Are you planning to take a trip to San Diego, CA? Then, most likely, you will need to rent a car to drive across its spectacular terrain. That will not be a problem, as you can find many rental car offices of the most world-known suppliers and local vendors in San Diego - Airport, CA. Most of these companies provide cheap car rentals for under 25 drivers. The minimum age to rent a car in San Diego - Airport, California is 21 years old, but there is the surcharge policy applied to all renters under the age of 25. To make a more educated decision before booking a car for under 25 driver, compare not only the renal car prices in SAN Airport, USA, but also the under 25 car rental fee of different companies.
The Young Driver Surcharge is not usually included in the car rental price on our website. You will have to pay it at the rental desk before picking up your rental vehicle.
If you are traveling on a tight budget, have a look at the costs of rental cars and Young Driver Fees in airports and downtown locations near SAN Airport, California. Compare them with the amount of money you will spend on car rental for under 25 in San Diego SAN Airport. Don’t forget to add the costs of the transport from San Diego to your selected pick-up location.
29.31 km / 18.21 miCouldn’t find a cheap rental car under 25 in San Diego? Compare car rental deals for young drivers in San Diego, CA with offers in other nearest locations. Remember that when renting a car in San Diego - Airport, CA, along with your daily rental cost, you have to pay an extra fee if you are under 25 years of age. The compulsory Young Driver Fee is a daily charge that covers the extra risk of accidents young drivers might get into. This additional cost can significantly erase the total cost of the rental. As a result, rental car can be approximately 10-20% more expensive for travelers aged 24 and younger.
To rent a car in San Diego, CA, USA if you are 24 years old or younger, you have to select your desired pick-up and return locations, dates and times of your pick-up and drop-off and start your search. Before making your booking make sure you indicate your age and residency country correctly and proceed to reserve your vehicle.
To collect your under 25 rental car in SAN Airport, California successfully, you have to provide:
If you do not follow any of these requirements, you may be rejected to pick-up your car and get your money back. Learner permits or photocopies are not accepted. In addition, the use of debit cards can be limited by some of the rental agencies.
The cheapest under 25 rental vehicle in San Diego is provided by ACE. It is compact class Nissan Versa or similar for $11.43 per day.
You will also have to pay Under Age 25 Surcharge before collecting your car at the rental desk. With ace in San Diego, CA, it may cost you additional $25.00 per day. Please, check this information attentively in rental conditions before making a booking.
Among car rental companies that rent to under 25 drivers in San Diego - Airport, California, the best rated supplier is Alamo. Our customers rated it with an average score of 8.9 on a scale from 1 to 10. This rating is based on 10000+ Alamo car rental reviews in SAN Airport, USA.
Renting a car for an underage driver means additional expenses. So how much is an additional rental car fee for under 25 drivers? Here is a list of companies that rent to under 25 and approximate daily Young Driver Fees. On average, car suppliers charge $35 USD per day in San Diego, California. The table below will help you to find car rental with the lowest under 25 fee in San Diego, CA, USA.
Customers who fall outside the standard rental age will not be able to rent a car unless they pay young or senior driver fee. Please note that this fee will be payable on arrival at the rental desk in the local currency.
Among car rental companies under 25 in San Diego, the cheapest young driver fee is offered by Avis. They charge extra $35.00 per day if you are from 21- to 24-year-old driver.
There are under 25 providers that are located in San Diego - Airport, CA and off-airport companies, which offer free shuttle bus rides to their offices. On-site under 25 car rental companies with San Diego - Airport, California terminal pick-up are Thrifty, Dollar, National.
Under 25 car rental agencies with off-airport locations are Alamo, Budget, Europcar, Hertz. These companies provide free shuttle bus or pick-up services from SAN Airport, USA to their off-site offices.
If you could find your preferred under 25 rental car deal in San Diego - Airport, compare underage offers in nearby airport and downtown locations situated at short distances from San Diego, California.
Renting a car in SAN Airport, California for under 25 driver is not going to be low-cost. Drivers from 21 to 24 are obliged to pay an extra fee. However, there are some exceptions. Let’s find out how you can avoid under 25 car rental fee in San Diego SAN Airport:
Rent a car companies that do not charge for under 25 in San Diego, CA include Avis, Budget, Hertz, and Enterprise if you have the USAA membership. As AAA membership, you can also avoid under 25 fee from Hertz.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, young drivers under the age of 25 are considered to be high-risk drivers. Statistically, they are by 25% more often involved in car accidents than adults over 25 years old. For this reason, rental companies claim additional charge (Young Driver Surcharge) to cover expenses of potential damage.
