Is it worthwhile to book a rental car in South Carolina?

South Carolina is a state known for its beaches as well as the historic city of Charleston. To be able to get around and hit all the top spots, you’ll want to find cheap rental cars. Driving in South Carolina is fairly easy. Within Charleston and Columbia, there are public transportation systems; however, many sites aren’t easily accessible without a car. These two cities of South Carolina also aren’t as well connected by public transportation. Rent a car in South Carolina and get to explore as much of the state as possible. Take a drive along the coast to see the iconic Myrtle Beach and Hilton Head Island. If you enjoy the outdoors, you can visit Congaree National Park to enjoy the hiking trails and canoeing.

What are the driving conditions like in South Carolina?

South Carolina has a mix of terrains and the driving conditions vary from flat to mountainous roads. Since the climate in the state of South Carolina isn’t extreme, any type of cheap car rental, from sedans to SUVs, would serve you well for your trip. South Carolina has a full network of interstates and highways covering all areas of the state. Some of the main ones, like the I-77 and the I-20 connect with important neighboring states’ cities like Charlotte, NC, and Atlanta, GA. The I-95 is the main north-south highway on the East Coast of the United States and this interstate goes through South Carolina.

What laws should I be aware of when driving in South Carolina?

Here are a few tips and rules you should remember when you’re driving your car rentals in South Carolina. Left lanes should only be used to pass vehicles and for upcoming left turns. It’s illegal to text and drive in the state, so keep your phone out of reach when behind the wheel of your car rental. Please do not drive your rental car under the influence of alcohol. We recommend leaving it behind or assigning a designated driver. It’s illegal to be behind the wheel with a blood alcohol content of 0.08% and over. We also suggest looking up the appropriate department of motor vehicles to get more information before picking up your car rental in South Carolina.

What documents do I need to rent a car in South Carolina?

To be able to retrieve your South Carolina car rental, you’ll need to show a valid driver’s license along with a credit card in the same name as the main driver. If you have a foreign driver’s license, you may be required to have an International Driver’s License if said document is not in English. This International Driver’s Permit must be obtained in advance in the country of origin of your foreign license. Please check beforehand with the car rental agency to make sure you have all the necessary documentation.

Cheap Car Rentals in South Carolina from just $26

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Charleston, SC

Apr 30 — May 7

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Best deals found for South Carolina car rentals

Find great deals below on a variety of popular rental cars in South Carolina

Subaru Outback

or similar Full-size

Up to 5 passengers

$26/day

1 May - 31 May

See offer

Nissan Pathfinder

or similar Standard SUV

Up to 5 passengers

$29/day

1 Jul - 1 Jul

See offer

Hyundai Accent

or similar Compact

Up to 4 passengers

$32/day

1 Jul - 31 Jul

See offer

Nissan Maxima

or similar Premium

Up to 5 passengers

$32/day

1 May - 31 May

See offer

Chevrolet Cruze

or similar Intermediate

Up to 5 passengers

$33/day

1 May - 31 May

See offer

Toyota Prius

or similar Intermediate

Up to 5 passengers

$33/day

1 May - 31 May

See offer

Volkswagen Jetta

or similar Intermediate

Up to 5 passengers

$33/day

14 May - 21 May

See offer

Mitsubishi Galant

or similar Standard

Up to 5 passengers

$34/day

1 May - 31 May

See offer

Jeep Patriot

or similar Intermediate SUV

Up to 5 passengers

$34/day

1 Jul - 31 Jul

See offer

South Carolina car rental deals found on momondo

Find the rental car in South Carolina that's right for you

	Small cars	$47 - $117
	All Car Types	$64 - $120

The average price of a small car rental in South Carolina is $80. The cheapest time to rent a small car in South Carolina is in January. The price is 42% lower than the rest of the year at just $47 per day. A small car rental is typically 14% less expensive than the average rental car in South Carolina. The average price of a vehicle rental in South Carolina can vary based on a number of factors including supply, popularity of the vehicle, and how far out you book your rental car. Below are the best prices for South Carolina small car rentals found on momondo in the past week.

