Car Hire in South Carolina

Hola Car Rentals is the only premium partner of the top car hire brands operating in South Carolina, 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 South Carolina.

No. With Hola Car Rentals, all costs and charges for your booking in South Carolina 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 South Carolina 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)

At Charleston International Airport (CHS) in South Carolina, hire car counters are located near baggage claim inside the main terminal. No shuttle is required.

After completing paperwork at the counter, you walk across the street via a covered skywalk to the adjacent five-level hire car garage where your vehicle is ready. The process is straightforward and walkable, making CHS one of the more convenient pickup experiences in South Carolina.

When returning your vehicle at CHS, follow the "Hire Car Return" signs to Level 1 of the same parking deck. Allow a few extra minutes to refuel before arriving, as the return lane is inside the garage structure.

Confirm your specific brand counter location on your booking confirmation, since multiple partner brands share the terminal area.

Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport (GSP) in South Carolina opened a new Consolidated Hire Car Facility (CONRAC) in Parking Garage C, adjacent to the terminal, in 2025. All major hire brands operating at GSP are now housed under one roof, eliminating the need for off-site shuttles.

The facility includes a transaction lobby where you complete paperwork, dedicated ready-return spaces for drop-off, on-site refuelling, and a car wash. The CONRAC operates approximately 20 hours per day, 365 days a year.

For returns at GSP in South Carolina, use the 750 ready-return spaces inside Garage C for a quick drop-off. The on-site fuel station means you can refuel immediately before returning the vehicle without leaving the garage complex.

Check your booking confirmation for your specific brand counter location within the CONRAC, as all providers share the consolidated space.

Yes, after-hours returns are available at Columbia Metropolitan Airport (CAE) in South Carolina, with key dropbox procedures in place for major providers including Alamo.

If you are returning outside counter hours at CAE, follow these steps:

• Park the vehicle in the designated hire car lot as instructed by your provider
• Drop the keys in the after-hours key dropbox at the counter location
• Keep a photo of the dashboard showing the fuel gauge and odometer before leaving
• Retain any fuel receipts from your last fill-up

Note that your liability for the vehicle may continue until the hire company formally checks it in during business hours. Document the car's condition with photos at the time of return to protect yourself against any post-hire charges.

Always confirm the specific after-hours return procedure with your hire brand when picking up in South Carolina, as instructions can vary by provider.

Yes, South Carolina has one primary toll road: the Southern Connector on Interstate 185, a 16-mile stretch connecting I-185 to I-385 near Greenville. It is the only toll road in South Carolina, and no congestion charges or emissions zones exist anywhere in the state.

The Southern Connector uses the PalPass (also called Palmetto Pass) electronic system. Payment options include:

• PalPass transponder via electronic lanes
• Cash (exact change required at certain ramps, including Highway 20 and Fork Shoals Road)
• Credit or debit cards (Visa, Mastercard, Discover, AMEX) at mainline plazas only; PIN debit cards are not accepted

Typical toll costs on the Southern Connector range from US$ 0.075 minimum to US$ 3.00 maximum for the full 16-mile route (two tolls apply).

Most hire companies operating in South Carolina offer optional electronic toll programmes such as e-Toll, TollPass, or PlatePass. These typically cost US$ 3.95 to US$ 4.95 per day (capped around US$ 19.75 per hire period) plus actual toll amounts. If you drive through a cashless lane without enrolling, the hire company will bill you the toll at the highest undiscounted rate plus an administrative fee of approximately US$ 15 per toll, capped around US$ 90 per hire.

To pick up a hire car in South Carolina, you must present the following physical documents at the counter:

• A valid, original driver’s licence (not a digital copy)
• A major credit card with your name printed on the card, in the main driver’s name, for the security deposit hold
• A passport or valid government-issued photo ID
• Your booking confirmation or printed voucher
• Round-trip flight or cruise tickets (required for visitors from outside the United States)

If your driver’s licence 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 in South Carolina. For licences in English or using a Latin alphabet, an IDP is recommended but not strictly required.

