San Rafael car rentals

Driver's age: 26-65

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Cheap car rentals in San Rafael

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Economy car
Economy
Compact car
Compact
Intermediate car
Intermediate
Standard car
Standard
Full-size car
Full-size
Luxury car
Luxury
Minivan car
Minivan
Passenger Van car
Passenger Van
Commercial car
Commercial
Pick-up truck car
Pick-up truck

KAYAK’s top tips for renting a car in San Rafael

  • Get a car rental in San Rafael and enjoy the convenience of traveling anywhere at any time you want. With so many places to check out in this small city in California, a rental gives you the flexibility to check out as many places as you want. For example, if you want to visit some of the popular art galleries and museums in the area, you can go from Art Works Downtown to Marin Art and Garden Center, then cross the San Francisco Bay and check out the Richmond Art Center and Golden State Model Railroad Museum in Richmond.
  • For individuals looking for a more flexible mode of transport to get around the city, San Rafael car rentals are an option. You must be 21 years of age or older to be eligible to rent a car from any of the cheap car rentals in San Rafael. However, for those who want to rent luxury cars, certain car rental companies have a higher minimum age requirement. A valid driver's license and a debit or credit card are the two important documents you must present at the pickup location of your preferred car company picking up your car. The renter's name must appear on both the card and the license.
  • If you’re coming to San Rafael by plane, you are most likely going to land at Oakland International Airport which is less than 30 miles from downtown San Rafael. This airport has over ten rental companies including highly rated names such as Alamo, Hertz, Budget, Enterprise, and Thrifty among others. They are all located at the Airport's Rental Car Center which is located in the North Field about 10minfrom the terminals. You can get there either by walking or via a shuttle which operates 24/7.
  • You must adhere to San Rafael's stringent child seat regulations while you are driving in your rental car with your child(ren). These laws require that any child who is under the age of 2 years or who weighs less than 40 pounds always ride in a rear-facing car seat. Make sure your youngster rides in a booster seat or child safety seat if they are between the ages of 2 and 8 years old. Any of the cheap car rentals in San Rafael can easily provide your preferred kid restraint system. However, you have to pay an additional daily fee for any of the child restraint devices that you request depending on the age of your child.
  • Be cautious when driving your car rentals in San Rafael as pedestrians and cyclists are frequent users of the road. Always leave enough space for cyclists and be sure to use your indicator lights any time you are taking a turn to alert other road users. Always look whether the roads are clear before going through an intersection even if the lights have turned green because there could be someone crossing the road.
  • Rocky and rugged terrains characterize most parts of San Rafael. Most of the roads in the city are narrow with numerous meandering sections. Therefore, when driving your rental car on such roads, it is a good practice to maintain lower speed. If you are new in San Rafael, you are likely to experience challenges navigating certain intersections in the city, such as the intersection of Manuel T Freitas Pkwy. & Del Presidio Blvd. However, this should not worry you because you can have a GPS module installed in your car at no extra costs. This will help you to navigate the city with ease.
  • Traffic in San Rafael can be a menace, especially on the roads leading in and out of downtown San Rafael. Rush hours, in particular, can be a nightmare to navigate so if you can avoid the roads during these hours, the better it is for you. Morning rush hour runs from 8 am to 10 am while evening rush hours run from 5 pm to 7 pm. The best way to beat the traffic is to leave early enough.
  • Book your rental car in San Rafael at least 1 day before your trip in order to get a below-average price
  • Compact rental cars in San Rafael are around 42% cheaper than other car types, on average
See more tips

FAQs about renting a car in San Rafael

  • How much is gas price in San Rafael?

    The average gas price in San Rafael is C$ 4.91 per litre over the past 30 days. Filling up a gas tank costs between C$ 59 and C$ 78, depending on the car size.

  • What is the most popular rental car in San Rafael?

    Compact (Hyundai Accent or similar) is the most frequently booked rental car type in San Rafael.

  • Which car rental companies are at San Francisco airport (SFO)?

    Car rental companies onsite at San Francisco airport include Kyte, Europcar, Fox, Hertz and Sixt.

  • Which car rental companies will pick you up at San Francisco airport (SFO)?

    Car rental companies that offer shuttle or pick-up services from San Francisco airport to off-airport locations include Europcar, Fox, Hertz and Sixt.

  • How can I find car rentals near me in San Rafael?

    Take a look at our extensive car rental location map to find the best rental cars near you.

  • How much does a Compact car rental cost in San Rafael?

    A Compact car rental in San Rafael costs C$ 62 per day, on average.

  • How much does a Special car rental cost in San Rafael?

    A Special car rental in San Rafael costs C$ 77 per day, on average.

  • How much does a Premium car rental cost in San Rafael?

