Charleston car hire information
| Pick-up location | Charleston |
|---|---|
| Car types | |
| Hire locations | 19 |
| Airport locations | 8 |
Cheap car rentals in Charleston
| Mini |
| Economy |
| Compact |
| Intermediate |
| Standard |
| Full-size |
| Luxury |
| People mover |
| Passenger van |
| SUV |
| Commercial |
| Pick-up truck |
Top tips for hiring a car in Charleston
- Charleston, like many cities in the US, is truly designed for cars over public transportation. Whether you are visiting Fort Sumter or checking out Magnolia Plantation & Gardens and Middleton Place, you simply would struggle to get around Charleston without a car. If you would like to visit Middleton Place, for instance, you would have no choice but to join a tour if you don’t have a car, as public transport doesn’t serve it.
- Need to pick up a hire car after landing at Charleston International Airport? In that case, head on over to the hire Car Pavilion located by Baggage Claim at the end of the airport’s main terminal, where you will find all of the airport’s hire agencies conveniently located together.
- Jaywalking is very common in the historic part of Charleston so drivers should beware. This is partly because much of the pedestrian traffic in downtown Charleston is made up of tourists visiting the city. Another road hazard to look out for in the downtown area is the bikers -- particularly the distracted college students biking with their phones out.
- Drivers will be happy to hear that while Charleston does experience its share of rush hour traffic, it is by no means severe. Drivers can expect the morning rush hour to start up at around 7:00 a.m. and to last until 9:00 a.m., while the afternoon rush hour starts at 4:00 p.m. and finishes up at about 6:30 p.m. I-26 is the main road to avoid during rush hour as it is one of the top highways used by commuters heading to and from work.
- Book your rental car in Charleston at least 1 day before your trip in order to get a below-average price
FAQs about renting a car in Charleston
What type of car is recommended for driving in Charleston?
Charleston’s streets are well-suited for a wide range of vehicles. Sedans, coupes, SUVs, and large trucks will all be perfectly comfortable on the road, so all vehicle options are a good choice. Additionally, streetside parking spaces are large enough for even the biggest of hire vehicles, making parking a non-issue.
What’s the speed limit in Charleston?
In the center of downtown, drivers can expect speeds of 25 mph and 30 mph while the main roads and avenues features speed limits of 40 mph. On two-lane county roads and streets leading to the peripheral areas of the city, speed limits will get up to 55 mph. Interstates throughout the state of South Carolina have a speed limit of 70 mph.
Where are the best places to park in Charleston?
Planning on visiting downtown? Parking garages and streetside parallel parking are your best options. Both are widely available and, fortunately, even the private parking options are fairly cheap. However, when a big event is going on downtown, parking spaces can sometimes become hard to come by; in those instances, you may have to park an extra block or two away.
What is the best car hire company in Charleston?
Based on ratings and reviews from real users on KAYAK, the best car hire companies in Charleston are Alamo (9.2, 124 reviews), Enterprise Rent-A-Car (7.7, 84 reviews), and Budget (6.0, 219 reviews).
How much is the price of fuel in Charleston?
The average price of fuel in Charleston is $6.97 per litre over the past 30 days. Filling up a tank of uel costs between $84 and $111, depending on the car size.
What is the most popular car hire in Charleston?
Compact (Ford Focus or similar) is the most frequently booked car hire type in Charleston.
How can I find car hires near me in Charleston?
Take a look at our extensive car hire location map to find the best car hire deals near you.
How much does a Compact car hire cost in Charleston?
A Compact car hire in Charleston costs $85 per day, on average.
What is the most popular rental car location in Charleston?
In Charleston, cars are most frequently hired at Avis 390 Meeting Street (2 km from city centre ).
