Car Hire at San Francisco Airport

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San Francisco Airport, San Francisco, USA - California
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Driver's country of residence is United States of America (USA) and age is 30-65
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500+ Trusted Suppliers:

Cheapest Car Hire Rates

Economy
Chevrolet Spark or comparable
Chevrolet Spark
  • 4
  • 2
  • 4
  • A/C
  • Auto.
Dollar
£ 43.10 per day
Compact
Ford Focus or comparable
Ford Focus
  • 5
  • 2
  • 3
  • A/C
  • Auto.
Thrifty
£ 45.40 per day
Intermediate
Nissan Sentra or comparable
Nissan Sentra
  • 5
  • 2
  • 4
  • A/C
  • Auto.
SIXT
£ 57.91 per day
Standard
Volkswagen Jetta or comparable
Volkswagen Jetta
  • 5
  • 2
  • 4
  • A/C
  • Auto.
Budget
£ 75.16 per day

Most Popular Car Hire Deals

Full-size
Nissan Altima or comparable
Nissan Altima
  • 5
  • 3
  • 4
  • A/C
  • Auto.
Alamo
£ 82.96 / per day
Full-size Elite
Infiniti Q50 or comparable
Infiniti Q50
  • 5
  • 3
  • 4
  • A/C
  • Auto.
Enterprise
£ 90.59 / per day
Premium
Nissan Maxima or comparable
Nissan Maxima
  • 5
  • 3
  • 5
  • A/C
  • Auto.
National
£ 95.58 / per day
Luxury
Chrysler 300 or comparable
Chrysler 300
  • 5
  • 2
  • 4
  • A/C
  • Auto.
Thrifty
£ 51.93 / per day
These prices are approximate and depend on the dates of the booking, hire length and type of car. This information was last updated at 12:28 on 2023-06-02.
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Travel Information

Language
English,
Spanish
Currency
USD
Drive on
Right-hand side
Dialing code
+1
Average car hire price
£ 67.83 / per day
Average car hire length
11 days
Speed limit within city centre
40 - 48 km/h
25 - 30 mph
Speed limit out of city centre
88 - 104 km/h
55 - 65 mph
Acceptable limit of BAC
0.08%
Average gasoline price
£ 1.19 per liter
Highest gasoline price
£ 1.49 per liter
Lowest gasoline price
£ 0.98 per liter
San Francisco Airport Car Hire

Airport Car Hire

Hire a car at San Francisco Airport! Then head to the city and drive over the famous Golden Gate Bridge. From there, go to Fort Mason and the Presidio—the views are beautiful, and there’s plenty to explore, from museums and a wildlife sanctuary to hiking trails and culture and history walks. Then eat at a seafood restaurant in Fisherman’s Wharf and tour turn-of-the-century ships at Hyde Street Pier. Check out the art scene and neighborhood bars in the Mission District and Bernal Heights and the panoramic views in Nob Hill.

The city’s surrounded by water, so how about some beach time? You can easily drive your rental to Ocean Beach, China Beach, or Baker Beach. Up for a museum? The M.H. de Young Memorial Museum exhibits contemporary and indigenous art, and everyone will enjoy the hands-on science fun at the Exploratorium. 

San Francisco’s a great destination, but the surrounding area has even more to offer. If you've hired your vehicle for a longer period, you can head south to Monterrey and even Los Angeles, explore inland California, or take a road trip to the Pacific Northwest. Picking up your car at San Francisco Airport and dropping it off at a different location is easy. Start planning your vacation today!

San Francisco Airport, first known as Mills Field Municipal Airport, was built in 1927 on a 150-acre cow pasture.

Top international routes

  • Los Angeles
  • Chicago
  • Seattle
  • Las Vegas
  • New York City
  • Denver

Main airlines

United Airlines, United Express, Southwest Airlines, Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, and Delta Air Lines

Terminals

The four terminals (T1, T2, T3, and International) are all connected by AirTrain, with station departures every 4–5 minutes. It’s also possible to walk between terminals, although parts of T1 are currently under construction.

Location

The airport is 13 mi (21 km) from downtown San Francisco. Highway 101 is the main road connecting San Francisco Airport to the city.

Most popular types of hire car

  • Convertibles - starting at £ 89 per day
  • Large cars - starting at £ 44 per day
  • Medium cars - starting at £ 44 per day
  • People Carriers - starting at £ 77 per day
  • Premium cars - starting at £ 52 per day
  • Small cars - starting at £ 43 per day
  • SUVs - starting at £ 47 per day

Car hire desks

All car hire offices are located in the separate Rental Cars Center (RCC) that can be reached by taking AirTrain Blue Line.

