Avis Car Hire
in Charleston

Hola Car Rentals is the only premium partner of the top car hire brands operating in Charleston, giving you exclusive access to our All Inclusive+ rate. This rate includes benefits that no other company can match:

• Free liability coverage starting at US$ 300,000 in case of an accident (applies only to certain rates and itineraries)
• Toll cashback: recover up to 5% of the reservation's total value for toll charges incurred during your hire period
• Premium travel medical assistance providing up to US$ 150,000 in coverage for a maximum of 5 passengers in case of a medical emergency, excluding pre-existing conditions
• No Extra Charges© guarantee: if the counter charges you for something not listed on your confirmation and not an optional add-on you accepted, Hola Car Rentals will work to remove or reimburse the charge after verification

All of this comes at no extra cost, ensuring a fully protected car hire experience and peace of mind throughout your trip in Charleston.

No. With Hola Car Rentals, all costs and charges for your booking in Charleston are clearly shown at the time of reservation and in your confirmation email, so you know exactly what you are paying before you arrive at the counter.

On top of that, every Hola Car Rentals booking includes the No Extra Charges© guarantee. This is a pricing guarantee (not insurance) that protects you if the counter in Charleston charges you for something that was not listed on your confirmation and was not an optional add-on you accepted. If that happens, Hola Car Rentals will work with the hire partner to remove or reimburse the charge after verification.

The only costs outside this guarantee are:

• Optional add-ons you choose at the counter (GPS, child seats, prepaid fuel)
• Usage-based charges (tolls, fuel shortfall, traffic fines)

The Avis counter at Charleston International Airport (CHS) is located inside the main terminal near the baggage claim area. After collecting your luggage, follow the car hire signs to the Avis desk, complete your paperwork, and then walk a short distance to the hire car facility in the car park on Level 1, which is connected to the terminal via covered walkways.

The Avis counter at CHS is open Sunday through Saturday, approximately 7:00 AM to 1:00 AM. If you arrive after hours, a key drop box is available for vehicle returns. Plan for roughly 15 to 45 minutes from baggage claim to driving away, depending on queue length and flight delays.

If you booked at the downtown Avis location (390 Meeting St, Charleston), note that it is approximately 10 to 15 miles from the airport and has shorter operating hours: Monday through Friday 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM, Saturday 8:00 AM to 2:00 PM, and Sunday 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM.

Returning your Avis hire car at Charleston International Airport (CHS) is straightforward. Drive to Level 1 of the five-tier parking deck adjacent to the terminal, where covered walkways connect directly back to the arrivals area.

• Refuel before arriving at the airport. The full-to-full fuel policy means you must return the car with the same fuel level recorded at pickup to avoid refuelling charges and a service fee.
• Take a photo of the dashboard showing the odometer and fuel gauge before leaving the car.
• Hand the keys to an Avis agent or, for after-hours returns, use the key drop box located at the counter area.
• Keep your final hire receipt. If any post-hire charges appear on your card for tolls or fuel, your receipt and photos will help resolve disputes.

If you are returning to the downtown Avis location at 390 Meeting St, Charleston, confirm operating hours in advance, as that location closes earlier than the airport counter.

There are no toll roads in or immediately around Charleston itself. South Carolina's primary toll road is the Southern Connector (Interstate 185), located near Greenville, roughly 250 miles from Charleston. If your Avis hire takes you to that part of the state, tolls will apply.

The Southern Connector uses the PalPass (also called Palmetto Pass) electronic system, but also accepts cash and credit or debit cards at mainline plazas. Typical costs range from US$0.075 to US$3.00 for the full 16-mile stretch.

For your Avis hire, you have two options if you plan to drive through toll areas:

• Enroll in Avis's optional electronic toll programme at pickup (typically US$3.95 to US$4.95 per day, capped per hire period) to use cashless lanes without a personal transponder.
• Decline the programme and pay manually at cash or card-accepting plazas. If you pass through a cashless lane without enrolling, Avis will bill the toll at the highest undiscounted rate plus an administrative fee, which can reach US$15 per toll.

Toll charges may appear on your card weeks after the hire ends, as agencies process invoices in batches.

Yes, all Hola Car Rentals bookings, including Avis hires in Charleston, include Tolls Cashback of up to 5% of your total booking value for tolls paid during your hire.

While Charleston itself has no local toll roads, you may encounter tolls if you drive your Avis hire to other parts of South Carolina, such as the Southern Connector near Greenville, or into neighbouring states. Any tolls you pay during the hire period are eligible for the cashback claim.