    A Premium car rental in San Rafael costs C$ 166 per day, on average.

  •  What type of car is recommended for driving in San Rafael?

    The streets of San Rafael are quite narrow so when getting cheap San Rafael car rentals, you should consider getting a sedan or any other compact vehicle. It will much easier to drive through the streets without getting involved in any incidents. But if you will be going to the hill regions of Fairfax and San Anselmo, an SUV would be more appropriate since it can handle any terrain and is also very convenient for traveling over long distances.

  • Can I rent an electric car in San Rafael?

    Yes. You can rent an electric vehicle from the cheap car rentals in San Rafael because there are several Electric Vehicle (EV) charging stations dispersed across the city. The Tesla Supercharger and the EVgo Charging Station are two examples of well-known EV charging stations.

  • What’s the speed limit in San Rafael?

    When driving your car rentals in San Rafael, you must keep to the speed limit as any violations could land you in trouble with law enforcement. Different roads in San Rafael have different speed limits depending on what is safe for the drivers and the general public. Highways have the highest speed limit which is 65 mph while alleys and school zones have the lowest limit of 15 mph and 25 mph respectively. The 25-mph limit also applies to business districts and residential areas. If you come across the speed limit posted on a road sign, you are supposed to follow that limit even if it contradicts the standard limit for that road.

  • Are there toll roads in San Rafael?

    Yes. You will have to pay some tolls any time you are driving your car on the various toll roads in the city. Foothill Toll Road and San Joaquin Hills Toll Road are some of the toll roads you are more likely to use while in San Rafael.

  • Where are the best places to park in San Rafael?

    There are different places where you can park your car rentals in San Rafael. There is street parking as well as different garages and parking lots where you can park your car. Street parking in San Rafael is metered with charges standing at around $1.50 per hour and a limit of two hours. If you would like to park for longer than two hours, the parking garages are more appropriate. There is the City of San Rafael Parking and C Street Parking along C street as well as Big Parking Garage along 3rd street.

See more FAQs

San Rafael car rental reviews and directory 
All ratings and reviews are collected from KAYAK users with a verified car rental booking. Learn how KAYAK collects reviews.

Budget

10.0

Wonderful

Read 1 review
Best rated

Cleanliness

10.0

Comfort

10.0

Pick-up/Drop-off

10.0

Value for money

10.0

One location in San Rafael

Show locations

Locations in San Rafael

1305 Francisco Boulevard East

+1 415 258 9483

Monday08:00 - 16:45
Tuesday08:00 - 16:45
Wednesday08:00 - 16:45
Thursday08:00 - 16:45
Friday08:00 - 16:45
Saturday08:00 - 16:45
Sunday08:00 - 16:45

Filters

Reviews

10.0 Wonderful

Anonymous, Sep 2021

KAYAK
Easy pick up, new car

1 out of 1

Enterprise Rent-A-Car

8.0

Cleanliness

8.0

Comfort

7.7

Pick-up/Drop-off

7.7

Value for money

8.0

4 locations in San Rafael

Show locations

Locations in San Rafael

35 Reed Blvd

+1 415 384 0566

Monday08:00 - 16:45
Tuesday08:00 - 16:45
Wednesday08:00 - 16:45
Thursday08:00 - 16:45
Friday08:00 - 16:45
Saturday00:00 - 00:00
Sunday00:00 - 00:00

536 Irwin

+1 415 456 7999

Monday00:00 - 00:00
Tuesday00:00 - 00:00
Wednesday00:00 - 00:00
Thursday00:00 - 00:00
Friday00:00 - 00:00
Saturday00:00 - 00:00
Sunday00:00 - 00:00

65 Medway Rd

+1 415 456 7999

Monday08:00 - 16:45
Tuesday08:00 - 16:45
Wednesday08:00 - 16:45
Thursday08:00 - 16:45
Friday08:00 - 16:45
Saturday09:00 - 13:00
Sunday00:00 - 00:00

7401 Redwood Blvd

+1 415 898 3500

Monday08:00 - 16:45
Tuesday08:00 - 16:45
Wednesday08:00 - 16:45
Thursday08:00 - 16:45
Friday08:00 - 16:45
Saturday00:00 - 00:00
Sunday00:00 - 00:00

Filters

Show reviews that mention

Reviews

10.0 Wonderful

Anonymous, Apr 2021

KAYAK

Pros:

Very friendly and not too pushy on sales for an upgrade.

10.0 Wonderful

Anonymous, Jan 2021

KAYAK

Pros:

Very friendly and helpful service from arrangements to pick up

4.0 Mediocre

Anonymous, Nov 2020

KAYAK

Pros:

Pickup was quick

Cons:

The car only had 1/3 of a tank of gas at pickup. Very disappointing to have to get gas right away. Also, this is a way they get more money out of you by making you return it at an exact amount that is not full. The car smelled terribly of cigarette smoke and made me feel sick the whole trip. Pickup was confusing as I had 3 different addresses for drop off. I called and spoke to someone asking which address was correct and she was not much help.