The average price of a medium car rental in South Carolina is $80. The cheapest time to rent a medium car in South Carolina is in January. The price is 30% lower than the rest of the year at just $56 per day. A medium car rental is typically 14% less expensive than the average rental car in South Carolina. The average price of a vehicle rental in South Carolina can vary based on a number of factors including supply, popularity of the vehicle, and how far out you book your rental car. Below are the best prices for South Carolina medium car rentals found on momondo in the past week.

The average price of a large car rental in South Carolina is $103. The cheapest time to rent a large car in South Carolina is in January. The price is 30% lower than the rest of the year at just $73 per day. A large car rental is typically 10% more expensive than the average rental car in South Carolina. The average price of a vehicle rental in South Carolina can vary based on a number of factors including supply, popularity of the vehicle, and how far out you book your rental car. Below are the best prices for South Carolina large car rentals found on momondo in the past week.

The average price of a SUV rental in South Carolina is $91. The cheapest time to rent a SUV in South Carolina is in January. The price is 33% lower than the rest of the year at just $62 per day. A SUV rental is typically 2% less expensive than the average rental car in South Carolina. The average price of a vehicle rental in South Carolina can vary based on a number of factors including supply, popularity of the vehicle, and how far out you book your rental car. Below are the best prices for South Carolina SUV rentals found on momondo in the past week.

The average price of a van rental in South Carolina is $136. The cheapest time to rent a van in South Carolina is in September. The price is 20% lower than the rest of the year at just $110 per day. A van rental is typically 32% more expensive than the average rental car in South Carolina. The average price of a vehicle rental in South Carolina can vary based on a number of factors including supply, popularity of the vehicle, and how far out you book your rental car. Below are the best prices for South Carolina van rentals found on momondo in the past week.

The average price of a luxury car rental in South Carolina is $113. The cheapest time to rent a luxury car in South Carolina is in January. The price is 35% lower than the rest of the year at just $75 per day. A luxury car rental is typically 19% more expensive than the average rental car in South Carolina. The average price of a vehicle rental in South Carolina can vary based on a number of factors including supply, popularity of the vehicle, and how far out you book your rental car. Below are the best prices for South Carolina luxury car rentals found on momondo in the past week.

The average price of a convertible rental in South Carolina is $118. The cheapest time to rent a convertible in South Carolina is in February. The price is 37% lower than the rest of the year at just $76 per day. A convertible rental is typically 22% more expensive than the average rental car in South Carolina. The average price of a vehicle rental in South Carolina can vary based on a number of factors including supply, popularity of the vehicle, and how far out you book your rental car.

Nissan Sentra

or similar Compact

Up to 4 passengers

$32/day

1 Jul - 31 Jul

See offer

Suzuki SX4

or similar Compact

Up to 4 passengers

$34/day

30 Apr - 10 May

See offer

Hyundai Accent

or similar Compact

Up to 4 passengers

$36/day

5 Jun - 30 Jun

See offer

Rental cars insight and trends in South Carolina

Useful insights to help you book the perfect rental car in South Carolina

What is the cheapest rental car company in South Carolina?

At the moment, South Carolina’s cheapest rental car company is Turo, where users have found prices from as little as $21/day. If the city you plan on visiting does not have any Turo locations, then consider renting from Easirent or CarWiz, which are also some of the cheapest rental companies in the region. Users have recently found prices at Easirent which start at around $24/day, or $25/day from CarWiz.

What is the best rental car company in South Carolina?

The best rental car company in South Carolina is Alamo. This is based on an average momondo customer rating of 8.8/10 from 180 reviews. If you are planning a trip to South Carolina, you will be able to find Alamo at 3 locations in the region, such as in the city of Myrtle Beach.

What is the most popular type of car to rent in South Carolina?

