Van Hire
in San Francisco

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

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

To pick up your van hire at San Francisco International Airport, take the free AirTrain Blue Line from any terminal directly to the Rental Car Centre (RCC) at 780 N. McDonnell Rd. The AirTrain runs 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and the journey takes approximately 5 to 10 minutes. Follow signs for AirTrain paired with "Rental Cars" from any terminal, including Terminal 1, 2, 3, or the International Terminal.

Once you arrive at the Rental Car Centre station, walk to your hire company's counter inside the RCC, complete the paperwork, and proceed to the vehicle pickup area to collect your van.

If you booked with an off-airport provider, you still take the AirTrain Blue Line to the RCC first, then board that provider's shuttle from the south curb of the RCC (for example, Fox Rent A Car departs from Shuttle Island 2).

Plan your time accordingly:

• Domestic travellers with carry-on only: roughly 30 to 55 minutes from landing to driving away
• Domestic travellers with checked bags: roughly 40 to 70 minutes
• International travellers (including immigration and customs): roughly 85 to 170 minutes

Bring your booking confirmation, a physical major credit card in the main driver’s name, your driver’s licence, and your passport when collecting your San Francisco van hire.

Yes, age restrictions apply to van hires in San Francisco, and vans are among the vehicle classes most affected by minimum age rules in the United States.

The standard minimum age to hire without a surcharge is 25. Drivers aged 21 to 24 may still hire in San Francisco, but a daily young-driver surcharge applies and most hire partners restrict van and minivan categories to drivers aged 25 and older. This means that if you are under 25, you may not be able to book a van specifically, and you would need to select an eligible smaller vehicle class instead.

Key points to keep in mind for a San Francisco van hire:

• Drivers 25 and older: no age surcharge, van class available
• Drivers 21 to 24: daily young-driver fee applies, van class typically restricted
• Drivers under 21: generally not eligible to hire in California

Young-driver surcharge amounts vary by partner. For example, Avis and Budget charge approximately US$13 per day (capped at US$65), while Alamo, National, and Enterprise charge approximately US$15 per day. These fees are paid at the counter and are not included in your prepaid rate.

If you are aged 21 to 24 and travelling from Latin America or the Caribbean, certain Hola Car Rentals rates with Avis or Budget may waive the underage fee, though van and minivan classes remain restricted regardless.

San Francisco and the surrounding Bay Area have several cashless toll facilities you will likely encounter when driving a van in San Francisco. All tolls in California use the FasTrak electronic system, and cash payment is no longer accepted on most facilities.

Common tolls near San Francisco include:

• Bay Bridge (San Francisco to Oakland): approximately US$8.50 per crossing (westbound only, FasTrak rate for a standard 2-axle vehicle)
• Golden Gate Bridge: approximately US$9.75 southbound (FasTrak rate); US$10.75 if billed by invoice or licence plate
• Bay Area express lanes (I-580, I-680, and others): dynamic pricing, varies by time of day

Because your van hire vehicle already includes an electronic toll device or plate-based billing system, tolls will be recorded automatically. At the San Francisco pickup 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 amounts plus daily or administrative processing fees billed after the hire, sometimes weeks later

You can also opt out at pickup and pay tolls directly through the FasTrak website or app, or register your van's licence plate with a personal FasTrak account before or during your trip. If you use your own pass, ask the counter agent to deactivate the vehicle's default device to avoid duplicate charges.

Yes, all Hola Car Rentals rates include Tolls Cashback, which lets you recover up to 5% of your total booking value for tolls paid during your San Francisco van hire.

Given that Bay Area bridge crossings alone can cost US$8.50 to US$15 per crossing, this benefit can add up meaningfully over a multi-day van hire in San Francisco.

To claim your cashback after returning your van:

• Email [email protected] within 30 days of vehicle return
• Use the subject line: Tolls Cashback - HOLA followed by your 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 calculated as the lesser of the total tolls you actually paid or 5% of your Hola Car Rentals booking total. For example, if your booking total is US$500, the maximum cashback is US$25. If you paid US$18 in Bay Area bridge tolls, you receive US$18 back. If you paid US$40, you receive US$25 (the cap).

Refunds are issued to the original payment method used for your reservation and typically process within 7 to 10 business days after approval. Late submissions received after 30 days are not accepted.