The IDP is a translation document only and must be carried alongside your original licence. It is not accepted on its own. Obtain your IDP in your home country before travelling to South Carolina, as U.S. issuers such as AAA do not issue IDPs to non-U.S. licence holders.

All documents must be physical originals. Digital versions displayed on a phone or tablet are not accepted at hire counters in South Carolina.

Yes, South Carolina enacted a statewide hands-free driving law effective September 1, 2025, which directly affects anyone driving a hire car in the state.

Under this law, handheld use of a mobile phone while driving is prohibited throughout South Carolina. Key points for hire car drivers include:

• Handheld calls, texting, and device use while driving are banned statewide
• Fines range from US$ 100 to US$ 200 per violation, with points added to your driving record
• An initial warning period applied after the law took effect, but enforcement is now active
• Hands-free use via Bluetooth, a mounted device, or the vehicle's built-in system is permitted

If your hire car in South Carolina does not have built-in Bluetooth connectivity, consider adding a GPS or navigation add-on at the counter, or use a phone mount so you are not holding the device while driving.

South Carolina also has notably high traffic enforcement rates, ranking among the worst states nationally for speeding-related fatalities. Observing posted speed limits (70 mph on rural interstates, 65 mph on urban interstates) and avoiding handheld phone use will help you avoid fines during your hire.

Yes, all bookings made through Hola Car Rentals include Tolls Cashback, which reimburses up to 5% of your total booking value for tolls paid during your hire, including tolls on South Carolina's Southern Connector near Greenville.

To claim your cashback after driving in South Carolina:

• Email [email protected] within 30 days of returning the vehicle
• Use the subject line: Tolls Cashback - HOLA followed by your confirmation number
• Attach your Hola Car Rentals booking confirmation, the signed hire agreement, and a receipt or statement showing the toll charges paid

The refund is the lesser of your actual toll costs or 5% of your booking total. For example, if your booking total is US$ 400, the cap is US$ 20. If you paid US$ 12 in tolls on the Southern Connector, you receive US$ 12 back. If you paid US$ 30, you receive US$ 20 (the cap).

Refunds are issued to the original payment method used for your South Carolina reservation and typically process within 7 to 10 business days after approval. Submissions received after 30 days are not accepted.

When picking up a hire car in South Carolina, the hire company places a temporary authorisation hold on your credit card at the counter. For standard vehicles at U.S. locations, this hold is typically around US$ 300 to US$ 400, though the exact amount varies by brand, vehicle class, and specific location within South Carolina.

Important things to know about the deposit hold in South Carolina:

• The hold is not a charge; it temporarily reduces your available credit until released after the hire ends
• Premium or speciality vehicles may carry a higher hold amount
• Your bank controls when the hold disappears after drop-off, which can take up to 15 business days
• Debit cards, prepaid cards, and virtual cards are not accepted for the deposit

You must present a physical major credit card with your name printed on the card. Even if you prepaid your South Carolina hire online, a credit card is still required at the counter for the security hold.

Bring a backup credit card in your name in case your primary card is declined, and notify your bank of your travel to South Carolina to prevent fraud blocks on the authorisation.

Hiring a car at a South Carolina airport involves several fees on top of the base rate. At major airports such as Charleston International (CHS) and Greenville-Spartanburg International (GSP), you can expect:

• State sales tax of approximately 10 to 15%
• Airport concession recovery fees of approximately 8 to 10% of the base rate
• Customer facility charges (CFC) of approximately US$ 4.00 to US$ 6.50 per day
• County tourism surcharges where applicable, such as approximately 2% in the Charleston area

Combined, these surcharges can add 20 to 30% to the advertised base rate at South Carolina airport locations. Off-airport locations in cities such as Charleston, Greenville, and Columbia typically avoid concession recovery fees, which can result in savings of US$ 50 to US$ 100 or more per week compared to airport pickup.

Your booking confirmation will show which taxes and fees are included in your prepaid rate and which are due at the counter in South Carolina. If your confirmation states "Taxes and Fees: Included," you should not be billed separately for those items at pickup. The No Extra Charges© guarantee covers situations where included fees are incorrectly charged at the counter.