2.0 Poor

Linda, Dec 2022

KAYAK
Car was not there/available even after we made a reservation in advance

10.0 Wonderful

Anonymous, Nov 2022

KAYAK
The group at San Rafael was truly outstanding

1 out of 2

Avis

Cleanliness

6.8

Comfort

8.0

Pick-up/Drop-off

8.4

Value for money

6.4

One location in San Rafael

Show locations

Locations in San Rafael

1305 Francisco Boulevard East

+1 415 472 7878

Monday08:00 - 16:45
Tuesday08:00 - 16:45
Wednesday08:00 - 16:45
Thursday08:00 - 16:45
Friday08:00 - 16:45
Saturday08:00 - 16:45
Sunday08:00 - 16:45

Filters

Reviews

10.0 Wonderful

David, Apr 2023

Standard

KAYAK
Friendly folks

4.0 Mediocre

Lisa, Apr 2023

Economy

KAYAK
The car was not cleaned recently and smelled like urine.

2.0 Poor

Anonymous, Jul 2022

KAYAK
Picked the cheapest car rental to save money and got charged a LOT more. In fact nearly double than what I paid for only a 24 hr rental.

1 out of 1

Hertz

Cleanliness

5.3

Comfort

5.4

Pick-up/Drop-off

4.9

Value for money

4.9

2 locations in San Rafael

Show locations

Locations in San Rafael

7505 Redwood Blvd

+1 415 892 1121

Monday08:00 - 16:45
Tuesday08:00 - 16:45
Wednesday08:00 - 16:45
Thursday08:00 - 16:45
Friday08:00 - 16:45

933 Francisco Blvd East

+1 415 451 0125

Monday08:00 - 16:45
Tuesday08:00 - 16:45
Wednesday08:00 - 16:45
Thursday08:00 - 16:45
Friday08:00 - 16:45

Filters

Show reviews that mention

Reviews

2.0 Poor

Anonymous, Dec 2023

Intermediate SUV

KAYAK
Cancelled on me 30 minutes before I was supposed to pick up car.

2.0 Poor

Anonymous, Dec 2023

Supplier choice

KAYAK
I was scheduled for a 12 pick up and they closed at 12! I was admittedly 10-15 min late however I didn't get the car. I am not sure why they allowed a pick up time that was technically when they were closed.

2.0 Poor

Anais, Nov 2023

Supplier choice

KAYAK
I was unable to pick up the car at the agreed rental time because they were closed.

4.0 Mediocre

Anonymous, May 2021

KAYAK

Cons:

--instruction manual should be IN the car --remind the "pick-up" attendants to look at the person they are assisting in the moment --have "drop-off" office open on WEEKENDS. It's not fair to charge 2 extra days when the renter is late returning on a Friday AFTER 5:30 !!!

10.0 Wonderful

Anonymous, Oct 2020

KAYAK

Pros:

The team in San Rafael was very accommodating getting me into a great car last minute when Enterprise could not honor my reservation. They were sure to give me my options with limited inventory so that I could make the right decision for my one way trip. Great experience all around.

6.0 Okay

Anonymous, Jun 2023

Economy

KAYAK
I did not get the car I booked and ended up paying more for a huge SUV that I did not need.

1 out of 5

Dollar

5.7

Fair

One location in San Rafael

Show locations

Locations in San Rafael

933 Francisco Blvd East

+1 415 451 0125

Monday08:00 - 16:45
Tuesday08:00 - 16:45
Wednesday08:00 - 16:45
Thursday08:00 - 16:45
Friday08:00 - 16:45

Filters

No reviews available

Thrifty

No score available yet

One location in San Rafael

Show locations

Locations in San Rafael

933 Francisco Boulevard East

+1 415 451 0125

Monday08:00 - 16:45
Tuesday08:00 - 16:45
Wednesday08:00 - 16:45
Thursday08:00 - 16:45
Friday08:00 - 16:45

Filters

Reviews

2.0 Poor

Mark, Jan 2025

Supplier choice

KAYAK
When we got there. They said they didn’t have any cars. Now I’m trying to get the refund for the car.

1 out of 1

939 travellers who rented a car in San Rafael gave the car agency they used an average rating of 5.7

Car rental locations in or near San Rafael

Good to know

Most popular car type

Compact

When to book a rental car in San Rafael

Average daily price per month
Rental car prices as pick-up date approaches

San Rafael car rental information

Pick-up locationSan Rafael
Car types
Rental locations2
Airport locations0

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