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San Diego International Airport Car Rental Comparison

airplane from San Diego Airport

If you're in a hurry, it is advisable to book a car rental San Diego Airport in advance. VroomVroomVroom makes renting a car fast and easy! Our car rental experts have listed down the best San Diego Airport car rental deals from trusted brands including Alamo, National and Enterprise. All you have to do is pick a car, fill up a short form, and confirm to receive a booking confirmation number. You can rent a car through VroomVroomVroom in less than two minutes! 

With a San Diego Airport car rental, you and the whole gang can visit some of the main attractions in San Diego such as the San Diego Zoo and SeaWorld; or attend the annual Comic-Con or Beer Week.

Useful information on San Diego International Airport

San Diego International Airport is the busiest commercial airport with a single runway in the United States and the second busiest in the world. Formerly known as Lindbergh Field, the airport is just 3 miles away from San Diego's downtown area and has easy access to State Route 163, I-15 and I-8. 

SAN handles approximately 465 flights and receives around 48,000 passengers daily. In 2013, the airport served a total of 17,710,241 passengers. Currently, the airport has 5 cargo airlines and 22 passenger airlines that offers nonstop flights to 56 destinations in the USA, UK, Canada, Mexico, and Japan. Based on the market share of San Diego Airport, Southwest Airlines has the highest with 37.1% in 2013. Southwest is followed by United Airlines with 14.9%, Delta Airlines with 11.2 %, Alaska Airlines with 9.5 %  & American Airlines with 8.2 %.

San Diego International Airport has three terminals: Terminal 1 (19 gates), Terminal 2 (32 gates), and Commuter Terminal (4 gates). Upon arrival at the airport, passengers have several public transportation services to choose from: Amtrak and Coaster, Metro Bus, and Trolley Service. There are also rental cars available at the airport, but you need to contact your preferred San Diego Airport car rental company first to check the availability of vehicles.

Where to find cheap San Diego Airport car rental?

San Diego International Airport has car rental reservation boards at Terminal 1 and Terminal 2. You can find the boards near the baggage claim areas. They have courtesy phones, which you can use to make a request for a shuttle service. It is not mandatory to use a reservation board because there are also other passengers that prefer heading directly to any of the nearby San Diego Airport car rental companies. 

There are car rental shuttles that operate regularly at the center traffic aisle of Terminal 1 and at the far west end of Terminal 2. Just follow the signage going to these areas to find a car rental shuttle. The only problem with booking a car rental San Diego Airport on the spot is the availability of vehicles. Some passengers end up paying more for a rental car because that's the only car available. 

To avoid such problems, it is advisable to rent a car in advance. Compare rental car prices through VroomVroomVroom as we feature the best deals in car rentals through some of the country's leading suppliers. We guarantee our loyal customers of having the cheapest rates in San Diego Airport car rentals and here's our price promise for you. There are also NO booking fees, cancellation fees, or any other hidden fees! 

Here's a list of San Diego Airport car rental companies: 


 NameStreet Phone 
 A1 Rent a Car2559 Kettner Blvd. 619.226.4444 
 Ace Rent a Car2367 India St. 619.231.9700 
 Advantage Rent a Car3420 Kettner Blvd. 619.491.3151 
 Airport Van Rental904 W Grape St. 619.450.1101 
 Alamo Rent a Car2942 Kettner Blvd. 619.297.0311 / 800.GO.ALAMO (46.25266) 
 America Car Rental / Economy Rent A Car4085 Pacific Highway, Suite 101 619.220.0087 - 1 844 HIRE CAR (4473 227) 
 Avis Rent a Car3180 N. Harbor Dr.619.688.5000 / 800.852.4617 
 Budget Rent a Car3125 Pacific Hwy.800.527.0700 
 Dollar Car Rental2499 Pacific Hwy. 619.234.3389 / 800.800.4000
 Economy Rent A Car4085 Pacific Highway, Suite 101 619.220.0087 - 1 844 HIRE CAR (4473 227) 
 Enterprise Rent a Car1691 Hancock St. 619.225.8881 / 800.270.8881 
 E-Z Rent-A-Car2771 Kurtz St. 800.277.5171 
 Firefly Car Rental1120 W Laurel St. 619.615.3109 
 Fox Rent-A-Car2727 Kettner Blvd. 619.692.0300 / 800.225.4369 
 Hertz Rent A Car3202 N. Harbor Dr. 619.220.5222 / 800.654.3131 
 Midway Rent A Car2263 Pacific Highway 619.238.9600 
 National Car Rental3280 N. Harbor Dr.619.497.6777 / 800.CAR.RENT (227.7368)
 Pacific Rent-A-Car2100 Kettner Blvd.619.233.3366
 Payless Car Rental1002 W Juniper St.619.296.4966 / 800.PAYLESS (729.5377)
 Thrifty Car Rental1120 W. Laurel St.619.429.5000 / 800.847.4389
 Travcar Car Rental2367 India St.619.231.9700
 ZipCar3180 N. Harbor Dr619.688.5000 

