Car Rental in San Diego 

Tips for renting a car inexpensively in San Diego

Looking for a cheap car rental in San Diego? With Economybookings, you can easily compare multiple providers to find the best possible deal across California. Whether you're planning to explore the sunny city center or take a coastal drive along the Pacific, a quick comparison can save you time and money.

• Compare pickup locations – Select the broader city instead of a specific location to unlock more deal options, including off-airport savings.
• Slightly adjust pickup times and dates – Even changing your booking by an hour can reveal lower rates.
• Choose economy or compact cars – These vehicle types are usually the most budget-friendly.
• Book early – Especially during peak travel seasons like summer (June to August) and the winter holiday period, advance booking helps secure lower prices and better availability.

Tips when renting and driving a car in San Diego

• San Diego County has a burgeoning public transportation system, but you will likely need a car when traveling beyond the urban core and the North County coast.
• Be aware of rush hour traffic in the region’s major freeways (such as I-5, I-8, and I-15).
• You can pick up your rental car at San Diego International Airport, but rental options are also available downtown and near Old Town.
• Try a small car if you plan to stay in or near the city, and if you really want to save on fuel costs.
• Pick a car with four-wheel drive if you’re planning longer drives into the mountains and desert, and check to see if your rental car provider offers bike racks or other attachable racks to store your equipment.
• Inspect the car and take photos before and after rental.

Driving tips in San Diego

• Drive on the right side of the road, and prepare to wait your turn when you need to turn left.
• Look out for stop lights—green means go, yellow signals that you must prepare to stop, and red is stop. At most intersections with stop lights, there will also be dedicated stop lights for left-turn lanes.
• Roundabouts can be found throughout San Diego – yield to all traffic in the circle, especially any bicyclists and pedestrians crossing.
• When driving in and around downtown, look for the signs and stay aware of one-way streets.
• California state law requires headlight use from 30 minutes after sunset to 30 minutes before sunrise, during inclement weather (like heavy rain and fog), and whenever else outside visibility is below 1,000 feet.
• Horn use should be reserved for emergencies or warnings.
• Traffic usually moves faster in the left lanes on freeways and highways.
• Major attractions like Balboa Park and San Diego Zoo, (city and state) public beaches, and streets in central neighborhoods like Little Italy and the Gaslamp tend to charge for parking. For San Diego streets and city-run lots, you can use the Park Smarter app for contactless payment.
• NEVER cross a set of double yellow lines.
• Try the GasBuddy app to locate local gas stations and check prices. If you have a Costco membership, you can refuel there and take advantage of their very cheap gas.
• Keep your driver’s license, rental papers, and proof of insurance with you at all times.
• I-5 is the city’s and county’s main north-south freeway, while I-805 runs north-south parallel to I-5 from La Jolla to San Ysidro, I-15 runs north from downtown to Temecula (and beyond), I-8 runs east from Ocean Beach to El Cajon (and beyond), SR 52 runs east from La Jolla to Santee, SR 56 runs east from Del Mar to Poway, and SR 78 runs east from Oceanside to Escondido.
• Expect the heaviest traffic during weekday rush hours, typically from 6:00 to 9:00 AM, and from 4:00 to 7:00 PM. If you’re using I-5, you may run into traffic jams throughout the day. And if you’re planning weekend outings to Orange County, Los Angeles, or the desert, try to leave early to avoid the worst of the “weekend warrior” road trip traffic on Friday afternoons.

Speed limits

Under California law, speed limits are 65 mph (105 km/h) on most multi-lane freeways (with some rural freeways allowing up to 70 mph or 113 km/h), 55 mph (89 km/h) on two-lane highways, 35 mph (56 km/h) on most city streets, and 25 mph (40 km/h) on streets in residential neighborhoods and school zones.

When driving in the City of San Diego, note that the city is implementing a new program to make neighborhood streets safer for pedestrians and bicyclists, with speed limits topping at 20 mph (32 km/h) in select areas of North Park, Hillcrest, Ocean Beach, and Mission Beach (as of Summer 2025). Otherwise, always watch for posted signs, as limits can vary.

Road signs

U.S. road signs are typically noticeable and well-placed. They are almost always in English and use symbols for quick understanding. Speed limit signs are in miles per hour (mph). Across San Diego County, look out for signs marking dedicated bus lanes, bike lanes, railroad crossings, and school streets, which may have special speed limits and other restrictions. And in coastal areas, you may see tsunami evacuation signs showing where to go in the event of a severe earthquake.

Tolls, fees, and restrictions

Currently, San Diego County has two sets of toll lanes serving the metro region. In North County, I-15 has pay-to-use express lanes that run between SR 78 in Escondido and the SR 163 interchange near Kearny Mesa. And in the South Bay, SR 125 operates as the South Bay Expressway toll road from Bonita all the way to the Otay Mesa border crossing. For these toll roads, you can either pay via an attachable FasTrak® transponder or online by matching your license plate number.

