Car Rentals at San Diego International Airport

San Diego International Airport is one of the larger airports in the American state of California, and serves the Greater San Diego area. It is also known as the Lindbergh Field Airport, and by the IATA code of SAN. The airport is a focus city for Southwest Airlines and Alaska Airlines, handles over sixteen million passengers per annum and is very well equipped with facilities for all its passengers. There are a number of ground transportation options available, both public and private, and arriving passengers can also rent a car from one of the San Diego International Airport car rental companies. Car hire is popular in this area, as there are many wonderful areas to explore.

The airport of San Diego International consists of three terminal buildings, referred to as Terminal 1, Terminal 2 and the Commuter Terminal. Terminals 1 and 2 are the main buildings for passenger operations, and have a number of airline gates. Terminal 2 is also used for international flights. The Commuter Terminal of the airport is only used for flights between Los Angeles and San Diego, and has just four airline gates. Each terminal, however, has may facilities for its passengers, including shops, restaurants, airport lounges, accessible restrooms and information counters. Outside the main terminals passengers will also find the ground transportation areas. The airport’s car rental companies are not found at the baggage claim areas, as is the case at many airports, but are located on their own premises a short distance away. For this reason, there are free shuttle services available to passengers who need to reach the rental car companies.

At San Diego Airport, passengers can rent a car from Hertz, Avis, Budget, National, Alamo, Enterprise, Easycar, Auto Europa, Europcar, Thrifty or Dollar. To reach any of these companies passengers should move outside of their terminal to the relevant pickup location of the shuttle buses. At Terminal 1, they are found at the centre traffic aisle, and at Terminal 2, they leave from the traffic island at the far west end of the terminal. Both of these terminals have an East and West side. Shuttle buses are also available for the transfer of passengers from one terminal to another. The buses will take just a few minutes to reach the car hire companies, and are able to transport a reasonable number of passengers and their luggage items.

Car hire facilities within Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 include reservation boards and courtesy telephones nearby the baggage claim halls. The telephones can be used to contact the relevant San Diego International Airport car hire company, should information be required or if a shuttle is not available. Passengers can also contact their company if an accessible shuttle is required for a person in a wheelchair. If any further assistance is required, with finding the shuttles or with calling for an accessible vehicle, the airport volunteers will be happy to help. They can be found in all terminals at the information desks.

Vehicles for hire from the above mentioned companies include the Chevrolet Aveo, Kia Rio, Nissan Versa, Toyota Corolla, Nissan Altima, Ford Focus, Ford Fusion and Chevrolet Impala. These cars are available from the Economy, Compact, Midsize, Standard and Fullsize categories, and have reasonable car rental rates, especially if they are booked in advance and online. They are ideal for four or five passengers, and a couple of luggage items. The larger cars such as the Chevrolet Impala are recommended for families with a number of luggage pieces. The cars all have automatic transmissions and air conditioning, and many also have additional features, such as cruise control, power locks and windows, driver and passenger airbags and CD players. SUVs are popular as well, such as the Ford Escape, Ford Edge, Jeep Grand Cherokee, Ford Expedition, Chevrolet Traverse, Chevrolet Tahoe, Chevrolet Suburban and Lincoln Navigator, and the larger of these SUVs have room for seven or eight passengers.

In addition, high occupancy vehicles can be hired (Dodge Grand Caravan, Toyota Sienna, Ford Econoline and Chevrolet Express) that seat between seven and fifteen passengers, and more elegant vehicles are found in the Premium and Luxury car categories. Convertibles, crossovers and pickups are for hire as well. Hertz and Budget are unique since that they offer a number of vehicles that can be reserved by their specific makes and models, rather than just by category. They are also two of the longest standing car hire companies in the world, and are popular for their services and reasonable car rental rates. Thrifty and Dollar also offer an interesting car category from where a Compact or larger sized vehicle can be hired, but regardless of the car driven, the customer will only pay Compact vehicle rates. An SUV or minivan could therefore be driven at a very low price.

The car rental companies of San Diego International Airport offer vehicles for leisure and business travellers, however, National is well known for their corporate services and Alamo is respected for providing quality car hire services to families and individuals on vacation. Customers of Avis can be Avis Preferred members, and enjoy many additional benefits, and Auto Europa and Enterprise are the ideal choices for a wide range of vehicles and services. Easycar offers very low rental rates as well, and is popular for their all-inclusive prices with unlimited mileage. Keep in mind that customers of Europcar will collect their vehicles from the National car hire counters at San Diego Airport.

Along with your vehicle, remember to hire a satellite navigation system and child seats if these items of equipment are required, and to book a one way hire if you will not be returning to San Diego International Airport. One way hires could have additional charges, and the items of equipment will cost a few extra dollars as well. From the car rental companies of San Diego Airport, hand controls for disabled drivers can also be requested, and are useful for persons with a lower limb disability. They are free of charge.

To rent a car from this location the primary renter will need to be at least 21 years of age, and should be in possession of a valid drivers license and a major credit card. San Diego is quite easy to navigate in a rented car, and several areas of interest lie nearby, such as Anaheim 95 miles to the northeast, which is close to Huntington Beach, Newport Beach and Laguna Beach. Always obey all road rules, and stay within the speed limits, which are 30mph in urban areas, 65mph on open roads and 70mph on motorways and highways. Contact your favourite San Diego International Airport car hire company for more information.