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

San Francisco Airport Car Hire
Intermediate SUV
Chevrolet Bolt or comparable
Chevrolet Bolt
  • 5
  • 1
  • 5
  • Auto.
Dollar
£ 38.58 / per day
San Francisco Airport Car Hire
Economy
Chevrolet Spark or comparable
Chevrolet Spark
  • 4
  • 2
  • 4
  • A/C
  • Auto.
Thrifty
£ 39.26 / per day
San Francisco Airport Car Hire
Compact SUV
Nissan Kicks or comparable
Nissan Kicks
  • 5
  • 2
  • 5
  • A/C
  • Auto.
Alamo
£ 41.87 / per day
San Francisco Airport Car Hire
Standard
Nissan Altima or comparable
Nissan Altima
  • 5
  • 2
  • 4
  • A/C
  • Auto.
FOX
£ 44.46 / per day

Most Popular Car Hire Deals

San Francisco Airport Car Hire
Full-size
Chevrolet Malibu or comparable
Chevrolet Malibu
  • 5
  • 2
  • 4
  • A/C
  • Auto.
Enterprise
£ 47.13 / per day
San Francisco Airport Car Hire
Premium
Nissan Maxima or comparable
Nissan Maxima
  • 5
  • 2
  • 4
  • A/C
  • Auto.
National
£ 54.59 / per day
San Francisco Airport Car Hire
Luxury
Chrysler 300 or comparable
Chrysler 300
  • 5
  • 2
  • 4
  • A/C
  • Auto.
Budget
£ 69.38 / per day
San Francisco Airport Car Hire
Full-size Elite
Audi A5 Sportback or comparable
Audi A5 Sportback
  • 5
  • 2
  • 5
  • A/C
  • Auto.
Alamo
£ 53.61 / 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 13:21 on 2023-12-04.

Travel Information

Languages
English, Spanish
Currency
USD
Drive on
Right-hand side
Dialing code
+1
Average car hire price
£ 49 per day
Average car hire length
9 days
Speed limit within city centre
40 - 48 km/h or 25 - 30 mph
Speed limit out of city centre
88 - 104 km/h or 55 - 65 mph
Acceptable limit of BAC
0.08%
Score
8.5 / 10
Average gasoline price
£ 1.16 per litre or £ 4.41 / 1 gallon
Lowest gasoline price
£ 0.99 per litre or £ 3.74 / 1 gallon
Highest gasoline price
£ 1.46 per litre or £ 5.52 / 1 gallon
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 £ 57 per day
  • Large cars - starting at £ 40 per day
  • Medium cars - starting at £ 39 per day
  • People Carriers - starting at £ 54 per day
  • Premium cars - starting at £ 43 per day
  • Small cars - starting at £ 39 per day
  • SUVs - starting at £ 39 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 £ 35.04 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 £ 35.63 per day
    253.3 km / 157.4 miles away

Map of Car Hire Destinations

In which month is car hire at San Francisco Airport the most affordable?

Our data shows how prices for hiring a car at San Francisco Airport fluctuate depending on the season. This graph can help you find the best bargain.
Average price for hiring a car per day at San Francisco Airport
£ 39.26
January
£ 52.03
February
£ 49.29
March
£ 46.32
April
£ 45.44
May
£ 48.49
June
£ 46.92
July
£ 51.00
August
£ 44.21
September
£ 44.43
October
£ 42.02
November
£ 51.99
December
The best month to hire a car at San Francisco Airport is January — when the average price for a hire is £ 39.26 per day. This is 16% less than the yearly average and 25% less than hiring a car in February (when the average price is £ 52.03 per day).

This information can help you determine the low season. But note that these prices are only averages. The cost of your hire is determined by the type of car you select, the length of time you hire it for and how much in advance you book. Simply type in your dates in the form at the top of the page in order to find out the exact prices.

What’s the usual hire length for renters at San Francisco Airport?

Car hire lengths differ depending on the time of year: in January, the average hire length is 10 days, while in November, it is only 7 days.
Average number of hire days at San Francisco Airport
10
January
9
February
9
March
10
April
8
May
10
June
10
July
9
August
9
September
8
October
7
November
9
December

Which time of year sees the highest demand for car hire at San Francisco Airport?