Services and facilities

You’ll find many bars, cafeterias, and restaurants, some serving Mexican and Asian food, as well as a number of duty-free outlets, stores, and gift shops. There are also ATMs, eight lounges, baby care facilities, a children’s play area, a medical clinic, a reading room, a yoga room, spa, reflection room for meditation, hydration station to refill water bottles, aquarium, airport museum, and permanent art exhibitions. You’ll find luggage storage and lockers at the Airport Travel Agency in the main hall of the International terminal. San Francisco Airport is fully equipped for passengers with reduced mobility. You can find more information on the airport's official website.

Nearest petrol station

Costco Gasoline, located at 451 Airport Boulevard, is on the way to the city. It can be reached in less than ten minutes and is open from 6:00 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. on workdays, from 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Saturdays, and from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. on Sundays. There are many other gas stations near the airport.

Popular one-way hires

  • Los Angeles (384 mi / 618 km)
  • Las Vegas (571 mi / 919 km)
  • San Diego (503 mi / 809 km)
  • Reno (229 mi / 368 km)
  • Oakland (23 mi / 37 km)
  • Fresno (188 mi / 302 km)
This information was written, fact-checked, and/or translated by our content creators. Learn more about our Editorial Policy.

Airport information

Score
7.9
  • Getting to the airport 8.2
  • Check-in and departures 8.4
  • Facilities and services 8.0
  • Wi-Fi 7.8
  • Dining and car hire services 7.5
  • Lounge 7.5

San Francisco Airport (SFO)

  • IATA: SFO
  • ICAO: KSFO
  • Name: San Francisco Airport (SFO)
  • Distance from the city centre: 8 miles / 12.9 km

Top 3 Destinations around San Francisco Airport

  1. Car Hire at Oakland Airport starting at £ 43.85 per day
    17.7 km / 11.0 miles away
  2. 137.9 km / 85.7 miles away
  3. Car Hire at Fresno Airport starting at £ 47.79 per day
    253.3 km / 157.4 miles away

Map of Car Hire Destinations

During which month is it most affordable to hire a car at San Francisco Airport?

Our data shows how prices for hiring a car at San Francisco Airport fluctuate depending on the time of year. This graph can help you find the best bargain.
Average Price for Hiring a Car at San Francisco Airport
£ 39.41
January
£ 52.23
February
£ 49.48
March
£ 46.50
April
£ 45.62
May
£ 73.35
June
£ 74.50
July
£ 71.55
August
£ 61.71
September
£ 71.36
October
£ 55.04
November
£ 55.72
December
The cheapest month to hire a car at San Francisco Airport is January with prices starting at £ 39.41 for an Economy class cars. The most expensive month in which to hire a car is July with prices for for a Compact class starting at £ 74.50. The average cost over the course of the entire year is £ 58. You can use this to plan your trip at the time of year when it would be most economical to hire a car. Note that these prices are only average amounts. How long you hire a car for and the time at which you book will influence the prices. Enter your travel dates at the top of the page to see exact prices and offers!

What’s the most frequent hire length at San Francisco Airport?

Hirers picking up a car at San Francisco Airport keep them for an average of 12 days during in June, while those picking up their cars in May keep them for an average of 8.
Average Hire Length at San Francisco Airport
10
January
9
February
9
March
10
April
8
May
12
June
12
July
12
August
12
September
9
October
9
November
9
December

Which month sees the highest demand for car hire at San Francisco Airport?

Though San Francisco Airport is popular for travellers all year long, the month with the highest demand for hire cars is in August. January is the month that sees the lowest demand for hire cars.
Monthly searches at San Francisco Airport by pick-up date relative to the average
23%
January
30%
February
52%
March
86%
April
69%
May
170%
June
216%
July
304%
August
123%
September
55%
October
33%
November
39%
December

Car Hire Information

Popular suppliers Dollar, Europcar, Thrifty, Alamo, FOX
Popular car categories SUVs, Large cars, Medium cars, Small cars
Lowest price £ 43 per day
Cheapest supplier Dollar

Most Popular Car Hire Models

Hire Agency Model Doors Luggage Type
Dollar Mazda 3 5 3 Large cars
Thrifty Mazda 3 5 3 Large cars
Dollar Ford Focus 4 2 Medium cars
Dollar Nissan Rogue 5 3 SUVs
Alamo Nissan Rogue 5 3 SUVs
Thrifty Nissan Rogue 5 3 SUVs
Thrifty Ford Focus 3 2 Medium cars
Alamo Ford Edge 4 3 SUVs
Dollar Mazda 3 2 2 Large cars
Alamo Toyota Corolla 4 3 Large cars

