Car rental prices at San Antonio Airport

San Antonio Airport car hire costs around $71 a day for an Intermediate car like the Volkswagen Jetta in October 2026 when you reserve about a month ahead. An Economy car such as the Mitsubishi Mirage averages $57 a day, while a Compact car like the Nissan Versa is about $73. Leave booking to the last 2 weeks and an Intermediate rises slightly to $74. If your quote is higher, the price checker will show the best rate for your exact dates.

Booking late saves about 42% at San Antonio Airport, where an Intermediate car drops from $104 a day 9 months before your trip to $73 around 2 weeks before. For October 2026 specifically, booking about a month ahead averages $71 a day for an Intermediate, compared to $74 in the last 2 weeks. Across the 395 airports we track car hire prices for, 48% of our customers book within 16 days of pickup. If you have not booked yet, you have not missed out.

Europcar is the cheapest company at San Antonio Airport for an Intermediate car, averaging $57 a day over the last 12 months, but it does not yet have enough reviews for a score. Budget is next at $59 a day from 1,868 prices, followed by Thrifty at $61 across 1,207 prices. All 10 suppliers have counters directly at the airport, so saving money does not mean catching a shuttle bus. Thrifty scores 81/100 from 702 reviews, making it a reliable low-cost alternative.

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 Antonio Airport, scoring 92 out of 100 from 279 reviews, with desk waits averaging 24 minutes. National averages $104 a day for an Intermediate car over the last 12 months from 3,470 prices. Alamo follows with 91/100 from 1,450 reviews, charging $112 a day across 4,596 prices. Europcar is the cheapest supplier at $57 a day, 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 Antonio Airport, security deposits on credit cards range from $200 with Budget or Sixt to $299 with Avis, and only 1 of the 10 desks accepts a standard debit card. Thrifty is the sole counter taking a debit card unconditionally, while 3 companies accept them for certain vehicle groups only. 6 desks require a credit card in the lead driver's name. Filter for debit cards before you compare prices so you only see vehicles you can drive away.

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

Watch out for credit card restrictions at San Antonio Airport, where 6 of the 10 desks refuse debit cards for the security deposit. Another 3 companies permit debit cards on select models only, leaving Thrifty as the sole desk with open debit policies. Counter wait times also vary considerably, stretching to 30 minutes at Dollar. Showing up with only a debit card remains the quickest way to turn a 30-minute queue into a walking tour.

Only 49% of prices at San Antonio Airport are full tank out, full tank back, so read the fuel line under the car before you book.

An Intermediate car like the Volkswagen Jetta is your best option at San Antonio Airport, averaging around $71 a day in October 2026. It seats 5 with room for 4 bags, giving extra breathing room over an Economy model like the Mitsubishi Mirage, which takes just 2 bags at $57. Every car offered is automatic, so you get an easy drive through city traffic without paying extra. Electric and hybrid vehicles are currently not offered in the fleet, so expect petrol power.