Car Rental
in San Diego

EASTER  45% OFF   

Hola Car Rentals is the only premium partner of the top car rental 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 rental 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 rental 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 rental 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), rental cars are not located inside the terminals. All major rental brands including Avis, Alamo, Enterprise, National, Dollar, and others operate from the off-site Rental Car Center (RCC) at 3355 Admiral Boland Way.

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

• Terminal 1: exit to the arrivals level and head to the east curb 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 ride to the San Diego RCC is short, but allow 10 to 20 minutes for the wait and ride 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 roughly 30 to 60 minutes total before you are on the road, accounting for deplaning, baggage claim, 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 Center (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 refueled before returning

Before leaving San Diego for your return trip, refuel within approximately 10 miles of the RCC to comply with the Full-to-Full fuel policy and avoid refueling charges. Your rental 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 highways in the San Diego area are free. However, if you drive north toward 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 rental 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 rental day, covering all toll usage during the rental
• Pay per use: if you decline the package, the rental company charges actual toll amounts plus administrative processing fees, billed to your card after the rental, 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 enrollment can result in a violation.

You may also opt out of the rental company's program and pay tolls directly through the toll agency's website, or register your rental 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 rental, 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 rental:

• 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 rental 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 business days after approval. Submissions received after 30 days are not accepted.

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

• A valid, original driver's license (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 driver's license 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 license. For licenses 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 license. Obtain it in your home country before traveling, 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 rental counters.

Yes, a major credit card is required to rent 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 security hold (authorization) on your available credit at pickup. Typical holds in the United States range from approximately US$300 to US$400 for standard vehicles, though the exact amount varies by rental brand, vehicle class, and location.

Important points to keep in mind for your San Diego pickup:

• 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 business days. Bring a backup credit card in your name in case your primary card is declined.

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

Vehicle classes typically unavailable to under-25 renters in San Diego include full-size sedans, 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-25 renters picking up in San Diego:

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

One exception applies to renters 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 renters from Europe, Asia, or other regions.

Yes, you can add an additional driver to your San Diego rental, 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 rental day, capped at US$65
• Hertz, Thrifty, and Dollar: US$13.50 per rental 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 pickup counter with a valid driver's license and any required identification. Both the main driver and the additional driver must sign the rental agreement. Anyone who drives the vehicle without being listed on the agreement is not covered by the rental 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 while driving in Southern California.

Coverage typically includes:

• Travel insurance with medical coverage 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 travelers 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 rental, 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 coverage does not replace CDW/LDW for damage to the rental 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 center 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 toward 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 counterintuitive alternate routes through the San Diego area such as Sea World Drive.

Yes, one-way rentals are available from San Diego, allowing you to pick up 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 rental 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 prepaid.

When booking a one-way rental from San Diego:

• Enter both your San Diego pickup location 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 picking up 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 typically 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 rental.

The insurance and protection options included in your San Diego rental 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 rental 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 while driving the San Diego rental. In California, not all rental companies are required to include state-minimum liability by default, so it is strongly recommended to add supplemental liability coverage 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 tires, undercarriage, roof damage, and incidents involving unauthorized drivers or prohibited use such as off-road driving.

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

Rental 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 pickup in San Diego, check the fuel gauge with the agent and confirm the starting level is recorded on the rental agreement. Take a photo of the dashboard showing both the odometer and the fuel gauge before leaving the lot.

When returning your San Diego rental:

• Refuel within approximately 10 miles of the Rental Car Center 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 rental company may charge a fuel shortfall at their own refueling rate, which is typically higher than retail pump prices, plus a refueling 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.