SUV 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)

Your San Diego SUV hire is collected at the Consolidated Rental Car Centre located at 3355 Admiral Boland Way, San Diego, CA 92101. This off-terminal facility houses all major hire brands in one building.

After arriving at San Diego International Airport (SAN), follow the "Rental Car Shuttles" signs to the designated kerbside islands:

• Terminal 1: head to the east kerb or the Ground Transportation Centre via the pedestrian crossing
• Terminal 2: go to the outer island or Transportation Plaza outside baggage reclaim

Free shuttles operate 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, every 5 to 15 minutes (intervals may be longer during peak times). Board any hire shuttle or a company-branded one and travel to the Rental Car Centre. Once there, proceed to your brand's counter, present your documents, confirm your reservation, and complete the SUV inspection before driving away.

From the moment you land, allow approximately 30 to 60 minutes in total: about 10 to 20 minutes for baggage reclaim, 5 to 15 minutes for the shuttle wait and journey, and 10 to 25 minutes for counter processing and SUV inspection.

To collect your SUV hire in San Diego, you must bring all of the following physical documents to the counter:

• A valid, original driving licence in the main driver’s name
• A major credit card with the driver’s name printed on the card (debit and prepaid cards are not accepted for the excess)
• A passport or valid government photo ID
• Your booking confirmation or printed voucher
• Round-trip flight or cruise tickets (required for visitors from abroad)

If your driving licence is not in English and does not use a Latin (Roman) alphabet, for example Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, or Cyrillic, an International Driving Permit (IDP) is mandatory. For other non-English licences, an IDP is strongly recommended. The IDP is a translation only and must be carried alongside your original licence.

All documents must be physical. Digital copies shown on a phone or tablet are not accepted at the San Diego hire counter. Name mismatches between your licence, passport, and credit card are a common cause of delays, so ensure all names match before you travel.

To hire an SUV in San Diego without any age surcharge, you must be at least 25 years old. Drivers aged 21 to 24 can hire but will be charged a daily young-hirer surcharge at the counter, and most SUV categories are restricted to drivers aged 25 and over.

Vehicle classes typically restricted to drivers 25 and over include Full Size SUV, Premium SUV, and other larger or specialist categories. Drivers aged 21 to 24 are generally limited to smaller classes such as Compact SUV or Medium SUV.

If you are between 21 and 24 and booking with Avis or Budget in San Diego, a fee waiver may be available if you are a citizen or resident of Latin America or the Caribbean and the waiver is explicitly shown on your booking confirmation. This exception applies to the main driver only and to eligible vehicle categories.

A valid driving licence and a major credit card in the main driver’s name are required regardless of age. Debit and prepaid cards are not accepted for the excess.

Toll exposure for an SUV hire in San Diego is very limited compared to other parts of California. Most motorways in and around San Diego are free, and the city itself has no congestion charges or emissions zones.

The main toll roads in Southern California that could affect your San Diego SUV trip are located in neighbouring Orange County:

• SR-73, SR-133, SR-241, and SR-261 (The Toll Roads of Orange County)
• Express lanes on certain Los Angeles area motorways such as I-10 and I-110

All these facilities are fully cashless and use California's FasTrak electronic system. Cash payment is not accepted.

Your SUV hire vehicle in San Diego will already include an electronic toll device or plate-based billing. At pickup, you can choose between two options:

• Unlimited toll package: approximately GBP 11 to GBP 25 per hire day, covering all toll usage
• Pay per use: actual toll amounts plus daily or administrative processing fees billed after the hire, sometimes weeks later

If you plan to stay within San Diego and avoid Orange County toll roads, your toll costs may be zero or very low.

Yes, all bookings include Tolls Cashback, which allows you to recover up to 5% of your total booking value for tolls paid during your San Diego SUV hire.

Although toll exposure in San Diego is generally low, if your SUV trip takes you onto Orange County toll roads (SR-73, SR-241, SR-261, SR-133) or Los Angeles express lanes, those toll costs are eligible for reimbursement.

To claim your cashback after returning your SUV in San Diego:

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

The refund is issued to the same payment method used for your original booking and typically processes within 7 to 10 working days after approval. Submissions received after 30 days are not accepted. This benefit covers toll charges only, not fines, parking tickets, or administrative penalties.

When you collect your SUV hire in San Diego, the hire company will place a temporary authorisation hold on your credit card. This is not a charge, but it reduces your available credit until the hold is released after you return the vehicle.

For a standard SUV hire in the United States, typical holds range from approximately GBP 240 to GBP 320. Premium or larger SUV categories may carry higher holds depending on the brand and location.

Key points to note before arriving at the San Diego counter:

• Only a major credit card with the driver’s name printed on the card is accepted for the deposit
• Debit cards, prepaid cards, and virtual cards are not accepted
• The card must be in the main driver’s name and presented physically at the counter
• Bring a backup credit card in case your primary card is declined
• Notify your bank of your travel dates to prevent fraud blocks on an in-person authorisation

After you return the SUV in San Diego, the hold is released. Your bank or card issuer controls when the credit reappears on your account, which can take up to 15 working days.

Yes, you can add an additional driver to your SUV hire in San Diego, either at no cost if your rate includes it or for a daily fee paid at the counter if it does not.

Check your booking confirmation for the line "Additional driver free of charge" to see whether your San Diego SUV rate includes one free additional driver. If it is not included, typical daily fees are:

• Avis, Budget, and Payless: GBP 10 per day plus taxes, capped at GBP 52 plus taxes
• Hertz, Thrifty, and Dollar: GBP 11 per day plus taxes, capped at GBP 154 plus taxes
• Alamo, National, and Enterprise: GBP 13 per day plus taxes

The additional driver must be present at the San Diego pickup counter with a valid driving licence and must sign the hire agreement. Anyone who drives the SUV without being listed on the agreement is not covered by the hire protections such as CDW or liability cover.

