Mark SkinnerPlanning a trip to Southern California means figuring out how you will get around once you land. The right car rentals in San Diego can shape the entire experience, especially when you want to move easily between top attractions and nearby beaches.
Reliability, transparent pricing, and fast pickup all matter when time in the sun is limited. The last thing you want is to lose part of your trip waiting in long lines or dealing with unclear terms.
To help make the decision easier, we reviewed and compared local rental options around the city. Below are the ones that consistently deliver on convenience, value, and service.
How much does a car rental cost in San Diego?
Car rental in San Diego typically costs about $30–$90 per day for standard or compact cars (around $300–$600 per week), while SUVs usually range from about $75–$150+ per day, with weekly rates varying depending on availability and vehicle type.
| Vehicle Type | Daily Rate | Weekly Rate |
| Standard / Compact Cars | $30 – $90 | $300 – $600 |
| SUVs | $75 – $150+ | Varies |
1. Avis Car Rental
Website: https://www.avis.com/en/locations/nam/us/ca/san-diego/san?0=
Address: 3355 Admiral Boland Way, Ste R175 (Lindbergh Field), San Diego, CA, 92101, US
Contact: (1) 619-688-5000
Hours: Available 24/7
Getting your hands on a vehicle right after landing is incredibly simple with Avis Car Rental.
They operate directly out of the dedicated Rental Car Center at the San Diego International Airport (SAN), providing a free shuttle service that runs every few minutes to keep things moving.
They offer a wide array of options, including passenger vans and luxury vehicles to suit corporate visitors or families.
On my last trip, I grabbed one of their standard sedans and found the entire pickup process at the facility to be remarkably efficient.
Just watch out during checkout, as additional insurance fees can quickly inflate your total bill if you are not paying close attention. It’s also common to experience some delays if you need a quick vehicle swap due to last-minute availability adjustments.
Made the process so super easy
We rented a vehicle to drive cross country. Ozjan helped us with our reservation. He’s a rockstar and made the process so super easy. I’d highly recommend going to see Ozjan at Avis the next time you need a rental car!
Joseph Ehler | Google Review
Handled my rental with efficiency and a genuine warmth
The service I received from Jay at Avis was exceptional. He is, without a doubt, the greatest rental car manager I have ever encountered. His professionalism, combined with his friendly and kind demeanor, made for an outstanding customer experience. He handled my rental with efficiency and a genuine warmth that is rare in the industry. I highly recommend him to anyone seeking top-tier service.
Thank you Jay. I will never forget you.
Also Cynthia is the GOAT.
Michael Y | Google Review
2. Enterprise Rent-A-Car
Website: https://www.enterprise.com/en/car-rental-locations/us/ca/san-diego-international-airport-323m
Address: 3355 Admiral Boland Way, San Diego, CA, US, 92101
Contact: +1 833-763-1739
Hours: Sunday – Saturday 5:30 AM – 11:59 PM
Enterprise Rent-A-Car is a reliable option for airport travelers who want a straightforward, organized pickup process.
We like that their airport setup runs through a consolidated rental facility, so you can take the shuttle, check in, and get on the road fairly quickly without too much hassle.
Their fuel options are also flexible, letting you choose between prepaying or refilling the tank yourself before returning the vehicle.
They also work smoothly with corporate accounts. This makes them a practical choice for business travelers who need flexible billing and fast processing.
One downside is that the final cost can sometimes end up higher than the original reservation quote once upgrades or add-ons are included.
Efficient and very helpful
We always look to Enterprise when we need a rental car. They are fast, efficient and very helpful if there is ever an issue. I particularly appreciate their check out service at the airports, directly at the lot so we don’t have to wait in a long airport counter line. Their return process is also the best! Everything is on their handheld computer device and we have never had any problems. Pull into the return lot, verify the transaction cost and we’re on our way. We will continue to use enterprise!
Gretchen Witt | Google Review
Always a pleasant experience
We have used other rental car agencies in the past, but we switched to Enterprise after several less than good experiences. We are completely satisfied with Enterprise. We rent many times a year and It is always a pleasant experience. Cars are new and always in good shape. Service is great, they make it very easy! At this point, we would not use anyone else.
M&G | Google Review
3. SIXT Rent A Car – San Diego Downtown
Website: https://www.sixt.com/car-rental/usa/san-diego-ca/san-diego-intercontinental/
Address: 901 Bayfront Court, San Diego, CA 92101-3018, United States of America
Contact: +1 888 SIXT CAR (749 8227)
Hours: Mon – Sun 08:00 – 17:00, Public Holidays 08:00 – 15:00
SIXT Rent A Car is a strong option if you’re looking for a more premium driving experience, especially for scenic coastal routes.
