Car Rental in Tijuana: Pick Up at the Airport and Go

You'll need a valid official photo ID (passport), a valid driver's license, and a physical credit card in the name of whoever made the reservation. If your license isn't in the Roman alphabet, you'll also need a valid international driving permit for the full length of the rental. This applies to the main driver and to anyone else who'll get behind the wheel, so have everyone's documents ready at pickup. You can check the complete list of requirements in our Terms and Conditions.

With Full Coverage (0% deductible), the deposit starts at $1,500 MXN for cars, SUVs, and vans, and $5,000 MXN for Premium or 4x4 categories — one of the lowest deposits in the market. With partial coverage or reservations made through a third party, the amount can be higher. It's placed as a hold at pickup and released once you return the vehicle in the agreed condition, though the bank may keep the card on file for up to 30 days to cover any unreported tickets or tolls. We break down exactly how this hold works in our complete guide to the credit card deposit.

The security deposit can only be placed on a credit card, but for the rental charge itself, we accept both debit cards and credit cards — Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Diners Club, Discover, and JCB are all valid forms of payment; we don't accept cash or vouchers. This distinction trips up a lot of first-time renters, so it's worth confirming which card you'll use for each part of the transaction before you get to the counter. If you're traveling with someone who'll also be driving, additional drivers cost $192.68 MXN per day, and each one must meet the same document requirements as the main driver.

For your convenience, the vehicle is generally provided with a full tank of gas; we ask that you return it with the same fuel level to avoid refueling fees. Regarding scheduling, we offer a 6-hour grace period following your confirmed pickup time to ensure your reservation is held. Please note that the reserved rate applies strictly to the agreed-upon rental period; any returns outside of this timeframe may be subject to additional late-return fees.

Yes — driving a car rented in Mexico across the border into the United States carries an extra geography charge, so please contact the rental station ahead of time to confirm the cost for your trip before you commit to a San Diego day trip. If you'd rather cross on foot and rent on the other side, here's how to use the Cross Border Xpress (CBX) straight from the airport — it connects directly to the CBX bridge, so you skip the vehicle lines at the land border entirely. And if you're staying on the Mexico side but still need to stay connected on the road, this Tijuana location also offers a daily mobile hotspot rental, a perk unique to this rental location that most other MEX offices don't carry.