Although there are plenty of other rental car types to choose from, the most popular type for a trip to South Carolina are SUV sized cars. 30% of our users chose this rental type and found prices for $100/day on average.

What are the cheapest cities to rent a car in South Carolina?

Rock Hill has the cheapest car rentals in South Carolina. Our users found that CarWiz offers the cheapest rental car deals in the city, from $29/day. Fort Mill is the next cheapest city for car rentals. Here you can find cheaper daily rental prices from NU Car, which start around $29/day.

South Carolina car rental directory

All major car rental suppliers in South Carolina

Alamo

8.8

Very good

211 reviews•3 locations

Check prices

Overview

Recent reviews

4.0

Mediocre|Sep 2023

Price was good. Pickup and dropoff pleasant and easy. Car was defective---loud noise from either the engine or the tires. We were afraid to drive at highway speeds.

2.0

Poor|Sep 2023

No one was at location at pick up. Found out next day there was an incident and everyone left, no notification, sign, etc. left at location stating to return the next day. Had to spend more money for Uber back and forth next day to pick up car. No one at Alamo customer service was aware of any reason there was no one at location. By the time i spend making phone calls to find out why they were closed, what could be done, trying to rent another vehicle from the 2 other rental locations that remained open, wrong size Uber showing up it was past 1am in the evening. Myself my daughter and 2 small children were left alone in dark. Awful experience!!! Poor communication, no one at customer service called back as they stated they would to let us know the next day if the location reopened so we could pick up our rental. Poor customer service!!!

10.0

Wonderful|Aug 2023

Helpful, patient customer service and lot attendants,

10.0

Wonderful|Jul 2023

The car was extremely clean. The pick up and drop off process was soooo easy.

8.0

Very good|Jun 2023

Good no issues

10.0

Wonderful|Jun 2023

very good, girl at the desk was very nice and helpful. smooth transaction

1 out of 71

Enterprise Rent-A-Car

7.8

Good

218 reviews•25 locations

Check prices

Overview

Recent reviews

10.0

Wonderful|Aug 2023

Everything went smoothly

2.0

Poor|Aug 2023

Nothing. We were sent over to the Hertz Rent-A-Car window for service.

8.0

Very good|Jul 2023

No issues

2.0

Poor|Jun 2023

We ended up not using this car company. They called to get our license information for the pick up the day before we left, then when I mentioned I put 6 pm as the pick up but it’d likely be a little later because that’s when we were landing and is that okay, the representative informed me they close at 6 pm. I had entered the drop off and pick up times, both of which were in the evening due to our flight schedule, and apparently after closing in the search criteria and in the rental information. If I hadn’t said anything, we would have landed and been stranded with no car. I think this location should either modify the hours available for pick up and drop off in the online booking or call people immediately if they enter times at closing or outside their operating hours.

10.0

Wonderful|Jun 2023

Easy process for pickup and drop off. Vehicle was great.

10.0

Wonderful|Mar 2023

The best from start to finish

1 out of 73

View Enterprise Rent-A-Car Locations in South Carolina

Thrifty

6.8

Okay

343 reviews•4 locations

Check prices

Overview

Recent reviews

8.0

Very good|Aug 2023

The picture that showed a suv was the one I picked but when I got there I was given a Toyota Camry and I said to the agent I thought I was renting a suv and she said you asked for a midsize car. It was very uncomfortable getting in and out of that car with my bad knees.

6.0

Okay|Jul 2023

Customer request a certain car it should be given. I request for SUV and I got me a Wrangler Jeep. I'm not a tall woman it was so hard to get in and out. That's only my bad experience. Thanks

2.0

Poor|Jun 2023

Gave my car away because my flight was delayed. What’s the point of a reservation if they can just take it away without any warning? Customer service apparently isn’t a priority for this company.

2.0

Poor|May 2023

The company would not allow for a return in my home state. And I couldn’t cancel without receiving an error message.

