SJC Rental Car Center

Conveniently located next to the airport with a free shuttle to/​from the terminals. Lots of rental companies to choose from and all located on the 1^st floor. The actual cars are located on the other floors above and organized like a parking garage. I was in and out in about 30 minutes.

Rental area is ok, but Alamo sucks
4 stars for the rental center.
–1 star for Alamo

The great thing about this car rental center is that there are numerous agencies to choose from, all in one clean, new location. A quick elevator ride is all it takes to get to whatever floor your car is on, and a flash of your rental contract and ID gets you out of the security gate. I’ve been through here quite a few times now, and it is so much better than most airport car rental centers (if they have them).
I would give this place a perfect review were it not for the need to catch a (free) shuttle to and from the main terminal. This isn’t exactly uncommon at airports, and it still beats riding the shuttle to an offsite rental location, but it is enough to keep me from giving a higher review since my wife and I are typically traveling with a lot of luggage for extended visits with family.
The second (and only other) bad thing about this place is the slight confusion one may encounter on trying to return a car. As usual, the entire airport is situated on a circle drive with a few simple exits leading to outside streets. However, returning a rental car can only be done from one lane veering to the inside of the parking garage., and this lane is easily missed. You cannot return a rental car by driving to the front of the building. If you miss the entrance, you have to circle the airport again (and again, and again… don’t laugh, it was raining my first time and I was really confused.).

O.K. I agree with everyone about the long walk from baggage claim to the shuttle bus and the slowness of the shuttle bus. I usually arrive late at night and worry that the buses will be stopped and/​or the rental car place will be closed, but that hasn’t been a problem (yet).
The fact is that any small inconveniences like this are completely overwhelmed by the delightful voice of the elevator. Whatever difficulties I have in travelling (which is often many) are completely erased when I step into the rental car center elevator and her sweet and contented voice says «going up.» It ALWAYS makes me smile, no matter how miserable my trip has been so far and I always continue to car singing «going up» and «Third floor.»
The sweet voice of the the SJC rental car center elevators is one of the high point tourist attractions of San Jose. It alone is reason to visit SJ and rent a car. If you live in SJ and haven’t had a chance to rent a car, I recommend that you visit the car rental center at SJC for the sole purpose of riding the elevators.

idk if I can say i’m a fan of this place. I only went here to rent a car. Nice and clean. If i’m here in the area… and need a car… this is the place to go. Three stars for nice, clean, and roomy area.

Ok, the rental location itself, 5 stars. They operate as well as any large airport should, with the centralized building, etc.
The design of catching the shuttle to the car rental location? Very STUPID. What were they thinking making people walk ¹⁄₈ mi away from the terminal?
Course, if you just go across to Terminal B… you don’t need to walk, just go downstairs and catch the shuttle. No signs telling anyone to do that.
The cross back to Terminal B from A is an overhead covered bridgeway.
SJC airport officials… check out the way San Francisco and Atlanta do it. Maybe you should have done a monorail?

I can’t believe this place has horrible reviews. All the car rental agencies are located in one nice new shiny building across the street from baggage claim… no shuttles, no long walks, easy peasy!
I’ve rented many cars here and the place is always empty. And the bathrooms are huge. The regular stalls are the size of most handicap stalls, with hooks for hanging your jacket, purse, etc.

I only flew to SJC because SFO’s rental car center was all sold out (for some weird reason) this week… I was able to get a reservations for a mid-​size car at $ 150/​day (trippin crazy right?), but at least I CONFIRMED a reservations. I got to SJC rental car center in the morning, stood at the counter for 10 minutes before the chick with way too much eye makeup even acknowledge me, when I told her I have a reservation and gave her my license, she clicks around on her computer (I swear to god she’s probably on fucking facebook or something), 5 minutes later tells me they have no more cars, all the people at the center right now have reservations but they are still out of cars… REALLY? Takes fucking 15 minutes to tell me they’re completely sold out of rentals cars after I called twice to confirm a reservation and changed my flight to this air port because of it?!? TOTAL FAIL.

Talk about a pathetic attempt of consolation. This uncovered, isolated lot reeks of haphazardness. You have cars everywhere, parked everywhere, in the way, among the maze of concrete barriers… it’s a miracle when the shuttle bus doesn’t sideswipe a dozen cars on its way out.
And that shuttle bus… it’s slow as all hell, and not frequent. So much for the quick escape from the airport… it once took me over an hour to get to my rental car after landing. On average, including the wait and the long walk to get to the shuttle stop, it’s about 30 – 45 minutes. I think they literally are told to drive 15mph or slower. Sucks when you’re in Terminal A and have to tour the entire airport before backtracking to the RCC. And of course, it’s usually packed with other frustrated, sweaty, frothing-​at-​the-​mouth renters as well.
And no, you can’t really walk there. I tried once… took me about 15 minutes. Note that there are no sidewalks from Terminal A to the RCC. Then you have to cross a busy road where they don’t expect pedestrians. Then you have to avoid the crazy lot attendants when you try to get to your rental company. Oh, and it was hot.
Once you finally get in and drive away, look out! There are cars and buses zooming down the loop road. Problem is that you may have to inch out into the road to see if they’re coming.
I like the airport enough, but I DREAD (there’s that word again) it if I have to rent a car.