San Francisco car rental information
| Pick-up location | San Francisco |
|---|---|
| Car types | Compact, Economy, Full-size, Full-size SUV, Intermediate, Intermediate SUV, Luxury, Minivan, Premium, Standard, Standard SUV, Supplier choice |
| Rental locations | 95 |
| Airport locations | 27 |
| Popular agencies | Dollar, Thrifty, Turo, Sixt |
Cheap car rentals in San Francisco
| Economy | C$ 39/day |
| Compact | C$ 40/day |
| Intermediate | C$ 41/day |
| Standard | C$ 45/day |
| Full-size | C$ 45/day |
| Minivan | C$ 51/day |
| Full-size SUV | C$ 65/day |
| Premium | C$ 55/day |
| Luxury | C$ 63/day |
| Supplier choice | C$ 39/day |
| Intermediate SUV | C$ 47/day |
| Standard SUV | C$ 53/day |
Top tips for renting a car in San Francisco
- There are a few tips and rules you’ll want to keep in mind before driving your car rentals in San Francisco. Traffic can get congested in the city, so sometimes the most direct route is not the best option, map it out before driving and preferably avoid Market Street. There are plenty of one-way roads or lanes reserved for buses, so keep your eyes peeled for the traffic signs. In San Francisco, there’s an unspoken rule to stop at a yellow light instead of driving through it. San Franciscans also love to ride bikes and use them to commute so always be aware of your surroundings.
- To drop off your San Francisco car rentals at the airport before departing, you’ll be leaving them in the same location as pick-up. The San Francisco Airport Rental Car Center is not inside the airport terminals, but right off 101 Highway. Drop off your rental car in the designated agency area of the lot. From there, the airport has the AirTrain connecting the Rental Car Center with the different airport terminals as well as the parking garages and Airport Hotel. The AirTrain Blue Line station is right out front. The train operates 24 hours throughout the day with frequent service to SFO Airport.
- There are a couple of toll roads around San Francisco and the Bay Area. Before driving your cheap car rentals in San Francisco, you want to know where they are and how to pay them. The two closest toll roads in and out of the city are toll bridges. If you’re driving your car rentals in San Francisco across the iconic Golden Gate Bridge, you will need to pay the toll. Some rental agencies offer plans covering most toll road types. If not, there is a one-time payment option through FasTrak. This is also the case when you wish to cross the San Francisco/Oakland Bay Bridge.
- While driving around the city of San Francisco can prove tricky because of its steep hills and crowded streets, renting a car is a great option for travelers looking to explore other destinations outside the city. Driving is the best way to get to nearby places that are a must in every itinerary, such as the Bay Area, Muir Woods, and Sausalito. For an unforgettable wine tasting experience, drive to Napa Valley, which is only about 50 miles away from San Francisco.
- All the big car rental agencies can be found at the San Francisco International Airport (SFO) Car Rental Center, which is accessible from all the airport terminals by taking the AirTrain Blue Line service. AirTrain stations are located in all the terminals at the airport. There is also a free shuttle service from the SFO Rental Car Center to other off-site rental car agencies.
- San Francisco is known for its steep hills, and the city center is filled with packed roads, one-way streets, and expensive parking, so you might want to avoid driving in that area. When parking on one of the city's hills, make sure to turn the wheels towards the curb when the car is facing downhill, and turn them away from the curb when the car is facing uphill -- and don't forget to use your parking brake.
- San Francisco is one of the worst cities in the United States when it comes to traffic congestion. Rush hours can easily add one or more hours to your travel time, so take that into consideration and avoid driving into or out of the city between 7:30 and 9 a.m., and 3:30 and 7 p.m. Because of its geographical features, SF can get quite foggy and windy, so make sure you take extra precautions while driving if the weather conditions aren't great.
- 25% of our users found rental cars in San Francisco for C$ 58 or less
- Book your rental car in San Francisco at least 1 day before your trip in order to get a below-average price
- Off-airport rental car locations in San Francisco are around 18% cheaper than airport locations on average
- Mini rental cars in San Francisco are around 66% cheaper than other car types, on average
FAQs about renting a car in San Francisco
What type of car is recommended for driving in San Francisco?