Given the number of users searching for a car at San Francisco Airport, there is a higher probability of travellers hiring a car at San Francisco Airport in August in comparison to hiring a car in in January.
Monthly searches at San Francisco Airport by pick-up date relative to the average
29%
January
38%
February
66%
March
109%
April
88%
May
123%
June
176%
July
226%
August
147%
September
82%
October
60%
November
56%
December

Car Hire Information

Popular suppliers Dollar, Thrifty, Alamo, FOX, SIXT
Popular car categories SUVs, Large cars, Medium cars, Small cars
Lowest price £ 39 per day
Cheapest supplier Dollar

Most Popular Car Hire Models

Hire Agency Model Doors Luggage Type
Dollar Honda Civic 4 2 Large cars
Dollar Hyundai Accent 4 2 Medium cars
Dollar Honda CR-V 5 3 SUVs
Dollar Nissan Rogue 5 3 SUVs
Alamo Nissan Rogue 5 3 SUVs
Thrifty Nissan Rogue 5 3 SUVs
Thrifty Mazda 3 5 3 Large cars
Dollar Chevrolet Bolt 5 1 SUVs
FOX Toyota Camry 4 2 Large cars
Dollar Chevrolet Spark 4 2 Small cars

Our Customers' Reviews

Because we want to make sure each review listed here is left by a real customer, we don’t have an option to post a review here. Instead, we ask each and every customer to leave a review after they return their rental car. This way, you know that all reviews are authentic, verified, and trustworthy.

United Kingdom
Nissan Maxima
14 August 2023
Pacific Highway 1 and Dutch town of Solvang

Car Hire Statistics

Highest rated company
Alamo
9.5 / 10
)
Lowest rated company
Thrifty
7.7 / 10
)
Total number of reviews
17
Total rental companies
11
Average daily price
£ 48.61
Lowest daily price
£ 38.58
Total cars available
188

Top 11 Hire Companies at San Francisco Airport in 2023

Alamo
Alamo
Remarkable 9.5 / 68 reviews
+18443708302
780 N McDonnell Rd, San Francisco, CA 94128
£ 42 - £ 194
Enterprise
Enterprise
Remarkable 9.4 / 8 reviews
+18336350431
780 N McDonnell Rd, San Francisco, CA 94128
£ 43 - £ 265
SIXT
SIXT
Outstanding 8.9 / 17 reviews
+18887498227
San Francisco Int. Airport Rental Car Center 780 N McDonnell Rd 94128 San Francisco
Working hours
Mon:00:00-01:00; 06:00-23:59
Tue:00:00-01:00; 06:00-23:59
Wed:00:00-01:00; 06:00-23:59
Thu:00:00-01:00; 06:00-23:59
Fri:00:00-01:00; 06:00-23:59
Sat:00:00-01:00; 06:00-23:59
Sun:00:00-01:00; 06:00-23:59
National
National
Outstanding 8.8 / 5 reviews
+18443708301
780 N McDonnell Rd, San Francisco, CA 94128
£ 45 - £ 197
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
£ 52 - £ 131
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 8.4 / 1 reviews
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
Avis
Avis
Outstanding 8.2 / 15 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
FOX
FOX
Great 7.9 / 86 reviews
+14159172713
435 S Airport Blvd, South San Francisco, CA 94080
£ 44 - £ 75
Working hours
Mon:05:00-00:30
Tue:05:00-00:30
Wed:05:00-00:30
Thu:05:00-00:30
Fri:05:00-00:30
Sat:05:00-00:30
Sun:05:00-00:30
Dollar
Dollar
Great 7.7 / 71 reviews
8664342226
780 Mcdonnell Rd
£ 39 - £ 66
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
Thrifty
Thrifty
Great 7.7 / 35 reviews
+18772830898
780 N McDonnell Rd, San Francisco, CA 94128, United States
£ 39 - £ 79
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
Why book with us?
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Highly-rated
A combined rating of 4.5 with 90k total reviews on platforms like Trustpilot, Google, and Review Center.
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