Car rental prices at San Diego Airport

San Diego Airport quotes around $58 a day for an Intermediate car like a Volkswagen Jetta booked about a month ahead for October 2026. A Compact car such as a Nissan Versa is about $54 a day, while an Economy Mitsubishi Mirage costs $51. Leaving your booking to the last 2 weeks drops the Compact price to $49 a day. Across the year, prices swing from $62 a day for an Economy in January 2027 to $107 for a Fullsize car in July 2027, so check the price checker for your travel dates.

For October 2026 at San Diego Airport, booking in the last 2 weeks is cheapest, dropping an Intermediate car to $55 a day compared to $58 a month ahead. Across the year, booking 9 months ahead averages $81 a day against $63 in the last 2 weeks before pickup, so if you have not booked yet you have missed nothing. Across the 395 airports we track car hire prices for, 48% of our customers book within 14 days of travel. Prices run lowest in January 2027 at $62 a day for an Economy car, while July 2027 peaks at $107 for a Fullsize.

Budget is the cheapest company at San Diego Airport for an Intermediate car, averaging $51 a day over the last 12 months from 1,418 prices. Its counter sits at the airport, but you must bring a credit card because it refuses debit cards. Alamo averages $65 a day, accepts debit cards and holds an 8-minute desk wait, while Budget takes 17 minutes. National scores 92/100 from 92 reviews, though Budget scores a lower 83/100 from 37 reviews.

The cheapest company can cost you a longer queue or a bigger deposit, so check the review score and desk wait beside each car in the results before you book.

National is the best-reviewed company at San Diego Airport, scoring 92/100 from 92 reviews with an average desk wait of 24 minutes. National averages $70 a day for an Intermediate car over the last 12 months from 4,078 prices. Budget costs $51 a day and scores 83/100 from 37 reviews with a 17-minute wait. Alamo scores 86/100 and cuts the desk wait to 8 minutes, but it does not yet have enough reviews for a score.

Review scores are CarTrawler customers' own, from the last five months; the score and the desk wait sit beside each car in the results.

At San Diego Airport, deposits held on your card range from $0 with Europcar to $299 with Avis, and 4 of the 10 desks take a debit card. Another 3 companies accept debit cards for select cars only, while 3 require a credit card. The deposit and card rule for each vehicle appear beside it in the results, so filter for a debit card before comparing prices. Any optional extras charged at the desk are listed under each car with their exact price.

If you bring your own child seat, check your airline's rules first: most carry one free, some charge.

Desk wait times and payment rules catch people out at San Diego Airport, where 3 of the 10 desks refuse debit cards completely. Counter queues also vary wildly, stretching from 7 minutes at Dollar to 26 minutes at Sixt. If you arrive tired, waiting nearly half an hour just to collect your keys will test your patience before you even reach the highway. Another 3 suppliers accept debit cards for only a few models, so always check the payment terms before locking in a reservation.

Only 52% of prices at San Diego Airport are full tank out, full tank back, so read the fuel line under the car before you book.

An Intermediate car like a Volkswagen Jetta is the best fit at San Diego Airport, priced at about $58 a day in October 2026. It seats 5 with room for 4 bags, making city driving comfortable. Stepping down to a Compact Nissan Versa saves $4 a day at $54, though its boot space drops to 3 bags. Stepping up to a Fullsize Chevrolet Malibu costs $70 a day for 6 seats and 4 bags. Every car offered is automatic, and none are electric or hybrid.