San Diego · SAN
San Diego SAN car rental rules: age, debit, deposit and pickup
San Diego operates a free Rental Car Center shuttle between its passenger terminals and the rental facility. The rental-center shuttle runs every day, including overnight. Find the rental-car transfer at San Diego International Airport, then open your supplier's exact pickup requirements. 1 supplier profile has reviewed evidence; source review alone does not approve a rental.
Rules at SAN
Each answer is computed from the reviewed company terms and links to a page with the sourced table. Topics without enough reviewed companies show only the partial data we have.
Under 25 at SAN: partial data
Partial data, 1 of 1 listed supplier reviewed: 1 supplier with reviewed terms at SAN: 1 from age 21; fixed daily young-driver fees stated by 1 of 1 supplier: $25 per day.
Age 20 at SAN: partial data
Partial data, 1 of 1 listed supplier reviewed: 0 of 1 supplier with reviewed terms rent to 20-year-olds at SAN; the stated minimum age is 21.
Age 18 at SAN: partial data
Partial data, 1 of 1 listed supplier reviewed: 0 of 1 supplier with reviewed terms rent to 18-year-olds at SAN; the stated minimum age is 21.
Debit card at SAN: partial data
Partial data, 1 of 1 listed supplier reviewed: 1 of 1 listed supplier accepts a debit card at SAN under conditions (minimum debit-card age 21; 1 requires a ticketed return itinerary).
Deposit at SAN: partial data
Partial data, 1 of 1 listed supplier reviewed: 1 supplier publishes hold amounts at SAN: $400 plus rental charges, depending on card type, return ticket and vehicle class.
Foreign licence at SAN: partial data
Partial data, 1 of 1 listed supplier reviewed: 1 supplier with reviewed foreign-licence terms at SAN. IDP policy by supplier: required if the licence is not in Roman letters (1).
Fees at SAN: partial data
Partial data, 1 of 1 listed supplier reviewed: 1 supplier with reviewed fee terms at SAN: stated additional-driver fees $15 per day (1 of 1 supplier states an amount); 1 waives the fee for a spouse or partner; stated toll-related fees $4.95 per day (1 of 1 supplier states an amount); 1 states that one-way rentals are allowed.
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Getting to rental cars at San Diego International Airport
San Diego operates a free Rental Car Center shuttle between its passenger terminals and the rental facility. The rental-center shuttle runs every day, including overnight.
- Follow airport signs for the Rental Car Center shuttle at your terminal.
- Take the rental-center shuttle to the facility and continue to your rental company.
- Use the same dedicated shuttle service to return to the terminals after dropping off the vehicle.
Official SAN airport directions · transport source checked 2026-09-30
Match the branch on your reservation to this airport service. Pickup counter hours, vehicle-return hours and after-hours collection are separate conditions.
SAN supplier pickup and return differences
National
- San Diego National requires advance arrangement for after-hours return
Service information checked 2026-09-30.
Pickup directions, restrictions and official sourcesAirport and CA charges at SAN
These charges and programmes are set by the airport, the state toll agency or state law, not by the rental company. Each line is copied from the official source linked beside it, with the period the source states. Confirm the total on your rental agreement.
Airport charge
Customer Facility Charge (CFC): $9 per rental day, for up to 5 days (fiscal year ended 30 June 2025).
“This resulted in a CFC increase from $7.50 to $9.00 per day up to a maximum of five days, effective as of January 1, 2017.” — San Diego County Regional Airport Authority, Customer Facility Charge Program Compliance Report, year ended 30 June 2025 ↗
Checked 2026-10-19 · next review due 2027-01-17
State toll programme
FasTrak (also Short-Term License Plate Account), run by Bay Area FasTrak (Metropolitan Transportation Commission).
Bay Area bridges and express lanes; Southern California toll roads are run by other agencies.
“There are several options when paying tolls for a rented vehicle: using the rental company’s toll payment plan, using your own FasTrak toll tag while in the rental car and setting up a Short-Term License Plate Account.” — Bay Area FasTrak, Rental Vehicles Guide ↗
“PlatePass is the only rental agency toll payment service that can be used to pay tolls in Bay Area Express Lanes” — Bay Area FasTrak, Rental Vehicles Guide ↗
Checked 2026-10-19 · next review due 2027-04-17
State rental charge
California Tourism Assessment (passenger car rental): 3.5% of the rental (Cal. Gov. Code § 13995.65 (Tourism Marketing Act)).
Assessed on the rental company's revenue; the company may pass some, all or none of it to renters, so the line on a rental agreement can be lower or absent.
“Current Tourism Assessment rates are: Accommodations: $1,950 per gross $1 million (.00195) Restaurant & Retail: $975 per gross $1 million (.000975) Attractions & Recreation: $975 per gross $1 million (.000975) Transportation & Travel Services: $975 per gross $1 million (.000975) Passenger Car Rental: 3.5% of monthly revenue” — California Office of Tourism, Tourism Assessment Program: Passing the assessment fee to customers (FAQ) ↗
“Yes, the Tourism Assessment Fee can be passed to customers. The Tourism Marketing Act (Government Code: 13995.65 (f)) allows any assessed business to pass on some or all of the assessment to customers.” — California Office of Tourism, Tourism Assessment Program: Passing the assessment fee to customers (FAQ) ↗
Checked 2026-10-19 · next review due 2027-04-17
Rules by company across the USA
Each company’s most common reviewed value across covered airports, with the airports that differ.
Choose your SAN supplier profile
Open a profile for its age, debit, deposit, document and cardholder conditions. Unreviewed entries are research gaps and do not assert a branch's presence.
- Enterprise
Exact branch not reviewed
- Alamo
Exact branch not reviewed
- Avis
Exact branch not reviewed
- Budget
Exact branch not reviewed
- SIXT
Exact branch not reviewed
- Hertz
Exact branch not reviewed
- National
Sources reviewed
Profile checked 2026-10-03; individual facts have separate dates.
- Dollar
Exact branch not reviewed
- Thrifty
Exact branch not reviewed
Prepare for your San Diego pickup
- Confirm the exact collection branch, arrival terminal and pickup time on your reservation.
- Match your own physical card, age, vehicle and return itinerary to that branch's rules.
- Bring the original licence and the required passport, IDP or translation. Keep enough available funds for charges still due and the applicable authorization.
Compare options with Discover Cars
Explore rental prices for SAN and review the available suppliers.
Check your chosen supplier’s card, deposit, age and pickup requirements. A booking remains subject to the supplier’s terms and checks at pickup.
Affiliate links: we are a Discover Cars and Booking.com affiliate and may earn a commission if you book through these links. How this works
Official supplier terms for SAN
Recheck the exact pickup location, card restrictions, deposit and cancellation terms before paying. A checker result does not reserve or approve a rental.
Supplier homepage; select your pickup location there. We earn no commission.
Supplier homepage; select your pickup location there. We earn no commission.
Supplier homepage; select your pickup location there. We earn no commission.
Supplier homepage; select your pickup location there. We earn no commission.
Supplier homepage; select your pickup location there. We earn no commission.
Supplier homepage; select your pickup location there. We earn no commission.
Supplier homepage; select your pickup location there. We earn no commission.
Supplier homepage; select your pickup location there. We earn no commission.
Supplier homepage; select your pickup location there. We earn no commission.