Car Hire Statistics

Highest rated company
Alamo
9.3 / 10
Lowest rated company
FOX
7.8 / 10
Total number of reviews
14
Total rental companies
12
Average daily price
£ 67.83
Lowest daily price
£ 43.10
Total cars available
155

Top 12 Hire Companies at San Francisco Airport in 2023

Alamo
Alamo
Remarkable 9.3 / 55 reviews
+18443708302
780 N McDonnell Rd, San Francisco, CA 94128
£ 73 - £ 328
Enterprise
Enterprise
Remarkable 9.1 / 6 reviews
+18336350431
780 N McDonnell Rd, San Francisco, CA 94128
£ 74 - £ 330
SIXT
SIXT
Outstanding 8.9 / 17 reviews
+18887498227
San Francisco Int. Airport Rental Car Center 780 N McDonnell Rd 94128 San Francisco
£ 57 - £ 199
Working hours
Mon:07:00-23:59
Tue:07:00-23:59
Wed:07:00-23:59
Thu:07:00-23:59
Fri:07:00-23:59
Sat:07:00-23:59
Sun:07:00-23:59
National
National
Outstanding 8.8 / 5 reviews
+18443708301
780 N McDonnell Rd, San Francisco, CA 94128
£ 76 - £ 331
yesaway
yesaway
Outstanding 8.7 / 11 reviews
+16504666123 / +18007811023
1288 Old Bayshore Hwy, Burlingame, CA 94010
Working hours
Mon:10:00-18:00
Tue:10:00-18:00
Wed:10:00-18:00
Thu:10:00-18:00
Fri:10:00-18:00
Sat:10:00-18:00
Sun:10:00-18:00
Budget
Budget
Outstanding 8.5 / 3 reviews
+16508770998
780 Mcdonnell Road
£ 67 - £ 144
Working hours
Mon:00:00-23:59
Tue:00:00-23:59
Wed:00:00-23:59
Thu:00:00-23:59
Fri:00:00-23:59
Sat:00:00-23:59
Sun:00:00-23:59
Hertz
Hertz
Outstanding 8.5
6506246600
780 Mcdonnell Road
Working hours
Mon:00:00-02:00; 05:30-23:59
Tue:00:00-02:00; 05:30-23:59
Wed:00:00-02:00; 05:30-23:59
Thu:00:00-02:00; 05:30-23:59
Fri:00:00-02:00; 05:30-23:59
Sat:00:00-02:00; 05:30-23:59
Sun:00:00-02:00; 05:30-23:59
Dollar
Dollar
Outstanding 8.2 / 41 reviews
8664342226
780 Mcdonnell Rd
£ 43 - £ 48
Working hours
Mon:06:30-23:00
Tue:06:30-23:00
Wed:06:30-23:00
Thu:06:30-23:00
Fri:06:30-23:00
Sat:06:30-23:00
Sun:06:30-23:00
Avis
Avis
Outstanding 8.1 / 11 reviews
+16508776780
780 Mcdonnell Road
Working hours
Mon:00:00-23:59
Tue:00:00-23:59
Wed:00:00-23:59
Thu:00:00-23:59
Fri:00:00-23:59
Sat:00:00-23:59
Sun:00:00-23:59
Thrifty
Thrifty
Outstanding 8 / 22 reviews
+18772830898
780 Mcdonnell Rd
£ 45 - £ 82
Working hours
Mon:06:30-23:00
Tue:06:30-23:00
Wed:06:30-23:00
Thu:06:30-23:00
Fri:06:30-23:00
Sat:06:30-23:00
Sun:06:30-23:00
NUCarrentals
NUCarrentals
Great 7.9 / 3 reviews
+16506517145
1409 Rollins Rd, Burlingame, CA 94010
Working hours
Mon:07:00-16:00
Tue:07:00-16:00
Wed:07:00-16:00
Thu:07:00-16:00
Fri:07:00-16:00
Sat:07:00-16:00
Sun:07:00-16:00
FOX
FOX
Great 7.8 / 81 reviews
+14159172713 / +18002254369
780 N. McDonnell Road, San Francisco.
£ 93 - £ 124
Working hours
Mon:00:00-00:30
Tue:00:00-00:30
Wed:00:00-00:30
Thu:00:00-00:30
Fri:00:00-00:30
Sat:00:00-00:30
Sun:00:00-00:30
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