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Car Rental San Francisco Airport 

Your Guide to Car Rental at San Francisco International Airport (SFO)

San Francisco International Airport (SFO) is a primary gateway to Northern California and the tech-hub of Silicon Valley. If you're contemplating renting a car here, it's essential to familiarize yourself with the necessary details for a pleasant journey. Let's delve into the key aspects:

1. Car Rental Agencies:

We offer car hire from most major car rental agencies who have operations at SFO, including Avis, Budget, Enterprise, Hertz, National, and Alamo, among others. For the best experience and price, consider reserving your vehicle in advance, especially during peak tourist seasons.

2. Exiting the Airport:

When departing from SFO, the primary exit roads are:

  • US-101: This highway runs north-south, leading you towards downtown San Francisco (north) or Silicon Valley and San Jose (south).

  • I-380: A short connector freeway linking US-101 with I-280.

3. Distances, Tolls & Routes:

San Francisco and its neighboring regions have several toll bridges:

  • If heading into downtown San Francisco, the Bay Bridge (I-80) has a toll when entering the city. As of 2022, the Golden Gate Bridge is toll-free when driving out of the city, but there's a toll when entering.

  • Golden Gate Bridge: The iconic red bridge connects San Francisco with Marin County. It uses electronic tolling, so ensure your rental car has the appropriate transponder, or inquire about the agency's tolling policy.

4. Road Conditions & Traffic:

The Bay Area's road conditions vary:

  • Weather: The region has a Mediterranean climate, with rainy conditions mainly in winter. Ensure your windshield wipers function properly.

  • Traffic: San Francisco is notorious for its traffic congestion. Peak hours generally span from 7:00-10:00 AM and 4:00-7:00 PM on weekdays. The Bay Bridge and US-101 can be particularly busy.

5. Driving Customs & Rules Unique to California:

While many driving rules are consistent across the U.S., California has some specifics:

  • Carpool Lanes: California uses High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lanes. Familiarize yourself with the occupancy requirements, as they can vary.

  • Lane Splitting: Motorcycles are allowed to drive between two lanes of traffic, a practice known as lane splitting.

  • Right on Red: After a complete stop, drivers can turn right on a red light unless a sign indicates otherwise. Ensure the way is clear and yield to pedestrians.

6. Additional Tips:

  • Hills: San Francisco is known for its steep hills. If you're not used to driving on inclines, be cautious, especially when parking. Always engage your parking brake.

  • Street Parking: Pay attention to posted signs for street cleaning, time limits, and resident-only restrictions.

  • Pedestrians: The city is pedestrian-heavy. Always yield to pedestrians at crosswalks.

Conclusion: Renting a car from San Francisco International Airport offers the freedom to explore the diverse landscapes and attractions of the Bay Area. By staying informed about local roadways, traffic patterns, and unique California driving customs, you'll ensure a safer, more enjoyable journey.