To claim your refund:

• Email [email protected] within 30 days of returning the vehicle.
• Use the subject line: Tolls Cashback - Reservation {Your Confirmation Number}.
• Attach your Hola Car Rentals confirmation, the Avis hire agreement signed at pickup, and a receipt or statement showing the toll charges paid.

Refunds are issued to the original payment method used for your booking and typically process within 7 to 10 business days after approval. Claims submitted after 30 days are not accepted.

When picking up your Avis hire car in Charleston, whether at the airport counter or the downtown location on Meeting Street, you must present the following physical documents:

• A valid, original driver’s licence in the main driver’s name. Digital copies are not accepted.
• A major credit card with the driver’s name printed on the card, in the main driver’s name, for the security deposit hold. Debit and prepaid cards are not accepted for the hold.
• A passport or valid government photo ID.
• Your booking confirmation or printed voucher.
• Round-trip flight or cruise tickets if you are visiting from abroad.

If your driver’s licence is not issued in English and does not use a Latin (Roman) alphabet, such as Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, or Cyrillic script, an International Driving Permit (IDP) is mandatory alongside your original licence. For licences in English or using a Latin alphabet, an IDP is recommended but not strictly required at most Avis locations in Charleston.

All documents must be physical originals. The Avis counter will not accept digital versions shown on a phone or tablet.

An International Driving Permit (IDP) is not always mandatory for your Avis hire in Charleston, but whether you need one depends on your licence.

• If your driver’s licence uses a non-Latin alphabet, such as Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, or Cyrillic (Russian), an IDP is required alongside your original licence at the Avis counter in Charleston.
• If your licence is in English or uses a Latin alphabet, an IDP is recommended but not strictly required by most Avis locations in Charleston.

The IDP is a translation document only. It is not a standalone licence and will not be accepted without your original driver’s licence. You must obtain your IDP in your home country before travelling, as U.S. issuers such as AAA do not issue IDPs to non-U.S. licence holders.

All documents presented at the Avis counter in Charleston must be physical originals. Digital copies are not accepted.

When you pick up your Avis hire car in Charleston, a temporary authorisation hold will be placed on your credit card. This is not a charge; it reduces your available credit until your bank releases it after the hire ends.

For Avis hires in the United States, including Charleston, the typical hold is approximately US$300 to US$400 for standard vehicle classes. The exact amount can vary based on the vehicle class, hire duration, and the specific Avis location, whether at Charleston International Airport or the downtown Meeting Street counter.

• You must present a physical, major credit card with the driver’s name printed on the card. Debit cards, prepaid cards, and virtual cards are not accepted for the deposit.
• Ensure your card has sufficient available credit to cover the hold in addition to any other charges.
• Notify your bank of your travel plans to prevent fraud blocks on the authorisation.
• After returning the vehicle, the hold is released by Avis, but your bank may take up to 15 business days to reflect the release.

Bring a backup credit card in your name in case your primary card is declined at the Charleston counter.

Downtown Charleston has an extensive network of one-way streets on the historic peninsula that can be confusing, especially if you are unfamiliar with the area. Streets such as Coming Street, Ashley Avenue, and Rutledge Avenue operate as one-way corridors, originally converted after World War II to improve commuter flow but now known for encouraging higher vehicle speeds through residential neighbourhoods.

For drivers of an Avis hire car in Charleston, this means:

• Navigation apps are essential. Without turn-by-turn guidance, one-way restrictions can force significant detours, particularly near the medical district and hospital areas.
• During seasonal flooding, which affects the downtown peninsula, some one-way streets may be blocked, further limiting your route options and requiring longer detours than you might expect in other coastal cities.
• Speeds on these corridors can feel faster than expected for pedestrian-heavy areas, so extra caution is warranted.
• As of 2025, the city is studying converting some of these streets back to two-way traffic, so signage and layouts may change during or after your visit.

Rare winter ice or snow events can also close roads and affect access to Charleston International Airport, so check conditions if visiting in January.

Yes, most Hola Car Rentals bookings, including Avis hires in Charleston, include travel assistance coverage provided by Terrawind Global Protection. This benefit is particularly useful if you experience a medical emergency or other travel disruption during your hire period in Charleston or while driving elsewhere in South Carolina.