Don’t forget to learn our tips to save money on under 25 car rental before making a reservation in SAN Airport, USA:
San Diego is the perfect place to spend your holidays exploring many local beaches and other incredible attractions in a rental car. Unfortunately, age is something that can be an obstacle to your travel plans.
The good news is that under 25 car rental San Diego is a solution to the problem, as it allows having a vehicle at hand for those who are 21-24 years old. However, what if you are a little younger? Your question will probably be how can I rent a car at 20 in San Diego.
The majority of companies are ready to deal with only 21+ drivers, but Thrifty gives the green light to pick up a car even for travelers of a younger age category.
Top Attractions in San Diego for young drivers include San Diego Zoo, Cabrillo Reserve, Torrey Pines, La Jolla Cove, Coronado, Del Mar Race Track, San Diego Padres, and Balboa Park.
Whether you are an experienced traveler or a young adventurer, the first question you will encounter after landing your flight will be ‘where is car rental in San Diego’.
The onsite rental service at the airport allows you to pick up a vehicle in the local rental department. Any of San Diego car rental under 25 providers will complete your deal quickly, and in just half an hour, you will receive the keys to your car. Among them are:
Of course, the airport is not the only place in the surrounding area to pick up a vehicle – many urban locations are also at your disposal. Below find a list of companies that operate offsite:
You’ll find it at 3355 Admiral Boland Way - add this address to your GPS to get to the point quickly. Use the Interstate 5 exits when approaching from the northwest, or San Diego Freeway if traveling from the south.
A branded free shuttle will take you to the right place in less than 5 minutes. Don’t know where Alamo car rental is at San Diego Airport, or you wish to deal with a particular company? The vendor counters are conveniently located on the 1st floor of the complex.
Shuttles continuously run between the airport and the Rental center, which doesn’t cause you any waiting and trouble.
Drop off is as easy and fast as a pickup, and you won’t need to worry about how long it takes to return a rental car at San Diego Airport – 15-20 minutes are enough.
If you still don’t know where to return a rental car at San Diego airport, then head to 3355 Admiral Boland Way. Set off to the drop-off garage to return a rental car at San Diego airport, and then go up to the 2nd floor of the Rental facility.
Driving stick shift vehicles are not easy for young renters who do this for the first time.
In most cases, manual transmission comes with exotic and sports cars. Unfortunately, this vehicle category is not a cheap car rental under 25 San Diego, and sometimes it’s generally impossible due to age restrictions.
If you still find a suitable deal with a non-automatic gearbox, then get ready for some limitations:
Our car rental prices always include all necessary additional fees and, in some cases, taxes. This is especially true in airport locations, where even a larger number of variables influence the cost. You probably ask how much is the airport tax on a rental car in San Diego?
First of all, the regular sales tax of 7.25% is added to the net value of the vehicle. Another factor that increases the price is the tourist tax, which applies to car rental. It operates in California and is around 3.5%.
NOTE: when you search for a car on our site, the price is shown with all taxes already included.
Most often, travelers prefer the SUV class for under 25 car rental San Diego.
The approximate basic rate for an Economy vehicle rental in San Diego is $35 per day. Extra fees may apply if you’re younger than 21-25 years.
The weekly cost of under 25 car rental in San Diego ranges from $198 to $290 depending on the car type and supplier.
Keep in mind that if you book in advance, the rate is likely to be lower.
Most often, cash is an unacceptable payment method for almost every provider, because it makes impossible to block a deposit to compensate for potential damage to the company’s property.
Of course, it’s still possible to find small local services that accept cash, but their reputation may be doubtful, and service quality is likely to be low. So we would recommend renting from major providers that are reliable and accept credit or debit cards for the payment.
Interstate-15 itself is free of charge, but it has several expressways for which you will have to pay. Just choose regular traffic lanes to save your wallet from unnecessary expenses, even if you need to get to such remote places as Escondido or Tamecula.
