Cheap Car Rentals in San Diego from $17

To rent a small car in San Diego, the United States, you would pay an average price of $46/day. April is the cheapest month to rent a small car in San Diego, the United States (~$38/day), while the most expensive month to rent that same car type is December (~$58/day). In fact, April is about 18% cheaper than prices during the rest of the year to book a small car rental for San Diego. When comparing with other car types available for rental in San Diego, renting a small car saves you 20% in costs. Please note that average prices are based on historical data and can vary depending on how early you book, availability for your travel dates, and vehicle popularity. Here are the best San Diego small car rental prices found by Cheapflights users in the past 7 days:

To rent a medium car in San Diego, the United States, you would pay an average price of $46/day. January is the cheapest month to rent a medium car in San Diego, the United States (~$36/day), while the most expensive month to rent that same car type is February (~$55/day). In fact, January is about 22% cheaper than prices during the rest of the year to book a medium car rental for San Diego. When comparing with other car types available for rental in San Diego, renting a medium car saves you 20% in costs. Please note that average prices are based on historical data and can vary depending on how early you book, availability for your travel dates, and vehicle popularity. Here are the best San Diego medium car rental prices found by Cheapflights users in the past 7 days:

To rent a large car in San Diego, the United States, you would pay an average price of $67/day. November is the cheapest month to rent a large car in San Diego, the United States (~$57/day), while the most expensive month to rent that same car type is May (~$83/day). In fact, November is about 15% cheaper than prices during the rest of the year to book a large car rental for San Diego. When comparing with other car types available for rental in San Diego, renting a large car is 15% more expensive. Please note that average prices are based on historical data and can vary depending on how early you book, availability for your travel dates, and vehicle popularity. Here are the best San Diego large car rental prices found by Cheapflights users in the past 7 days:

To rent a SUV in San Diego, the United States, you would pay an average price of $58/day. April is the cheapest month to rent a SUV in San Diego, the United States (~$52/day), while the most expensive month to rent that same car type is June (~$68/day). In fact, April is about 12% cheaper than prices during the rest of the year to book a SUV rental for San Diego. When comparing with other car types available for rental in San Diego, renting a SUV is 4% more expensive. Please note that average prices are based on historical data and can vary depending on how early you book, availability for your travel dates, and vehicle popularity. Here are the best San Diego SUV rental prices found by Cheapflights users in the past 7 days:

To rent a van in San Diego, the United States, you would pay an average price of $106/day. August is the cheapest month to rent a van in San Diego, the United States (~$93/day), while the most expensive month to rent that same car type is December (~$129/day). In fact, August is about 13% cheaper than prices during the rest of the year to book a van rental for San Diego. When comparing with other car types available for rental in San Diego, renting a van is 47% more expensive. Please note that average prices are based on historical data and can vary depending on how early you book, availability for your travel dates, and vehicle popularity. Here are the best San Diego van rental prices found by Cheapflights users in the past 7 days:

To rent a pickup truck in San Diego, the United States, you would pay an average price of $85/day. October is the cheapest month to rent a pickup truck in San Diego, the United States (~$43/day), while the most expensive month to rent that same car type is December (~$148/day). In fact, October is about 50% cheaper than prices during the rest of the year to book a pickup truck rental for San Diego. When comparing with other car types available for rental in San Diego, renting a pickup truck is 33% more expensive. Please note that average prices are based on historical data and can vary depending on how early you book, availability for your travel dates, and vehicle popularity.

To rent a luxury car in San Diego, the United States, you would pay an average price of $80/day. January is the cheapest month to rent a luxury car in San Diego, the United States (~$64/day), while the most expensive month to rent that same car type is December (~$96/day). In fact, January is about 20% cheaper than prices during the rest of the year to book a luxury car rental for San Diego. When comparing with other car types available for rental in San Diego, renting a luxury car is 29% more expensive. Please note that average prices are based on historical data and can vary depending on how early you book, availability for your travel dates, and vehicle popularity.

To rent a convertible in San Diego, the United States, you would pay an average price of $101/day. April is the cheapest month to rent a convertible in San Diego, the United States (~$83/day), while the most expensive month to rent that same car type is December (~$117/day). In fact, April is about 18% cheaper than prices during the rest of the year to book a convertible rental for San Diego. When comparing with other car types available for rental in San Diego, renting a convertible is 44% more expensive. Please note that average prices are based on historical data and can vary depending on how early you book, availability for your travel dates, and vehicle popularity. Here are the best San Diego convertible rental prices found by Cheapflights users in the past 7 days:

Ford Fiesta$17/day

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Found 04/25/25

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Chevrolet Aveo Sedan$19/day

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Found 04/24/25

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Nissan Sylphy$21/day

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Found 04/23/25

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• What documentation do I need to rent a car in San Diego?

  The documentation you will need to rent a car in San Diego will vary depending on the rental company you use and the type of vehicle you choose. Generally, you will need to provide your valid driver’s license, a credit card for the deposit, and proof of insurance. You may also need to provide proof of residence, such as a utility bill or bank statement. If you are renting from a large company, you may also need to provide a valid passport or other forms of photo identification. Some companies may also require a valid visa or residence permit if you are not a U.S. citizen. If you are under the age of 25, you may also be subject to an additional fee and/or need to provide a valid credit card for additional age verification.