8.0

Very good|May 2023

My only gripe was paying $80 for 5 gallons of gasoline. I understand it was my responsibility to fill the tank but not being from that area. I assumed they were gas stations closer to the airport so I take full responsibility for that but $20 a gallon for gasoline seems to be an awful lot, and the vehicle was not very clean!

8.0

Very good|Apr 2023

Nice car, we asked for a mid size car and received a full size 2 door vehicle . It was a nice car, but not what asked for… overall a nice experience and a nice car and service

1 out of 115

Hertz

6.4

Okay

564 reviews•23 locations

Check prices

Overview

Recent reviews

2.0

Poor|Jun 2023

Waited an hour and a half for no service. Everyone in line also waited that long but some people just ended up leaving for renting from another company: this is not HERTZ it’s a franchise working with hertz and the service is extremely slow. Only one person on the counter. Worst service I’ve experienced in a car rental ever: unfortunate for hertz to be represented this way.

2.0

Poor|Jun 2023

It is the worst experience I have ever had getting a car. I showed up at 7:30 when they said they open for pick up and no one was there. I hung around until 810 and finally some people showed up and said the employee was running late to open the store. So far not a huge deal. Then I tried to call Hertz at the airport and he get no answer. Then I called Hertz corporate office and told them I needed a car and they said they could get me one that would cost me an extra $40. After the offer when I questioned my car was disconnected. I called back a second time to the corporate office to see if I would be able to get a car because a local employee told me they often did not have them. I was assured I could get a car, but again was told there was nothing they could do about the store not opening. They were unwilling to make any effort to help me get my car on time. I tried to call back to the Hertz store multiple times at both GSP and at Pleasantburg and no one would answer the phone. About 910 Pleasantburg contact meet for the first time. I was told I could pick up a different car at 10 o’clock. Two hours later I picked up a car. Hertz company and local office was completely unwilling to work with me and no one would answer a phone. I ended up being two hours late for my appointment because hers was not willing to help in anyway. Because if they’re terrible customer service, I will never rent a car with Hertz again.

2.0

Poor|Jun 2023

Terrible experience with pickup and then they tried to charge me to drop off my car by using the drop box.

2.0

Poor|Feb 2023

Made a reservation with a confirmation number . Called to confirm the address hours later before the pick up only to be told they didn’t have a car for me . When I asked when they planned on letting me know they didn’t have a response

2.0

Poor|Sep 2022

I bboked the reservation that morning, because the rate was $60 dollars cheaper than Alamo for the same car. When i got to the counter, there was no one there for 10 mins and when she arrived she asked if i booked the reservation today. When i said yes, she said we have no cars and that was it. Zero help in getting me something. I will not book through Kayak again!!!!

2.0

Poor|Sep 2022

Avoid this Hertz. Countless reviews of poor service, vehicles unavailable, and I experienced it for myself. I booked a 7 passenger vehicle for 24 hours through your website in the morning around 8 am for a noon pickup. When I arrived, the attendant said there were no such vehicles available. That's fine, I understand if you don't have one. HOWEVER, why not call me once you saw the reservation come in and let me know you would not be able to supply a vehicle to meet my request??? It would have saved everyone so much time. On top of that, the attendant said they did have a 7 passenger SUV available but it was luxury class so it would cost an additional $150. If it were my business, I would have comped the "additional charge" and let the customer take the "luxury" SUV but that just makes too much sense. Poor experience all around, I will not use Kayak for renting cars like this in the future.

1 out of 188

View Hertz Locations in South Carolina

Avis

6.4

Okay

160 reviews•8 locations

Check prices

Overview

Recent reviews

2.0

Poor|Aug 2023

overall a dirty car, poor customer service and very expensive!

2.0

Poor|Aug 2023

They did not have the vehicle size I needed

2.0

Poor|Aug 2023

Frustrating, aggravating, inconvenience and horrible overall

2.0

Poor|Jun 2023

Received a call 30 minutes prior to reservation informing me they "didn't have any cars".

