Book Thrifty car hires at San Francisco Airport

Driver's age: 26-65
Here is why travellers choose KAYAK

Save up to 36%Compare multiple travel sites with one search.

Free to useThere are no hidden charges or fees.

Filter your dealsFilter by car type, brand and more. Instantly customise your results.

Book with flexibilityUse our "free cancellation" filter for maximum flexibility at no extra cost.

Recommended by KAYAK
Useful Info
Recommended by KAYAK

Thrifty car hire prices at San Francisco Airport

Discover the best prices for you by selecting your travel dates on KAYAK.
Ford Fiesta car
Ford Fiesta
or similar Small
2
2
4-5
M
£25/day
Ford Focus car
Ford Focus
or similar Small
4
2
4-5
M
£27/day
Toyota Corolla car
Toyota Corolla
or similar Medium
5
3
2/4
M
£31/day
Volkswagen Jetta car
Volkswagen Jetta
or similar Medium
5
3
4-5
M
£29/day
Ford Fusion car
Ford Fusion
or similar Large
5
2
4-5
M
£31/day
Nissan Quest car
Nissan Quest
or similar Van
5
5
4-5
M
£52/day
Nissan Pathfinder car
Nissan Pathfinder
or similar SUV
5
2
4-5
M
£37/day
Ford Mustang Convertible car
Ford Mustang Convertible
or similar Convertible
5
3
2/4
M
£44/day
Class Special Car car
Class Special Car
or similar Category
5
5
2/4
M
£25/day
Class Special Sedan car
Class Special Sedan
or similar Medium
5
5
2/4
M
£25/day
Chevrolet Trax car
Chevrolet Trax
or similar SUV
4
2
4-5
M
£30/day
Nissan Rogue car
Nissan Rogue
or similar SUV
5
3
4-5
M
£31/day
Hyundai Santa Fe car
Hyundai Santa Fe
or similar SUV
5
3
4-5
M
£32/day
Best prices found by KAYAK users in the past 48 hours.
Useful Info

Top tips for hiring a car from Thrifty at San Francisco Airport

  • With so much to see and do in the city, book Thrifty car rentals at San Francisco Airport and you can explore the area with so much ease. You'll be able to explore more of the Bay Area than if you were relying on public transportation or taxis. You control your own schedule, so there's no need for advance planning or reservations. Expect to receive a wide range of benefits and services when you book Thrifty car rentals at San Francisco Airport. You'll have access to a vehicle that's suited to your needs and preferences, whether that means a luxury vehicle or something more economical.
  • There's nothing quite like the feeling of freedom that comes when you book Thrifty car rentals at San Francisco Airport. If you want to prepay for fuel, make sure to check out the Thrifty fuel options. They have an option for prepaid fuel as well as an option for paying at the pump after your trip. If you have children in tow or are planning on driving with them soon, you could get an infant seat from Thrifty so they can ride safely in your rental car. Thrifty also offers unlimited miles and license fees on all car rentals in San Francisco, CA.
  • It's important to know what to expect when returning your Thrifty rental car at San Francisco International Airport. You'll want to return the car on the same day as stipulated in your rental agreement. If you fail to do that, you could be charged for additional days of rental. When you return your car, follow the posted signs for Car Rental Return and go directly inside. To get there, you should take I-380 east from the airport and make a right onto South Airport Blvd. There, you'll need to provide a copy of your driver's license and credit card and the keys to your rental car.
  • You will be waiting more in lines when picking up or dropping off your San Francisco car hire during the weekdays. This is because there is a higher demand for cars then and a lot of people moving to different places. You should also avoid the morning rush hour and pick up your Thrifty car rental from the San Francisco Airport during the late evenings.
  • 25% of our users found hire cars from Thrifty at San Francisco Airport for £35 or less
  • Book your hire car at San Francisco Airport from Thrifty at least 1 day before your trip in order to get a below-average price
  • Compact hire cars from Thrifty at San Francisco Airport are around 29% cheaper than other car types, on average

FAQs about hiring a car from Thrifty at San Francisco Airport

  • Where can I find Thrifty counter at San Francisco Airport?

    If you're looking for Thrifty car rental at San Francisco Airport (SFO), the best place to start is on Level 4 inside the Rental Car Center at SFO.  Go to the AirTrain station and take the blue line to the 780 Mcdonnell Road, San Francisco, CA, 94128 through the Rent-A-Car Center (RAC).

  • What is the documentation required to rent a Thrifty car rental at San Francisco Airport?

    To rent a Thrifty car rental at San Francisco Airport, you must present a valid driver’s license and an international driver’s permit. The driver’s license is used to verify that you are legally allowed to drive in California, while the international permit is required because the state of California does not recognize other countries' licenses as valid proof of driving status. You will also need to show a credit card or debit card to rent the car. This is due to a law passed in California requiring all rental companies a security deposit for renting the car and against potential damage caused by customers who rent vehicles from them.

  • What are some of the protections offered at Thrifty car rental at San Francisco Airport?

    At Thrifty car rental at San Francisco Airport, you can expect a variety of protections from the minute you pick up your vehicle. Thrifty offers Loss Damage Waiver protection, which means that if your rental vehicle is damaged or stolen, you won't have to pay for it. You also have personal accident cover, which means that if you are injured in an accident while driving the rental car, they'll pay for medical expenses. Premium Roadside Assistance is also included with all Thrifty rentals in San Francisco. This includes 24-h roadside assistance and emergency road service like flat tires and lost keys.