A small automatic car, such as a Smart, is the best option because of the city's steep hills, narrow streets, and small parking spots.
What’s the speed limit in San Francisco?
The speed limit in the city is 25 miles per hour, but on urban highways it is set at 55 mph, and on rural highways it is between 65 and 70 mph. The speed limit on the iconic Golden Gate Bridge is 45 mph
Where are the best places to park in San Francisco?
Street parking in San Francisco is scarce, and it is typically metered, has a time limit, or both. Depending on demand, meter pricing can range anywhere from between 50 cents an hour to a maximum of about $7 an hour. Parking garages in and around Union Square and Fisherman’s Wharf cost about $20 to $40 per day. Parking outside the city is recommended, as it is easy to commute by using the BART or Caltrain railway systems.
How much does it cost to rent a car in San Francisco?
On average a rental car in San Francisco costs C$ 73 per day.
What is the cheapest car rental company in San Francisco?
In the past 72 hours, the cheapest rental cars were found at Dollar (C$ 39/day), Thrifty (C$ 40/day) and Sixt (C$ 51/day). In the last 72 hours the cheapest rental car price was found at Dollar 325 Mason Street 94102 (1 kilometers from city center).
What is the best rental car company in San Francisco?
Based on ratings and reviews from real users on KAYAK, the best car rental companies in San Francisco are Alamo (8.7, 186 reviews), Enterprise Rent-A-Car (8.5, 175 reviews), and Sixt (7.8, 219 reviews).
How much is gas price in San Francisco?
The average gas price in San Francisco is C$ 7.18 per litre over the past 30 days. Filling up a gas tank costs between C$ 86 and C$ 115, depending on the car size.
What is the most popular rental car in San Francisco?
Mini (Smart Fortwo or similar) is the most frequently booked rental car type in San Francisco.
How can I find car rentals near me in San Francisco?
Take a look at our extensive car rental location map to find the best rental cars near you.
How much does a Mini car rental cost in San Francisco?
A Mini car rental in San Francisco costs C$ 36 per day, on average.
How much does a Full Size car rental cost in San Francisco?
A Full Size car rental in San Francisco costs C$ 37 per day, on average.
How much does a Compact car rental cost in San Francisco?
A Compact car rental in San Francisco costs C$ 41 per day, on average.
What is the most popular rental car location in San Francisco?
In San Francisco, cars are most frequently rented at NU Car 1409 Rollins Rd (22 km from city centre ).
How much does it cost to rent a car for a week in San Francisco?
On average a rental car in San Francisco costs C$ 514 per week (C$ 73 per day).
How much does it cost to rent a car long term for a month in San Francisco?
On average a rental car in San Francisco costs C$ 2,203 per month (C$ 73 per day).
Which car rental companies in San Francisco have updated their vehicle cleaning and safety policies because of Coronavirus (COVID-19)?
Some car rental companies in San Francisco which have updated their car rental health and safety policies due to COVID-19 to make sure vehicles are clean and disinfected include Thrifty, Dollar and Hertz
Do car rentals in San Francisco have a free cancellation?
Yes, there are a few cheap car rentals in San Francisco that include a free cancellation policy with their reservations. For instance, agencies like Alamo and AVIS allow free cancellation in San Francisco up to the moment you show up to pick up your car. Others, such as Kyte or Budget do not charge you for cancellations up to 48 hours before your pick-up date.
Are there any car rental offices in downtown San Francisco?
Yes, there are various car rental agencies offering pick-up locations in downtown San Francisco, as opposed to the airport. For instance, Hertz has a location right by Union Square, and Budget has an office right off The Embarcadero by the piers.