4.0

Mediocre|May 2023

Super long lines at counter with only 2 people to assist you. The girl that assisted me was extremely rude. Car was not cleaned with trash in the trunk.

2.0

Poor|May 2023

Faster pick up

1 out of 54

Budget

6.4

Okay

402 reviews•8 locations

Check prices

Overview

Recent reviews

8.0

Very good|Sep 2023

Car was clean and comfortable. I got a small SUV rather than a full-size car, so I thought that may have cost me a bit more in gas expense, but the vehicle seemd pretty efficient. Drop-off was extremely simple. I was somewhat distressed about an alleged $450 cleaning fee associated with sand in the vehicle, given that I picked up from an airport with "beach" in the name. I thought that was ludicrous. I ended up using car wash vacuums to be sure I wouldn't be charged. Otherwise everything was good.

8.0

Very good|Jun 2023

Need more cars at airport - lines were extremely long and long wait to get car and even after paperwork done - more lines !

10.0

Wonderful|Jun 2023

It took almost an hour to locate a car. It seems I reserved the last suv which was a new car that they didn’t want to leave the state. Other then that I was very satisfied and will definitely use their service again.

10.0

Wonderful|Jun 2023

Easy pick up location. Signing for car and getting keys easy. Agent friendly and helpful.

8.0

Very good|May 2023

in terms of pickup and drop off in the garage, could have been better. need more signage for pick up. went to desk in garage and told to go " over there" but no one was there. asked another area and told to go somewhere else. finally someone came. was given a midsize car instead of compact that I had signed up for because no compacts available. I just prefer smaller cars for my driving habits/comfort but it worked out. On drop off, went into one of the lanes that said drop off car and was told to go in another lane.

6.0

Okay|May 2023

I was charged an additional day for turning in the car 20 minutes late…I arrived to the drop off location at the airport 15 minutes early, but I couldn’t find a parking spot in the return rental lot, and there was nobody there to check me in.

1 out of 134

Dollar

5.9

Fair

97 reviews•4 locations

Check prices

Overview

Recent reviews

2.0

Poor|May 2023

We had a confirmation with the confirmation number and they were no cars available.

1.9

Poor|Sep 2021

I travelled 80 miles round trip to pick up a vehicle @ 9 PM that hadn't been returned and there were no other vehicles available for the type I needed. I would have appreciated being contacted before making an unnecessary trip. However, the rep at the counter was very courteous.

1.9

Poor|Aug 2021

We never got the car. Dollar had no cars available when we arrived. The attendant kept saying they were washing the cars and one gentleman in line had been waiting for over 2 hours for his car. I will not recommend Dollar to anyone.

7.9

Good|Jul 2021

The car could have been cleaner

10.0

Wonderful|Jul 2021

Very fast service and friendly

2.0

Poor|Jul 2021

We reserved a car rental 3 months out from our trip. When we arrived, the staff at Dollar said there were no cars available and could not guarantee us a vehicle until another was returned. They couldn't say how many vehicles were scheduled to be returned and when. They placed us on a waiting list and said they would call. Then, I was informed that because we were "late" for our reservation (plane was delayed) we were bumped to the bottom of the waiting list. They said they couldn't tell us until 5pm if they had any vehicles turned in. That was 4 hours to wait with our luggage! Then we called back at 5pm they said that they had nothing available and no other Dollar rentals had cars. They said it was in the fine print that this could happen. We ended up booking a car rental through Hertz for 2x the quoted rate but at least they were willing to help us salvage our vacation. Not booking through Dollar ever again.

1 out of 33

Ace

4.1

Mediocre

36 reviews•3 locations

Check prices

Overview

Recent reviews

4.0

Mediocre|Aug 2023

Ace is a no frills setup, which allows customers to rent cars far below the cost of your typical car rental business. However, similar to super budget airlines (like Spirit), you will get what you pay for. The staff isn't particularly friendly (that's not universal - a few are wonderful) and there appears to be a bit of a culture of "customer is always wrong," which creates a bit of a hostile environment, we noticed.