If you plan to drive to any of the region’s regional parks, state parks, and national parks, monuments, or other public lands, note that many of these parks do charge vehicle entry fees. In particular, if you will be driving to any National Park Service run public lands, they typically charge vehicle entrance fees ranging from $20 at Cabrillo National Monument to $30 at Joshua Tree National Park. At California State Parks (including Torrey Pines, Cardiff, and Palomar Mountain), day passes typically cost $10 or $20 per person. And at Cleveland National Forest, as well as county parks like San Elijo Lagoon and Mission Trails, you may need to pay a $5 parking fee.

Discover San Diego by car

With an abundance of beautiful beaches, leafy mountain forests, and grand deserts within reach, there’s never a shortage of exciting road trips around San Diego. And with the Inland Empire, Orange County, and Los Angeles well within reach, the larger Southern California region offers seemingly endless possibilities for road trips.

In recent years, state and local authorities have worked to expand mass transit offerings. As of 2025, the San Diego Trolley light rail system extends from Downtown San Diego to La Jolla and UCSD, El Cajon and Santee, and San Ysidro by the U.S.-Mexico border. In addition, the Coaster regional commuter rail line runs between Downtown San Diego and Oceanside, the Sprinter train runs in North County between Oceanside and Escondido, and Amtrak runs the Pacific Surfliner train from Downtown San Diego all the way north to Santa Barbara.

With this in mind, it’s important to remember that mass transit options tend to be fewer and further in between when venturing beyond the urban core, and this especially applies if your itinerary includes places like the San Diego Zoo Safari Park and the Temecula wineries that the trains just don’t reach. If you want to reach these and other places that Amtrak and the local train lines do not service, it helps to have your own car.

When to Visit

San Diego may be world-famous for its “perfect weather,” but you may still need to factor in the local calendar when planning your trip. During the summer season, you will generally find the warmest weather that makes for perfect beach days, but this is also the peak season for tourism. And when Comic-Con descends on the city in late July, crowds and prices really hit their peak.

If you want nice beach weather without the huge crowds, the August to October back-to-school shoulder season makes a decent alternative to the traditional June-July summer season. Otherwise, winter and spring mean cooler (but hardly ever cold) weather that’s conducive to longer hiking and biking excursions outside.

Languages & Communication

English is spoken almost everywhere around San Diego. But since this is a border town, expect to hear plenty of Spanish across the region. And as San Diego becomes a much more multicultural community, you may also hear Tagalog, Chinese, and Vietnamese in certain neighborhoods. Still, nearly all signage is in English, and visitors rarely face language barriers.

Currency & Payments

Since California is part of the United States, the U.S. dollar ($) is used everywhere. Credit and debit cards are widely accepted, and contactless payments are becoming more commonplace around the region. ATMs are easy to find throughout San Diego County, but keep in mind that ATMs will charge extra fees if they are not affiliated with your bank. Also, note that banks generally become fewer and farther between once you reach more rural parts of Southern California, especially in the desert areas east of the Laguna Mountains.

Top driving routes in and around San Diego

• Torrey Pines State Beach – About a 20-40 minute drive from Downtown San Diego; this state park has some of the region’s most pristine beaches (at least, this close to the city), and the neighboring natural reserve has some great hiking trails reaching into the forest that’s home to one of North America’s rarest trees
• Encinitas – About a 45 minute to 1.5 hour drive from San Diego; this North County beach town has some of the region’s top surfing beaches, such as Swami’s and Cardiff State Beach, along with a pleasantly walkable downtown village by Moonlight State Beach
• Julian – About 1.5 to 2 hours east of San Diego; this mountain town may be locally famous for its apples (and apple pie), but this is also a prime location for hiking and biking the mountains
• Temecula – About 1.5 to 2.5 hours north of San Diego; Temecula anchors the closest wine country region with nearly 50 wineries making everything from daring Spanish and Italian varietals to crowd-pleasing Chardonnays and Pinot Noirs, and it’s where you will find the Pechanga Native American-run casino resort
• Laguna Beach – About 1.5 to 2.5 hours north; Laguna is one of those California beach towns that must be seen to be believed, from its creative summer art festivals to its spectacularly beautiful beaches, such as Treasure Island and Diver’s Cove

• Borrego Springs – About 1.5 to 2.5 hours east; come for the arid yet colorful ruggedly beautiful landscapes of Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, and stay to explore the quirky local arts scene and do some nighttime stargazing in this protected dark sky region
• Ensenada (Baja California, Mexico) – About 2 to 3 hours south; this historic port city may be the best town to taste Baja-style Mexican cuisine (especially fish tacos!) at its finest, and it functions as a coastal gateway to the dynamic and lively Valle de Guadalupe wine country region

• Santa Catalina Island – About 3 to 4 hours west (including the ferry ride); Catalina Express offers daily ferry service from the Orange County town of Dana Point; once you reach Avalon, feel free to kick back at the beach, or take your time exploring the incredible coastal backcountry on foot, bike, kayak, or snorkel gear
• Palm Springs – About 3 to 4.5 hours northeast; head here for the fabulous spa resorts, the funky bars, bistros, and boutiques downtown, the magnificent landscapes of Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains National Monument, and the iconic desert scenery at the nearby Joshua Tree National Park

When driving around California, check with CalTrans (or the California Department of Transportation) for the most up-to-date traffic news. They have a tool on their website, as well as their QuickMap app available for download. And no matter where you drive, always keep your eyes out for maintenance and repair projects.