Coverage typically includes:

• Travel insurance with medical coverage for up to 5 passengers.
• Legal assistance in the event of a road accident.
• Compensation for luggage lost by the airline.
• Flight cancellation insurance.

If you need assistance during your Avis hire in Charleston, contact Terrawind 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at +1 888 980 9992 (toll-free) or via WhatsApp at +1 208 910 1001. Have your Hola Car Rentals confirmation number ready when you call.

Important: this coverage applies only to travellers who are not residents of the United States or Canada. U.S. and Canadian residents do not qualify for this benefit. Check your booking confirmation for the exact terms and coverage limits that apply to your reservation.

Yes, Avis offers one-way hires in South Carolina, allowing you to pick up your car in Charleston and return it to a different city. Avis has locations at several South Carolina airports, including Myrtle Beach, Greenville-Spartanburg, and Columbia, as well as other cities in the region.

A drop-off fee may apply depending on your route. This fee is set by Avis, varies by distance, vehicle class, and season, and cannot be prepaid. You will see it listed under the "To pay at destination" section during the booking process on the Hola Car Rentals website.

• Same-city routes, such as Charleston Airport to downtown Charleston, often carry no drop-off fee.
• Routes between different cities or states typically do carry a one-way fee.
• Cross-border one-way hires, such as returning to a location outside the U.S., may be restricted or carry higher fees.

If you change your return location after booking your Avis hire in Charleston, the rate may be re-priced and a new drop-off fee may apply. Always confirm the fee shown on your confirmation matches what the Avis counter presents at pickup.

Yes, drivers under 25 years old are subject to a young-driver surcharge on Avis hires in Charleston. In South Carolina, the standard minimum hire age with Avis is 25, but drivers aged 21 to 24 can hire by paying a daily underage fee.

For Avis in Charleston, the young-driver surcharge is US$13 per hire day plus applicable taxes, capped at US$65 plus taxes for the hire period. Vehicle class restrictions also apply: most premium, full-size, luxury, SUV, minivan, and convertible categories are restricted to drivers aged 25 and older. Economy, compact, and intermediate classes are generally available to younger drivers.

One exception applies for eligible travellers from Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) aged 21 to 24. If your Hola Car Rentals confirmation explicitly states that the underage fee is waived, and you are hiring an eligible vehicle class such as economy, compact, medium sedan, standard sedan, compact SUV, or medium SUV, the surcharge will not apply at the Avis counter in Charleston. You must present a passport or government ID proving LAC nationality or residency at pickup.

Drivers under 21 cannot hire from Avis in Charleston.

Yes, you can add an additional driver to your Avis hire in Charleston, but the process and cost depend on your booking rate.

If your Hola Car Rentals confirmation states "Additional driver free of charge," the first extra driver is included at no cost. If it is not included, Avis charges US$13 per hire day plus taxes, capped at US$65 plus taxes for the hire period.

To add a driver at the Avis counter in Charleston:

• The additional driver must be present at pickup with their valid, original driver’s licence.
• If their licence uses a non-Latin alphabet, they must also bring an International Driving Permit.
• Both the main driver and the additional driver must sign the hire agreement.
• For Avis in Charleston, additional drivers must generally be at least 25 years old. Drivers aged 21 to 24 may be subject to the underage surcharge or may not be accepted as additional drivers.

Only drivers listed on the Avis hire agreement in Charleston are covered by the vehicle's protections, including CDW/LDW and liability coverage. Anyone who drives without being named on the contract is not covered, and claims may be denied.

The insurance and protection options included in your Avis hire in Charleston depend on the rate plan you selected when booking through Hola Car Rentals. Always check your booking confirmation for the exact coverages listed.

The two main protections to understand are:

• Collision Damage Waiver (CDW) or Loss Damage Waiver (LDW): reduces your financial liability for damage to the Avis hire vehicle from a collision, theft, or vandalism. A deductible may apply unless your confirmation states zero deductible. CDW/LDW does not cover damage to other vehicles or injuries to third parties.
• Third-Party Liability (LIS/ALI/SLI): covers bodily injury and property damage you may cause to others while driving the Avis hire in Charleston. Some U.S. states require a minimum level of liability, but not all do. Hola Car Rentals strongly recommends adding supplemental liability coverage of up to US$300,000.

CDW/LDW and LIS/ALI/SLI apply only to drivers named on the Avis hire agreement in Charleston. If an unnamed driver causes an incident, coverage may be void. Always report any incident to Avis immediately using the number on your hire agreement, as late reporting can invalidate a claim.