Top rated rental cars in San Diego, CA
It’s always a perfect day in San Diego — however you like to vacation. The city is known for its immaculate weather, sparkling coastline, with beaches perfect for surfing, sipping cocktails, and even hang gliding.
When you’re done chowing down on great Mexican food, book a car in San Diego to go check out the bevy of museums in town that offer an array of exciting experiences, equally thrilling to adults and kids.
The secret to making the most of San Diego is simply to enjoy the outdoors.
Covering more than 1,200 acres, laced with hiking trails, and home to museums, theaters, restaurants, and the San Diego Zoo, Balboa Park is much more than your average city green. Absorb San Diego’s culture and legendary sunshine.
There are many ways to do the beach, but nothing beats a day trip to wander the tidepools and meet all the sea creatures. You can find your preferred type of vehicle in San Diego at a low daily rate, then head down to the shore.
In Downtown San Diego, this retired U.S. aircraft carrier gives you a taste of the Top Gun life. Hang out on the flight deck of the USS Midway, explore the aircraft, and test your fortitude in the flight simulator.
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Rent cars in San Diego, CA
Road trip itinerary: catch a meal al fresco at sunset, tackle the mountains, and take a dip in the Pacific. This is one of the most laid-back and comfortable areas of the country, with easy street parking, a sometimes-mils rush hour, nearby road trip destinations galore. Book a car in San Diego, then travel out of town along the stunningly gorgeous coastal roads, and take the rural highways out into the mountains or desert for an entirely different Southern California experience. Avoid the rental car center and take the scenic route with a convertible.
Rent the perfect carGrab a tank of gas and take the hour drive north past Torrey Pines in your car to take in the famously beautiful Carlsbad State Beach, explore the lagoons, or go wild at Legoland.
Immerse yourself in the tranquility of the desert and discover the unique collection of sculptures tucked into the landscape. Take a road trip out to this touristic location 80 miles south of Palm Springs — the weather is warm any time of year.
Find your preferred type of vehicle in San Diego, then head an hour out from the city into the mountains to pick your own apples, indulge in a slice of pie, and take a tour of Julian’s 1870s gold mine.
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This epic highway is particularly astounding near San Diego. Grab a car and head north out of the bustling city to catch ocean views from Pacific Beach, Torrey Pines, Solana Beach, Encinitas, all the way past Oceanside.
For this challenging, scenic mountain loop, navigate your car northeast of San Diego to catch Highway 76 out of Temecula into the Cleveland National Forest for thrilling views.
Book a car and hit Old Highway 80 to see the ghost towns and abandoned ruins along this two-lane highway, built in 1956 to connect San Diego all the way east to Savannah, Georgia.
To book a car on Turo, you must create a Turo account, be 18 years old or older with a valid driver’s license, and get approved to drive on Turo. When you’re booking your first trip, you’ll go through a quick approval process by entering your driver’s license and some other information. In most cases, you’ll get approved immediately, and you’ll be set for future road trips, business trips, and family vacations!
No, you don’t need personal insurance coverage to book a car on Turo. But, any personal insurance you may have that covers damage to the host’s vehicle would kick in before your Turo protection plan, except in limited situations for trips booked in Maryland, but this protects your own wallet. The liability insurance included in a protection plan is provided under a policy issued to Turo by Travelers Excess and Surplus Lines Company.*
When booking a car on Turo, you’ll choose between three protection plans — Premier, Standard, or Minimum — to get the level of coverage that’s right for you. With each plan, you’re covered with liability insurance provided under a policy issued to Turo by Travelers — $750,000 for the Premier plan.*
On your Account page, make sure you’ve checked the box to receive email notifications, and enable push notifications from the Turo app in your phone settings — we’ll send you occasional promotions, discounts, and deals on cars in San Diego!
