KAYAK’s insights & trends for South Carolina car rentals
Check out the latest trends and booking tips to rent a car in South Carolina with confidence.
How far in advance should you book a rental car in South Carolina?
You should book your rental car in South Carolina around 7 days before your trip in order to get a below-average price.
What is the cheapest car rental company in South Carolina?
In the past 72 hours, the cheapest rental cars were found at Enterprise Rent-A-Car ($20/day), Budget ($29/day) and Avis ($32/day).
What is the most popular rental car in South Carolina?
Rentals in the SUV category (Chevrolet Equinox or similar) are the most popular option in South Carolina, costing $94/day on average. Some users have found deals as low as $67/day.
What is the cheapest month to rent a car in South Carolina?
The cheapest month to rent a car in South Carolina is January at an average cost of $53/day. April is the most expensive month to rent a car in South Carolina when prices are $77/day on average, which tends to be 16% above the yearly average rental price for South Carolina.
What rental car company in South Carolina has the most locations?
Avis operates 9 locations in South Carolina, more than any other rental company.
South Carolina car rental price comparison by vehicle type
Find the right rental car in South Carolina by comparing prices across vehicle types.
Small
Medium
Large
SUV
Van
Pickup truck
Luxury
Convertible
Small cars
$41 - $65
All Car Types
$70 - $98
How much does it cost to rent a small car in South Carolina?
How much does it cost to rent a medium car in South Carolina?
How much does it cost to rent a large car in South Carolina?
How much does it cost to rent an SUV in South Carolina?
How much does it cost to rent a van in South Carolina?
How much does it cost to rent a pickup truck in South Carolina?
How much does it cost to rent a luxury car in South Carolina?
How much does it cost to rent a convertible in South Carolina?
Small car rentals in South Carolina typically cost around $52 per day. The best time to book is January, when prices average $41 per day which is about 22% less than the yearly average. Small cars are usually 41% cheaper than the average rental in South Carolina, making them ideal for budget-conscious travelers.
Medium car rentals in South Carolina typically cost around $78 per day. The best time to book is January, when prices average $62 per day which is about 21% less than the yearly average. Medium cars are usually 12% cheaper than the average rental in South Carolina, offering a good balance of space and value.
Large car rentals in South Carolina typically cost around $79 per day. The best time to book is January, when prices average $63 per day which is about 21% less than the yearly average. Large cars can be 11% cheaper than the average rental in South Carolina, offering more comfort for longer trips at a valuable price.
SUV rentals in South Carolina typically cost around $93 per day. The best time to book is January, when prices average $84 per day which is about 10% less than the yearly average. SUVs are typically 6% more expensive than the average rental in South Carolina, but provide extra space and capability for groups or road trips.
Van rentals in South Carolina typically cost around $136 per day. The best time to book is January, when prices average $95 per day which is about 31% less than the yearly average. Vans are typically 36% more expensive than the average rental in South Carolina, but are the best choice for families or groups needing maximum passenger capacity.
Pickup truck rentals in South Carolina typically cost around $79 per day. The best time to book is January, when prices average $64 per day which is about 19% less than the yearly average. Pickup trucks are 11% cheaper than the average rental in South Carolina, a practical choice for hauling gear or outdoor adventures.
Luxury car rentals in South Carolina typically cost around $112 per day. The best time to book is January, when prices average $81 per day which is about 28% less than the yearly average. Luxury cars are typically 22% more expensive than the average rental in South Carolina, but deliver premium comfort and style for special occasions.
Convertible rentals in South Carolina typically cost around $92 per day. The best time to book is January, when prices average $68 per day which is about 27% less than the yearly average. Convertibles are typically 5% more expensive than the average rental in South Carolina, perfect for scenic drives and warm-weather destinations.
Good to know
Most popular agency
Most popular car type
Average price
Good deal
Economy Rent a Car
Medium
$57/day
$47/day
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 $47 or less
Small rental cars in South Carolina are around 14% 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 $57 per day.
How can I find car rentals near me in South Carolina?
Based on car searches on KAYAK, the most popular cities to rent a car in South Carolina are Charleston (30% of total searches of users looking to rent a car in South Carolina), Myrtle Beach (25%) and Greenville (13%).
How much does it cost to rent a car for a week in South Carolina?
On average a rental car in South Carolina costs $401 per week ($57 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 $1,719 per month ($57 per day).
Car rental directory
Enterprise Rent-A-Car car rental locations in South Carolina
82 Locations
Hertz car rental locations in South Carolina
56 Locations
Avis car rental locations in South Carolina
17 Locations
Budget car rental locations in South Carolina
15 Locations
Thrifty car rental locations in South Carolina
9 Locations
Alamo car rental locations in South Carolina
7 Locations
Dollar car rental locations in South Carolina
6 Locations
National car rental locations in South Carolina
6 Locations
Sunnycars car rental locations in South Carolina
6 Locations
VIPCars Recommendation car rental locations in South Carolina
6 Locations
Easirent car rental locations in South Carolina
4 Locations
Ace Rental Cars car rental locations in South Carolina
3 Locations
Car rental locations in South Carolina
More options for your car rental in South Carolina
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