They focus on higher-end vehicles like convertibles and SUVs, which really suit relaxed, scenic drives and make the trip feel more elevated.
A colleague who rented an upscale sedan mentioned how smooth and convenient the waterfront pickup process was.
They also offer multiple pickup locations across the region, which makes it easier to adjust plans if your itinerary changes last minute.
That said, they have shorter operating hours compared to typical airport rental counters, so late returns need more planning.
There can also be availability issues when booking through third-party platforms, where the exact vehicle class you reserved isn’t always guaranteed on arrival.
A superb car rental
One of the best car rentals I have ever used. Such top notch professionals, who ensure the whole on-boarding is smooth and seamless. Wonderful cars well maintained and appropriately priced too. Shout out to Jesse, he’s the man who made the whole rental process brilliant! Very transparent and knows his job really well. More important than the cars it’s the people who work here that make it a superb car rental. Oliver too was of great help, wonderful team running the show here. Highly recommended! Thanks guys!
Samson Moses | Google Review
Great experience
Meant to rent from airport location but booked here instead… for what it was, great experience
Picking up the car was easy as well as return. Staff were courteous and seemed happy to be alive!! Got a nice near new x3 m Sport with 1800 miles on it
Great price, great experience, and wasnt subjected to the hustle and bustle of the SAN rental complex…
A+ and 5*
Daniel Gonzalez | Google Review
4. National Car Rental
Website: https://www.nationalcar.com/en/car-rental-locations/us/ca/san-diego-international-airport-324m
Address: 3355 Admiral Boland Way, San Diego, CA 92101, US
Contact: +1 833-763-1740
Hours: Available 24/7
National Car Rental is especially convenient for frequent flyers who want to skip the counter entirely.
Their loyalty program lets members walk straight to the lot and choose any available vehicle in a designated area while still paying a midsize rate, which makes the process feel fast and flexible.
Higher-tier members also benefit from automatic upgrades, which add even more value without needing to negotiate at the desk.
The return process is also very efficient. You can just drop off the keys and get an email receipt almost immediately, which saves time during airport departures.
The experience, though, can sometimes feel inconsistent depending on staff interactions, especially if there are attempts to upsell vehicle upgrades at pickup.
There have also been reports of unexpected mileage-related charges appearing on final invoices, even when customers believed they had unlimited mileage included.
Very nice vehicle and all went well
Absolutely brilliant service. We had a problem with our flights, baggage and hotel but no problem at all with our car hire. Very friendly and helpful staff. Very nice vehicle and all went well. I have tried other rental companies but will only use National now as they are very reliable
Alex Horne | Google Review
friendliest rental car employee I’ve ever encountered
I cannot say enough about the customer service at this location. I’ve traveled a lot and rented a lot of cars and this was by far the best pickup experience I’ve ever had. The woman working the Emerald Aisle for Emerald Club Members was unbelievably helpful. She helped us get the best car for accessibility needs, made sure that we had our bags loaded safely and was honestly just the friendliest rental car employee I’ve ever encountered. It’s experiences like this that remind me why National is always my choice over every other brand.
Maria Pendo | Google Review
5. Alamo Rent A Car
Website: https://www.alamo.com/en/car-rental-locations/us/ca/san-diego-international-airport-325m
Address: 3355 Admiral Boland Way, San Diego, CA 92101
Contact: +1 833-763-1741
Hours: Thursday – Wednesday 05:30 AM to 11:59 PM
Alamo Rent A Car is a solid choice for families and leisure travelers who want a simple, budget-friendly rental experience.
Their airport setup uses self-service kiosks, which helps reduce time at the counter and makes pickup feel faster and more straightforward.
The ability to choose your own vehicle from a designated lot also adds a bit of flexibility and makes the start of the trip feel less rigid.
Their pricing is also generally competitive, which makes them appealing if you’re trying to keep vacation costs under control.
That said, customer support can be hard to reach in situations like recovering items left in a vehicle after drop-off. There can also be booking inconsistencies when reservations are made through third-party travel sites instead of directly with them.
Good price on a Luxury Car
Went with Alamo after bad experiences at the cut rate rental companies that require waiting for their shuttle van pickup after you take the bus from the terminal to the rental car site. Huge improvement. Smooth Operation and worth a few $ more. Good price on a Luxury Car. I’ll use Alamo again.
Yeahoo Whoyah | Google Review
Nice to have a rental place you can trust
Had a great experience and found all of the Alamo employees I interacted with friendly and helpful. Car was in good shape – I filled it up and they took off the optional fee for refueling I purchased just in case I didn’t have time. Nice to have a rental place you can trust.
Paul Jones | Google Review