Additionally, frequent travelers on Turo can get rewarded with the loyalty bonus — earn a promo code for one bonus day when you take trips totaling 10 days in a 90-day period!**
Yes, many Turo hosts offer discounted prices when you book trips lasting 3+, 7+, or 30+ days. Additionally, hosts can offer “early bird” discounts for San Diego trips booked a week or more in advance. So, get the best deals and lowest rates possible by booking longer trips, at least a week in advance.
Browse a wide selection of vehicles for all kinds of occasions and budgets on Turo. Find a full-size SUV for a family road trip, a pickup truck for some errands, or a sporty convertible for a special night out in San Diego. For the lowest prices, use the “budget-friendly” filter to browse economy vehicles.
Some hosts offer unlimited distance for a trip; others set a daily distance limit. On the vehicle pages, you’ll see the total miles or kilometres you’re allowed to drive under the heading “Distance included.” You can find cars offering unlimited mileage with every trip by using the “Unlimited distance” filter.
Turo accepts most credit cards issued by major financial institutions, including American Express and Discover cards, as well as debit cards with a Visa or Mastercard logo that are linked to a checking account.
Apple Pay and Google Pay on mobile devices are also accepted, but Turo does not accept cash or checks as valid payment methods.
You can cancel and get a full refund up to 24 hours before your trip starts. If you book a trip with less than 24 hours’ notice, you have one hour after booking to cancel free of charge. If you cancel after the free cancellation period ends, you will be charged a small cancellation fee.
Under the enhanced cleaning policy, hosts are required to clean and disinfect their vehicles thoroughly before every trip, so you can feel safe and comfortable behind the wheel. Turo hosts have access to training materials on enhanced cleaning practices, using the latest recommendations compiled from the CDC, EPA, WHO, and vehicle detailing experts, to help prevent the spread of COVID-19.
No. Unlike rental car companies, Turo is a peer-to-peer car sharing marketplace where you can book directly from trusted local car owners in the US, Canada, and the UK. Turo does not own any vehicles — Turo hosts share their own personal cars and set their own prices, discounts, vehicle availability, and delivery options.
Yes, there are hundreds of cars available on Turo at locations near the San Diego airport. After arriving at San Diego International Airport or John Wayne Airport, have your car delivered for pick-up and drop off at your San Diego hotel or vacation rental to save time and hassle. Some major hotels offer shuttle bus services from the airport, so you can go get settled before meeting your host at the pickup location at a later pickup time. Besides shuttle service, you can catch an Uber or Lyft.
No, you cannot drive a car you booked in the United States across the border into Mexico. Driving a vehicle booked in the US into Mexico is a prohibited use on Turo and you may face a penalty fee, suspension, and/or removal from the platform. If you’re planning a trip to our neighboring country Mexico, search for your destination to rent a car with a Commercial Host at a convenient rental location in Mexico.
The best and most convenient way to get to the San Diego Zoo is by booking a car on Turo, so you can get to and from the zoo on your own time. The San Diego Zoo is conveniently located in downtown San Diego, not far from the San Diego Convention Center and Gaslamp Quarter, and you can drive about half an hour north to the San Diego Zoo Safari Park in Escondido to complete your animal adventure.
* Any personal insurance you may have that covers damage to the host’s vehicle would kick in before your protection plan, except in limited situations for trips booked in Maryland, but this protects your own wallet. Liability insurance is provided under a policy issued to Turo by Travelers Excess and Surplus Lines Company. Terms, conditions, and exclusions apply. The policy does not provide coverage for damage to a host’s vehicle.
For questions or information about the third party liability insurance that is included in protection plans, consumers in Maryland and the licensed states listed here may contact Turo Insurance Agency at (415) 508-0283 or claims@turo.agency. For questions about how damage to a host’s vehicle is handled, visit the Turo Support site.
When a trip is booked in the state of Washington, physical damage to the host’s vehicle is covered by insurance purchased by Turo, but Turo’s insurance does not change the contractual responsibilities of hosts or guests with respect to physical damage to a host’s vehicle.