This price is the cheapest per day rate found by a KAYAK user in the last 48 hours by searching for a car hire in Charleston with a pick-up date of 4/8 and drop-off date of 12/8. Fares are subject to change and may not be available at all agencies or on all dates of hire. Click the price to replicate the search for this deal.
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How far in advance should you book car hire in Charleston?
You should book your car hire in Charleston around 89 days before your trip in order to get a below-average price.
What is the cheapest car hire company in Charleston?
In the past 72 hours, the cheapest hire cars were found at Alamo (€63.81/day), Enterprise Rent-A-Car (€65.88/day), and Avis (€80.87/day). The cheapest car hire price was found at Alamo 2039 Savannah Hwy (9.6 km from city centre).
What is the cheapest month to hire a car in Charleston?
The cheapest month to hire a car in Charleston is January at an average cost of €43/day. July is the most expensive month to hire a car in Charleston when prices are €67/day on average, which tends to be 0% above the yearly average hire price for Charleston.
Which car hire company in Charleston has the most locations?
Enterprise Rent-A-Car operates 6 locations in Charleston, more than any other car hire company.
Charleston car hire price comparison by vehicle type
Find the right car hire in Charleston by comparing prices across vehicle types.
Small
Medium
Large
4x4
Van
Pickup truck
Luxury
Convertible
Small cars
€36 - €56
All Car Types
€61 - €86
How much does it cost to hire a small car in Charleston?
How much does it cost to hire a medium car in Charleston?
How much does it cost to hire a large car in Charleston?
How much does it cost to hire an SUV in Charleston?
How much does it cost to hire a van in Charleston?
How much does it cost to hire a pickup truck in Charleston?
How much does it cost to hire a luxury car in Charleston?
How much does it cost to hire a convertible in Charleston?
Small car hire in Charleston typically costs around €44 per day. The best time to book is January, when prices average €36 per day, which is about 19% less than the yearly average. Small cars are usually 43% cheaper than the average car hire in Charleston, making them ideal for budget-conscious travellers.
Medium car hire in Charleston typically costs around €68 per day. The best time to book is January, when prices average €54 per day, which is about 21% less than the yearly average. Medium cars are usually 11% cheaper than the average car hire in Charleston, offering a good balance of space and value.
Large car hire in Charleston typically cost around €70 per day. The best time to book is January, when prices average €55 per day, which is about 22% less than the yearly average. Large cars can be 8% cheaper than the average car hire in Charleston, offering more comfort for longer trips at a reasonable price.
SUV hire in Charleston typically costs around €81 per day. The best time to book is June, when prices average €71 per day, which is about 13% less than the yearly average. SUVs are typically 7% more expensive than the average car hire in Charleston but provide extra space and capability for groups or road trips.
Van hire in Charleston typically costs around €119 per day. The best time to book is January, when prices average €82 per day, which is about 32% less than the yearly average. Vans are typically 37% more expensive than the average car hire in Charleston but are the best choice for families or groups needing maximum passenger capacity.
Pickup truck hire in Charleston typically costs around €68 per day. The best time to book is January, when prices average €55 per day, which is about 20% less than the yearly average. Pickup trucks are 11% cheaper than the average car hire in Charleston, making them a practical choice for hauling gear or outdoor adventures.
Luxury car hire in Charleston typically costs around €97 per day. The best time to book is January, when prices average €71 per day, which is about 27% less than the yearly average. Luxury cars are typically 22% more expensive than the average car hire in Charleston but deliver premium comfort and style for special occasions.
Convertible hire in Charleston typically costs around €83 per day. The best time to book is January, when prices average €58 per day, which is about 31% less than the yearly average. Convertibles are typically 9% more expensive than the average car hire in Charleston but are perfect for scenic drives and warm-weather destinations.
Good to know
Most popular agency
Most popular car type
Average price
Good deal
Budget
Medium
€44/day
€35/day
Charleston car hire experiences: the best tips from KAYAK users
Insights shared by verified travellers who hired a car in Charleston
I would rent a small to mid-sized car given that there is ample on street parking.
LynneApr 2024
Would consider a smaller car for city only but pleased with the bigger car I had for road/highway travel
MarkMay 2024
Give yourself plenty of time to pickup your vehicle - as much as an hour. And don’t get upset with the CHS workers - they are all hustling as best as they can - it’s a staffing/operations problem that management must fix.
JulioJan 2024
Driving on Route 17 was great even with traffic. Obey speed limit, quite a few police cars monitoring speeding.
P.Oct 2023
Driving in Charleston is fine. Pretty easy to navigate.
Verified travelerJun 2023
Charleston downtown can be crowded and busy but it’s fairly easy to get around. The streets basically go one way each direction every other so you can just go around the block if you came the wrong way. Easy to walk to a lot of place, they’re all close downtown. The rest of the outlying areas are very easy with your phone navigation. No tolls to deal with. Beautiful city and the beaches are wonderful!
