San Diego car hire

San Diego is the second largest city in California and the ninth largest in the United States. There is much to explore within this bustling metropolis, with an abundance of theme parks and museums for the whole family to enjoy.

Language: English | Currency: US Dollar ($) | Avg. Flight time: 11 hrs 10 mins

Arrange San Diego car rental with TravelSupermarket and you can get around this friendly ocean-side city with ease...

San Diego is a city suited to car travel. The attractions are spread far and wide and driving here is straightforward – once you’ve gotten used to being on the right.

Perhaps the most recognisable attraction in the city is the San Diego Zoo, noted for its panda enclosure. The zoo also runs the San Diego Wild Animal Park, an open-air safari experience that allows visitors to get up close to some of the world's rarest creatures.

As well as this, San Diego is a city of culture, hosting a wide variety of events – from the music festivals held around the Gaslamp Quarter to one of the world's largest comic conventions each year. Car hire in San Diego is recommended if you want to experience all that the city has to offer. Attractions such as SeaWorld and LEGOLAND California are located outside of the main city limits and are best reached by car.

Save money on your San Diego car hire by using our car hire comparison service. We compare car hire in San Diego from more than 25 car rental websites to find you the best prices available. Our service is totally free – we do not add on any additional fees or charges. The price you see is the same price (or sometimes cheaper) as going to the car hire company direct.

To begin your search for cheap car hire in San Diego simply complete the short form on this page, providing the time and dates you wish to pick up and drop off your rental car, the car type and the age of the driver and click the search button. Then it’s simply a case of choosing the result that best suits your requirements and budget and clicking through to the provider’s website to complete your booking.

You can opt to pick up your car rental on arrival at San Diego International Airport (SAN) or select one of the convenient locations in the downtown area.

Compare car hire deals now by using the TravelSupermarket search tool.

You’ve seen the best bits of sunny San Diego, so where to now? Hiring a car gives you the freedom to explore this part of the USA...

Sitting in the south-western corner of the United States, where US soil meets Mexican land, San Diego is an interesting melting pot of culture, history and sun-worshipping, party-loving locals. It’s a challenge to leave this city of good times, but there’s plenty to see and do nearby that make it worth your while. Public transport is the US is efficient, but for true freedom you cannot go wrong when you hire a car.

Before you set a course for adventure, consider driving to the US-Mexico border, leaving your car in the safety of the American parking lots, and spending a little time in Tijuana. This border city is a fun – if not authentic – look at Mexico. Just be prepared to join the throngs of American youngsters who visit here to knock back some tequila and dance (the legal drinking age here is 18, unlike in America where it’s a strictly enforced 21).

Take the ocean ride north of San Diego and within two hours you will be at the heart of Los Angeles. Beaches, theme parks, Hollywood, studio tours, museums… what LA lacks in the way of one main tourist area it more than makes up for with a dizzying array of attractions. And while you might have heard horror stories about traffic in LA, driving around here is easy and hassle free – just avoid the busy rush hours.

Deserts, mountains, forests and wineries also pepper this delightfully diverse southern swathe of California. Car hire is the only real option to explore these places at your own pace.

Fair fuel policy

A fair fuel policy (also known as full-to-full or same-to-same) means you’ll only pay for the fuel you use. All car rental deals compared on TravelSupermarket come with a fair fuel policy, so you can book your hire car safe in the knowledge there will be no nasty surprises at drop-off. More information on TravelSupermarket’s commitment to fair fuel policies can be found here.

No hidden fees

All rental deals compared on TravelSupermarket include mandatory fees (for example, one-way and young driver surcharges) in your rental quote at the time of booking, meaning you’ll know the full price of your car hire upfront.