Quick Summary:
- Follow AirTrain signs to the Rental Car Center, then your brand.
- Check your rental agreement for zone, level, bay, and stall number.
- Use garage pillar signs and row markers to match bay codes.
- If details are missing, ask the booth, not the exit gate.
At San Francisco International Airport (SFO), most car hire pick-ups happen at the SFO Rental Car Center. It is a separate facility connected to all terminals by the AirTrain, and it has multiple levels with clearly labelled zones, rows, and bay numbers. The challenge for many travellers is that the paperwork can look generic, and your voucher may not show a specific bay or stall. The good news is that SFO’s flow is designed for exactly this scenario, the signage and staff processes assume you may only know your rental company name and booking reference.
If you want a quick overview of SFO pick-up logistics before you land, Hola Car Rentals keeps an airport-specific guide at car hire airport San Francisco SFO. This article focuses specifically on how to find your car park level and bay once you are on-site, plus what to do when your voucher does not provide stall details.
Understand what “bay”, “stall”, “level”, and “zone” mean at SFO
Different companies use slightly different words, so it helps to translate the jargon into what you will physically see in the garage.
Level is the floor of the Rental Car Center car park. You will see big signs with level numbers, and lift lobbies typically repeat them. Zone is a grouped area on a level, sometimes shown as a letter or colour. Row is the lane of parking spaces, usually marked on overhead boards or on the ends of rows. Bay often means an assigned row section or numbered position, and stall usually means one exact parking space. If your paperwork lists only a “zone” or “area”, you can still find the car by going to the company’s pick-up floor and matching the zone and row signs.
Also note the difference between a voucher and a rental agreement. A voucher is often issued by a broker and may omit garage specifics. The rental agreement is produced by the rental counter or kiosk and is more likely to show your assigned location, or at least confirm the pick-up procedure, such as “choose any car in aisle X” or “go to stall Y”.
Step-by-step: from your terminal to the Rental Car Center
After you collect your bags, follow signs for “AirTrain” and then “Rental Cars”. SFO’s AirTrain is free and runs frequently. The key is to get on the correct loop for the Rental Car Center. Airport signs and platform screens point you to the right direction, and staff can confirm if you are unsure.
When you arrive at the Rental Car Center station, you will exit into a lobby area with clear directions to each rental company. Do not rush straight into the garage. First, orient yourself: look for the company directory, digital boards, and any staff desks. This is where you confirm whether you need to visit a counter, use a kiosk, or go straight to a floor to pick a car.
If you arranged car hire through Hola Car Rentals, the supplier and their process can vary by brand. Supplier pages can help you anticipate the flow, for example Avis car hire San Francisco SFO and Enterprise car hire San Francisco SFO. The pick-up steps below are written to work even if you do not know the exact supplier procedure ahead of time.
Find your company first, then your level
At SFO, your first “decision point” is your rental company, not your bay number. Follow the overhead signs to your brand. This typically leads you either to a service counter on a lower level, or directly to a ready-car floor if you are using a membership or skip-the-counter set-up.
Once you are in your company’s area, look for signs that indicate the correct car pick-up level. Some companies operate across more than one level, separating standard cars, premium vehicles, and returns. Staff will point you to the correct lift, escalator, or ramp. If you see multiple lifts, choose the one signed for “Pick-Up” or your company name, not “Returns”.
Practical check: if your paperwork mentions “RCC” (Rental Car Center) and a level number, treat that as your anchor. You can then use the lift lobby signs to confirm you are going to the right floor before you walk any distance in the garage.
Use the most reliable document: your rental agreement printout or app screen
If your voucher is missing bay details, do not worry. What matters at the garage is what the rental company has assigned in their system. After you check in, you may receive one of the following:
1) A specific stall or bay number. This is common when a vehicle is pre-assigned. Your agreement might show something like “Stall 312” or “Aisle C, Space 14”. In that case, walk to the correct level and then follow row markers and pillar numbers until you match it exactly.
2) A zone or aisle with “choose any” instruction. This is common for standard categories and membership programmes. You might be told to choose any car in a certain aisle. Your task is then to find the right aisle signage and confirm the vehicle class matches your booking.
3) A desk handoff. Occasionally you will be asked to proceed to a booth on the pick-up level where an attendant directs you to a row or assigns keys. If this happens, the bay is less important than finding the booth for your brand on that level.
If you have not received an agreement, or you only have a broker voucher, stop at the counter or kiosk first. Trying to locate a specific car bay without an assignment often leads to unnecessary walking, especially after a long flight.
How to read garage signage to locate the bay
Once you are on the correct level, focus on three sign types, in this order:
Overhead aisle signs. These usually label aisles by letter or number. Stand at the aisle entrance and confirm you are in the right section before proceeding.