In South Carolina, the minimum age to hire a car without additional surcharges is 25. Drivers aged 21 to 24 can hire but will be charged a daily young-renter surcharge at the counter, and most vehicle classes are restricted to renters aged 25 and older.

Vehicle classes typically restricted to drivers 25 and older in South Carolina include full-size sedans, SUVs, minivans, vans, convertibles, luxury, and premium categories. Younger drivers aged 21 to 24 are generally limited to economy, compact, intermediate, and compact SUV classes.

Surcharge amounts vary by hire brand at South Carolina locations:

• Avis, Budget, and Payless: approximately US$ 13 per day plus taxes, capped at US$ 65 plus taxes
• Hertz, Thrifty, and Dollar: approximately US$ 13.50 per day plus taxes, capped at US$ 189 plus taxes
• Alamo, National, and Enterprise: approximately US$ 15 per day plus taxes

Drivers from Latin America and the Caribbean aged 21 to 24 may qualify for a young-renter fee waiver on eligible Avis and Budget rates in South Carolina. Check your booking confirmation to see if this waiver applies to your reservation.

The standard fuel policy for hire cars in South Carolina is Full-to-Full. You receive the vehicle with a full tank and must return it full to avoid additional charges.

To follow the Full-to-Full policy correctly during your South Carolina hire:

• Check the fuel gauge with the agent at pickup and confirm the starting level is recorded on the hire agreement
• Take a photo of the dashboard showing the odometer and fuel gauge at pickup
• Refuel within approximately 10 miles of the return location so the gauge does not drop before you arrive
• Keep your final fuel receipt showing the date, time, and station address
• For after-hours returns at locations such as Columbia Metropolitan Airport (CAE), leave the receipt in the key envelope and keep a photo of the full gauge

If you return the vehicle below the recorded starting level in South Carolina, the hire company may charge you for the fuel shortfall at their refuelling rate, which is typically higher than retail pump prices, plus a refuelling service fee.

Ask the counter agent for the nearest petrol station to the return location when picking up your car in South Carolina, or use a navigation app to find stations close to the airport.

Yes, you can add an additional driver to your hire car in South Carolina, either at no cost if your rate includes it or for a daily fee paid at the counter.

The additional driver must be physically present at the South Carolina pickup counter with a valid driver’s licence. If their licence uses a non-Latin alphabet (such as Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, or Cyrillic), they must also present an International Driving Permit.

If the additional driver fee is not included in your rate, typical daily charges in South Carolina are:

• Avis, Budget, and Payless: US$ 13 per day plus taxes, capped at US$ 65 plus taxes
• Hertz, Thrifty, and Dollar: US$ 13.50 per day plus taxes, capped at US$ 189 plus taxes
• Alamo, National, and Enterprise: US$ 15 per day plus taxes

Only drivers listed on the hire agreement are covered by protections such as CDW/LDW and liability coverage. Anyone driving the South Carolina hire who is not named on the contract may void those protections entirely.

Check your booking confirmation before arriving in South Carolina to see whether your rate includes one free additional driver, so you know what to expect at the counter.

Yes, most Hola Car Rentals bookings include Travel Assistance provided by Terrawind Global Protection, which can help if you experience a medical emergency or accident while driving in South Carolina. However, this benefit does not apply to customers who are residents of the United States or Canada.

For eligible travellers driving in South Carolina, the coverage typically includes:

• Medical assistance coverage for up to 5 passengers
• Legal assistance in the event of an accident
• Compensation for luggage lost by the airline
• Flight cancellation insurance

Travel Assistance does not cover damage to the hire vehicle itself (that is handled by CDW/LDW) or third-party liability (covered by LIS/ALI/SLI). It also does not cover pre-existing medical conditions.

If you need assistance while driving in South Carolina, contact Terrawind 24 hours a day:

• Phone: +1 888 980 9992 (toll-free)
• WhatsApp: +1 208 910 1001
• Email: [email protected]

Have your Hola Car Rentals confirmation number ready when you call. Review your booking confirmation for the exact coverage limits and terms that apply to your South Carolina hire.