South Carolina car rentals

Tue 3/26
Tue 4/2

Search hundreds of rental car sites at once for car rental deals in South Carolina

Here is why travelers choose KAYAK

Save up to 33%Compare multiple travel sites with one search.

Free to useThere are no hidden charges or fees.

Filter your dealsFilter by car type, brand and more. Instantly customise your results.

Book with flexibilityUse our "free cancellation" filter for maximum flexibility at no extra cost.

Cheap car rentals in South Carolina

Economy$33/day
Compact$35/day
Intermediate$35/day
Standard$32/day
Full-size$32/day
SUV$75/day
Minivan$40/day
Full-size SUV$42/day
Mini$78/day
Premium$39/day
Passenger van$56/day
Luxury$36/day
Pickup truck$40/day
Premium SUV$47/day
Standard SUV$32/day
Intermediate SUV$36/day
Compact SUV$38/day
Supplier choice$40/day
Luxury SUV$51/day
Open air all terrain$56/day
Premium coupe$65/day
Coupe$69/day
Best rates found by KAYAK users in the past 48 hours.

Top tips for renting a car in South Carolina

  • Know the terrain in your destination before renting a vehicle in South Carolina. For example, if you’ll be driving in a larger city or near the coast, then a convertible might be ideal to enjoy the southern sun and gentle ocean breeze. If you are visiting a state park, however, you might want to consider renting a four-wheel-drive vehicle, as any off-road conditions you might encounter there could potentially include sandy or swampy terrain. Generally speaking, the roadways in South Carolina are well-maintained, so your driving experience should be an enjoyable one.
  • If you’ll be traveling with children in your rental car, remember that South Carolina driving laws require that all children weighing less than 20 pounds be in rear-facing car seats secured in the back seat. Once a child reaches four years of age, they may transition to a front-facing seat. After age six or once a child reaches 80 pounds, they may use safety or “booster” seats, so long as both the shoulder and lap belts are secured. Children weighing more than 80 pounds may sit normally and use standard seat belts if their legs bend over the edge of the car seat while their backs rest against the back of the seat.
  • Depending on where you will be traveling while in South Carolina, it may be a good idea to make use of gas stations as they come along. For example, while traveling along I-95, or while in a major city like Charleston or Florence, gas stations will be plentiful and convenient. However, if your travel will involve considerably more rural areas or perhaps visiting state parks, etc., you may find that gas stations become less common, and so it would be a prudent plan to fill up your gas tank at each opportunity. Should your car run out of gas in a rural area, it may be more challenging to get help as cell phone coverage may be equally reduced.
  • 25% of our users found rental cars in South Carolina for $61 or less
  • Book your rental car in South Carolina at least 1 day before your trip in order to get a below-average price
  • Off-airport rental car locations in South Carolina are around 0% more expensive than airport locations on average
  • Full-size rental cars in South Carolina are around -72% cheaper than other car types, on average

FAQs about renting a car in South Carolina

  • Should I rent a car in South Carolina?

    Renting a car in South Carolina is always a good idea. Whether you’re wanting to relax along the shore in Myrtle Beach or looking to explore the swamplands around Moncks Corner (where scenes from The Patriot were filmed!), your rental car will be the easiest and quickest way to get where you’re going. South Carolina has an extensive and very well-maintained system of interstates, highways, and rural roads, all of which are easily navigated from the comfort of your rental vehicle, and while railways may only stop at certain cities, your rental car can take you anywhere you want.

  • What is driving like in South Carolina?

    Driving in South Carolina is generally as enjoyable and convenient as in other states. From rural back roads to major interstate highways like I-95, drivers in South Carolina will agree that the state’s roadways are modern and well-planned. The maximum speed limit in South Carolina is 70 mph, although some rural stretches of interstate highways may have limits of 60 mph, so it’s always important to be aware of local speed restrictions. Unlike in some other states, the residential speed limit in South Carolina is 30 mph. In most other respects, the driving laws in South Carolina are typically in line with other states.

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

    As is the case across the United States generally, you will need to be at least sixteen years old to hold a valid driver’s license in South Carolina. South Carolina considers a person to have reached the age of majority at eighteen. Beyond that, state law requires that any person who rents a vehicle in the state must be at least twenty five years of age. This is important to note, as some other states may have different legal ages for car rentals, in which cases car rental agencies often require additional surcharges. This is not the case in South Carolina.

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

    On average a rental car in South Carolina costs $53 per day.

  • What is the most popular rental car in South Carolina?

    Mini (Chrysler Pacifica or similar) is the most frequently booked rental car type in South Carolina.

  • What is the cheapest car rental company in South Carolina?

    In the past 72 hours, the cheapest rental cars were found at Thrifty ($43/day), Budget ($47/day) and Enterprise Rent-A-Car ($53/day).

  • What is the best rental car company in South Carolina?

    Based on ratings and reviews from real users on KAYAK, the best car rental companies in South Carolina are Alamo (8.8, 296 reviews), Enterprise Rent-A-Car (7.9, 256 reviews), and Thrifty (7.2, 143 reviews).

  • How can I find car rentals near me in South Carolina?

    Take a look at our extensive car rental location map to find the best rental cars near you.

  • Where should I rent a car in South Carolina?

    Based on car searches on KAYAK, the most popular cities to rent a car in South Carolina are Myrtle Beach (46% of total searches of users looking to rent a car in South Carolina), Charleston (41%) and Hilton Head Island (4%).

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

    On average a rental car in South Carolina costs $513 per week ($73 per day).

  • How much does it cost to rent a car long term for a month in South Carolina?

    On average a rental car in South Carolina costs $2,199 per month ($73 per day).

Car rental locations in South Carolina

Car rental directory

  • enterprise

    Enterprise Rent-A-Car car rental locations in South Carolina

    40 Locations

  • hertz

    Hertz car rental locations in South Carolina

    26 Locations

  • avis

    Avis car rental locations in South Carolina

    11 Locations

  • budget

    Budget car rental locations in South Carolina

    11 Locations

  • sunnycars

    Sunnycars car rental locations in South Carolina

    6 Locations

  • alamo

    Alamo car rental locations in South Carolina

    5 Locations

  • national

    National car rental locations in South Carolina

    5 Locations

  • vipcarsrec

    VIPCars Recommendation car rental locations in South Carolina

    5 Locations

  • thrifty

    Thrifty car rental locations in South Carolina

    4 Locations

  • dollar

    Dollar car rental locations in South Carolina

    3 Locations

  • easirent

    Easirent car rental locations in South Carolina

    3 Locations

  • autoeurope

    AutoEurope car rental locations in South Carolina

    2 Locations

Good to know

Most popular agency

Ace

Most popular car type

Full-size

Average price

$73/day

Good deal

$61/day

When to book a rental car in South Carolina

Average daily price per month
Rental car prices as pick-up date approaches