ValJun 2023
Driving in Charleston was easy, Parking seemed a bit pricey, We stayed in Mount Pleasant. We drove in in the morning and again at night. Have to figure $30-40 a day in Parking fees
DennisAug 2023
Charleston is an old, changing city that has many bridges. It is important that you have a GPS and a map to help with directions.
Verified travelerMay 2023
Really easy to pick up and drop off. Note that the Enterprise desk is so the far end of the terminal, not -as Google Maps shows it - in the middle
KAYAK’s 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.
25% of our users found a car hire in Charleston for €45 or less
FAQs about hiring 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.
How much does it cost to hire a car in Charleston?
On average a car hire in Charleston costs €44 per day.
Which car hire agencies are at Charleston airport (CHS)?
The only car hire company onsite at Charleston airport is Budget.
Which car hire companies will pick you up at Charleston airport (CHS)?
The only car hire company that offers shuttle or pick-up services from Charleston airport to off-airport locations is Budget.
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 Medium car hire cost in Charleston?
A Medium car hire in Charleston costs €50 per day, on average.
I ended up getting a car from another company because the line was ridiculously long at Budget- longer than 2 days previously when my friend waited at least an hour to get to the front. There were also people waiting for cars out by the car pick up.
6.0 Okay
Anonymous, Apr 2026
Intermediate SUV
The car was not thoroughly cleaned inside. Crackers, etc. under passenger seat. Seats not thoroughly cleaned. The rental counter was seriously understaffed. One person (and one out for lunch) for 25 waiting people. Person who finally helped us stated, "everyone is always in a hurry." Repeat renters in line stated that it's always like this because the rental is less expensive. I think 25+ minutes in line is unacceptable. People just filling in their hours with no hurry involved.
6.0 Okay
Anonymous, Apr 2026
Intermediate
The staff was friendly but the wait time was ridiculous. I did not get my car on time and paid for an extra day of rental which I shouldn't have been charged for due to getting my car later than I should have.
4.0 Mediocre
Anonymous, Apr 2026
Intermediate SUV
We waited in line for over 90 minutes to get the car. Staff (2 women doing their best) said there were no cars ready. How is this even possible when there are reservations? There were at least 40 people in line. A few jumped ship @ went to other car rental companies who had no lines. It was all frustrating. Once we did get our car, there appears to be several cars ready.
2.0 Poor
Anonymous, Mar 2026
Economy
Not only was I charged over $200 by the third party (QEEQ), but Budget has now charged my card once upon the first day of rental over $200 and now that the rental is over, my card is being charged over $800. There had been no damage to the car and I feel deceived by Budget and the third party booking company,
Reserved a luxury SUV (Audi Q5 or equivalent was stated). When I arrived I was given the choice of only two SUV’s, both Ford Expedition Max. The vehicle is the biggest SUV Ford makes…6000lbs, 7 passenger and 20’ long. Not a luxury SUV and a gas guzzler averaging 13 mpg. You need a step ladder to climb into the vehicle. Was not a pleasant experience trying to drive and park that thing around Charleston SC.
4.0 Mediocre
Veronique, Feb 2024
People carrier
our rental car could not be given to us because the car that we returned in Atlanta the day before had not been registered as returned. We had to make a new rental under different name. Luckily Isaac Mattern the manager helped us with the process. The Atlanta Alamo managers were incompetent.
I didn't get a chance to even rent a vehicle from them. They called me to tell me that they didn't have the vehicle I needed and to call another location if I still wanted it. So, another option presented itself before I called the other location. It would have been good customer service for them to call them before they called me and say they have one but I guess they didn't think about that
10.0 Wonderful
Anonymous, Jun 2026
Intermediate SUV
Car was ok. The service at the Charleston Airport with a power outage was amazing. I believe Karen in particular was great under pressure.
2.0 Poor
Anonymous, Oct 2024
Pick-up truck
I reserved a full sized pickup truck. When I arrived no full sized pickups were available.
8.0 Very Good
Anonymous, Jul 2024
People carrier
Everything went fine and as expected.
8.0 Very Good
Anonymous, Apr 2024
People carrier
Easy online selection. The car I requested was actually there (unlike other brands on past). The car seats for the kids were ok. A high back booster option would be nice to have for young kids who are bigger than a toddler seat and too small for just a simple booster. Rental price for kids seats is too much for the value. Those booster seats are old and can be bought for 20$ at Walmart, which I will do instead next time. Slow counter service and the line to leave the garage took almost 10 mins. Overall, good value and nice clean vehicle.
10.0 Wonderful
Julio, Jan 2024
Compact
Friendly and easy to work with in regards to rental. SUV had a few minor issue's: idling at traffic light it was jumpy & had to shut off vehicle a few times, turn it back on to shift gears!