Pillar markers. Concrete columns often carry repeated identifiers, such as a level number and a row segment code. These are much easier to spot than small stall numbers from a distance.
Stall numbers on the ground or kerb. These confirm the final exact space. If you have a stall number, this is your last step, not your first.
A useful technique is to “triangulate” using a pillar marker and the nearest aisle sign, then count stalls only at the end. This reduces errors when rows are long and visually similar.
What to do when your voucher lacks bay or stall details
This is common with third-party vouchers and even with some prepaid bookings. Here is the fastest approach that keeps you in the correct workflow:
Go to your company’s counter, kiosk, or booth and ask for the pick-up location. Use a simple request: “Can you confirm the pick-up level and whether my car is assigned to a stall?” Staff can look up your reservation by name and booking reference, and they can tell you if you are meant to choose any vehicle in an aisle.
If you are directed to choose any vehicle, confirm class rules. Ask which aisle corresponds to your category and whether you may pick from any row within it. This avoids selecting a vehicle that triggers an upgrade charge at the exit gate.
If the app shows a stall number but you cannot find it, return to the pick-up booth. Cars can be moved for cleaning, maintenance, or late returns. The booth can reassign you or direct you to the updated location, which is faster than searching.
Do not wait until you are at the exit gate to raise missing details. Gate staff can help, but they are handling traffic flow and may send you back. Resolve the bay or aisle question at the counter or pick-up booth on your level.
Special situations that change where you look
1) You booked a van or larger vehicle. Larger vehicles may be parked in specific areas with more clearance. If you are collecting a people carrier or cargo van, check the supplier’s instructions and confirm the dedicated pick-up location. Hola has a dedicated page for van rental San Francisco SFO, which is useful if you want to understand typical pick-up expectations for larger vehicles.
2) You arrived late at night. Late arrivals can mean reduced staffing, and some companies consolidate pick-ups to a single booth. If the counter looks quiet, look for signs that say “After hours pick-up” or ask any uniformed staff member where the night desk is located.
3) You changed terminals or used the International Terminal. The AirTrain still gets you to the same Rental Car Center. The practical difference is walking time in the terminal before boarding the AirTrain. Build in a little extra time for signage and lifts, especially with luggage.
4) Your booking is at a different Bay Area airport. If you are actually landing at San Jose, the SFO guidance will not apply. The pick-up flow can be different, so confirm the airport on your documents. Hola’s page for car hire San Jose SJC is a useful cross-check if you are comparing options in the region.
Troubleshooting checklist if you are standing in the garage
If you are on the right level but still cannot find the bay, run through this quick checklist:
Check you are on the correct company level. Some brands have multiple floors, and returns areas can look similar to pick-up areas.
Confirm your vehicle was actually released. If the keys are not in the car or the app shows “pending”, you may need to return to the booth for final assignment.
Match the licence plate and vehicle class. If you were given a stall, verify the plate number if it is shown on your agreement. If you were told “choose any”, verify you are picking from the correct aisle for your class.
Ask for a map or aisle direction. Many counters can point to a simple layout, such as “Aisle D is to the left of the lift, two rows down.”
Keep your agreement handy for the exit. Even if you found the bay, the exit gate may scan your agreement and confirm category. Having it ready speeds up the departure process.
How this ties into smoother car hire at SFO
Finding your bay is really about following the intended sequence: AirTrain to Rental Car Center, find your company, confirm whether you have an assigned stall or a “choose any” aisle, then use level and aisle signage to navigate. When travellers struggle, it is usually because they try to interpret a broker voucher as a parking assignment, or they head into the garage before confirming the pick-up procedure.
If you want a broader overview of the airport set-up and what to expect on arrival, Hola’s local guide at car hire San Francisco SFO complements the practical bay-finding steps in this article without changing the fundamental flow described above.
FAQ
Where do I go first to find my rental car bay at SFO? Go to the SFO Rental Car Center via the AirTrain, then follow signs to your rental company. Confirm your pick-up level and whether you have an assigned stall before searching the garage.
My voucher does not show a bay or stall number, is that normal? Yes. Vouchers from brokers often omit stall details. The rental company will provide the pick-up instructions at the counter, kiosk, or booth, either assigning a stall or directing you to an aisle to choose a car.
How do I read the car park level and bay signage once inside? Start with the level number, then find the correct aisle letter or number using overhead signs. Use pillar markers to stay oriented, and only then match the final stall number if you have one.
What if I cannot find the car that was assigned to my stall? Return to your company’s pick-up booth or counter on that level. Cars can be moved for cleaning or operational reasons, and staff can reassign you quickly.
Can I just pick any car I like on the level? Only if your agreement explicitly says you may choose any car within a specific aisle or zone. If you take a vehicle outside your assigned class or aisle, the exit gate may reprice the rental or require an upgrade authorisation.
