Van 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)

After landing at San Diego International Airport (SAN), follow the "Rental Car Shuttles" or "Ground Transportation" signs from baggage claim in Terminal 1 or Terminal 2 to the kerbside shuttle islands. Free shuttles operate 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, every 5 to 15 minutes, and take approximately 10 to 15 minutes to reach the Consolidated Rental Car Centre at 3355 Admiral Boland Way.

Once at the Rental Car Centre, proceed to your rental brand's counter, present your driving licence, credit card, and booking confirmation, then go to the garage to inspect and collect your van.

• Terminal 1: use the east kerb or Ground Transportation Centre via pedestrian crossing
• Terminal 2: use the outer island or Transportation Plaza via pedestrian crossing
• All major San Diego van hire brands are consolidated at this facility

Allow 30 to 60 minutes from landing to driving away, and up to 90 minutes during peak periods. Completing online check-in with your rental provider before arrival can significantly reduce counter time.

San Diego itself has limited toll exposure compared to other parts of California, so most van journeys within the city will not encounter tolls. However, if you travel north towards Los Angeles or into Orange County, you may encounter toll roads including SR-73, SR-133, SR-241, and SR-261, as well as express lanes on I-10 and I-110.

All California toll roads are fully cashless and use the FasTrak electronic system. Your van hire will include an electronic toll device or plate-based billing. At the counter, you have two options:

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

You can also opt out at collection and pay tolls directly through the toll agency's website, or use a compatible personal FasTrak pass. If you use your own pass, ask the counter agent to deactivate the van's default toll device to avoid duplicate charges.

To collect your van in San Diego, you must bring 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, in the main driver’s name, for the security deposit authorisation hold
• A passport or valid government photo ID
• Your booking confirmation or printed voucher
• Round-trip flight or cruise tickets (required for visitors from outside the United States)

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. 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 van hire counter.

Yes, all van hires booked through Hola Car Rentals include Tolls Cashback, which reimburses up to 5% of your total booking value for tolls paid during your hire period.

While San Diego itself has minimal toll roads, this benefit is especially useful if your journey takes you north towards Los Angeles or into Orange County, where FasTrak toll roads and express lanes are common.

To claim your cashback after returning the van:

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

Refunds are issued to the original payment method and typically process within 7 to 10 working days after approval. Late submissions received after 30 days are not accepted. This benefit does not mean tolls are prepaid; you still pay them normally and claim reimbursement afterwards.

The minimum age to hire a van in San Diego without additional surcharges is 25. Drivers aged 21 to 24 may hire certain vehicle classes but will be subject to a daily young-driver surcharge, and most van and minivan categories are restricted to drivers aged 25 and over.

This means that if you are under 25, you may not be eligible to hire a full-size van in San Diego regardless of the surcharge. Vehicle class restrictions for vans, minivans, premium, and luxury categories typically require the main driver to be at least 25.

• Ages 25 and over: no underage surcharge, full van class access
• Ages 21 to 24: daily young-driver fee applies, van class likely restricted
• Under 21: not eligible to hire in San Diego

A valid driving licence and a major credit card in the main driver’s name are required regardless of age. If you are unsure whether your age affects your San Diego van hire eligibility, contact customer services before booking.

When you collect your van in San Diego, the hire company will place a temporary authorisation hold on your credit card. This is not a charge; it reduces your available credit until the hire is concluded and your bank releases the hold.

For standard hires in the United States, typical holds range from US$300 to US$400, though the amount can be higher for vans and larger vehicle classes. The exact amount is set by the rental partner at the collection point.

• Only a physical, major credit card in the main driver’s name with the driver’s name printed on the card is accepted
• Debit cards, prepaid cards, and virtual cards are not accepted for the deposit
• Even if you prepaid your San Diego van hire online, you must still present a credit card at collection

After returning the van, the hold is released. Your bank controls how quickly it clears, and it can take up to 15 working days to appear back on your available credit. Bring a backup credit card in case your primary card is declined.

Yes, hiring a van at San Diego International Airport (SAN) adds several location-specific charges on top of the base van hire rate. These are standard airport surcharges and are not unique to any one hire brand.

• Airport Concession Recovery Fee: typically 10 to 12% of the base rate, charged by the hire company for operating at the airport
• Customer Facility Charge (CFC): approximately US$4.50 to US$10 per hire day, covering the cost of the Consolidated Rental Car Centre at 3355 Admiral Boland Way
• California state and city hire taxes: typically 8 to 10% combined

These fees can add significantly to a van hire in San Diego. If you want to reduce costs, off-airport locations in areas such as Mission Valley or La Jolla, roughly 5 to 15 miles from the airport, typically avoid the airport concession fee and CFC, which can result in savings of 20 to 40% on the base rate. Your booking confirmation will show which fees are included in your prepaid rate and which are payable at the counter.

