Budget Car Rental in Charleston

Hola Car Rentals is the only premium partner of the top car rental brands operating in Charleston, including Budget, 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 rental 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 Budget rental experience and peace of mind throughout your trip in Charleston.

No. With Hola Car Rentals, all costs and charges for your Budget 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 Budget 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 Budget 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 Budget 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 Budget counter at Charleston International Airport (CHS) is located inside the terminal at 5500 International Blvd, North Charleston, SC 29418. After collecting your baggage, follow the car rental signs past Baggage Claim to reach the Budget desk. From there, it is a short walk to the adjacent vehicle lot, so no shuttle or consolidated rental center transfer is required.

From the moment you land in Charleston, expect roughly 20 to 45 minutes total before you are driving away: approximately 10 to 20 minutes for baggage claim, 5 to 10 minutes for Budget counter paperwork, and about 5 minutes to walk to the lot. This estimate assumes no significant queues at the desk.

The Budget counter at Charleston operates daily from 7:00 AM to 1:00 AM. A key drop is available for after-hours returns. If you are arriving outside counter hours, plan your return accordingly and use the key drop box at the CHS terminal. When returning the vehicle, proceed to Level 1 of the five-tier parking deck at CHS.

The Budget counter at Charleston International Airport (CHS) is open daily from 7:00 AM to 1:00 AM. There is no 24-hour service, so if your flight arrives after 1:00 AM, you will not be able to pick up your Budget rental in Charleston until the counter reopens at 7:00 AM.

For after-hours returns, a key drop box is available at the CHS terminal, allowing you to return your Budget vehicle outside of staffed hours. Be aware that after-hours returns are processed when the counter reopens, so keep all your paperwork and take photos of the vehicle condition before dropping the keys.

If your flight is delayed and you expect to arrive more than 24 hours after your original Budget pickup time in Charleston, contact support as soon as possible, since rental companies typically hold bookings for up to 24 hours from the scheduled pickup time. Arriving beyond that window may result in the reservation being forfeited.

No, Budget does not operate a counter in downtown Charleston. The only Budget location serving Charleston is at Charleston International Airport (CHS) in North Charleston, at 5500 International Blvd.

If you need a rental car in the downtown Charleston area, other brands such as Enterprise and Avis have off-airport locations, but Budget is not among them. Those off-airport locations are not served by airport shuttles and typically operate during standard business hours only, so access is more limited than the Budget counter at CHS.

If you are arriving by cruise ship at the Port of Charleston and need a Budget rental, your best option is to arrange transportation to Charleston International Airport, where the Budget counter is located. Planning your pickup at the airport counter ensures access to the full Budget fleet and the extended daily operating hours of 7:00 AM to 1:00 AM.

There are no toll roads in the immediate Charleston area. South Carolina has one primary toll road, the Southern Connector on Interstate 185, which connects I-185 to I-385 near Greenville, roughly 250 miles from Charleston. If your Budget rental itinerary takes you to that part of the state, tolls will apply.

The Southern Connector uses the PalPass (also called Palmetto Pass) electronic system, and also accepts cash and credit cards at mainline plazas. Typical costs for a car range from US$0.075 to US$3.00 for the full 16-mile stretch. PIN debit cards, checks, and money orders are not accepted at toll plazas.

Budget, like other major rental companies, may offer an optional electronic toll program at the Charleston pickup counter. These programs typically cost US$3.95 to US$4.95 per day and allow you to use electronic lanes without a personal transponder. If you drive through a cashless toll without enrolling, the rental company will charge you the toll at the highest undiscounted rate plus an administrative fee, which can be US$15 per toll occurrence.

If you pay any tolls during your Charleston Budget rental, you can claim up to 5% of your total booking value back through Hola Car Rentals' Tolls Cashback benefit by emailing [email protected] within 30 days of returning the vehicle.

To pick up your Budget rental in Charleston, you must present the following physical documents at the counter:

• A valid, original driver's license in the main driver's name
• A major credit card with the driver's name printed on the physical card, for the security deposit 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 outside the United States

Digital documents are not accepted at the Budget counter in Charleston. Everything must be a physical original.