Current Rental Rates at San Francisco Airport

Nissan Sentra

5 Adults, 4 Doors

From 38.23 EUR/day
Nissan Sentra

7 Days rental at 267.64 EUR from 11/12/2023

  4 |
  Automatic |
  Yes

Toyota Corolla

5 Adults, 4 Doors

From 38.24 EUR/day
Toyota Corolla

7 Days rental at 267.69 EUR from 11/12/2023

  4 |
  Automatic |
  Yes

Toyota Camry

5 Adults, 4 Doors

From 38.69 EUR/day
Toyota Camry

7 Days rental at 270.84 EUR from 11/12/2023

  4 |
  Automatic |
  Yes

Chevrolet Bolt

5 Adults, 5 Doors

From 43.62 EUR/day
Chevrolet Bolt

7 Days rental at 305.34 EUR from 11/12/2023

  4 |
  Automatic |
  Yes

Mystery Electric Compact or Larger

5 Adults, 5 Doors

From 44.58 EUR/day
Mystery Electric Compact or Larger

7 Days rental at 312.09 EUR from 11/12/2023

  3 |
  Automatic |
  Yes

Chevrolet Bolt

5 Adults, 5 Doors

From 43.13 EUR/day
Chevrolet Bolt

7 Days rental at 301.94 EUR from 11/12/2023

  4 |
  Automatic |
  Yes

Mystery Electric Compact or Larger

5 Adults, 5 Doors

From 44.25 EUR/day
Mystery Electric Compact or Larger

7 Days rental at 309.78 EUR from 11/12/2023

  3 |
  Automatic |
  Yes

Mystery Electric Compact or Larger

5 Adults, 5 Doors

From 44.79 EUR/day
Mystery Electric Compact or Larger

7 Days rental at 313.54 EUR from 11/12/2023

  3 |
  Automatic |
  Yes

Chevrolet Bolt

5 Adults, 5 Doors

From 43.67 EUR/day
Chevrolet Bolt

7 Days rental at 305.71 EUR from 11/12/2023

  4 |
  Automatic |
  Yes

Mystery Electric Compact or Larger

5 Adults, 5 Doors

From 42.64 EUR/day
Mystery Electric Compact or Larger

7 Days rental at 298.48 EUR from 11/12/2023

  3 |
  Automatic |
  Yes

Chevrolet Bolt

5 Adults, 5 Doors

From 41.67 EUR/day
Chevrolet Bolt

7 Days rental at 291.73 EUR from 11/12/2023

  4 |
  Automatic |
  Yes

Mystery Electric Compact or Larger

5 Adults, 5 Doors

From 46.70 EUR/day
Mystery Electric Compact or Larger

7 Days rental at 326.94 EUR from 11/12/2023

  3 |
  Automatic |
  Yes

Chevrolet Bolt

5 Adults, 5 Doors

From 45.56 EUR/day
Chevrolet Bolt

7 Days rental at 318.96 EUR from 11/12/2023

  4 |
  Automatic |
  Yes

Tesla Model Y

5 Adults, 5 Doors

From 47.91 EUR/day
Tesla Model Y

7 Days rental at 335.41 EUR from 11/12/2023

  4 |
  Automatic |
  Yes

Polestar 2

5 Adults, 5 Doors

From 39.70 EUR/day
Polestar 2

7 Days rental at 277.94 EUR from 11/12/2023

  3 |
  Automatic |
  Yes

Useful to know about San Francisco Airport

  • San Francisco International Airport is the 20th busiest airport in the world with nearly 40 million passengers using it per year.
  • SFO is a major hub for United Airlines, which has merged with Continental Airlines.
  • There is free Wi-Fi available throughout San Francisco International Airport, unsurprisingly given its proximity to Silicon Valley.
  • Due to the mists that descend over this part of the world, San Francisco Airport can often be subject to significant delays.
  • From 2003 passengers were able to make use of direct connections to the city from the airport using the BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit) system.

 

Popular car hire destinations in San Francisco Airport

Best car rental companies in San Francisco Airport

9.9
No.1: ENTERPRISE,
based on 2397 reviews
100
100
96
100
100
11 min (average wait time)
9.0
No.3: ALAMO,
based on 5498 reviews
90
91
86
91
94
28 min (average wait time)
9.0
No.2: NATIONAL,
based on 448 reviews
91
91
87
91
92
22 min (average wait time)

San Francisco Airport car hire information

  • 10.0/10
    Best Rated Agent:
    Enterprise US Corporate
  • € 267.61
    Average price:
    (per week)
  • € 38.23
    Best Price:
    Per Week
  • 85
    Most Popular Type:
    Standard
  • 35
    Most popular model:
    Volkswagen Jetta
  • 445
    Total Cars Available
     

Average prices per day for car hire at San Francisco Airport

ItemPercent
January€ 76
February€ 74
March€ 69
April€ 79
May€ 76
June€ 86
July€ 95
August€ 67
September€ 62
October€ 64
November€ 82
December€ 69
ItemPercent
January€ 68
February€ 69
March€ 61
April€ 65
May€ 68
June€ 74
July€ 82
August€ 64
September€ 57
October€ 55
November€ 75
December€ 65
ItemPercent
January€ 93
February€ 90
March€ 83
April€ 99
May€ 104
June€ 111
July€ 123
August€ 97
September€ 81
October€ 80
November€ 99
December€ 101
ItemPercent
January€ 78
February€ 74
March€ 73
April€ 80
May€ 84
June€ 89
July€ 104
August€ 74
September€ 67
October€ 67
November€ 85
December€ 84
ItemPercent
January€ 96
February€ 89
March€ 87
April€ 86
May€ 96
June€ 99
July€ 115
August€ 93
September€ 81
October€ 77
November€ 108
December€ 95
ItemPercent
January€ 41
February€ 45
March
April€ 59
May€ 59
June€ 66
July€ 122
August€ 107
September€ 58
October€ 62
November€ 75
December€ 64
ItemPercent
January€ 86
February€ 85
March€ 79
April€ 88
May€ 89
June€ 91
July€ 113
August€ 81
September€ 76
October€ 75
November€ 94
December€ 91
ItemPercent
January€ 86
February€ 82
March€ 87
April€ 134
May€ 113
June€ 131
July€ 124
August€ 86
September€ 80
October€ 96
November€ 116
December€ 73

Select category to see average car hire prices at San Francisco Airport

*average daily rates based on 7 day rental, search for today's best prices

FAQs about car hire at San Francisco Airport

FAQs - How can we help?

There are always some points on which you are not sure when hiring a car, so we have done our best to answer the frequently asked questions. Just click this link and you will find the questions are sorted by category for easy navigation.

Information about car hire agents at San Francisco Airport


Other Rhino Car Hire Locations

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from
€62
per day
ItemPercent
Jan€ 73
Feb€ 63
Mar€ 52
Apr€ 73
May€ 72
Jun€ 80
Jul€ 66
Aug€ 54
Sep€ 42
Oct€ 45
Nov€ 58
Dec€ 71
from
€64
per day
ItemPercent
Jan€ 71
Feb€ 54
Mar€ 52
Apr€ 73
May€ 72
Jun€ 78
Jul€ 87
Aug€ 56
Sep€ 42
Oct€ 45
Nov€ 58
Dec€ 74
from
€65
per day
ItemPercent
Jan€ 56
Feb€ 75
Mar€ 63
Apr€ 71
May€ 67
Jun€ 63
Jul€ 72
Aug€ 71
Sep€ 57
Oct€ 65
Nov€ 60
Dec€ 62
from
€48
per day
ItemPercent
Jan€ 51
Feb€ 51
Mar€ 48
Apr€ 52
May€ 40
Jun€ 46
Jul€ 64
Aug€ 52
Sep€ 39
Oct€ 39
Nov€ 45
Dec€ 45