I couldn’t rent my car from Hertz. I used AFFIRM via online to get the rental that way. When I went to hertz counter, they wouldn’t rent me the car. Even though, the car was paid for prior to my pick up via AFFIRM. All they needed was a deposit since car was paid for. Nope, wouldn’t let me even use a debit card for that. I have NEVER had issues with Hertz before and I’ve rented cars via AFFIRM, KLARNA or AFTERPAY. I was so embarrassed. Money is tight for people wanting to rent vehicles and those buy here, pay later accommodations really help. I had to spend $600 of my own money to rent a car through AVIS.
2.0 Poor
Anonymous, Jul 2024
Premium SUV
Hertz did not have the car we reserved. We were forced to take a smaller car which was unsafe given the number of passengers and the luggage. Hertz did not offer any other options. I would not rent from Hertz again. I have heard many similar stories about the company. It used to be good but no longer.
8.0 Very Good
Anonymous, Nov 2021
The gentleman at the rental desk was great! The car had a somewhat offensive odor in it which did not subside during the course of our 3 day rental.
The pickup took over 45 minutes to get through the line and delayed our travels. The drop off was great.
2.0 Poor
Anonymous, Apr 2026
Intermediate SUV
The pickup experience was extremely disappointing. There were many, many customers and one associate. We were finally directed to the actual pickup location to complete transactions.
4.0 Mediocre
Anonymous, Mar 2026
Full-size
Pick up time was 40 minutes after prechecking in. I was told that I did not have a reservation confirmed through QEEQ.Com. Had a confirmation number but somehow QEEQ dropped the ball. I called a local Avis person that was very helpful and able to help me out otherwise I really would have been giving a much worst review.
2.0 Poor
Anonymous, Feb 2025
Full-size SUV
Booked a 6pm pickup not realizing that was the time the shop closed. Showed up 10 minutes late and was refused entry and was not able to get the car. Should not be allowed to book a pickup at or after closing. Very disappointing.
2.0 Poor
Ben, Oct 2024
People carrier
We rented a van to evacuate from Hurricane Milton. When we arrived at the counter I was told no vans weee available and that my only option was an SUV for an extra $100. Considered we were evacuating from a CAT 5 storm I feel this was very poor customer service. To price gouge my family in a time of need. I won’t do business with Avis again.
2.0 Poor
Anonymous, Jun 2024
People carrier
Did not tell us in any email that I needed $200 deposit so I did not come prepared and then they were mean and unhelpful when I was trying to find a solution
The National agent at the counter in Charleston (Riya) was the most professional, efficient and friendly agent I have encountered in my many years of picking up rental cars. Made for a great experience.
Front desk people were nice and apologetic about what happened! They told me once I made it to South Carolina that they had no cars available, they overbooked and that I’d have to find another vehicle! Highly recommend using TURO!!
Thrifty
7.0
Good
One location in Charleston
Locations in Charleston
5500 International Boulevard
+1 843 640 3629
Monday
06:00 - 23:5900:00 - 01:00
Tuesday
00:00 - 01:0006:00 - 23:59
Wednesday
00:00 - 01:0006:00 - 23:59
Thursday
06:00 - 23:5900:00 - 01:00
Friday
06:00 - 23:5900:00 - 01:00
Saturday
06:00 - 23:5900:00 - 01:00
Sunday
00:00 - 01:0006:00 - 23:59
Filters
No reviews available
Easirent
4.5
Mediocre
Cleanliness
5.2
Comfort
5.3
Pick-up/Drop-off
4.5
Value for money
5.1
One location in Charleston
Locations in Charleston
Charleston International Airport
Opening times not available
Filters
No reviews available
Sunnycars
No score available yet
2 locations in Charleston
Locations in Charleston
5500 Interbnational Boulevard
Opening times not available
5500 International Boulevard
Opening times not available
Filters
No reviews available
Baker Automotive Rentals
No score available yet
One location in Charleston
Locations in Charleston
Baker Motor Company of Charleston
+1 843 377 1220
Opening times not available
Filters
No reviews available
Movly
No score available yet
One location in Charleston
Locations in Charleston
Charleston International Airport
+44 7342 283294
Monday
00:00 - 01:00
Tuesday
00:00 - 01:00
Wednesday
00:00 - 01:00
Thursday
00:00 - 01:00
Friday
00:00 - 01:00
Saturday
00:00 - 01:00
Sunday
00:00 - 01:00
Filters
No reviews available
350 travellers who hired a car in Charleston gave the car agency they used an average rating of 4.9
Some Charleston car providers already include Collision Damage Waiver (CDW) and Theft Protection Waiver into the hire price but not all of them. We recommend always be aware of your coverage when hiring a car in Charleston.
Keep in mind that car hire insurances often have a deductible clause, which is the amount you’ll have to pay if something happens during the time of your hire. If you want to avoid unwanted surprises, you should consider adding a no-deductible option to your Charleston car hire.
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