Van hires in San Diego follow a Full-to-Full fuel policy by default. You receive the van with a full tank and must return it full to avoid fuel charges.

At collection, 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.

• Refuel within approximately 10 miles of the return location so the gauge does not drop before you arrive
• Keep your final fuel receipt showing the date, time, and station address
• For after-hours van returns in San Diego, leave the receipt in the key drop envelope and keep a photo of the full gauge

If you return the van below the recorded starting level, the hire company may charge a fuel shortfall at their own refuelling rate, which is typically higher than pump prices, plus an administrative service fee. Returning the van full is always the most economical option. Ask the agent at the San Diego counter for the nearest petrol station to the return location when you collect.

Most van hires booked through Hola Car Rentals include travel assistance provided by Terrawind Global Protection. This benefit covers up to 5 passengers and is particularly useful if you experience a medical emergency or accident while driving your van in San Diego or on nearby highways.

Coverage typically includes:

• 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

To reach assistance 24 hours a day, call +1 888 980 9992 (toll-free) or contact WhatsApp at +1 208 910 1001. Have your Hola Car Rentals confirmation number ready when you call.

Important: this benefit applies only to travellers who are not residents of the United States or Canada. US and Canadian residents do not qualify for this cover. It also does not cover damage to the van itself (that is handled by CDW/LDW) or third-party liability (covered by LIS/ALI/SLI). Check your booking confirmation for the exact terms that apply to your San Diego van hire.

Yes, you can add an additional driver to your van hire in San Diego, either as an included benefit or for a daily fee payable at the counter, depending on your rate.

If your booking confirmation states "Additional driver free of charge," the first extra driver is covered at no cost. If not included, the daily fees by brand are:

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

The additional driver must be present at the San Diego collection point with a valid driving licence and must sign the hire agreement. Only drivers listed on the agreement are covered by the van’s insurance protections. Anyone driving the van without being named on the contract may void cover entirely. Age restrictions also apply; for Avis, Budget, and Payless, additional drivers must generally be at least 25 years old.

Yes, one-way van hires are available in San Diego, allowing you to collect the van in San Diego and return it to a different city or location. However, a drop-off fee may apply depending on the route, hire brand, and vehicle class.

Key points about one-way van hires from San Diego:

• The drop-off fee is route-specific and varies by distance, destination, and the hire company
• Vans and larger vehicle classes often carry higher repositioning fees than standard cars
• Cross-border one-way hires, such as returning the van in Mexico, are generally not permitted or have significant restrictions
• The fee will appear under the "To pay at destination" section during checkout and on your booking confirmation

If no drop-off fee is shown during booking, no fee applies for that route. Changing your return location after booking may reprice the hire and increase the fee. Always confirm the drop-off conditions before finalising your San Diego van hire reservation.

Returning your van at San Diego International Airport is straightforward. Follow the "Rental Car Return" signs on the roads leading to the Consolidated Rental Car Centre at 3355 Admiral Boland Way, the same facility where you collected the van.

• Drive into the dedicated return lanes; a staff member will inspect the van and close the contract
• After return, free 24-hour shuttles take you back to the airport terminals
• For after-hours returns, key drop boxes are available at the centre; confirm the exact procedure with your hire provider in advance

Before returning the van, refuel within approximately 10 miles of the return location to comply with the Full-to-Full fuel policy. Keep your fuel receipt. Take a photo of the dashboard showing the full gauge in case any fuel dispute arises later.

Note that toll charges and other post-hire fees for your San Diego van hire may be billed to your card days or even weeks after you return the vehicle, as toll agencies process invoices in batches.

Yes, red-light cameras are active at multiple intersections in San Diego and can result in fines for van hire drivers who cross the stop line after the light turns red.

Cameras are installed at locations including 10th Avenue and F Street, 10th Avenue and A Street, and 28th Street, among others. The camera triggers only if the van crosses the stop line after the signal has turned red, not during a yellow light.

• Fines are issued to the registered vehicle owner, which is the hire company, which then passes the charge to the renter along with an administrative processing fee
• These charges typically appear on your credit card weeks after the hire ends
• Right turns on red require a full stop before the line; cameras near these intersections add an extra reason for caution

Additionally, California is introducing automated speed cameras in highway work zones from 2026, so be attentive to posted speed limits when driving your van through any active construction zones in or around San Diego. Driving within posted limits and stopping fully before the line at signalised intersections is the simplest way to avoid post-hire fines on your San Diego van hire.