  • How much does it cost to hire a car from Thrifty at San Francisco Airport?

    On average a hire car from Thrifty at San Francisco Airport costs £43 per day.

  • What is the most popular hire car from Thrifty at San Francisco Airport?

    Full-size (Nissan Pathfinder or similar) is the most frequently booked hire car type from Thrifty at San Francisco Airport.

  • Where can I find Thrifty hire cars at San Francisco Airport?

    780 Mcdonnell Rd is the closest Thrifty hire car location to San Francisco Airport. The telephone number for this location is +1 877 283 0898.

  • Does Thrifty offer shuttle or airport pick-up services from San Francisco Airport (SFO)?

    Yes

Reviews

Pros

", and presented no issues."(in 2376 reviews)
" was quite friendly and helpful."(in 959 reviews)
" was really friendly."(in 959 reviews)

Cons

"Just how felt."(in 2245 reviews)
"The like Cigarette smoke on the interior."(in 161 reviews)
"Actually know how they and Vince the representative lying to me"(in 399 reviews)
Overall rating5.2 FairBased on 214 reviews
Cleanliness
6.8
Comfort
6.3
Overall
5.1
Pick-up/Drop-off
5.1
Value for money
5.3

Recent reviews

Traveller rating
22
8
2
10
5
0
76
Find reviews that mention:
2.0
We ended up paying $ 1700+ instead of the $600+ that came up on the Kayak website. Would NOT recommend.Reviewed 9 Mar 2025
review fromkayak
2.0
Bait and switch- got sent to another site and had to pay up front with no refund option.Reviewed 5 Feb 2025
review fromkayak
10.0
Excellent customer serviceReviewed 8 Jan 2025
review fromkayak
2.0
This was the worst rental in my life and I have been renting vehicles for over 30 years.Reviewed 6 Jan 2025
review fromkayak
8.0
The electric suv I had booked was not available when I arrived for pick up but the desk agent spoke to someone at a different counter and was able to arrange the vehicle we had booked without any problem. Quick, polite and vehicle was greatReviewed 16 Dec 2024
review fromkayak
2.0
Even though we had a car reserved and used the online check-in, we had to wait for almost an hour in line (and then check in again). They did not have the car we reserved available (even though we reserved it not long in advance). The bathrooms were disgusting.Reviewed 21 Oct 2024
review fromkayak
2.0
My poor experience about pricing transparency. The cost of the rental car was 30% more than the kayak quote, and the initial estimate from thrifty. I was charged the additional 30% after returning the car, and had zero add ons. The receipt / charges are extremely unclear what the additional cost was. I attempted to reach out to their customer service and the process is to send a vague complaint form . I feel like I was scammed- but have no recourse- I definitely will not be using thrifty ever again. Also in the car pick up, the process took more than an hour and the first car had a check engine light on, that I needed to change carsReviewed 20 Oct 2024
review fromkayak
2.0
Terrible. Just pay the extra $20-40 and go with Alamo. They were not ready with our car, they were not giving updates, we waited an hour. Finally we went to the Alamo counter and asked how quickly we could get a car... it was immediately. I tried to cancel my thrifty reservation that was free to cancel and the chat support was giving me attitude and not allowing me to cancel. After some back and forth I called and canceled with ease. THEN, the car was "ready"... Never again!Reviewed 12 Oct 2024
review fromkayak
4.0
They overcharged us without explanation. They also have no clear support line in solving these issuesReviewed 8 Oct 2024
review fromkayak
2.0
In advance of our trip I made a reservation for a van for my family of 6. When we arrived they did not have one available. They gave us a Traverse which is a SUV with a third row. There was room for my family to sit in it but there was no room for our luggage. I expected at making a reservation for a specific vehicle that it would be there. Isn't that the whole point of a reservation? I also felt very pressured to buy a bunch of their rental options even after saying no.Reviewed 2 Sept 2024
review fromkayak
2.0
Internal panels were squeaking, didn't feel like it was a 2023 model. Plus all tyres had different tyre pressureReviewed 27 Aug 2024
review fromkayak
10.0
ExcellentReviewed 27 Jun 2024
review fromkayak

Thrifty car hires near San Francisco Airport

Address

780 Mcdonnell Rd

Hours

Monday00:00 - 23:59
Tuesday00:00 - 23:59
Wednesday00:00 - 23:59
Thursday00:00 - 23:59
Friday00:00 - 23:59
Saturday00:00 - 23:59
Sunday00:00 - 23:59

Phone

+1 877 283 0898

Address

1815 Old Bayshore Hwy

Hours

Monday08:00 - 17:00
Tuesday08:00 - 17:00
Wednesday08:00 - 17:00
Thursday08:00 - 17:00
Friday08:00 - 17:00

Phone

+1 650 342 8259

Address

177 S. Airport Blvd.

Hours

Monday08:00 - 17:00
Tuesday08:00 - 17:00
Wednesday08:00 - 17:00
Thursday08:00 - 17:00
Friday08:00 - 17:00

Phone

+1 650 624 6391

Thrifty Car Hire SFO: Flying into San Francisco Airport? Find the cheapest San Francisco Airport hire car from Thrifty now with KAYAK. KAYAK searches hundreds of travel sites to help you find and book the best car hire deal from Thrifty at San Francisco Airport.