• What are the local drivers like in San Diego that visitors with a rental car should be aware of?

  Drivers in San Diego tend to be very courteous and most locals will follow the rules of the road. One thing to be aware of is that the speed limits are strictly enforced and there is an abundance of speed traps. Additionally, San Diego drivers tend to be very cautious and are often slow to react to changing traffic patterns. It is important to remain patient and give other drivers plenty of time to react. In addition, drivers in San Diego often rely on the use of their car horns to indicate to other drivers that they are turning or merging into traffic. It is important to pay attention and be aware of this practice. Finally, San Diego drivers tend to be very respectful of pedestrians and cyclists and will often slow down or yield to them when necessary.

• What roads are the most congested in San Diego and during what time/s of day does this occur?

  The most congested roads in San Diego are Interstate 5, Interstate 8, Interstate 15, and Highway 163. These roads are heavily congested during morning and evening rush hours, typically between 7 am and 9 am, as well as between 4 pm and 6 pm. If you will be driving on any of the above-mentioned roads, consider planning your trips around the rush hour periods to avoid getting stuck in traffic. Additionally, the roads leading to and from San Diego International Airport (SAN) experience heavy congestion during peak travel times. During the summer months, the Pacific Coast Highway (PCH) often experiences heavy congestion due to the influx of tourists visiting the area. Additionally, the roads around downtown San Diego are often congested with commuters during the weekdays.

• What is the minimum age to rent a car in San Diego?

  The age restriction for renting a car in San Diego varies depending on the car rental agency. Generally, the minimum age to rent a car in San Diego is 21 years. However, it is essential to note that drivers aged 21 and 24 may be subject to a young driver's fee. The young driver’s surcharge fee ranges from around $25 to $30, depending on the company. Some rental car companies have a higher minimum age restriction for different car categories. For instance, Budget does not allow drivers under 25 years to rent SUVs, Luxury cars, and vans.

• What car rental companies should I consider for renting an accessible vehicle in San Diego?

  If you have particular accessibility needs, several San Diego car rental companies offer accessible vehicle options that suit your needs. Enterprise, Hertz, Avis, and National are among the companies to consider. Hertz has an accessible program that includes vehicles with mobility aids, including hand controls, scooter vehicles, and wheelchair-accessible vans. Their reservation team also offers assistance during the rental process. National operates the National Accessibility Center, which provides support services to people with disabilities and accessible cars with spinner knobs, hand controls, and wheelchair-accessible vans.

• Can I drive to other states, regions, or countries with a rental car from San Diego?

  Most car rental companies allow you to drive from San Diego to other states and regions. Enterprise, Budget, and Hertz usually allow travel outside of California as long as the state you're visiting offers a drop-off site. However, confirming your chosen rental car company's specific policies regarding out-of-state travel is critical. If you intend to drive to nearby countries, it is important to inquire about the rental company's cross-border travel restrictions and criteria. This may include having the relevant papers, such as a valid passport, visas, international driving insurance, and, if required, an international driving permit.

• What is the cheapest rental car found in San Diego?

  In the past two weeks, Cheapflights users have found many deals under $41/day when booking a rental car in San Diego. The best deal a user found was for $18/day from Economy Rent a Car, booked on Apr. 20.

• What car rental company is typically the cheapest in San Diego?

  According to our data, users have found the cheapest deals when booking a rental car in San Diego from the following companies over the past two weeks: NU Car ($17/day), Economy Rent a Car ($20/day), and U-Save ($21/day).

• Which car rental company is considered to be the best in San Diego?

  Taking our users’ ratings and reviews into consideration, Silvercar (10.0 rating), National (8.7 rating) and Alamo (8.6 rating) seem to be the best rental car companies in San Diego.

• What are gas prices like in San Diego?

  The average gas price in San Diego is $3.41/gallon over the past month, costing you anywhere between $40 and $58 to fill up a car’s gas tank.

• How much does it cost to rent a car in San Diego for a week from Payless?

  From Payless you can rent a car in San Diego from about $264 per week on average.

• How far in advance should I rent a car in San Diego for the best price?

  Booking early can save you upwards 41% on your rental. Booking your vehicle at least 7 days in advance can you get you a great below-average price in San Diego.

• Can I rent a car for a month in San Diego?

  Yes, you can rent a car for a month in San Diego. Check Cheapflights for the latest prices and car type availability.

• How much does it cost to rent a car in San Diego for a month?

  Our recent data shows that Economy Rent a Car can potentially be 64% below the average car rental price in San Diego. Check prices and availability for Economy Rent a Car and save on this extended rental. The cost of renting a vehicle in San Diego is on average $1,132 a month or $38 a day. Search on Cheapflights for the most updated pricing and availability for your San Diego car rental.

• How much is a car rental in San Diego for a weekend?

  $68 is typically the average cost for a rental car for the weekend in San Diego, though this could vary depending on the time of year. If you’re on a budget when traveling to San Diego, then opt for a Economy rental vehicle - these tend to be the most affordable on weekends. In the month of May, you can expect to find car rental prices on Cheapflights for as low as $57/day.

• What car do most people rent in San Diego?

  The most popular car to rent while in San Diego is the Toyota RAV4, which is a Intermediate vehicle.