NOTE: If you're preferred car rental company isn't included in the list above, you can get in touch with SAN's Volunteer Airport Ambassadors to assist you. 

Do you want to know more about San Diego International Airport?

The site of Lindbergh Field is located near the Ryan Airlines factory, which was often mistaken as the Dutch Flats, where American aviator Charles Lindbergh flew the Spirit of St. Louis before he began his transatlantic flight in 1927.

Because of Lindbergh's historic flight, the city of San Diego decided to establish a two-runway municipal airport in 1928. Charles Lindbergh allowed his name to be used for the airport, thus it was called the San Diego Municipal Airport – Lindbergh Field. 
Lindbergh was the first airfield that was certified to serve all kinds of aircraft including seaplanes. The San Diego airport also became a testing area for sailplane designs in the United States, including the ones created by William Hawley Bowlus, who is known for the construction of Spirit St. Louis. 

In 1934, Lindbergh Field gained international airport status and they commissioned a US Coast Guard Air Base beside the field in 1937. However, the fixed-wing aircraft of the Coast Guard stopped operating in the mid-1990s. 

The airfield was turned over to the Army Air Corps in 1942, which saw a several improvements under the new management, including the expansion of the runway to make it jet-ready. 

The transformation paved way for airlines to start their service at Lindbergh. Pacific Southwest Airlines opened their San Diego headquarters and began offering flights at the airport in 1949. Terminal 1 was established in 1967 followed by Terminal 2 in 1979. A new terminal was added in 1996 and it was called the Commuter Terminal. The expansion of Terminal 2 was completed in 1998. 
San Diego International Airport continues to undergo enhancements and expansions with its “The Green Build” project, which was launched on Aug. 13, 2013. We can see 10 new gates on Terminal 2 West, additional security lanes, a bigger concession area, and a 2-level roadway that separates arrival from departure. 

Other locations near San Diego International Airport
Unfortunately we do not have search enabled at San Diego International Airport.
Please try one of the following nearby locations:
Book AtMiles/km to San Diego International Airport Directions to San Diego International AirportLatitudeLongitude
San Diego2/4 Directions32.715738-117.1610838
Coronado3/5 Directions32.68589-117.18309
San Diego (Mission Bay)4/7 Directions32.780552-117.242629
National City7/11 Directions32.67811-117.0992
San Diego (North)7/12 Directions32.834957-117.172121
Kearny Mesa7/12 Directions32.828719-117.144219
Chula Vista9/15 Directions32.64005-117.0842
Lemon Grove10/16 Directions32.74255-117.03142
La Mesa10/17 Directions32.76783-117.02308
*Distance is calculated aerial. Actual will be different.
San Diego International Airport Map
Happy Customer Reviews for San Diego International Airport Car Rental
Rating: 5 / 5 based on 21 reviews
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    Date: 03 Mar 2021
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    Date: 12 Jun 2018
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    Date: 22 Nov 2014
    Feedback: You know what? You guys are da bomb. Thanks.
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