If your driver's license is not 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. For licenses in other non-English scripts, an IDP is strongly recommended. The IDP is a translation only and must be carried alongside your original license, not as a replacement for it.

Debit cards and prepaid cards are not accepted for the security deposit hold at the Budget counter. Even if you prepaid your Charleston booking online, a physical major credit card in the main driver's name is still required at pickup.

Charleston's downtown area has a dense network of one-way streets that can catch first-time drivers off guard, especially those unfamiliar with the city layout. Streets such as Coming Street, Ashley Avenue, and Rutledge Avenue are strictly one-way, which can force you to double back several blocks if you miss a turn.

Visitors frequently report confusion on these corridors, and wrong-way driving by unfamiliar drivers has been noted as a recurring issue. During flooding events, which are not uncommon in low-lying Charleston, rerouting options on these one-way corridors become severely limited, making navigation even more challenging.

As of 2024 to 2025, the city is actively studying converting some of these streets back to two-way traffic, but the changes are not yet in effect. Until then, plan your routes carefully before setting out in your Budget rental.

Practical tips for driving your Budget rental in Charleston:

• Use a GPS or navigation app and keep it updated before you leave the airport
• Allow extra time when navigating downtown, especially during peak hours or after heavy rain
• If you miss a turn on a one-way street, do not reverse; continue to the next available cross street and reroute

When you pick up your Budget rental in Charleston, a temporary authorization hold will be placed on your credit card as a security deposit. For standard vehicles in the United States, this hold is typically around US$300 to US$400, though the exact amount can vary depending on the vehicle class, the specific Budget location at Charleston International Airport, and the length of your rental.

This hold is not a charge. It temporarily reduces your available credit until the rental is closed and your bank releases the authorization, which can take up to 15 business days after you return the vehicle.

Important things to keep in mind for your Budget pickup in Charleston:

• Only a physical major credit card in the main driver's name with the name printed on the card is accepted for the deposit
• Debit cards, prepaid cards, and virtual cards are not accepted
• Bring a backup credit card in case your primary card is declined
• Notify your bank of your travel plans to avoid fraud blocks on the authorization

Even if you prepaid your Charleston Budget booking online, the deposit hold is still required at the counter and is separate from your prepaid rental cost.

Yes, you can add an additional driver to your Budget rental in Charleston, either as part of your rate or by paying a fee at the counter.

If your booking confirmation explicitly states that an additional driver is included at no charge, you will not pay extra. If it is not included, Budget charges US$13 per rental day plus taxes, with a maximum cap of US$65 plus taxes for the additional driver.

Requirements for adding an additional driver to your Charleston Budget rental:

• The additional driver must be physically present at the Budget counter at Charleston International Airport at the time of pickup
• They must present a valid driver's license and any required ID
• For Budget in Charleston, additional drivers must generally be at least 25 years old
• Both the main driver and the additional driver must sign the rental agreement

Only drivers listed on the rental agreement are covered by the vehicle's protections, including CDW/LDW and liability coverage. If someone not listed on the contract drives the Budget vehicle in Charleston, coverage may be void and additional charges could apply.

Yes, drivers under 25 years old are subject to a young driver surcharge when renting a Budget vehicle in Charleston. In the United States, the standard minimum age to rent without a surcharge is 25.

Drivers aged 21 to 24 can rent from Budget in Charleston but will pay a daily young-renter surcharge in addition to the base rental rate. This fee is paid at the counter and is not included in your prepaid booking total. Vehicle class restrictions also apply, with most premium, full-size, luxury, and specialty categories reserved for renters aged 25 and older.

One important exception applies to certain Hola Car Rentals rates with Budget: if the main driver is aged 21 to 24 and is a citizen or resident of Latin America or the Caribbean, the young-renter surcharge may be waived. This waiver must be explicitly shown on your Hola Car Rentals confirmation and applies only to eligible vehicle categories such as Economy, Compact, Medium Sedan, Standard Sedan, Compact SUV, and Medium SUV. It does not apply to additional drivers aged 21 to 24, and it does not apply to travelers from Europe, Asia, Africa, or other regions.