San Francisco car rental reviews and directory
Alamo
8.7
Very good
1017 reviewsCleanliness
8.8
Comfort
8.9
Pick-up/Drop-off
8.7
Value for money
8.3
4 locations in San Francisco
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Reviews
10.0 Wonderful
May 2021
Pros:
Pick up and drop off were super easy. Great car!Cons:
It would have been nice to pick up my car when I first landed, but it was 12:30 am so they were closed. HAd to come back in the morning to get my car.10.0 Wonderful
Nov. 2020
Pros:
Great attention. Car was neat. Quick pick up and return10.0 Wonderful
Sep. 2020
Pros:
The drop off was great, loved that you end up on the top floor where the people mover is located. Very personable and helpful agent checked me in.Cons:
Going over information about traveling tolls- didnt' even realize there was a fact sheet in the rental agreement folder.9.2 Wonderful
Sep. 2020
Cons:
Crumbs on right front seat.5.2 Fair
Aug. 2020
Pros:
Premium carCons:
You lied to me about the price. I was charged more at the rental company, so I called and was told not to worry. But I received my bill yesterday and the charge is the higher one.8.8 Very good
Jul. 2020
Pros:
drop off super easy and efficientCons:
check in processFox
5.6
Fair
1088 reviewsCleanliness
6.3
Comfort
6.2
Pick-up/Drop-off
4.8
Value for money
5.7
One location in San Francisco
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8.0 Very good
Oct. 2020
Pros:
Jose was great and super helpful. I also had an incident with lost keys and Philip was incredibly responsive and accommodating especially when there was a mix up.Cons:
The lost and found process could have been more organized/smoother.7.6 Good
Jan. 2020
Pros:
the dropoff was quick and easy. Pickup was a 2 hour wait in a line only to find a clerk who didn't know how to handle long-term rentals, and another wait for the manager.Cons:
more help at the pickup line, or better staffing for expected surges.8.4 Very good
Jan. 2020
Pros:
Yes, staff were very helpful.Cons:
At first they offered us a smelly old Toyota RAV from Utah, with the windows open. That was a clue - really smelly. And we wanted a SUV for the all-wheel drive; that one was only 2-wheel drive.2.8 Poor
Jan. 2020
Cons:
Outrageous daily fees for tolls. Did not give me the car I asked for; gave me a car with less comfort and worse mileage.2.0 Poor
Jan. 2020
Cons:
Cheaters3.2 Poor
Jan. 2020
Pros:
This was a horrible experience getting dragged through the coals by car rentals.com and foxCons:
Problem 1: I accidentally submit the rental for two days and I only neede the car one. There was no way to change this even after retuning the car in ) hours I still had to pay for two. Kayak said the car would be fifteen dollars a day... the site recharged me 58 dollars (two days) and the guy at the counter tried to charge me 123 dollars with tacked in charges. How we got to 123 dollars from 15 is mysterious. I had to fight to get the total down to 70 and this still seems like way too much for borrowing a car for 6 hours.Enterprise Rent-A-Car
8.5
Very good
861 reviewsCleanliness
8.6
Comfort
8.6
Pick-up/Drop-off
8.3
Value for money
8.3
11 locations in San Francisco
Locations in San Francisco
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10.0 Wonderful
May 2021
Pros:
All the staff I encountered were friendly and helpful.10.0 Wonderful
Apr. 2021
Cons:
First car's media center wasnt working so they switched us to a comparable car.10.0 Wonderful
Mar. 2021
Pros:
The staff were extremely helpful. I ended up changing my reservation to an earlier time with no cost, then was unable to make it in that early due to unexpected circumstances. They ended up adjusting it so I could bring it back later on my return date, which they didn’t have to do. Staff is very friendly and laid back. Will definitely come back to this location.Cons:
Nothing10.0 Wonderful
Dec. 2020
Pros:
The staff was excellent, extra efficient and professional. The cars they have in their fleet are top notch. Ill be sticking with Enterprise in the future.Cons:
Nothing10.0 Wonderful
Dec. 2020
