Diego, additional drivers must generally be at least 25 years old. Age restrictions for additional drivers may differ from those for the main driver.

Yes, most bookings include travel assistance coverage provided by Terrawind Global Protection, which can be valuable if an unexpected situation arises during your San Diego trip or whilst driving in Southern California.

Coverage typically includes:

• Travel insurance with medical cover for up to 5 passengers
• Legal assistance in the event of a road accident
• Compensation for luggage lost by the airline
• Flight cancellation insurance

This benefit is designed for travellers visiting San Diego from abroad. It does not apply to residents of the United States or Canada.

If you need assistance during your San Diego hire, contact Terrawind 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. You can reach them by phone at +1 888 980 9992 (toll-free), via WhatsApp at +1 208 910 1001, or by email at [email protected]. Have your Hola Car Rentals confirmation number ready when you call.

This cover does not replace CDW/LDW for damage to the hire vehicle, nor does it cover third-party liability. Check your booking confirmation for the exact terms and limits that apply to your San Diego reservation.

San Diego has a few road features that can surprise first-time visitors and are worth knowing before you get behind the wheel.

Advisory bike lane streets: Some residential streets in San Diego, such as Gold Coast Drive in Mira Mesa and Evergreen Street in Point Loma, use an experimental single-lane shared design. Two-way vehicle traffic shares one centre lane, and drivers must yield to cyclists by shifting into the advisory bike lanes on either side when passing oncoming vehicles. This layout is unlike standard road designs found in most cities and can be disorienting without prior knowledge.

I-15 express lanes: The I-15 corridor in San Diego County features fully median-separated HOV and express lanes between SR-52 and SR-56, extending towards Escondido. Solo drivers must have a FasTrak transponder to use these lanes. There are no mid-segment access or exit points, so entering without a transponder can result in a toll violation.

Nimitz Boulevard in Point Loma: This road narrows from a multi-lane divided highway to a limited-access expressway heading southbound, with only one intermediate exit at Famosa Boulevard. There is no direct connection from eastbound I-8 to northbound I-5, which forces drivers to use alternative routes through the San Diego area such as Sea World Drive.

Yes, one-way hires are available from San Diego, allowing you to collect in San Diego and return the vehicle at a different location such as Los Angeles International Airport or other cities across the United States.

A drop-off fee may apply depending on your route. This fee is set by the hire partner and varies based on the distance between cities, the vehicle class, and the season. The fee is not included in any rate plan and cannot be pre-paid.

When booking a one-way hire from San Diego:

• Enter both your San Diego collection point and your intended return location during the search
• The drop-off fee, if applicable, will appear on the rate details page under the "To pay at destination" section before you confirm
• Review your booking confirmation to verify the fee matches what was shown during checkout

Same-city returns, such as collecting at San Diego Airport and returning to a downtown San Diego branch, often carry no drop-off fee. Long-distance or cross-country one-ways usually do carry a fee. Cross-border one-ways, such as returning a vehicle in Mexico, are generally not permitted.

If the counter charges a different drop-off fee than what appears on your confirmation, keep all paperwork and contact support after the hire.

The insurance and protection options included in your San Diego hire depend on the rate plan selected at booking. Check your confirmation for the specific coverages listed.

The two main protections to look for 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 excess. 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 whilst driving the San Diego hire. In California, not all hire companies are required to include state-minimum liability by default, so it is strongly recommended to add supplementary liability cover up to US$300,000 if it is not already included in your rate.

CDW/LDW and LIS/ALI/SLI are separate protections and do not replace each other. Common exclusions from CDW/LDW in San Diego include tyres, undercarriage, roof damage, and incidents involving unauthorised drivers or prohibited use such as off-road driving.

If an incident occurs during your San Diego hire, prioritise safety, contact local authorities if needed, and notify the hire partner immediately using the number on your hire agreement.

Hire cars in San Diego follow a Full-to-Full fuel policy. You receive the vehicle with a full tank and must return it full to avoid additional charges.

At collection in San Diego, 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 both the odometer and the fuel gauge before leaving the lot.

When returning your San Diego hire:

• Refuel within approximately 10 miles of the Rental Car Centre at 3355 Admiral Boland Way to ensure the gauge does not drop before you arrive
• Keep the fuel receipt showing the date, time, and station address
• Take a photo of the full gauge at the station as backup evidence

If you return the vehicle below the recorded starting level, the hire company may charge a fuel shortfall at their own refuelling rate, which is typically higher than retail pump prices, plus a refuelling service fee.

Note that fuel prices in San Diego align with California averages, which tend to be higher than the national average. Budgeting for this is advisable, especially for longer trips around Southern California. Some San Diego counter locations may offer an optional prepaid fuel plan; if accepted, unused fuel is generally non-refundable.