Another toll road is the South Bay Expressway, which connects Spring Valley and Otay Mesa. However, be sure to find an alternative route through Interstate 805.
If a young renter still needs to drive on a toll road, or did it unintentionally, then there are 2 payment methods:
Border crossing with Mexico is a hassle for the agency. That’s why some suppliers, including Alamo and Avis, ban this opportunity without any compromise. Others may require special insurance to be pre-ordered in advance.
Despite the negative aspects, your car rental in San Diego Airport under 25 can be driven in Mexico, although with additional conditions:
1 gallon of regular fuel in California will cost you about $3.6. This is slightly more than the national average. Chevron, Costco, and Pearson Fuels are the cheapest stations in the area.
Driving within the city will be pleasant and non-problematic. The road system has clear interchanges, but we still recommend adding a GPS navigator to your best car rental San Diego under 25 deal.
You should always be careful and obey the speed limits, parking rules, and priority signs. Many drivers sometimes perform dangerous maneuvers, thus, stay on the lookout.
Usually, city streets don’t suffer from excessive traffic. Still, it’s always better to avoid trips during peak hours from 6.30 till 10 in the morning and from 3.30 to 6.30 in the evening if you don’t want to lose time. Popular Interstates 5 and 15 are also quite busy on the weekend – keep this in mind when planning your journey.
Also, if you intend to cross the Mexican border, it’s recommended that you notify the company in advance. But if your destination is Tijuana, then park the vehicle at the border, and walk through the crossing point.
Tired of the noisy metropolis and its trivial sights? California Highway 1 invites you to an unforgettable and vibrant ride in an exotic convertible to San Francisco.
Before leaving the airport pick-up point, pay attention to the unique installation located to the left of the exit from the parking garage. You will be amazed at what are the two art pieces at the San Diego Car Rental center.
This eccentric exposition represents 2 identical huge lamps with sharp and long spiers that are not fixed motionless, but fluctuate from gusts of wind. This makes them very similar to garden gnomes in the backyard of German rural houses.
The entire San Diego to San Francisco route will take about 8 hours without taking into account the time for an overnight stay and sightseeing. That is, you will travel more than 500 miles.
First, you should drive about 60 miles along Interstate 5 towards San Clemente. Then take the 79th exit at Capistrano Beach to enter Pacific Coast Highway and see the breathtaking scenery of the ocean. Continue and check out the most worthwhile places to stop on your way…
The first magnetic point on the route will be Malibu with its endless snow-white beaches. Local cuisine will also delight young renter’s taste buds – visit the Malibu Farm Restaurant at 23000 Pacific Coast Hwy to make sure of this.
After approximately 75 miles, you will arrive at Santa Barbara, where we recommend to stay overnight. There are several cozy culinary establishments on the waterfront, so choose something to have a bite.
Then, head to State Street to inspect a large number of shops, galleries, museums, and other fascinating local points.
Start your day with a trip to San Luis Obispo. This destination has something to show you in its collection. Among them is Bubblegum Alley, as well as Mount Bishop, which is an excellent hiking trail opening up incredible panoramas of the surrounding landscapes.
Next, a student driver can drop into Monterey. However, 18 miles earlier, you will see the Bixby Creek Bridge, providing incredible pictures for your Instagram account.
Monterey Bay Aquarium is a must-visit local point. It's a marine research center and, at the same time – a place to explore the unique underwater life. After that, it's time to keep your way to the final point of San Francisco.
The road will run through a redwood forest, which is a unique background for photos. Already in the city, we recommend spending a few days enjoying local attractions. Alcatraz Prison, Golden Gate Bridge, Union Square, Pier 39 - the list seems to be endless.
The southernmost point of California is an excellent starting position for traveling across the country. Thus, it’s an outstanding idea to choose a car rental under 25 San Diego with the possibility of returning a car somewhere in New York, Austin, Miami, or Seattle.
However, the most frequent one-way route is the road to Las Vegas. The entire distance is about 350 miles, while travel time is not more than 6 hours. Although this route can’t boast of iconic sights along with it, the fantastic hot deserted landscapes of the Mojave Preserve more than compensate for this shortcoming.
Choosing to rent a car in San Diego under 25, look at the details about the provider, since not every company has the one-way option in its arsenal.
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