If you are under 25 and planning a Budget rental in Charleston, check your confirmation carefully or contact support to confirm whether the waiver applies to your booking.

Yes, one-way rentals from Charleston are possible with Budget, allowing you to pick up at Charleston International Airport and return the vehicle at a different location in South Carolina or another state.

A drop-off fee typically applies for one-way rentals and varies depending on the route, distance, vehicle class, and season. This fee is shown during the booking process on the details page under the section labeled as charges due at the destination. It cannot be prepaid and is settled at the Budget counter in Charleston or at the return location.

Key things to know about one-way Budget rentals from Charleston:

• The drop-off fee is route-specific and is not covered by No Extra Charges© unless it was not disclosed during booking
• Cross-border one-way rentals (for example, from Charleston to Canada or Mexico) are generally restricted or require prior partner approval
• Changing your return location after booking may reprice the rental and recalculate the drop-off fee
• Confirm the drop-off fee on your booking confirmation before arriving at the Budget counter in Charleston

If the counter charges a different drop-off fee than what appeared on your confirmation, keep all paperwork and contact support after the rental is complete.

Budget rentals in Charleston follow a Full-to-Full fuel policy. You receive the vehicle with a full tank and must return it full to avoid additional charges.

Steps to follow for your Budget rental in Charleston:

• At pickup, check the fuel gauge with the Budget agent and confirm the starting level is recorded on the rental agreement
• Take a photo of the dashboard showing the odometer and fuel gauge before leaving the lot at Charleston International Airport
• Ask the Budget agent about the nearest fuel station to the return location so you can refuel close to drop-off
• Refuel within approximately 10 miles of the CHS return location to avoid the gauge dropping below full before you arrive
• Keep your final fuel receipt showing the date, time, and station address

If you return your Budget vehicle in Charleston with less than a full tank, you may be charged for the fuel shortfall at the partner's refueling rate, which is typically higher than retail pump prices, plus a refueling service fee. For after-hours returns using the key drop at CHS, leave the fuel receipt in the return envelope and keep a photo of the full gauge on your phone.

Most Hola Car Rentals bookings, including Budget rentals in Charleston, include travel assistance provided by Terrawind Global Protection. However, this benefit applies only to travelers who are not residents of the United States or Canada. If you are a US or Canadian resident, this coverage does not apply to your Charleston rental.

For eligible travelers, the travel assistance included with your Charleston Budget booking typically covers:

• Medical coverage for up to 5 passengers for accidents and non-pre-existing illnesses
• Legal assistance in the event of a road accident
• Compensation for baggage lost by the airline
• Flight cancellation insurance

This coverage does not include damage to the Budget rental vehicle itself (that is handled by CDW/LDW) or third-party liability to others (handled by LIS/ALI/SLI). It also does not cover pre-existing medical conditions.

If you need to use travel assistance during your Charleston trip, contact Terrawind 24 hours a day 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. Always check your specific booking confirmation for the exact terms and coverage limits that apply to your Budget rental.

The insurance and protection options included in your Budget rental in Charleston depend on the rate plan you selected when booking through Hola Car Rentals. Check your booking confirmation to see exactly what is covered.

Common protections available for Budget rentals in Charleston include:

• Collision Damage Waiver (CDW) or Loss Damage Waiver (LDW): reduces your financial liability for damage to the Budget rental vehicle from a collision, theft, or vandalism. A deductible may apply unless your confirmation states zero deductible
• Third-Party Liability (LIS/ALI/SLI): covers bodily injury and property damage you may cause to other people while driving the Budget vehicle in Charleston. Some US states require a minimum level of liability; South Carolina renters should confirm whether this is included in their rate

CDW/LDW does not cover damage you cause to other vehicles or people; that requires separate liability coverage. Neither CDW/LDW nor LIS/ALI/SLI covers your personal belongings or your own injuries.

To avoid gaps in coverage during your Charleston Budget rental:

• Confirm which protections appear on your booking confirmation before arriving at the counter
• Add all drivers to the rental agreement at the Budget counter, since coverage applies only to named drivers
• Report any incident immediately using the contact number on your rental agreement