To pick up a van hire in San Francisco, you must present the following physical documents at the counter:

• A valid, original driver’s licence in the main driver’s name (not a digital copy)
• A passport or valid government-issued photo ID
• A physical major credit card with the driver’s name printed on the card, in the main driver’s name, with sufficient available credit for the authorisation hold
• Your booking confirmation or printed voucher (required for certain hires)
• Round-trip flight or cruise tickets (required for visitors travelling from abroad)

If your driver’s licence uses a non-Latin alphabet, such as Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, or Cyrillic script, an International Driving Permit (IDP) is mandatory alongside your original licence. For licences in other non-English scripts or languages, an IDP is strongly recommended even if not strictly required by California law.

The IDP is a translation document only and cannot be used without your original licence. It must be obtained in your home country before travelling, as U.S. issuers such as AAA do not issue IDPs to non-U.S. licence holders.

A common mistake when picking up a van in San Francisco is arriving with a name mismatch between your licence, passport, and credit card, or presenting a virtual or prepaid card instead of a physical major credit card. Both situations can result in the counter refusing to release the van.

Driving a van in San Francisco involves several local rules that differ from most other U.S. cities and can catch visitors off guard.

Hill parking and wheel curbing: San Francisco law requires drivers to curb their wheels when parking on any incline. Turn your front wheels toward the kerb when facing downhill, and away from the kerb when facing uphill. Failure to do so can result in a citation. This is especially important in a van, which is heavier and poses a greater rolling risk.

One-way streets: San Francisco has an extensive one-way street network throughout downtown and many neighbourhoods. Vans are less manoeuvrable on these narrow corridors, so plan routes carefully before driving.

Pedestrian right-of-way: Pedestrians have the legal right of way at all crosswalks, including unmarked ones. Passing light rail with open doors is prohibited.

Speed cameras: San Francisco County operates automated speed cameras in school zones and high-injury corridors as part of a pilot programme active since 2024. Violations are issued by mail.

Daylighting law: Since 2025, parking within 20 feet of any crosswalk or 15 feet of a kerb extension is prohibited and actively enforced citywide.

Van size restrictions: Vehicles over 22 feet long or over 7 feet tall face designated parking restrictions in San Francisco. Many standard passenger vans fall into this category, so confirm the dimensions of your specific van hire before driving into the city.

For a van hire in San Francisco, the security deposit is placed as a temporary authorisation hold on your credit card at the pickup counter. The typical hold for standard vehicles at U.S. locations is approximately US$300 to US$400, but van and larger vehicle classes often carry higher holds due to the vehicle's value.

The exact amount is set by the hire partner’s desk and local policies at the time of pickup. Hola Car Rentals cannot confirm the precise hold amount in advance, as it varies by brand, location, season, and vehicle class.

Important things to know before picking up your San Francisco van hire:

• The hold is a temporary authorisation, not a charge. It reduces your available credit until your bank releases it after the hire ends.
• 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.
• After you return the van, the hire partner releases the hold. Your bank or card issuer controls when it reappears in your available balance, which can take up to 15 business days.
• Bring a backup credit card in your name in case your primary card is declined or does not have sufficient available credit.

Set a travel notice with your bank before arriving in San Francisco to prevent the high-value in-person authorisation from being flagged as suspicious.

The insurance cover included with your van hire in San Francisco depends on the specific rate plan you selected at booking. It is important to review your booking confirmation carefully before arriving at the San Francisco pickup counter.

There are two main types of cover relevant to a van hire:

• Collision Damage Waiver (CDW) or Loss Damage Waiver (LDW): reduces your financial liability for damage to the hire van from a collision, theft, or vandalism. A deductible may still apply unless your confirmation explicitly states zero deductible. CDW and LDW do 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 the van. In California, state-minimum liability is not automatically guaranteed on all hires, so checking whether your confirmation includes this cover is strongly recommended.

Neither CDW nor LDW covers personal injuries to you or your passengers, your personal belongings inside the van, or damage resulting from prohibited use such as off-road driving or driving under the influence.

At the San Francisco pickup counter, review the hire agreement carefully to confirm which covers are active, what deductible amounts apply, and whether all drivers listed on the agreement are covered. Only named drivers on the agreement are protected by these covers.

Yes, most Hola Car Rentals bookings include travel assistance cover provided by Terrawind Global Protection, and this applies to your van hire in San Francisco as well. However, this benefit is available only to non-North American customers. Travellers who are residents of the United States or Canada do not qualify for this benefit.

