Road rules visitors often miss
California's rules resemble those in many countries, but these five cause trouble for overseas drivers.
| Situation | The rule | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Red light, turning right | Stop fully at the line, yield to pedestrians, then turn unless a NO TURN ON RED sign is posted. A left on red is allowed only from one one-way street into another. | Vehicle Code 21453 |
| All-way stop sign | First to arrive goes first. If two arrive together, the driver on the left yields to the one on the right. | Vehicle Code 21800 |
| School bus with flashing red lights | Stop from either direction and wait until the lights stop. Only traffic on the other side of a divided road, or a road with two or more lanes each way, may continue. | Vehicle Code 22454 |
| Carpool (HOV) lane | Only with the number of occupants on the sign, during the posted hours. Do not cross double solid lines to enter or leave. | DMV handbook |
| Phone in hand | Illegal unless mounted and operated with a single tap or swipe; base fine US$20 for a first offence, US$50 after that | Vehicle Code 23123.5 |
Entering a junction when there is no room on the far side is also banned, even on green. In San Francisco it carries a US$108 penalty in SFMTA's schedule.
If police signal you to stop, the DMV handbook says to signal right and pull fully onto the shoulder. Stay in the car, lower the window and keep everyone's hands visible before the officer reaches you.
Speed cameras
San Francisco has 33 speed cameras, which have issued fines since 5 August 2025, per SFMTA. The fine is US$50 for 11 to 15 mph over the limit, US$100 for 16 to 25 mph, US$200 for 26 mph or more and US$500 at 100 mph or above. These are civil penalties with no licence points. The notice goes to the registered owner, which is the rental company; see the last section for how it moves to you.
How do you pay Bay Area bridge tolls in a rental car?
Bay Area bridge tolls are paid by FasTrak tag, licence plate account or mailed invoice. On the two bridges into the city, the toll is charged one way only: southbound on the Golden Gate and westbound on the Bay Bridge.
| Bridge | Direction tolled | FasTrak tag | Licence plate account | Mailed invoice |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Golden Gate, from 1 July 2026 | Southbound, into the city | US$10.25 | US$10.50 | US$11.25 |
| Bay Bridge and the six other state-owned bridges, from 1 January 2026 | Westbound on the Bay Bridge | US$8.50 | US$8.50 | US$8.50 |
Golden Gate rates come from the bridge district. The Metropolitan Transportation Commission raised state-bridge tolls by 50 cents in January 2026. From 2027 the state bridges will charge different rates by payment method, starting at US$9.00 with a tag and US$10.00 by invoice.
Your three ways to pay
The FasTrak rental vehicles guide sets out three options:
- The rental company's plan (TollPass, e-Toll, PlatePass, Pass24): automatic, with a service fee on top of tolls. FasTrak says PlatePass is the only one that works in Bay Area express lanes.
- Your own FasTrak tag: add the rental plate with start and end dates to your account and mount the tag.
- A Short-Term License Plate Account: set up online, it pays crossings from the previous 48 hours or trips up to 30 days ahead. It cannot be used in express lanes or for the carpool discount.
Check your rental company's rules before choosing option 3. Enterprise says paying yourself avoids its US$4.95 daily TollPass fee only for the Golden Gate. On the other bridges, TollPass applies unless your own tag account was registered first. Its fee is capped at US$34.65 per rental, and tolls are billed at the highest rate.
Worked example: Marin one day, Oakland another
A visitor staying in the city drives to Sausalito and back on Tuesday, crossing the Golden Gate southbound on the return. On Thursday they drive to Oakland and back, paying the Bay Bridge coming home.
| How the tolls are paid | Calculation | Total |
|---|---|---|
| Own FasTrak tag with the plate added | US$10.25 + US$8.50 | US$18.75 |
| Short-Term License Plate Account for both | US$10.50 + US$8.50 | US$19.00 |
| Enterprise: Golden Gate paid yourself, Bay Bridge through TollPass | US$10.50 + US$4.95 + US$8.50 | US$23.95 |
| Enterprise TollPass for both crossings | 2 days × US$4.95 + US$11.25 + US$8.50 | US$29.65 |
The fee difference is modest for two crossings, but it scales with each extra toll day until the cap. Crossing without any plan simply puts you into the rental program: FasTrak says the invoice goes to the rental company, which charges you under your agreement. Penalties start only if an invoice is ignored: on the Golden Gate, US$25 per crossing on the first violation notice and US$50 on the second.
What do San Francisco curb colours mean, and what are the fines?
Curb paint is enforced strictly. SFMTA's colour curb rules and the July 2026 fee and fine schedule set out what each colour means and what a ticket costs.
| Curb or situation | Meaning | Fine from 1 July 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Red | No stopping or parking at any time; may be towed | US$108 |
| Yellow | Commercial vehicles loading freight only | US$108 |
| White | Passenger loading, five minutes, driver stays with the car | US$108 |
| Green | Short-term, 10 minutes (or 15 to 30 at meters), usually 9 am to 6 pm Monday to Saturday | US$108 |
| Blue | Disabled permit holders only | US$518 |
| Street-cleaning hours posted | No parking until the sweeper has passed | US$105 |
| Expired meter | Downtown or elsewhere | US$108 or US$107 |
| Too close to a fire hydrant, or blocking a driveway | Not allowed | US$108 |
| Hill of 3% grade or more | Wheels turned to the curb | US$48 |
On hills, SFMTA's parking guide says to turn front wheels away from the curb facing uphill and into the curb facing downhill. Cars must face the direction of traffic. You may park in a sweeping zone once the sweeper has passed, even within the posted hours. Some zones become tow-away lanes at commute times; the signs and meters show when.
Car break-ins
The San Francisco Police Department advises putting loose items in the boot before you arrive at your destination, so nobody sees you hide them. It also suggests leaving luggage with the hotel rather than in the car. After a break-in, call 911 only if it is happening now. Otherwise report it online, through 311, or on the non-emergency line, 415-553-0123. Cancel stolen cards at once.
The report matters for the rental company. Under California Civil Code 1939.03, vandalism damage unrelated to a theft of the car is capped at US$500 for the renter. Keep the report number for the return desk.
How does a San Francisco ticket reach you after the trip?
A ticket on the windscreen can be paid directly. SFMTA gives 21 days to pay or protest before late penalties. Card payments online carry a fee of US$2 or 2.15%, whichever is greater, and an e-check carries none. A protest must be filed within 21 days, and SFMTA can waive the deposit for a second-level hearing for international visitors.
If you leave it, the notice goes to the rental company. Here is how a US$105 street-cleaning ticket grows under the July 2026 schedule:
| Stage | Added | Running total |
|---|---|---|
| Ticket issued | US$105 | |
| After the first due date | US$45 | US$150 |
| After the second due date | US$63 | US$213 |
| Special collection fee | US$45 | US$258 |
| Avis administrative fee, if it pays for you | Lesser of US$25 or 10% | US$283 |
Avis's terms allow that fee for each infraction it handles and let it share your details with enforcement authorities. Other companies set their own fees in the rental agreement. Paying the same ticket yourself within 21 days by e-check costs US$105.
Speed camera notices follow a different path. The registered owner is liable, but SFMTA's rental guidance lets the ticket be transferred to the renter. This needs a protest within 30 days of the issue date, backed by the rental agreement showing the renter's name, address and licence number.
For licence, age and insurance choices before you collect the car, see renting a car in Los Angeles. For Florida's cashless tolls, see Miami toll roads in a rental car.