Charleston car rental reviews and directory
Alamo
9.2
Wonderful
166 reviewsCleanliness
9.4
Comfort
9.3
Pick-up/Drop-off
9.3
Value for money
8.7
One location in Charleston
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Reviews
10.0 Wonderful
Apr 2021
Pros:
We were treated so kindly. The young man carried our luggage to the car and even gave us a choice. Most will not do that!10.0 Wonderful
Apr 2021
Pros:
All of the staff I had come into contact with were phenomenal! Couldn't have asked for better service.Cons:
If they had actually attached the invoice to to email that was sent to me.8.0 Very Good
Mar 2021
Pros:
Easy in and out. Car was very comfortable.Cons:
The battery died on me the first day, but Alamo roadside assistance was able to fix the problem and all was good the rest of the trip.10.0 Wonderful
Jan 2021
Pros:
It was a last minute decision to rent & the process was easy and the car was great10.0 Wonderful
Jun 2020
Pros:
Staff was super friendly and efficient, pick up was quick10.0 Wonderful
May 2020
Pros:
Very efficient staff. The entire process was painlessEnterprise Rent-A-Car
7.7
Good
166 reviewsCleanliness
8.0
Comfort
8.3
Pick-up/Drop-off
7.7
Value for money
7.5
5 locations in Charleston
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Reviews
8.0 Very Good
Jun 2021
Pros:
They had car ready for me when I showed up.Cons:
I didn't realize that the pickup was several miles away from airport which was inconvienent and expensive taking an Uber to and from location to pick-up and drop off car.8.0 Very Good
Jun 2021
Pros:
Staff was helpfulCons:
Price10.0 Wonderful
May 2021
Pros:
Pick up and drop off of the car took less than 5 minutes. Super friendly staff!2.0 Poor
May 2021
Pros:
The location was not at the airport, we didn't know that when booking and then there were no cars available!2.0 Poor
May 2021
Cons:
To have had the car we reserved be at the Charleston airport where we requested instead of an offsite location that we were unaware of and unable to get to because they closed early! Therefore, we had to obtain a car at the Enterprise location at the airport for a far more expensive rate than we had been quoted originally.4.0 Mediocre
Apr 2021
Cons:
Car smelled of cigarette smoke. It was overwhelmingBudget
6.0
Okay
335 reviewsCleanliness
6.5
Comfort
6.9
Pick-up/Drop-off
6.0
Value for money
6.2
3 locations in Charleston
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Reviews
6.0 Okay
Oct 2022
10.0 Wonderful
Aug 2022
2.0 Poor
Aug 2022
2.0 Poor
May 2022
7.9 Good
Jun 2021
2.0 Poor
May 2021
Pros:
Booked a rental car for my trip to Charleston. Thankfully, I saw the scathingly terrible reviews and decided to call ahead to make sure my reserved car was there. Very rude woman said "no cars here" and when I asked if there was another place that had some (even though I already had a reservation) she just hung up. Terrible experience.Cons:
Actually honoring your customers reservations and coming through with a promised vehicle rental. Or, just a thought, do not allow bookings when you know there are not vehicles available!Hertz
6.0
Okay
125 reviewsCleanliness
6.4
Comfort
6.5
Pick-up/Drop-off
5.8
Value for money
6.0
3 locations in Charleston
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Reviews
6.0 Okay
Nov 2021
2.0 Poor
Oct 2021
2.0 Poor
May 2021
Pros:
I was called a few minutes before my pickup time to be told the car was not availableCons:
You tell me as for now, I will never use Hertz again8.0 Very Good
May 2021
Pros:
Staff at airport corrected the problemCons:
I booked a pick up time at a location that was closed. I should not have been allowed to book at that time. Called Hertz and the wouldn’t find me a similar car anywhere near for my family of 6 stranded travelers.2.0 Poor
May 2021
Cons:
They canceled on us with about 90 minutes notice before the reservation started. They said sorry but did nothing to help redress situation (eg % off next time or some token like that)2.0 Poor
May 2021
Pros:
Nothing. There was no car available the entire time we were in Mt Pleasant, Sc from 14 May thru 17 May. I had previously made a confirmed reservation on 4 May and my credit card account had the amount posted already.Cons:
Arrangements should have been made when it was evident that no car was available at the appointed time.Avis
5.2
Fair
106 reviewsCleanliness
5.8
Comfort
6.2
Pick-up/Drop-off
5.3
Value for money
5.5
3 locations in Charleston
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Reviews
2.0 Poor
May 2021
Pros:
should’ve have been more courteous send us an email explaining the company has no vehicles before the date of pickup, I lost a day of work thinking my reservation was good but I was told “Life happens “Cons:
Notifications or warnings before the date of pickup8.0 Very Good
Sep 2020
Pros:
We received an upgrade car from the one we reserved. Drop off at ATL airport rental car center was quick and convenient.Cons:
Pickup at CHS was a little slow. Car had a strong smoker smell, but we didn’t want to delay our trip any further by going back to ask for another one.6.0 Okay
Jun 2020
Pros:
Pick up and drop off was quick and easy.Cons:
Car smelled of cigarette smoke.6.4 Okay
Nov 2019
Cons:
The car was givenTo us with only a quarter of a tank of gas. The clerk said that he would put this in the computer and we would not be charged for a full tank upon return. He did not document this in the computer. Upon pick up, we noticed several ants crawling out of the ventilation system. When trying to phone Avis to tell them about this and for the potential of exchanging the car, the agent was unable to help us in anyway. She would not put us through to any other customer service agent, And she indicated that she was unable to document this in our record. So, in essence we picked up a car that had only a quarter of a tank of gas and was crawling with ants.9.6 Wonderful
Aug 2019
Pros:
Staff at both pick up and drop off were excellent, very polite and helpful. Drop off location in Charlotte was a little difficult to find/notice due to location and store frontage, but figured it out after calling that office.Cons:
Drop off location signage.6.8 Okay
Jul 2019
Pros:
Check in process fairly quick.Cons:
Chose to return car with gas full with gas I bought. In the check in process in rental return they added $15.88 for gas. He could not remove it in the lot. Had to go inside and wait in line. She said that because I drove less than 74 miles, it adds that charge no matter. This is not right.National
7.3
Good
6 reviewsCleanliness
7.3
Comfort
7.3
Pick-up/Drop-off
9.3
Value for money
8.0
One location in Charleston
Easirent
4.7
Mediocre
No reviews available
One location in Charleston
Sunnycars
No score available yet
2 locations in Charleston
Car hire locations in or near Charleston
Good to know
Most popular car type | Compact |
|---|