For eligible renters, the travel assistance cover typically includes:

• Medical cover for up to 5 passengers for accidents and non-pre-existing illnesses
• Legal assistance in the event of a road accident involving your van
• Compensation for luggage lost by the airline
• Flight cancellation insurance

If you experience an emergency while driving your van in San Francisco or the surrounding Bay Area, such as a medical situation or an accident on a Bay Area bridge or highway, contact the assistance line immediately:

• Phone (toll-free or collect): +1 888 980 9992, available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
• WhatsApp: +1 208 910 1001
• Email: [email protected]

Provide your full name, your Hola Car Rentals confirmation number, your current location, and a brief description of the situation. This cover does not replace CDW or LDW for damage to the van itself, nor does it cover third-party liability to others.

Check your booking confirmation for the exact terms and cover limits applicable to your San Francisco van hire.

Yes, you can add an additional driver to your van hire in San Francisco, 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 rate covers one extra driver. If it is not included, the daily fees by partner are:

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

The additional driver must be present at the San Francisco pickup counter with a valid driver’s licence and any required identification. Both the main driver and the additional driver must sign the hire agreement. Anyone who drives the van without being listed on the agreement is not covered by the hire’s protections, including CDW and liability cover.

Age rules also apply to additional drivers on a San Francisco van hire. For Avis, Budget, and Payless, additional drivers must generally be at least 25 years old at the time of pickup. Van and minivan classes are typically restricted to drivers aged 25 and older across most partners.

If you need to add a driver after pickup, visit a branch location to update the agreement, as phone or chat requests are generally not sufficient.

Your van hire in San Francisco uses a Full-to-Full fuel policy by default. This means you receive the van with a full tank and must return it full to avoid fuel charges.

At pickup, 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 San Francisco Rental Car Centre.

When returning your van in San Francisco, refuel within approximately 10 miles of the return location at the Rental Car Centre at 780 N. McDonnell Rd. to ensure the gauge does not drop below full before you arrive. Keep your final fuel receipt showing the date, time, and station address.

If you return the van without a full tank, you may be charged:

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

For after-hours van returns in San Francisco, leave your fuel receipt in the key drop envelope and keep a photo of the full gauge on your phone as documentation.

Some San Francisco counter locations may offer an optional prepaid fuel plan. If you accept it, any unused fuel is typically non-refundable, so the Full-to-Full approach is usually the better value for most renters.

To return your van hire at San Francisco Airport, drive to the Rental Car Centre at 780 N. McDonnell Rd., San Francisco, CA 94128. Follow the overhead signs for "Car Rental Return" as you enter the airport campus. The return area is inside the same consolidated Rental Car Centre where you collected the van.

After dropping off the van, take the free AirTrain Blue Line from the Rental Car Centre station back to your departure terminal. The AirTrain runs 24 hours a day and the journey takes approximately 5 to 10 minutes. Allow at least 2 hours before your flight when planning your van return.

Before leaving the van:

• Refuel to the recorded starting level (typically full) at a station near the airport before arriving at the RCC
• Take a photo of the fuel gauge and odometer as documentation
• Keep your final fuel receipt with the date, time, and station address
• Remove all personal belongings from the van

For after-hours van returns in San Francisco, most hire partners provide a key drop option. Confirm the specific after-hours instructions with your hire partner before your return date, as procedures vary by brand. Note that your liability for the van may continue until a partner agent formally checks it in, so document the van's condition with photos at drop-off.

Yes, hiring a van at San Francisco International Airport adds several mandatory local fees on top of your base hire rate. These charges are standard for airport van hires in San Francisco and are among the highest of any U.S. airport.

Common fees you can expect on a San Francisco airport van hire include:

• Airport Concession Recovery Fee (ACRF): typically 10 to 12% of the base rate, charged by the hire partner to recover the cost of operating at SFO
• Customer Facility Charge (CFC): approximately US$4.50 to US$5.75 per hire day, covering the cost of the Rental Car Centre facility
• San Francisco city hire tax: approximately 9 to 10% of the hire charges
• State and tourism surcharges: additional percentage-based fees that vary by partner

Combined, these fees can add 20 to 30% above the base rate shown during booking. This is higher than most non-airport U.S. hire locations.

If you want to reduce fees on your San Francisco van hire, off-airport locations in nearby areas such as South San Francisco, Daly City, or Brisbane typically avoid the airport concession fee, saving approximately US$10 to US$30 per day. However, van availability at off-airport locations may be more limited than at SFO.

Your booking confirmation will show which fees are included in your prepaid rate and which are due at the San Francisco pickup counter under "Total to pay at destination."