For Avis, Budget, and Payless, additional drivers must generally be at least 25 years old at the time of pickup in San Diego.

When hiring an SUV in San Diego, two main types of protection are worth understanding before you arrive at the counter.

Collision Damage Waiver (CDW) or Loss Damage Waiver (LDW) covers damage to the SUV itself from a collision, theft, or vandalism. A deductible may apply unless your confirmation explicitly states zero. CDW and LDW do not cover damage you cause to other vehicles or persons.

Third-Party Liability (LIS, ALI, or SLI) covers bodily injury and property damage you may cause to others while driving the SUV in San Diego. Some US states require hire companies to include a state-minimum liability amount, but not all do. Adding supplementary liability cover of up to US$300,000 is strongly recommended for any SUV hire in San Diego.

Common exclusions to be aware of:

• Tires, wheels, undercarriage, and roof damage are often not covered by standard CDW
• Prohibited use such as off-road driving, driving under the influence, or unauthorised drivers voids cover
• Incidents must be reported immediately to the hire company

Review your booking confirmation carefully to confirm which protections are already included in your San Diego SUV rate before accepting or declining anything at the counter.

Yes, most bookings include travel assistance through Terrawind Global Protection, which can help if something goes wrong during your San Diego SUV hire, including situations on the road such as an accident or a medical emergency.

This benefit is available to non-North American customers. Residents of the United States and Canada do not qualify for this travel assistance coverage.

Core benefits typically included are:

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

If you need assistance during your San Diego SUV hire, contact Terrawind 24 hours a day:

• Phone (toll-free or collect): +1 888 980 9992
• WhatsApp: +1 208 910 1001
• Email: [email protected]

Have your full name and Hola Car Rentals confirmation number ready when you call. This cover does not replace CDW or LDW for damage to the SUV itself, nor does it cover third-party liability. Check your booking confirmation for the exact terms and limits that apply to your San Diego reservation.

The standard fuel policy for an SUV hire in San Diego is Full-to-Full. You receive the SUV with a full tank and must return it full to avoid additional charges.

At pickup 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 the odometer and fuel gauge before leaving the Rental Car Centre.

When returning your SUV in San Diego:

• Refuel within approximately 10 miles or 15 km of the return location at 3355 Admiral Boland Way to prevent the gauge dropping below full on the way back
• Keep your fuel receipt showing the date, time, and station address
• Take a photo of the full gauge before handing over the keys

If you return the SUV with less fuel than recorded at pickup, the hire company may charge you for the fuel shortfall at their own refuelling rate, which is typically higher than pump prices, plus a refuelling service fee. For after-hours returns in San Diego, leave the receipt in the key drop envelope and keep a photo of the full gauge for your records.

Yes, one-way SUV hires are available in San Diego, but a drop-off fee may apply depending on your destination, the hire brand, and the vehicle class.

Common patterns for SUV one-way hires from San Diego:

• San Diego Airport to downtown San Diego or vice versa: often no drop-off fee
• San Diego to another Californian city such as Los Angeles: a drop-off fee usually applies and varies by distance and SUV class
• San Diego to a different state: generally incurs a higher drop-off fee, and some routes may not be permitted
• Cross-border one-ways (for example, into Mexico): often restricted or not permitted depending on the partner brand

The drop-off fee for your San Diego SUV hire will be shown during the booking process under the "To pay at destination" section. This fee cannot be prepaid and is payable directly at the hire desk. Larger SUV categories may carry higher repositioning fees than smaller vehicle classes.

If you change your return location after booking, the fee may be recalculated and availability is not guaranteed. Always verify the one-way terms on your booking confirmation before collection.

Returning your SUV hire at San Diego Airport is straightforward. The return location is the same Consolidated Rental Car Centre where you collected, at 3355 Admiral Boland Way, San Diego, CA 92101.

Follow Pacific Highway signage towards the Rental Car Centre and look for the dedicated return lanes for your brand. An attendant will inspect the SUV for fuel level, mileage, and any damage, so have your hire agreement ready.

Steps for a smooth SUV return in San Diego:

• Refuel the SUV within approximately 10 miles of the Rental Car Centre to comply with the Full-to-Full fuel policy
• Remove all personal belongings from the SUV before handing over the keys
• Take photos of the exterior of the SUV and the fuel gauge at the return location
• Request a printed or emailed final receipt confirming the return

For after-hours returns, park the SUV in the designated return area and use the key drop if available. Free 24-hour shuttles operate from the Rental Car Centre back to both terminals after you complete the return, so you will not need to arrange separate transport to your departure gate.

Yes, AWD and 4WD SUV options may be available to hire in San Diego depending on the hire brand, location, and availability at the time of booking.

When browsing SUV hires in San Diego, the listing may not always specify whether the vehicle is AWD, FWD, or 4WD, as hire companies operate a "similar vehicle" policy and the exact model assigned can vary. The SUV category shown is a class guarantee, not a specific model guarantee.

If AWD or 4WD capability is important for your San Diego trip, for example if you plan to drive to mountain areas or destinations with seasonal road conditions, consider these steps:

• Look for SUV listings that mention AWD or 4WD in the vehicle description during the booking process
• At the San Diego collection point, ask the agent whether the assigned SUV is AWD or FWD before accepting the vehicle
• If the specific drivetrain matters, request an upgrade or a different model at the counter, subject to availability and any applicable upgrade fee

Note that California does not generally require winter tyres or chains in the San Diego area itself, but mountain routes in the region may have seasonal traction device requirements. Check current road conditions before driving your SUV out of San Diego towards higher elevations.