2.0

Poor|Aug 2023

Not clear that rental counter is not in airport. Should have received instructions to call for shuttle when we got there. First car we received had expired registration and battery issues. We exchanged it for a different car the next day and it smelled like vomit. They ran out of cars so the people behind us had to wait for a return. Would never rent from them again.

6.0

Okay|Aug 2023

The vehicle was available without a long wait at the counter. There was however a long wait at the airport for pick up . The driver was not at all courtesy.. We were told we had too many suitcases and he would have to return and pick us up even though there were only two passengers inside the vehicle. Eventually, we went with him after we told him we were able to put the additional bag inside the vehicle ourselves.. We had no problem lifting the bags inside the vehicle , because they were ours.. I didnt want to wait any longer at the airport because we had a long drive a head of us and we already waited around for the pickup..

2.0

Poor|Aug 2023

They were busy and waiting on cars. There was no option for service animal.

2.0

Poor|Aug 2023

The car smelt like weed and the seats were stained with some brown stuff.

2.0

Poor|Jul 2023

Terrible it wasnt ar airport and closed when we got there never go the car

1 out of 12

Car rental in South Carolina

Learn everything there is to know about renting a car in South Carolina so you can be properly prepared for your next trip

How much does it cost to rent a car in South Carolina?

It costs $76/day on average for a car rental in South Carolina. momondo users have also found prices as high as $154/day and cheaper deals from around $26/day, which is a 82% price variation. These price differences are often dependent on what city in South Carolina you rent your car in.

When is the best time to rent a car in South Carolina?

Consider renting a car in South Carolina during the month of January. This is the cheapest time of year to rent, and you can often find deals for $34/day on average. In contrast, the most expensive month to rent a car in South Carolina is April, when prices are often $152/day on average. Be sure to book your car at least 6 days ahead of your intended pick-up date for the best deals.

How long do people rent a car when staying in South Carolina?

Consider renting a car in South Carolina for 7 days, which is the most popular length of time people tend to spend in the region. The average daily rental cost for 7 days is $51. Weekend and 1-week-long rentals will average a total of $130 and $360, respectively. For your more long-term car rental needs, a 1-month-long South Carolina car rental will cost $1,950 in total on average.

When did momondo last update prices for cars in South Carolina?

Prices for cars in South Carolina are refreshed on a daily basis.

How many operators does momondo search for cars in South Carolina?

There are 141 operators available for cars in South Carolina as of April 2024.

How old do you have to be to hire a car in South Carolina?

Age requirements for drivers vary depending on the country, including South Carolina. In several EU countries, drivers must be 18 years old. Generally, to rent a car overseas, you must be at least 21 years old, and if you're under 25, you may be charged a young driver surcharge. It's recommended that you review the policy of your preferred rental company before booking.

What documentation or ID do you need to rent a car in South Carolina?

When renting a car in South Carolina, all drivers must present a full valid driving license. An International Driving Permit is required if the driving license is written in a language different to that of the country of rental and may be necessary to avoid the risk of potential fines. If you are renting abroad, you may also need to provide proof of return travel and accommodation information during your stay. We always recommend checking with the individual rental company you are booking with.

Why use momondo?

Why should I use momondo to book a car rental in South Carolina?

momondo finds and compares thousands of car rental websites to provide you with the best selection of policies and car rentals in South Carolina. Finding a rental car is quick and free of charge, so using momondo for your booking makes sense.

How does momondo help me find the best car rental deal in South Carolina?

Filtering is how momondo helps you find a great rental car in South Carolina. Narrow your search using price and map features as well as filtering by fuel or mileage policies amongst many other filters available.

Does momondo show car rental deals in South Carolina with free cancellation?

Free cancellation is a policy that can be filtered on momondo car rental searches for South Carolina and all other locations. Availability may vary by location.