Renting a car at San Diego airport: the complete pickup guide

San Diego International Airport is one of the easiest big airports in the country for picking up a rental car, but only if you know how the Rental Car Center works. Every major rental company, including us, operates from one consolidated building about two miles from the terminals. There are no rental counters inside the terminals themselves.

I run our airport operation and this is the same advice I give friends and family flying in. Follow it and you should be driving within 20 minutes of grabbing your bags.

Step 1: Before you fly

Two small things save the most time. First, add your flight number to your reservation. We track arrivals, so if your flight is delayed we know and your car is held. Second, upload a photo of your driver's license when you book. That turns on Express Pickup, which lets you skip the counter completely.

• Add your flight number to track delays
• Upload your license for Express Pickup
• Add car seats and extras online so they are installed before you arrive
• Save our 24/7 number, (619) 555-0192, in your phone

Step 2: After you land

Collect your bags at baggage claim. At Terminal 2 the carousels are on the lower level; at Terminal 1 they are on the ground floor. Then follow the purple Rental Car Shuttle signs out to the transportation plaza. The shuttle islands are directly across the first crosswalk.

The shared Rental Car Center shuttles are large buses with luggage racks and they run about every 10 minutes around the clock. Late at night they may run every 15 minutes. The ride itself is five to eight minutes depending on traffic on Harbor Drive.

Step 3: At the Rental Car Center

Shuttles stop at the main entrance on the east side of the building. Our counter is on the ground floor. If you set up Express Pickup, you will already have a text with your stall number. Walk straight through the lobby to the garage level marked on the signs, find your stall and load up.

If you did not upload a license, visit Counter 14. Bring the driver's license and the credit card used for the booking. International visitors should also bring a passport. The average counter visit takes about eight minutes, a bit longer on Friday afternoons and holiday weekends.

The single best tip: upload your license when you book. It turns a counter line into a walk to your car.

Step 4: Leaving the airport

At the exit booth, show your license so the attendant can match it to your rental agreement. From the Rental Car Center, Pacific Highway connects to the I-5 in both directions within two minutes. Downtown hotels are about 10 minutes away, La Jolla 20, and Carlsbad around 35 outside rush hour.

Returning your car

Follow the Rental Car Return signs on Pacific Highway into the Rental Car Center and look for the Coastline lanes on Level 1. A team member checks the car on a handheld device and emails your receipt before you have unloaded your bags. Then take the shuttle back to your terminal.

For a domestic flight, arrive at the Rental Car Center about two and a half hours before departure. That covers the return, the shuttle and security, which at SAN can be slow on Sunday afternoons and Monday mornings.

Fees you should know about

Airport rentals include a Customer Facility Charge set by the airport authority to fund the Rental Car Center and shuttle, plus a concession recovery fee. These are charged by every company operating at SAN. Our booking flow shows both in your total before you confirm, so there are no surprises at the counter.

Want to avoid airport fees entirely? If you are staying downtown, take a rideshare to our Gaslamp branch, about 10 minutes from the terminals, and pick up there instead.