Cons:
Excellent experience6.0 Okay
Nov. 2020
Pros:
The staff really Did their best to make sure I was satisfied with my vehicle and their serviceCons:
They did not have the car I reserved for me because they were busy. My pickup wait time was about an hour. The tire pressure light was in the whole drive to LA. Then on the drive down a notice for an oil Change came up. There also wasn’t any wiper fluid.Sixt
7.8
Good
249 reviewsCleanliness
8.5
Comfort
8.5
Pick-up/Drop-off
7.6
Value for money
7.7
6 locations in San Francisco
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Reviews
8.0 Very good
Sep. 2023
4.0 Mediocre
Sep. 2023
8.0 Very good
Nov. 2022
8.0 Very good
Nov. 2022
10.0 Wonderful
Nov. 2022
10.0 Wonderful
Oct. 2022
Budget
7.1
Good
479 reviewsCleanliness
7.8
Comfort
7.8
Pick-up/Drop-off
7.1
Value for money
6.8
6 locations in San Francisco
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6.0 Okay
Sep. 2023
10.0 Wonderful
Oct. 2022
4.0 Mediocre
Oct. 2022
2.0 Poor
Sep. 2022
10.0 Wonderful
Sep. 2022
2.0 Poor
Aug. 2022
Avis
6.8
Okay
187 reviewsCleanliness
7.7
Comfort
7.5
Pick-up/Drop-off
6.8
Value for money
6.9
6 locations in San Francisco
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Reviews
2.0 Poor
Oct. 2022
2.0 Poor
Apr. 2021
Pros:
Nothing.Cons:
The location was closed when I got there. How was I able to make a reservation at 5pm when the place closes at 5pm? On top of that, I got there at 4:50 p.m and the location was closed. I attempted to go to the airport Avis location and swap my reservation there but the rate was 3x more expensive and the reservation non transferable. Ended up not getting a car and had to cancel all my plans for the weeeknd. On top of all of this, Avis is now charging me a no show fee.2.0 Poor
Mar. 2021
Pros:
NothingCons:
Couldn't even pick up my car8.0 Very good
Mar. 2021
Pros:
The staff at the pickup was very friendly and helpful.Cons:
I was unable to find the return location, tried calling and no answer. Ended up being late by 20 min and getting charged for a whole extra day. The drop off process was pretty bad.8.8 Very good
Nov. 2020
Pros:
Very cleanCons:
Pickup, the store we went to was very confused about our rental and the car had some flapping underneath4.8 Mediocre
Aug. 2020
Cons:
They didn't have a small-sized car that I originally requested, and first gave me a large Ford sedan that was very loud (the moment you turn it on, it makes a VROOM noise without accelerating), and when I requested a different car they said they only had a large SUV, so I ended up taking that which was very uncomfortable to drive.Thrifty
6.3
Okay
871 reviewsCleanliness
7.3
Comfort
7.0
Pick-up/Drop-off
6.2
Value for money
6.2
2 locations in San Francisco
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10.0 Wonderful
Sep. 2023
1.9 Poor
Jul. 2021
10.0 Wonderful
May 2021
Pros:
Excellent serviceCons:
Keep it up the excellent service2.0 Poor
May 2021
Cons:
We waited over 2 hours for a reservation we had made a month before our trip. As an apology for waiting, the associate at the desk assured us we could return the car empty, but we were charged over $100 for gas upon return. On the way out of the lot after we finally were placed in a car, the parking lot attendant lowered the security gate on our car, and the replacement they gave us was an older model than we paid for, and very dirty and smelly.2.0 Poor
May 2021
Pros:
NothingCons:
Everything - surly staff, long wait in line only to be told my car wouldn't be available for 1.5-2.0 hours. Ended up in a tiny compact car that killed my back. When I dropped off the staff member was swearing to himself and banging things around before he got to me. Terrible. I will never rent from Thrifty again.4.0 Mediocre
May 2021
Pros:
Staff was good. Need to work with customers to give them a better option when renting carCons:
Offer a better car option......Hertz
6.2
Okay
421 reviewsCleanliness
7.4
Comfort
7.0
Pick-up/Drop-off
6.0
Value for money
6.2
13 locations in San Francisco
Locations in San Francisco
950 Mason St
+1 415 398 3944