Car rental prices at Charleston Airport

Charleston Airport averages $75 a day for an Intermediate car like the Volkswagen Jetta booked about a month before an October 2026 trip. A Compact car such as the Nissan Versa is about $66 a day, and a Fullsize Chevrolet Malibu runs to $80. Waiting until the last 2 weeks drops the Intermediate price to $67 a day and the Compact to $63. Over the year, November 2026 is the cheapest month at $70 a day for an Economy car, whereas July 2027 climbs to $109 for a larger luxury class. Test your dates in the price checker.

For October 2026 at Charleston Airport, you save money by booking late: an Intermediate car costs $75 a day around a month before your trip, dropping to $67 in the last 2 weeks. Across the year, booking 9 months before your trip averages $94 a day compared to $73 around 2 weeks before, so holding out saves about 33%. Across the 395 airports we track car hire prices for, 48% of our customers book within 14 days of pickup. If you have not booked yet, you have missed no discounts.

Budget is the cheapest company at Charleston Airport for an Intermediate car, averaging $58 a day from 1,872 prices, but you will need a credit card at the counter. Avis follows at $61 a day and scores 83/100 from 1,249 reviews. Budget does not yet have enough reviews for a score, though its desk average wait is just 8 minutes. Alamo and Enterprise cost more at $88 and $89 a day, but Enterprise scores 90/100.

The cheapest company can cost you a longer queue or a bigger deposit, so check the review score and desk wait beside each car in the results before you book.

National is the best-reviewed company at Charleston Airport, scoring 92/100 from 279 reviews with an average desk wait of 24 minutes. National averages $96 a day over the last 12 months for an Intermediate car, from 4,649 prices. Budget is the lowest-priced supplier at $58 a day, but it does not yet have enough reviews for a score. Enterprise also scores 90/100 from 786 reviews and averages $89 a day.

Review scores are CarTrawler customers' own, from the last five months; the score and the desk wait sit beside each car in the results.

At Charleston Airport, deposits held on your card range from $200 with Budget to $299 with Avis, and none of the 5 companies accepts a debit card. All 5 desks operate strictly on credit cards in the lead driver's name. You should filter for a debit card before comparing prices if you do not carry a credit card, though you will find zero counters that take one on-site. Any optional extras charged at the desk are listed under each car.

If you bring your own child seat, check your airline's rules first: most carry one free, some charge.

The main surprise at Charleston Airport is that all 5 rental desks refuse debit cards entirely, making a credit card essential. Every desk is located inside the terminal, so you will avoid shuttle buses entirely. Desk waits vary sharply across the counters, running from 8 minutes at Budget up to 24 minutes at National. Bring a credit card in the primary driver's name, as none of the desks will hand over the keys on a debit card.

Only 49% of prices at Charleston Airport are full tank out, full tank back, so read the fuel line under the car before you book.

For most groups, pick a Compact car like the Nissan Versa at Charleston Airport, which is around $66 a day in October 2026 and fits small coastal parking spaces easily. It seats 5 people but takes only 3 bags, so a full group with luggage will need to step up to an Intermediate like the Volkswagen Jetta for $75 a day to fit 4 bags. An Economy car like the Mitsubishi Mirage costs the same $66 a day but carries only 2 bags. Every car offered is an automatic, while electric and hybrid options are not currently offered, so you will receive a standard petrol vehicle.